By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has introduced new farm protection measures to strengthen farmland oversight and improve the security of domestic agriculture programs. These actions are guided by USDA’s National Farm Security Action Plan.
One key focus is improving transparency around who owns U.S. agricultural land. Under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act, foreign investors must report land ownership and transfers. USDA is now reviewing and modernizing these rules to make reporting clearer and more effective. Public feedback is being invited to help improve the process.
Officials report that foreign-linked companies currently control more than 277,000 acres of U.S. farmland. USDA aims to improve tracking systems and monitoring practices to ensure land ownership data is accurate and accessible.
“Strengthening national security starts with knowing who owns our farmland and where federal dollars are flowing,” said Secretary Rollins. “These actions close long-standing gaps in oversight and enforcement by improving transparency around foreign land ownership and ensuring USDA programs support American farmers and manufacturers, while prioritizing domestic supply chains – not foreign adversaries.”
Another major update involves the USDA BioPreferred Program. This program promotes the use of American-made biobased products in federal purchasing. Under the new rules, companies and products from foreign adversary countries are no longer eligible to take part in the program. Current participants must comply with audits to remain approved.
USDA is also strengthening guaranteed lending programs to support American farmers and manufacturers. These changes help ensure that federal funding supports domestic production, job growth, and market expansion for U.S. agricultural products.
These coordinated actions are designed to protect food supply chains, improve rural economic stability, and reinforce national security. USDA says the updated rules will help ensure that American agriculture remains strong, transparent, and secure for future generations.
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Categories: National