USDA digitises reporting of foreign farmland ownership

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USDA digitises reporting of foreign farmland ownership

USDA launches online portal for foreign farmland reporting. The new system aims to enhance transparency and compliance under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act. The transition from paper forms to a digital platform seeks to streamline processes and bolster enforcement efforts amid heightened scrutiny of foreign agricultural land holdings.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has introduced an online portal for reporting foreign interests in US agricultural land under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). This digital shift, accessible via Login.gov, aims to enhance compliance and is a key component of the USDA’s National Farm Security Action Plan. According to Secretary Brooke Rollins, the portal will facilitate the collection of verifiable data on foreign land interests, thereby safeguarding the agricultural sector.

The portal’s implementation signifies a significant step toward modernising reporting processes, historically reliant on county-office paperwork. The USDA’s move aligns with its current rulemaking agenda, aiming to address national security concerns related to foreign agricultural land holdings. An Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, seeking input on potential AFIDA reporting revisions, has been published, with feedback due by 28 January 2026.

The USDA’s latest annual AFIDA report highlights foreign ownership of 46 million acres of US agricultural land as of 31 December 2024, drawing attention to holdings by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. This digital transition promises more consistent scrutiny of farmland ownership structures, mitigating risks of delayed or incomplete reporting.

Read the full article on IN Food.

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