Legislators in predominantly agricultural states have expressed concern over the potential for foreign ownership of land by adversarial nations including China, Russia and Iran.  The USDA will now participate in the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States that has the power to block transactions with foreign entities. 

It is estimated that 43 million acres or 3.5 percent of U.S. agricultural land is leased or owned by foreign companies with the vast majority comprising Canada with forest holdings and western E.U. nations operating cropland. 

National security is a significant consideration in the context of foreign purchases of U.S. land.  China has demonstrated an affinity for purchasing tracts of land or enterprises in close proximity to military installations with evident implications.