Foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land involves more than 47 million acres, representing approximately 3.6% of privately held agricultural acreage, according to new USDA data. Although foreign land holdings have increased significantly over the past decade, the pace of growth has slowed, and the data show that much of the acreage is not used directly for crop or livestock production.
Foreign holdings have increased 91% since 2010, highlighting continued international investment in U.S. land. However, the figures also provide additional context about who holds the land, how it is being used and what qualifies as foreign-held acreage.
Canada and Europe Account for Major Foreign Holdings
Canada remains the largest foreign holder of U.S. agricultural land, with approximately 16.1 million acres. European investors collectively hold more than 18 million acres.
Chinese investment has received considerable attention in discussions about foreign ownership of U.S. farmland. However, Chinese entities held approximately 245,000 acres in 2024, representing less than 1% of all foreign-held agricultural land.
The figures show that foreign investment in U.S. agricultural acreage comes from a range of countries, with Canada and European investors accounting for much larger shares than China.
Much of the Land Is Not Used for Agricultural Production
Not all acreage classified as foreign-held is actively used for farming or ranching. Nearly half of the reported land is forest acreage, while significant portions are associated with renewable energy projects, including wind and solar development.
This distinction is important when evaluating the overall figures. Although the acreage falls under agricultural land reporting requirements, it does not necessarily mean the land is being used to produce crops or raise livestock.
The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act requires foreign entities to report certain purchases, sales and long-term leases of U.S. agricultural land to USDA. Reporting requirements also include leases lasting 10 years or longer.
As a result, some acreage classified as foreign-held is still owned by domestic landowners but is leased to foreign entities under qualifying agreements.
The USDA data offer a broader picture of foreign investment in U.S. agricultural land, showing both the scale of reported holdings and the different ways that acreage is being used.
Listen to the report on the latest USDA foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land data and what the figures reveal about international investment in U.S. agricultural acreage.