Bill Overview
Title: Farmland Security Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to submit to Congress an annual report on foreign investments in agricultural land in the United States, including a description of the impact that foreign ownership of agricultural land has on family farms, rural communities, and the domestic food supply. USDA must also establish a public database that contains data from each report submitted.
Sponsors: Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals affected by agricultural land use in the United States
Estimated Size: 66000000
- The legislation affects agricultural ecosystems, which include family farmers who may own or rent land.
- Urban and rural communities may rely on these local food supplies, potentially affecting millions of consumers.
- Foreign entities and investors holding or investing in U.S. farmland will have their investments publicly reported.
- Data accessibility, due to the public database, impacts researchers and policymakers interested in agricultural policies.
Reasoning
- This policy distinctly affects individuals involved directly or indirectly with U.S. agricultural land.
- Family farmers who own or rent land may be directly impacted by any changes in land ownership dynamics.
- Rural communities relying on agriculture as economic bedrock may feel shifts in local economies or security related to land ownership.
- Consumers indirectly impact as domestic food supply may fluctuate with ownership patterns of farmland.
- Researchers and policymakers are empowered by improved data access, potentially transforming agricultural policy and security strategies.
- Budget constraints ensure a focused approach on data gathering and transparent reporting, rather than direct financial intervention.
Simulated Interviews
Family Farmer (Iowa)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Foreign investment in farmland worries me because it could drive up prices and make it harder for small farmers like me to compete.
- Having a clear view of who owns land might protect us in the long term.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Agricultural Policy Researcher (California)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to reliable data on land ownership is crucial for my research.
- This policy could really enhance our ability to influence smart agricultural policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Rural Community Leader (Texas)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If foreign ownership affects local farmers, our entire community could suffer.
- Data transparency will help our community advocate for ourselves much better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Tech Worker (New York)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's good to know who owns the land that produces our food, even from an urban perspective.
- Data accessibility can lead to better urban-rural food initiatives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired Farmer (Florida)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Times have changed, and foreign ownership is a big issue today.
- We should have a right to know who owns our farmland.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Food Supply Chain Analyst (Illinois)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Data transparency could refine our models of how land ownership affects food prices.
- This policy might lead to more accurate forecasting in the future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Corn Farmer (Nebraska)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm most concerned about lease rates going up if foreign ownership increases.
- This policy might keep landlords more honest.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Organic Farmer (Oregon)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing who owns large amounts of land can help small farmers like me work towards more sustainable collaborations.
- It's reassuring to have public accountability for large landowners.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Soybean Farmer (Kansas)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Not sure how much difference this policy will make.
- We've seen a lot of laws come and go without real change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Graduate Student in Environmental Policy (Louisiana)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm excited to have such data available for academic purposes.
- This bill can lead to better environmental decisions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $4500000 (Low: $3500000, High: $5500000)
Year 3: $4500000 (Low: $3500000, High: $5500000)
Year 5: $4500000 (Low: $3500000, High: $5500000)
Year 10: $4000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $5000000)
Year 100: $4000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $5000000)
Key Considerations
- The initial costs to establish a robust data management and reporting framework are significant.
- Long-term savings might be realized as efficiencies in data handling are achieved over time.
- The public and governmental access to comprehensive data could lead to more informed policy decisions regarding foreign ownership of agricultural land.