USDA Launches Online Portal for Reporting Foreign-Owned Agricultural Land Transactions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched a new online portal to streamline reporting of foreign ownership interests in U.S. agricultural land under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). The portal, announced on January 22, 2026, allows foreign persons, including individuals, businesses, and governments, to electronically submit required disclosures for agricultural land transactions using the federal Login.gov system. Additionally, the portal allows farmers, ranchers, and general members of the public to report possible under- or non-compliance with respect to AFIDA.

As discussed in our prior alert, USDA is undertaking efforts to modernize and strengthen its AFIDA reporting framework, including opening a public comment period in late 2025 to consider potential updates to disclosure requirements. The new portal represents a concrete step in that process, replacing the agency’s long-standing reliance on paper filings while collecting the same information currently required on USDA Form FSA‑153.

USDA will continue to accept hard‑copy AFIDA filings; however, filers are advised not to submit duplicate disclosures through both paper and electronic methods. According to USDA, the portal is intended to improve compliance, verification, and monitoring of foreign interests in U.S. farmland and support the agency’s broader National Farm Security Action Plan.

The launch of the portal follows USDA’s December 2025 issuance of an advance notice of proposed rulemaking signaling potential revisions to AFIDA’s implementing regulations. Stakeholders involved in transactions involving U.S. agricultural land, including foreign investors, developers, and entities with foreign ownership interests, should be aware of the new electronic filing option and continue to monitor regulatory developments related to AFIDA compliance.

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