Agricultural land is a strategic resource to our Nation, Florida, and Jackson County. Maintaining controlling ownership, directly or indirectly, of our agricultural land allows us food independence and ensures our food supply chain. The largest sector of land use in Jackson County is dedicated to agriculture and our ag owners and producers are essential to providing stability to our food independence and security.
Our independence and security is being threatened with the movement of adversarial nations purchasing our agricultural heartlands. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that Chinese investor’s ownership in the U.S. significantly increased from 13,720 acres in 2010 to 352,140 acres in 2020, valued at $1.9 Billion. As of 2020 foreign investors held a 5.8% proportion of Foreign held to privately held agricultural land.
Jackson County also has numerous acres owned by foreign investors. As of 2020, 29,522 acres accounted for ownership by foreign investors. The Netherlands owns 10,312 acres, Italy owns 3,612 acres, Germany owns 200 acres and all other foreign investors owns 15,238 acres.
There are measures currently being taken to preserve our agricultural land, its integrity and heritage and also to provide stability and maintain control of our food supply chain. Fourteen states have already enacted laws banning the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from owning agricultural land. Three other states have introduced legislation. In September of 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order Number 22-216 and signed into law section 286.101, Florida Statues which defines “Foreign Country of Concern” as “the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, or the Syrian Arab Republic, including any agency of or any other entity under significant control of such foreign country of concern. ”
Governor DeSantis also proposed legislation for the 2023 session which prohibits both China and other “foreign countries of concern” from purchasing agricultural land and land surrounding Florida’s 21 military bases. DeSantis stated “From server farms to farmland, the Communist Party of China has been worming its way into our nation’s data storage systems and buying up tracts of land near sensitive national security sites.” Lieutenant Governor, Jeanette Nunez stated “Governor DeSantis announcements today are not only critical to protecting American interest and Florida Farmland but also to maintaining our nations security. Florida will never kow-tow to the oppressive regime of China.” We will provide additional issues addressed in the executive order next week. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and may you be blessed with God’s Love.