By Andi Anderson
A new Iowa State University (ISU) analysis is offering Iowa landowners updated insights on foreign interest and lease activity involving the state’s farmland.
Published in the July edition of Ag Decision Maker, the report details how foreign-held agricultural land is used, owned, and leased both in Iowa and nationwide.
Report author Rabail Chandio, an ISU assistant professor and extension economist, said the findings help landowners understand the scale and nature of foreign involvement.
“If you own farmland in Iowa, or are thinking about buying, selling, or leasing, it’s smart to understand who else has an interest in that land,” she said.
Iowa’s strict laws limiting corporate and foreign agricultural land ownership keep direct foreign-owned acreage below 2%. However, most foreign interest comes through lease agreements — particularly those tied to renewable energy projects.
The study found that wind turbine leases are the most common, with farmland still actively used for crops while companies lease small portions for turbine infrastructure.
Nationally, foreign-held agricultural land has expanded by about 2.6 million acres annually since 2017, up from roughly 600,000 acres per year between 2012 and 2017. Much of this growth is also linked to energy-related leases rather than large-scale land purchases.
In 2023, the Iowa counties with the most foreign interest, measured by total foreign acres, were Poweshiek, Dickinson, Mitchell, Washington, Page, Davis, Pocahontas, Webster, Cherokee, and Taylor.
While outright foreign ownership remains limited, leasing activity is steadily increasing, especially in renewable energy sectors. The report emphasizes that understanding these trends is essential for landowners to make informed decisions about their property in a changing agricultural landscape.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-fotokostic
Categories: Iowa, Rural Lifestyle