Cows over Clouds: “Agriculture Freedom Zones” to Stop Data Center Sprawl In Texas

A plan is in the works to protect Texas farmland from data centers.

AI Invasion

Data centers are a hot topic for discussion in Texas. After Big Tech realized that Texas is a pro-business state with huge swaths of undeveloped land, companies made a mad dash to the Lonestar state, buying anything they could get their hands on. This came at the expense of Texans who live in rural areas. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller agrees, saying AI data centers are taking over crucial farmland, and he says he is going to do something about it.

Agriculture Freedom Zones

Speaking in Waco, Commissioner Miller announced his “Agriculture Freedom Zones” or AFZs. The plan is a way to steer big data centers away from land that can be farmed. This would safeguard the nation’s food supply and provide grassland for a cattle industry trying to rebuild herds. The state would identify land unsuitable for agriculture.

Getting It Through the Legislature

According to Commissioner Miller, Congressman Pete Sessions, who represents Texas’ 17th Congressional District and has a longstanding record of supporting agricultural communities and rural economies, will spearhead the AFZ legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. The AFZs would be identified by each state, and then require approval from The Department of Agriculture, The Department of the Interior, The Department of Energy, and U.S. Treasury.

Data Centers in Texas

As of February 2026:

Operating Data Centers: 79 major operating data centers

Total Facilities (All Sizes): 387 to 448 data centers

Under Construction: 102 major planned projects