Missouri Moves to Tighten Reins On Foreign Land Ownership

Months after a Chinese company, Fufeng Group, was granted approval for a North Dakota land purchase in close proximity to a U.S. military base, foreign land ownership concerns are being raised on a local and national level.

The purchase set off alarms for other U.S. states to create legislative roadblocks for foreign land ownership within their borders. Missouri is the latest state to initiate the policy change.

Related story: China's Latest Land Purchase Could Pose Major U.S. Security Risk

The Missouri Senate on Wednesday backed a plan to amend the state's foreign land ownership threshold from 1% to 0.5%. The bill also includes a provision that would limit foreign countries—including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea—from acquiring farmland in Missouri by Sept. 1.

“We’re not going to allow for foreign ownership in the state of Missouri,” said Sen. Rick Brattin (R-31). “We have to draw a line in the sand today. It protects our sovereignty as a nation.”

While the vote passed 31-3, the bill’s opposers felt the legislation would breach property owner’s rights.

“I’m just a little lost here today as to how we have transformed this conversation of foreign entities owning our properties into the removal of individual rights,” said Lincoln Hough, (R-30). “I don’t want to disenfranchise property owners.”

Related story: Out-of-Country Farmland Investors:  Here’s What The Numbers Show

Brattain offered a rebuttal, saying Hough is only looking to “muddy the waters.”

The bill comes following a 2013 measure that allowed Smithfield Foods—a Chinese-owned company—to own property in Missouri. 

According to the Missouri Department of Ag, foreign land ownership in Missouri measures out to 0.36%, just shy of the 0.5% proposed limit. Of all of Missouri land, the department finds China owns roughly 42,596.