On July 8, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the National Farm Security Action Plan (Action Plan), a sweeping initiative to protect American agriculture as a matter of national security. Among its most consequential provisions are forthcoming restrictions on foreign adversaries (e.g., China) from purchasing or controlling U.S. farmland. Highlights of the Action Plan’s key provisions are described below.

Ban on farmland acquisitions by foreign adversaries

  • The USDA will work with Congress and state partners to pursue swift legislative or executive action to prohibit the direct or indirect purchase or control of American farmland by nationals from countries of concern or other foreign adversaries.
  • The USDA will also work with state legislators to quickly push through laws that will ban further purchases, with a particular focus on parcels of land near U.S. military bases.
  • Existing ownership arrangements are expected to be reviewed for compliance and potential risks.
  • The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) process will be aggressively reformed, including the creation of an online filing system for enhanced transparency, geospatial reporting, and increased civil penalties for late or knowingly false filings.
  • A new online portal will allow farmers, ranchers, and the public to report suspected false or failed AFIDA filings and claims of adversarial foreign influence in farmland transactions. Submissions may be made anonymously or with contact information for follow-up.

CFIUS and the USDA Memorandum of Agreement

  • The USDA will sign a joint Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Treasury, which chairs the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), to ensure regular coordination on reviews of covered foreign transactions involving farmland, agricultural businesses, agricultural biotechnology, or the broader agriculture industry.
  • This agreement is designed to facilitate timely information sharing and strengthen the federal government’s ability to identify and address national security risks associated with foreign investment in U.S. agriculture.

Broader supply chain and security measures

  • The USDA will collaborate with federal partners to identify critical agricultural inputs and materials, including fertilizers, chemicals, minerals, and components relevant to both agriculture and national defense.
  • Regular risk assessments and crisis simulation exercises will be conducted to identify and address vulnerabilities in storage, transportation, and importation of agricultural products.
  • Import restrictions will be modernized to prevent the entry of dangerous biochemicals and biological agents, with enhanced enforcement across the supply chain.

Protection of nutrition programs

  • Enhanced enforcement measures will be implemented to prevent fraud and abuse in nutrition programs such as SNAP, with a focus on compliance, benefit trafficking, and card skimming.
  • Retailers complicit in fraud will be disqualified, and collaboration with law enforcement will be strengthened to combat criminal activity.

Research security and program evaluation

  • All USDA-funded research must directly benefit American producers and prevent collaboration with foreign adversaries.
  • Entities receiving USDA funding must certify they are not owned or controlled by foreign adversaries and disclose foreign gifts or contracts.
  • Programs such as SBIR, STTR, and BioPreferred will be reviewed to prevent exploitation by foreign entities, with enhanced due diligence and revocation of certifications as needed.
  • USDA funding will be prioritized for domestic use, with a focus on American-made technology and innovation.

Biosecurity and critical infrastructure

  • The USDA will work with federal and state partners to strengthen responses to plant and animal health threats, including the development of vaccines and control methods for priority diseases and pests.
  • Partnerships with agencies like DARPA will promote military readiness and agricultural security.
  • Cybersecurity resources and information sharing will be expanded to protect agricultural operations from cyber and ransomware attacks.
  • Workforce development initiatives will support a new generation of agro-defense professionals.

The Action Plan introduces a robust framework to prevent foreign adversaries from acquiring U.S. farmland and to increase federal oversight of foreign investment and activities in the agricultural sector. The forthcoming ban on such acquisitions, coupled with enhanced CFIUS coordination, will significantly impact how land transactions involving foreign entities are scrutinized and approved.

Businesses engaged in agricultural land transactions, agribusiness investments, or related supply chain activities should expect increased due diligence requirements, more rigorous reporting obligations, and the potential for heightened regulatory review. It is essential for stakeholders to review current and planned transactions for compliance with these new proposed restrictions, monitor developments in federal and state legislation, and engage proactively with legal counsel to navigate the evolving landscape. Early preparation will be critical to ensuring continued access to U.S. agricultural assets and to mitigating risks associated with foreign investment restrictions.