Governors Unite to Protect US Farmland from Foreign Threats

By Scout Nelson

Governor Larry Rhoden, along with several America First Governors, announced their strong support for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Farm Security Action Plan. This plan, led by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins under the Trump Administration, aims to secure American farmland and food systems from foreign threats, especially from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The governors shared their backing in a joint letter, stressing concerns over foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land. They warned that Chinese investors now control hundreds of thousands of acres of American farmland, which threatens not only local economies but also national security and food access.

The National Farm Security Action Plan is a united federal effort by USDA Secretary Rollins, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

It focuses on:

• Stronger enforcement of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA),
• Listing foreign-sourced farm inputs as critical,
• Protecting agriculture infrastructure from diseases and invasive species,
• Reviewing all USDA programs through an America First approach, and
• Increasing coordination with intelligence agencies and state leaders.

During his time as Lieutenant Governor, Larry Rhoden helped protect South Dakota farmland by supporting HB 1231, a law that blocks land ownership by six foreign governments.

“This is an all-hands-on-deck mission from Washington, D.C., to the farm towns and country roads of our states. Together, we will continue to map vulnerabilities, identify threats, and take aggressive, proactive steps to secure American land, agriculture, and national resilience for future generations,” said Governor Larry Rhoden and his colleagues. “This is the golden era of American renewal, an era in which we reclaim control over our resources, restore dignity to our agricultural sector, protect future generations, and ensure that American soil remains in American hands.”

Other signers of the letter include Governors from Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and former governors of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Their collective action shows a strong commitment to national resilience and food security, ensuring that American farmland remains under American control.

Photo Credit: istock-fangxianuo