The Surprising Foreign Country That Owns 15M Acres Of US Farmland

Foreign Ownership of U.S. Agricultural Land - Foreign entities own over 45 million acres of U.S. agricultural land valued at more than $38 billion, with Canada being the largest holder, controlling 15.35 million acres or about 33% of all foreign-held agricultural land [3][2][21] - The Netherlands and Italy follow Canada, holding 5.2 million acres and 2.7 million acres, respectively [2][21] - The concentration of foreign ownership varies by state, with Texas leading at over 5.7 million acres, followed by Maine (3.5 million acres), Colorado (2.4 million acres), Alabama (2.2 million acres), and Oklahoma (1.8 million acres) [1][2] Economic Implications - Significant foreign control over the agricultural supply chain raises concerns about U.S. vulnerability during trade wars or global disruptions [2] - Farmers and rural communities face challenges as increased foreign investment inflates land prices, creating barriers for first-generation U.S. farmers [2]