CD 7 Candidate Cory Mills Calls for Protection of Farmland from Foreign Interests

Republican Cory Mills, the party's nominee for Florida's seventh Congressional District, recently spoke to a group of voters on the issue of farmland and food security. Mills highlighted the necessity to protect farmland from foreign interests and big business alike, likening their importance to energy independence.

"I believe that food security is directly related to our national security," Mills told the audience. "I think that as America, we need to be thinking about independence, not just in our energy system, but in food security.

"That's why I want to pass a law that bans any purchase or foreign ownership of American farmland, including if Bill Gates or Black Rock buys, they will have a ten year moratorium where they cannot eliminate the farmland and it must continue to be harvested."

Leaders across the country have called for a crackdown on foreign ownership, with Mills' plan being one of the boldest to combat the measure which aims to curb the monopolization or restriction of the agricultural sector by big business as well.

Chinese firms have expanded their presence in American agriculture over the last decade by snapping up farmland and purchasing major agribusinesses, like pork processing giant Smithfield Foods. By the start of 2020, Chinese owners controlled about 192,000 agricultural acres in the U.S., worth $1.9 billion, including land used for farming, ranching and forestry, according to the Agriculture Department.

Mills defeated State Rep. Anthony Sabatini, among other opponents, by nearly 16 points in August in the Primary for Florida's Congressional District 7.

The Army veteran faces Karen Green in the General Election. Nate Silver's 538.com puts Mills' chances at winning in November at 99/100. The district leans in favor of the GOP by points.

Outgoing Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy defeated the seventh district's last GOP Representative, John L. Mica, in 2016.

Paid Advertisement