As 2020 presidential candidates jockey for position, interesting issues can arise and become a national topic of conversation seemingly overnight.
So was the case when potential 2020 Democratic nominee Elizabeth Warren spoke in Iowa about foreign companies buying American farmland. Suddenly Ty Higgins, Ohio Farm Bureau’s director of media relations, started receiving phone calls on a topic not related to water, trade or a wet spring for Ohio farmers.
Higgins told National Public Radio in a May interview that “once a foreign entity buys up however many acres they want, Americans might never be able to secure that land again. So, once we lose it, we may lose it for good.”
In Ohio, about half a million acres of farmland are owned by foreign investors — with Germany and the Netherlands leading in most land bought. China is another significant investor.
Higgins noted there is no federal restriction on foreign farmland purchases, so it is up to each individual state to come up with its own regulations. For example, it is restricted in Iowa, where no farmland is owned by foreign investors, whereas Higgins said in Texas it is a “free for all.”
In Ohio, there is voluntary registration by the foreign entity with the state, but nothing prohibiting those overseas from purchasing farmland.
The loss of farmland itself is of particular concern, Higgins said. “Every acre of productive farmland that is converted over to something other than agriculture is an acre of land that no longer produces food,” causing a ripple effect in the state’s economy and a potential hardship on rural communities. Higgins comments with NPR also were later included in a story done by Newsweek.
Dr. Ron Hanson helps counsel farm families to resolve conflicts while helping the next generation assure their financial future. He is a featured speaker at the 2025 Winter Leadership Experience.
Read More
Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation recently added four new board members and elected officers of its 14-member board, which oversees the charitable, nonprofit organization.
Read More
Grants support ag-related programming that enhances agricultural literacy efforts while creating pathways for young people to learn about ag careers.
Read More
Now through Feb. 28, you can receive free insulation when finishing an existing pole barn interior.
Read More
Brooke Wiseman of New Lexington will serve members in Guernsey, Morgan, Muskingum and Perry counties.
Read More
Overcoming this stigma falls upon the shoulders of family, friends, loved ones and the broader community—and it begins with open and honest communication.
Read More
After a lot of conflicting information, the Corporate Transparency Act is on hold and there are no deadlines.
Read More
Through 15 scholarship funds, nearly 50 awards will be made to deserving students. The deadline to apply online is March 31, 2025.
Read More
The bill includes short-term spending, disaster aid and a farm bill extension.
Read More
The disaster relief funding disbursement will be overseen by the Ohio Department of Agriculture and administered through local soil & water districts.
Read More
