Sen. Lankford Pushes Bill To Increase Transparency On Foreign Farmland Purchases In Oklahoma

Lawmakers met with farmers to discuss the future of agriculture here in the state.

U.S. Senator James Lankford (R- Okla.) says it's time to crack down on the foreign land purchases happening in Oklahoma threatening national security. 

The discussion inside a closed-door roundtable revolved around the need to pass a bill sponsored by Lankford that would allow oversight and transparency on foreign purchases of U.S. farmland.

"They're not American citizens who are purchasing the land here, affecting water, electricity, and safety. It's a lot of people illegally present," said Lankford. 

Lankford says that Oklahoma farming land has been turned into Marijuana grow farms since the passage of the marijuana laws in 2018.

Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says Canadians own the most acres in Oklahoma, but Lankford's big concern is Chinese nationals. "No one is complaining about the land owned by Canadian people because they follow the rules. But if you are talking about Chinese nationals, they are not following the rules," said Lankford.

The SOIL Act was introduced last year. Now, he's hoping to make more progress with it with the help of a ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

The goal is to get it inside the next Farm Bill. "Congressman Frank Lucas (R- Okla.) is also working on the House side, and I am working on the Senate side, trying to deal with what we see in Oklahoma as a major issue." 

Groundwork on the Senate's farm bill is expected to start next week. 

Inside that farm bill, they also want to see safety nets for farmers, trade tools conservation, and research.