Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is asking state lawmakers to take more action on foreign ag land ownership restrictions.
During her Condition of the State address Tuesday night, Reynolds said China has become more aggressive in its purchases of U.S. farmland. “We cannot let foreign governments undermine the agricultural dominance that our farmers have worked so hard to build.”
She says her new bill would protect agricultural land from foreign adversaries. “The legislation will enhance reporting and enforcement, increase penalties and provide more transparency to Iowans on what land is currently under foreign ownership.”
Governor Reynolds said Iowa currently has some of the strongest state-level protections against foreign ownership of farmland in the U.S.