Georgia Lawmakers Target Corporate Farm Acquisitions
State officials are weighing new measures to shield family farms from growing private equity land purchases.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Agriculture
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Over the past few years, private equity firms have accelerated the acquisition of Georgia farmland, including 5,600 acres of pecan groves in Mitchell County. State officials are now developing legislative measures to protect local family farms from this surge in corporate control.
Why it matters
Lawmakers worry that the increasing consolidation of food supply chains under investment firms threatens to drive up consumer food prices. This trend highlights a broader tension between private capital seeking agricultural profits and the preservation of family-owned land.
Three LLCs linked to PGIM have acquired over 5,600 acres of Mitchell County pecan groves, an area equivalent to the combined footprint of Downtown and Midtown Atlanta. Nationally, private equity firms now control 75 percent of all carrot sales.
The players
PGIM
An investment management firm that maintains $11 billion in agriculture assets and is connected to recent land acquisitions in Georgia.
The details
Investment firms are utilizing LLCs to purchase large swaths of family-owned agricultural land to capture long-term asset profits. PGIM, which manages $11 billion in agriculture assets, has been identified in recent land transactions across Georgia.
Timeline
Over the past few years, private equity firms have steadily increased their agricultural investments in Georgia.
Market Landscape
The shift toward corporate-owned farmland mirrors a broader national trend where institutional investors compete directly with independent family farms for limited acreage. These legislative efforts in Georgia represent a pushback against the consolidation of agricultural assets by firms like PGIM.
Rising corporate control of farm production has been linked to a 40 percent increase in retail carrot prices, directly impacting household grocery budgets. Local residents may see shifts in land use as traditional pecan groves are integrated into larger investment portfolios.
The takeaway
The rapid acquisition of thousands of acres by investment firms signals a long-term change in how land is valued and managed in Georgia. Residents should monitor upcoming legislative sessions for potential new rules governing land ownership and food supply chain transparency.
Further reading
For more background on the state's rural economy, visit the Georgia Agriculture section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta.
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