Summary
America’s food system is under pressure from multiple fronts—foreign farmland ownership, fertilizer shortages, supply chain disruptions, land loss, and concentrated food production. These combined pressures are reducing stability and increasing the risk of food shortages. Preparation means reducing dependence by storing food, growing your own supply, and securing reliable sources before disruptions escalate.
Why Is America’s Food System Under Pressure?
America's food system is under pressure from multiple directions at once.
Right now, farmers across the Corn Belt are making decisions they never thought they'd have to make.
Fertilizer costs have surged, forcing some to cut back on inputs during planting season.
At the same time, they’re competing with foreign buyers for control of American farmland, watching productive acres get pulled out of agriculture for data infrastructure and operating in an industry that continues to consolidate into fewer and fewer hands.
When the system is strained across multiple points, it doesn’t take a major shock to create disruption through America's food supply.
It just takes one.
The question isn't whether America's food system is vulnerable.
The data shows it clearly is.
The question is whether you're prepared for what comes next.
#1 U.S. Farmland Is Changing Hands
Foreign entities—particularly China—are acquiring U.S. agricultural land.
This is documented, tracked, and now prompting federal action.
Chinese entities held 277,336 acres of U.S. agricultural land as of December 31, 2023, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. [1]
But the distribution of this acreage tells the real story.
Strategic Positioning: The Real Threat
Chinese investments are not scattered randomly across America.
They are concentrated in 5 strategic states that collectively account for 93% of all Chinese farmland holdings:
- Texas
- North Carolina
- Missouri
- Utah
- Florida [2]
In South Carolina, Chinese-owned agricultural land sits in Sumter County—home to Shaw Air Force Base, one of the most critical U.S. military installations.
In Texas, North Carolina, and Missouri, Chinese holdings are concentrated in the nation's most productive agricultural regions—areas that control grain, soybean, and corn production.
In Utah, Chinese acquisitions target water-rich regions in a drought-prone state, positioning China to influence water resources critical to American agriculture. [3]
Federal and State Response
More states are recognizing the risk, but the response is coming after the fact.
- Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17, which restricts land purchases by entities linked to China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea. The law explicitly prohibits acquisition of interests in real property in Texas by foreign individuals or entities associated with designated countries. [4]
- South Carolina advanced similar legislation. In April 2026, the House panel advanced a bill that would prohibit 5 countries—China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Cuba—from owning farmland in South Carolina. [5]
- Oklahoma made foreign farmland ownership a central issue in the 2026 governor's race, with candidates spotlighting Chinese land ownership as a top voter concern. [6]
But these state-level restrictions only apply going forward.
They don't reclaim the 277,336 acres already acquired.
They don't reverse the strategic positioning already achieved.
In April 2026, the House Committee on Appropriations released the FY27 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Bill, which specifically addresses foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land by improving the tracking system of foreign land purchases. [7]
But tracking comes after acquisition.
That same month, the USDA entered into a $300 million agreement with Palantir to analyze and manage farmland as geopolitical risks to the food supply increase. [8]
Farmland is no longer just being monitored.
It’s being treated as a strategic asset.
#2 Farmers Are Getting Squeezed at the Source
American farmers are under pressure from the cost of the inputs required to grow food.
The Fertilizer Crisis
In mid-March 2026, the U.S. fertilizer supply was at approximately 75% of normal levels. [9]
This happened right at the beginning of planting season—the exact moment when farmers need maximum fertilizer availability.
The cause traces back to the Strait of Hormuz, where roughly one-third of the world’s fertilizer supply moves through a narrow shipping route between Iran and Oman. [10]
When geopolitical tensions disrupted the strait in March 2026, shipments slowed…and prices surged.
The Price Spike
Nitrogen fertilizer prices climbed more than 30% as tensions escalated in the Middle East. [11]
Urea—a key nitrogen fertilizer—surged from roughly $450 per ton to more than $700 per ton in a matter of weeks. [12]
Some fertilizer commodities hit 34-year highs.
Specifically, Nola urea traded at $880 per ton in April 2026, compared to $182 per ton in 2020. [13]
Farmers Can't Afford It
In April 2026, the American Farm Bureau Federation surveyed 5,700+ agricultural producers.
70% of U.S. farmers reported they can't afford all the fertilizer they need for the 2026 growing season. [12]
70%. Let that sink in.
Fertilizer is what allows modern agriculture to produce high yields. When farmers cut back, yields fall.
When yields drop, food supply tightens.
When food supply tightens, prices rise.
And it's happening right now, during the 2026 planting season.
#3 The Supply Chain Is Already Showing Strain
The pressure on farmers is already showing up downstream…in the supply chain.
Produce Shortages
The Produce Alliance reported major shortages in April 2026.
Tomatoes were in critical shortage with no improvement expected for 3-4 weeks.
Supplies of cucumbers, beans, peppers, and corn were all constrained. [11]
Rising Prices
Food prices are expected to rise 2.9% in 2026, according to industry projections.
Fresh vegetable prices are projected to increase 4.8% in 2026, driven by weather-related production challenges and seasonal factors.
According to Feed and Grain, “beef costs are projected to surge 6.3 percent in 2026, building on the 12.1 percent increase recorded in March 2026 compared to the previous year.” [12]
Global Disruptions
The World Food Programme reported that 70,000 metric tons of food is currently impacted by the war in the Middle East. [13]
About half of this food is on chartered bulk carriers stuck in port or unable to move through disrupted shipping lanes.
This doesn’t just affect global markets.
It affects availability and pricing closer to home.
The Cascading Effect
When you combine fertilizer shortages, produce supply constraints, rising input costs, and global shipping disruptions, the result is a supply chain under stress.
It's not broken yet.
But it's showing strain.
And strain can turn into a crisis quickly.
#4 U.S. Farmland Is Being Repurposed
Another pressure point is quietly reducing the amount of land available to produce food.
Microsoft's Massive Land Acquisition
In April 2026, Microsoft announced its intention to purchase approximately 3,200 acres of land south of Cheyenne, Wyoming, for continued development of data centers. [14]
This is prime agricultural land being converted to infrastructure for artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
Microsoft isn't alone.
Google, Amazon, and other tech giants are all competing to acquire farmland for data center development.
The good news is that some farmers are fighting back.
A Kentucky farming family declined a $26 million offer from a developer seeking to build an artificial intelligence data center on their land—a sign of how aggressive tech companies are in pursuing agricultural land. [15]
Land Removal from Food Production
Every acre of farmland converted to a data center is an acre no longer producing food.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller warned that rapid data center expansion could threaten prime agricultural land and food production, calling it a threat to American food security. [16]
Water and Energy Strain
Data centers don't just consume land. They consume massive amounts of water and energy.
In a region already facing drought and water scarcity, data centers are competing with agriculture for limited water resources.
This creates a direct conflict: Water for food production or water for AI infrastructure?
The answer, increasingly, is being decided by whoever can pay more.
And tech companies have deeper pockets than farmers.
#5 Key Food Production Is Concentrated
Another pressure point is how much food production is concentrated into a small number of operators—and in some cases, foreign-owned companies.
Smithfield Foods and Chinese Control
Smithfield Foods, the largest pork producer in the United States, is owned by a Chinese company.
Chinese entities acquired Smithfield in 2013, and the company now controls approximately 25% of U.S. pig production. [17]
In April 2026, Smithfield announced plans to build a new $1.3 billion pork processing plant in South Dakota.
The facility will slaughter approximately 20,000 hogs per day. [18]
This represents a significant expansion of production under foreign ownership.
The Geopolitical Layer
This goes beyond consolidation.
When a foreign government controls 25% of your nation's pork production, that government has influence over your food supply, your agricultural economy, and your national security.
At the same time, China is actively reducing its dependence on imported agricultural inputs.
Fermented feed for Chinese pigs currently accounts for 8% of industrial feed, up from 3% in 2022, and is projected to hit 15% by 2030. [19]
The direction is clear: China is increasing domestic agricultural independence while maintaining ownership stakes in key areas of U.S. food production.
How to Prepare for Food Shortages and Supply Chain Disruptions
You don’t control foreign ownership of farmland.
You don’t control fertilizer shortages or global shipping routes.
You don’t control how supply chains respond under pressure.
But you do control how dependent you are on those systems.
Every pressure point outlined above—land, inputs, production, distribution, and ownership—leads to the same outcome: LESS stability and LESS availability.
Preparation is how you create that margin for yourself.
#1 Start Producing, Not Just Buying
Plant something now—even if it’s small. Focus on food you’ll actually eat and learn what grows in your area. Heirloom seeds give you the ability to grow, harvest, and replant without relying on outside supply.
#2 Think beyond the Backyard
If you have the space, expand into a larger garden or small livestock. Chickens, for example, give you a renewable food source with relatively low overhead. The goal is simple: Produce more of what you consume.
#3 Secure a Food Supply First
Growing food takes time, but disruptions happen fast. A long-term food supply gives you immediate coverage while you build other layers. It removes your reliance on stores when availability tightens.
This is where a complete food system—like a Family Starter Pack—comes in. It gives you immediate coverage with long-term food, seeds to start growing, and a foundation you can build on without relying on stores.
#4 Plan for Protein
Protein is harder to store and more vulnerable to disruption than basic calories. Consider stored protein, livestock, or both as part of your plan. Without it, your food supply is incomplete.
#5 Build Your Base
Start with 3 things: stored food, seeds, and a plan to grow. You don’t need to do everything at once, but you need a foundation. From there, you expand based on your space and resources.
#6 Start Now, Not Later
The longer you wait, the fewer options you have. Prices rise, availability drops, and demand spikes when disruptions hit. Preparation works because it’s done before you need it.
This above list helps you shift from awareness to action.
You stop watching what’s happening and start putting something in place.
If supply tightened tomorrow, what’s the first thing your household would run out of?
Let us know in the comments.
In liberty,
Elizabeth Anderson
Preparedness Advisor, My Patriot Supply
Sources
[1] World Trade Online.USDA Moves to Curb Foreign Ownership of U.S. Farmland.
Published 2026. https://www.wttlonline.com/stories/usda-moves-to-curb-foreign-ownership-of-us-farmland,14028#
[2] The Epoch Times.U.S. Farmland Owned by Chinese Companies: What to Know.
Published 2026. https://www.theepochtimes.com/article/us-farmland-owned-by-chinese-companies-what-to-know-5894399
[3] WRDW News.S.C. House Panel Advances Bill Barring Foreign Adversaries from Buying Farmland.
April 3, 2026. https://www.wrdw.com/2026/04/04/sc-house-panel-advances-bill-barring-foreign-adversaries-buying-farmland/
[4] National Law Review.Texas Senate Bill 17 Restricts Foreign Ownership of Real Property in the State.
Published 2026. https://natlawreview.com/article/texas-senate-bill-17-restricts-foreign-ownership-real-property-state
[5] Fox Carolina.South Carolina House Panel Advances Bill Barring Foreign Adversaries from Buying Farmland.
April 3, 2026. https://www.foxcarolina.com/2026/04/03/south-carolina-house-panel-advances-bill-barring-foreign-adversaries-buying-farmland/
[6] Investigate Midwest.China Looms Large in Oklahoma Governor’s Race Over Foreign Ownership of Farmland.
April 13, 2026. https://investigatemidwest.org/2026/04/13/china-looms-large-in-oklahoma-governors-race-over-foreign-ownership-of-farmland/
[7] U.S. House Committee on Appropriations.Committee Releases FY27 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Bill.
April 22, 2026. https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/committee-releases-fy27-agriculture-rural-development-fda-bill
[8] CNBC.Palantir Inks $300 Million Deal with USDA to Safeguard Food Supply.
April 22, 2026. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/22/palantir-inks-300-million-deal-with-usda-to-safeguard-food-supply.html
[9] Agriculture.com.Global Supply Disruption Sends Nitrogen Fertilizer Prices Higher.
April 2026. https://www.agriculture.com/global-supply-disruption-sends-nitrogen-fertilizer-prices-higher-11957883
[10] WWBL.Farm Bureau Survey: 70% of U.S. Farmers Can’t Afford All the Fertilizer They Need.
April 16, 2026. https://www.wwbl.com/2026/04/16/farm-bureau-survey-70-of-us-farmers-cant-afford-all-the-fertilizer-they-need/
[11] Produce Alliance.Market Report: Current Shortages and Impacts.
April 2026. https://producealliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Market-Report-4.2.26_FULL.pdf
[12] Feed & Grain.Food Prices Expected to Rise 2.9% in 2026 as Beef Costs Surge.
April 25, 2026. https://www.feedandgrain.com/business-markets/news/15823231/food-prices-expected-to-rise-29-in-2026-as-beef-costs-surge
[13] World Food Programme.Global Disruptions to Supply Chains Are Driving Tomorrow’s Hunger Crisis.
March 31, 2026. https://www.wfp.org/news/global-disruptions-supply-chains-are-driving-tomorrows-hunger-crisis
[14] Wyoming News.Microsoft Intends to Purchase 3,200 Acres South of Cheyenne for Data Centers.
April 21, 2026. https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/microsoft-intends-to-purchase-3-200-acres-south-of-cheyenne-for-data-centers/article_3cbb2c90-9a60-4cb9-8537-1d835ea167ab.html
[15] Fox News.Kentucky Family Turns Down $26M from AI Developer to Preserve Farmland.
Published 2026. https://www.foxnews.com/media/kentucky-family-says-turned-down-26m-from-ai-giant-keep-farmland-fed-nation
[16] RFD-TV.South Texas Weighs AI Data Center Growth Against Agricultural Land Concerns.
April 21, 2026. https://www.rfdtv.com/south-texas-weighs-ai-data-center-growth-against-agricultural-land-concerns
[17] Animal Wellness Action.Factory Farm Bill Aims to Set Back the Animal Protection Movement.
April 27, 2026. https://animalwellnessaction.org/factory-farm-bill-aims-to-set-back-the-animal-protection-movement/
[18] MSN.Smithfield Foods to Build New South Dakota Pork Plant.
April 27, 2026. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/smithfield-foods-to-build-new-south-dakota-pork-plant/ar-AA1WsJ3d
[19] Reuters.Chinese Pigs Fed New Menu as Beijing Weans Farmers Off U.S. Soy.
April 2026. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinese-pigs-fed-new-menu-beijing-weans-farmers-off-us-soy-2026-04-07/
