Senator Rounds introduce a bill to ban certain countries from investing in land in the U.S.

MITCHELL, S.D.(WNAX)- South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds introduced legislation that would blacklist China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from investing in, purchasing or otherwise acquiring land or businesses involved in agriculture. He says it’s a growing concern.

Rounds says the Chinese government is attempting to buy land near the Grand Forks North Dakota Airforce Base.

Rounds says landowners should not want to make a profit at the risk of national security.

The USDA reports that less than one percent of South Dakota farmland is owned by foreign nationals.