Indiana farmland is one of the greatest assets of our state and plays a critical role in feeding our nation. Supporting Hoosier farmers and representing our rural communities are among my top priorities as your state representative. The General Assembly has taken efforts in recent years to protect our farmlands and bolster Hoosier agriculture. One of the ways we've done this is by establishing barriers against foreign adversaries owning our farmland.
According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, over 44 million acres of agricultural land was held by foreign investors in 2023. In 2024, I authored bipartisan legislation prohibiting foreign adversaries like China and Russia from owning and leasing farmland in Indiana and within a 10-mile radius of a military instillation.
This law bars foreign adversaries listed by the U.S. Department of Commerce from owning or leasing Hoosier farmland, including mineral, water and riparian rights, on Indiana agricultural land. In addition, it protects military installations throughout the state by prohibiting foreign adversaries from purchasing land within a 10-mile radius of such a facility.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says foreign ownership of U.S. land was up 40% since 2016 and in 2022 before this law took effect, over 438,000 acres in Indiana were owned by foreign entities. Several states including Alabama, Iowa and Kansas have passed similar legislation to limit and address the growing concern of foreign land ownership across the country. As more states propose legation and the national concern of foreign landownership continues to grow, Congress has proposed similar legislation to further protect our prime agricultural land.
I will continue to seek more ways to protect Indiana farmland and ensure our food supply remains secure. Please reach out for questions or comments at in.gov/h16 or by calling 317-232-9819.
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State Rep. Kendell Culp (R-Rensselaer) represents House District 16,
which includes portions of Jasper, Pulaski, Starke and White counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
