The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an open call for public comments, with a deadline of February 16, 2024, regarding the reporting process for foreign ownership and leasing of agricultural land in the U.S. This initiative is part of the USDA’s efforts to enhance the data collection under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978.
The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is spearheading the proposal to revise the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Report form (FSA-153). The proposed changes aim to expand the scope of data collection, including information on long-term lessees, the impact of foreign investment on agricultural producers and rural communities, and geospatial data of the land.
Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation, Robert Bonnie, emphasised the importance of this initiative. He stated, “USDA seeks to improve the information that we are collecting about foreign ownership and leasing of U.S. agricultural land.
This process, which includes public input on changes to the form, will lead to more insightful reporting to Congress and the public.”
Key proposed revisions to the FSA-153 form include:
- Gathering additional data on long-term lessees who are mandated to report their transactions to the USDA.
- Collecting data to evaluate the effects of foreign investment on local producers and rural communities, as stipulated by the AFIDA.
- Encouraging filers to voluntarily provide geospatial data to help pinpoint their land locations.
The feedback received from the public will be instrumental in developing an electronic submission system for foreign filers, thereby enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of data reporting. This move reflects the USDA’s commitment to maintaining transparency and understanding the broader implications of foreign investments in U.S. agricultural lands.
