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Minimizing the “problem,” Del. Ray Garland of Roanoke said there are an estimated 23 million acres of farm land in Virginia. (The 1974 agriculture census reported that Virginia has 9,600,000 acres in farmland.) The Extension Service 18month survey in 15 Northern Virginia counties, from Caroline to Warren, and including Rappahannock, showed only three transfers, involving foreigners, in a total of 141 transfers of 100 acres or more.
No transfers to foreign investors of any of Rappahannock County’s 74,372 acres of land in farms (1974 ag census) were listed in the 15-county district report.
Assembling facts from local county court records to establish an accurate assessment nationwide of a trend, or threat, or opportunity in farm sales to foreigners was not simple.
Rep. Robinson said that the “Extension Service agents in Virginia were unable to identify the nationality of 75 persons who became new farm owners.”
On the other hand, one state agriculturist said that too often the surveyors assumed foreign investment because the investor’s name was Hispanic, German, Spanish or Arabic. His comment, “Names of
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