Foreign ownership of farmland: NALC webinar to discuss laws enacted in 2023
Twelve states, including Arkansas, have enacted a foreign ownership law in 2023.
By Tru Joi Curtis
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Sept. 6, 2023
Fast facts:
- Sept. 20 NALC webinar to address foreign ownership laws and state, federal proposals.
- Webinar presenter is nationally recognized expert, NALC’s Micah Brown.
- Registration is online.
(445 words)
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In 2023, more than half of the nation's states either proposed
bills or enacted laws to restrict foreign ownership of farmland. Now, federal lawmakers
are eyeing similar proposals, said Micah Brown, National Agricultural Law Center staff
attorney.
Of the 24 states that have a law limiting foreign acquisitions of land within their
state, 12 states — including Arkansas — enacted a foreign ownership law in 2023, Brown
said.
“At the federal level, multiple bills have been introduced during the 118th Congress
that seek to control or restrict certain foreign investments in U.S. farmland,” Brown
said. “Proponents of these restrictions claim that U.S. national security regarding
the nation’s food supply is being threatened due to foreign investments in U.S. farmland.”
Brown will discuss state foreign ownership laws enacted during this year’s legislative
sessions, as well as federal proposals that seek to increase oversight and restrict
foreign acquisitions in U.S. land, in the NALC’s upcoming webinar, “Who Owns the Farm?
Foreign Ownership Legislative Update.” The webinar will be held on Sept. 20 at 11
a.m. Central/noon Eastern.
“There have been numerous updates since my last webinar, and I look forward to outlining
some of those proposals and discussing the laws that have been passed,” Brown said.
“This webinar will provide attendees with the necessary information to understand
the current state of foreign ownership legislation.”
The recording of Brown’s Jan. 18 webinar on foreign ownership is available online.
Online registration for the Sept. 20 webinar is no cost.
A foreign ownership law 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 within the U.S. More information
regarding foreign ownership can be found in the NALC’s resource, Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land: FAQs & Resource Library.
State laws for foreign ownership are very diverse- there is no generalized or uniform
approach. These inconsistencies can make it difficult to understand restrictions of
laws from state to state. More information on each state’s laws can be found in the
NALC’s States Regulating Ownership of Agricultural Land compilation.
“Foreign ownership has emerged as a top issue in 2023 with many revelations and updates,”
NALC Director Harrison Pittman said. “Micah has become a leading national expert on
the topic, so we are thrilled to have him present again to share this new information.”
For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on Twitter. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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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. The Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work
within the nation’s historic land grant education system through the Agricultural
Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service.
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/equal
access/affirmative action 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
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu