Smithfield lobbyist updates filing to reveal Chinese owner's stake in Farm Bill lobbying

Greenberg Traurig LLP, the lobbying agency for Smithfield Foods, revised its second-quarter lobbying disclosure to name WH Group of Kowloon, Hong Kong as a foreign entity with an interest in two policy areas: the Farm Bill reauthorization and issues concerning foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land. WH Group, which owns 86.9% of Smithfield, was omitted from the original filing submitted on July 20, 2026, which listed “None” on the required foreign-interest line despite the report covering $120,000 of lobbying directed at the House, Senate and Treasury.

The amendment was filed on Aug. 18, fifteen days after the Center for Responsible Food Business lodged a complaint with the Senate Secretary and House Clerk on Aug. 3. The Center’s president, Taylor Warren, criticized the need for a watchdog’s intervention to ensure compliance with federal lobbying disclosure laws. The filing now reflects the foreign ownership link and the lobbying activities tied to the Farm Bill and land-ownership rules. This development highlights scrutiny of foreign influence in U.S. agriculture policy.