NALC Jan. 18 webinar to provide legislative update on foreign ownership of ag land
"As state and federal legislative sessions kick off, we can expect to see lawmakers introduce proposals that aim at restricting foreign investments in agricultural land.” — Micah Brown
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Jan. 9, 2023
Fast facts
- National Ag Law Center to host Jan. 18 webinar on foreign ownership of ag land
- Webinar presenter is NALC Staff Attorney Micah Brown
- Registration is online.
- Webinar set for noon EST/11 a.m. CST
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File photo of Micah Brown
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Foreign ownership and investments in U.S. agricultural land have increased to more than 40 million acres in the last decade, making up just over 3 percent of all privately held farmland within the U.S., according to the Farm Service Agency. For many legislators, that increase raises concerns over food supply and national security.
Micah Brown, staff attorney for the National Agricultural Law Center, will be presenting on the topic Jan. 18, the NALC’s first webinar of 2023. The webinar, titled “Foreign Ownership of Ag Land: Federal & State Legislative Update,” is set for noon EST/ 11 a.m. CST. There’s no cost to attend and attendees can register online.
“Over the past two years, several proposals have been introduced at the state and federal level that seek to control, prohibit, restrict, or increase oversight on certain foreign investments and acquisitions in the U.S. agricultural industry and private farmland,” Brown said. “Advocates of these restrictions claim that foreign investments in U.S. farmland pose a threat to national security, especially the nation’s food supply. As state and federal legislative sessions kick off, we can expect to see lawmakers introduce proposals that aim at restricting foreign investments in agricultural land.”
A “foreign ownership law” is defined as “a law that restricts certain foreign individuals, foreign entities, or foreign governments from acquiring, transferring, holding, or investing in U.S. real estate, specifically including private agricultural land located within the U.S.” The NALC has resources about foreign investments in agricultural land on its website. The Foreign Investments in Agricultural Land: FAQ & Resource Library can be found here.
“Micah’s research and presentations on foreign ownership and investments are a great resource to those interested in the topic,” NALC Director Harrison Pittman said. “Foreign ownership and investments have increased in recent years, and this webinar will be a great opportunity to learn more about the implications of that. We look forward to kicking off our 2023 webinar series with a presentation on this important topic.”
For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit https://nationalaglawcenter.org/ or follow @Nataglaw on Twitter.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
The National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, state and federal policymakers, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact dviguet@uark.edu as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media contact: Drew Viguet dviguet@uark.edu