Candidates promise tougher restrictions on foreign-owned farmland, but an exemption in state law allows Oklahoma’s only known Chinese-owned agricultural operation to continue operating.
Foreign ownership of Oklahoma farmland has emerged as a major issue in the Republican race for governor, with several candidates warning about Chinese influence and promising tougher restrictions on foreign land purchases.
Yet behind the campaign rhetoric lies a more complicated reality: Oklahoma law contains an exemption that allows the state’s only known Chinese-owned farmland operation to continue operating despite restrictions lawmakers enacted three years ago.
The issue was examined in detail in a recent investigation by KGOU and Investigate Midwest, which reviewed campaign statements, state law and federal farmland ownership data. The reporting found that while candidates have increasingly focused on Chinese ownership of agricultural land, Oklahoma’s existing law contains a carve-out that protects Smithfield Foods’ operations in the state.
The issue has become a staple of campaign speeches and candidate forums ahead of the June 16 Republican primary.
Former state Sen. Jake Merrick has repeatedly cited foreign land ownership as one of the top concerns he hears from voters, while Attorney General Gentner Drummond has highlighted his office’s efforts against illegal marijuana operations linked to Chinese criminal organizations. Former House Speaker Charles McCall has also promoted legislation he helped pass restricting land ownership by entities tied to foreign adversaries.
The focus on China reflects a broader national trend. Lawmakers in dozens of states have introduced legislation targeting Chinese ownership of agricultural land, while the Trump administration has identified foreign farmland ownership as a national security concern.
Federal data show Chinese-owned farmland represents only a small fraction of foreign-owned agricultural land in the United States. U.S. Department of Agriculture records cited in the investigation show Chinese entities own less than 248,000 acres nationwide — roughly 0.6% of all foreign-held farmland.
In Oklahoma, much of the increase in foreign-owned land has been tied to Canadian and European renewable energy investments rather than Chinese companies.
The state’s debate is further complicated by an exemption lawmakers added after passing restrictions on foreign-owned farmland.
The exemption applies to companies that have agreements with the federal Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, known as CFIUS. That provision effectively shields Smithfield Foods, owned by Hong Kong-based WH Group, from Oklahoma’s restrictions. Smithfield operates hog production facilities on approximately 2,500 acres in northwestern Oklahoma.
The carve-out has created an awkward political dynamic. Candidates routinely criticize Chinese ownership of land while largely avoiding discussion of Smithfield’s continued Oklahoma operations.
Merrick told Investigate Midwest he opposes such exemptions and said Smithfield would face scrutiny under his administration. However, he acknowledged current state law protects the company from forced divestment.
Drummond, meanwhile, defended the exemption, arguing that companies approved through the federal review process have already undergone national security vetting.
The issue also surfaced this legislative session when Rep. Jim Shaw proposed additional penalties related to foreign-owned land. The measure stalled after a public disagreement with Rep. Chris Kannady, who argued existing law was sufficient and accused Shaw of pursuing a political issue rather than a policy solution.
Questions also remain about enforcement. Drummond has cited ongoing civil forfeiture actions involving land connected to illegal marijuana operations, but records obtained by Investigate Midwest found no completed auctions of those properties despite public statements suggesting land seizures had already generated proceeds for local governments.
As the Republican primary enters its final weeks, the debate highlights a recurring theme in Oklahoma politics: candidates competing to take the toughest stance against foreign ownership while navigating the legal exemptions, economic realities and federal approvals that make the issue far less straightforward than campaign speeches often suggest.
With Oklahoma’s next governor likely to emerge from the Republican primary, voters will soon decide which candidate they trust to turn that rhetoric into policy.
