Food security is national security; we must keep America’s farmland American
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
March 24 is National Agriculture Day, a day to recognize the farmers who feed our country and sustain our rural communities. But this day is about more than celebration – it is a reminder that agriculture is not just an industry. Agriculture is a national security priority.
A nation that cannot feed itself cannot remain strong, independent, or secure.
American farmers produce the safest and most reliable food supply in the world. Here, in South Carolina, agriculture is the backbone of our rural economy and a vital part of our state’s heritage. From poultry and cattle to peaches, timber, soybeans, and vegetables, South Carolina farmers help feed millions of Americans every year.
But, today, our food system faces growing threats that demand strong leadership. The pandemic exposed fragile supply chains, empty shelves, and rising food prices. Those moments were a wake-up call: food security is national security.
Even more concerning is the growing effort by foreign adversaries – particularly the Chinese Communist Party – to purchase American farmland. This includes land near military bases and critical infrastructure. Agricultural land is not just real estate. It is a strategic national asset tied to our food supply, water resources, and national defense. Allowing hostile foreign governments to control these resources is a threat no American should ignore.
President Donald Trump understands these risks and has consistently stood with American farmers, putting America First and protecting our food supply. I am honored to have President Trump’s trust and endorsement in my campaign for South Carolina Commissioner of
Agriculture.
I am also proud to have the trust and support of Governor Henry McMaster, who has been a proven advocate for South Carolina farmers and rural communities and who knows the importance of keeping our farmland in American hands.
South Carolina must lead the way in protecting our farmland from foreign adversaries, strengthening local food supply chains, and supporting the farmers who work the land every day. Farmers face rising input costs, labor shortages, unpredictable markets, and increasing
regulations. If we want the next generation to continue farming, we must treat agriculture with the seriousness it deserves.
Our farmers are not just producers. They are stewards of the land and guardians of our food supply. On National Agriculture Day, let us recognize the men and women who rise before dawn and work long after sunset to keep food on our tables.
South Carolina’s farmland is more than soil.
It is independence.
It is security.
And it must remain American.
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Cody Simpson is a fifth-generation South Carolina farmer, former South Carolina State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in the Trump Administration, former Agriculture Advisor of Governor Henry McMaster, and a Trump-endorsed candidate for South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture.