Overseas investors account for 2pc of us farmland

The report, which analyses data up to 2011, shows that foreign investors hold an interest in 25,715,588 acres in America. Of that land, forest land accounts for 54%, while cropland makes up 19% and pasture and other agricultural land account for 27%.

The amount owned by foreigners stayed steady between 200 and 2006. But investment levels soared in the following year, with acreage rocketing upwards by 3.6 million. In every year since, the level of investment has increased by 1.3 to 1.5 million acres.

The report reveals that the majority of foreign investment in farmland is concentrated in the South and West of the US. Indeed, Texas is the state with the largest amount of foreign-held agricultural land. Even in Texas, though, overseas buyers only account for 1.9 per cent of privately owned farmland.

The percentage may seem small, but the figures show that it is still steadily increasing.

Source: Feedstuffs.com