U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds introduced legislation on Capitol Hill Wednesday that would blacklist China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from investing in, purchasing or otherwise acquiring land or businesses involved in American agriculture.

Beyond that, the Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security (PASS) Act of 2023 would also add the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture as a standing member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States that considers American agriculture needs, requires the White House to alert Congress anytime a prohibited country is granted a waiver to the proposed ban and when making determinations affecting national security, and directs the ag secretary to issue a report on the risk of foreign purchases of agriculture companies.

SCOUTING REPORT PODCAST: Evolving on China, the neurotic naming of winter storms & food tax vs. sales tax cuts