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Nebraska farmer says some intervention in foreign ag land purchases might be warranted

A South-Central Nebraska farmer says foreign investments of farmland and ag companies pose a significant threat to the US food supply chain.

Randy Uhrmacher tells Brownfield he may support federal or state regulations that limit those transactions. “I’m not one to really appreciate rules and regulations, but when it comes to food security and national security, I may have to change my tune on that slightly.”

He says it adds unnecessary competition for producers looking to buy or rent farmland. “But, I would say the bigger threat would be to the people in the United States and around the world as far as having another foreign country control your food supply.”

For example, “We have foreign countries coming in and buying up Smithfield and farm ground and control the food.  That get’s a little bit on the scary side.”

According to the National Agricultural Law Center, 14 states -Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wisconsin – have laws restricting some degree of foreign ownership.

Missouri and South Dakota are considering additional regulations, while a bipartisan group of US Representatives have asked the USDA for additional oversight.

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