Published 10:30 am Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Pacific Northwest had 3.4 million acres held by foreign investors

Foreign agricultural land holdings surged by 146,500 acres in Oregon in 2024, the fourth-highest gain in the U.S., behind New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma, according to a new analysis from the American Farm Bureau Federation.

An initial report was published in January by USDA, but the agency released an update with detailed data in the summer, said Faith Parum , American Farm Bureau Federation deputy chief economist.

Oregon saw strong growth in foreign-held forest, cropland and pasture for the second straight year — in 2023, 166,000 acres shifted to out-out-country interests.

In Washington, foreign ag holdings grew more modestly in 2024, by 58,200 acres, and Idaho saw an increase of 15,200 acres, according to USDA data .

Foreign investors held nearly 3.4 million acres of agricultural properties across the Pacific Northwest, up 6.9% from 2023.

Nearly two thirds of Northwest foreign ag holdings…