New USDA data is providing a more detailed look at foreign interests in U.S. agricultural land, amid increased attention to foreign farmland investment. The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act requires foreign persons to report interests in U.S. agricultural land. USDA's latest report shows 46.3 million acres of agricultural land had a reported foreign interest as of December 31, 2024, up 1.3 million acres from the previous year. The acreage figure includes more than outright foreign ownership. AFIDA also counts qualifying long-term leases, partial ownership interests, and other forms of control. USDA data shows long-term leases account for a substantial share of reported foreign-held acreage. Forestland also represents a large portion of the total, while renewable-energy projects account for much of the acreage associated with foreign-held leases. USDA researchers found foreign leases are much more likely than foreign-owned land to involve renewable energy development. USDA released the 2024 report in January.
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