Rising foreign investment – including Canada - In US agriculture land

Dec 20, 2023

The U.S. Department of agriculture's latest report reveals a striking increase in foreign ownership of U.S. Farmland in 2022. Foreign entities acquired an additional 3.4 million acres, marking over an 8% increase from the previous year. Despite this rise, foreign-owned farm and forest land still constitute a small fraction of the total U.S. Agricultural land, at 3.4%.

This trend has ignited debates in Washington regarding the potential national security implications of foreign farmland ownership. Legislators are now contemplating measures to regulate foreign investment in American agricultural lands.

The report shows significant foreign land acquisitions in states like Colorado, Alabama, and Michigan. Canada leads as the primary foreign investor in U.S. Farmland, mainly in Maine's forests, accounting for 32% of the total foreign-owned acres. In contrast, Chinese ownership, a focal point of legislative concern, represents less than 1% of these acres and has slightly declined since 2021.

Since 2017, there has been a consistent increase in foreign acquisitions of U.S. Farmland, with an annual average nearing 3 million acres. In response to these trends, the USDA plans to refine its data collection processes to more accurately assess the impact of foreign landholdings on rural communities and pinpoint their locations.

According to Robert bonnie, undersecretary for farm production and conservation, this effort will enhance reporting to congress and the public, fostering a better understanding of the dynamics and implications of foreign investment in U.S. Agriculture.

Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.