WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – China-linked agricultural land transactions were disproportionately concentrated in counties containing U.S. military sites, according to a new Purdue University-led study examining foreign farmland ownership from 1996 through 2024.
The peer-reviewed research, led by Purdue agricultural economist Valerie Kilders and published in PLOS One, found 43.7% of China-linked transactions, excluding the Smithfield acquisition, occurred in military-interest counties. That compares with 11.3% of all foreign transactions.
Researchers stress the findings show an association, not proof that military proximity motivated purchases. China-linked transactions also represented a very small share of the overall dataset.
The study also found signs that China-linked transactions shifted toward counties adjacent to military sites after 2022, although limited transactions prevented firm statistical conclusions.
The findings add new geographic context as states and federal policymakers consider tighter restrictions and reporting requirements for foreign agricultural land ownership.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Foreign farmland debates may increasingly focus on where land is located, not simply how many acres are held.