Older Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Reports

Lars Schonander filed this request with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency of the United States of America.
Submitted Jan. 21, 2022
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Lars Schonander

Subject: Freedom of Information Act Request: Older Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Reports

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

Any Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act reports from years prior from 2004.

On the AFIDA website, there is a list of reports (https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/economic-and-policy-analysis/afida/index) but the list only goes back to 2004. Looking at the data for the oldest report, it is clear however that data has been collected on these subjects beforehand. If Foreign Ownership of U.S. Agricultural Land reports before 2004 exist, I would like them from the range of 1978/start of reports to 2003. I would like this data in the form of a PDF for each report.

This request is being made for use for Lincoln Network, a think tank. It is not for commercial purposes.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Lars Schonander

From: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency

Subject: RE: Freedom of Information Act Request: Older Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Reports

Email

Dear Sir,
Thank you for your email. I am a Government Information Specialist with the FPAC Business Center, External Affairs Division, FOIA Team in Washington, DC. I need addition information on what exactly you are requesting. I believe your email may need to be forwarded to the Farm Agriculture Service (FSA). Please provide additional information so I can better help you.

Thank you.
Joneta

Joneta A. Saceda
Government Informatioin Specialist
Freedom of Information Act Team
Intergovernmental & Private Partnerships
External Affairs Division
USDA FPAC Business Center
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250
Office Phone: 202-720-2086
Email: Joneta.Saceda@usda.gov<mailto:Joneta.Saceda@usda.gov>
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From: Lars Schonander

Subject: RE: Freedom of Information Act Request: Older Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Reports

Email

Dear Ms. Saceda,

Thank you for responding to my FOIA request, more specific information with links is below,

For what I am requesting, I am requesting the AFIDA database (https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/economic-and-policy-analysis/afida/index) maintained by FAS that tracks ownership of U.S. crop, pasture, and timberland owned by foreigners.

For context, here is evidence that the AFIDA database has been FOIAed for before http://apps.investigatemidwest.org/afida/. I am seeking records not only from 1900 to 2016 that this group received, but records from after 2016 given that the AFIDA database has been updated over the past several years.

As it seems this group received it as a comma-separated value file, I would prefer to receive the AFIDA database in this format.

If more context is required, I am happy to provide additional information.

Best,

Lars Schonander

From: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency

Subject: RE: [External Email]RE: Freedom of Information Act Request: Older Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Reports

Email

To Whom it May Concern,

The Responsive records for the request (control number 2022-FSA-02497-F) below was sent to Lars Schonander on March 25, 2022. The data was too large to send via email so an invitation to box was sent. Mr. Schonander accepted the invitation to download the data from box on March 25, 2022. Then on Jun 1, 2022, another request for responsive records was received. Another invitation to the box was sent to Lars Schonander on Jun 1, 2022 which was accepted by Mr. Schonander on the same day.

There was a time limit on how long the data was kept in box. Did he not download it by that date? Are you asking us to reactivate box in order to retrieve the data?

Please advise.

Thank you,

v/r
Christina

[USDA Email Sig Logo]
Christina Vander Linden
Government Information Specialist
Freedom of Information Act Team
Intergovernmental and Private Partnerships
USDA, Farm Production and Conservation Business Center
External Affairs Division
6501 Beacon Drive
Kansas City, MO 64133
☎ (816) 823-2669 (Voice)
✉ christina.vanderlinden@usda.gov<mailto:christina.vanderlinden@usda.gov>
✉ SM.FP.FOIA@usda.gov<mailto:SM.FP.FOIA@usda.gov>

From: Lars Schonander

Subject: RE: Freedom of Information Act Request: Older Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Reports

Email

Hi Christina,

Actually, this case has seemingly resolved by itself. I do not know who did this, but the AFIDA website is now updated with the older reports.

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/economic-and-policy-analysis/afida/index

Thank you for responding to my FOIA request.

Best,

Lars

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