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MN lawmakers take a closer look at current foreign ag land ownership law

The Minnesota State Legislature is evaluating the state foreign ag land ownership law to determine if updates are needed.

Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen tells Brownfield the review makes sense because one-third of the state legislature is new and surrounding states are updating their foreign ag land ownership laws.

He says in Minnesota ag landowners must hold a green card or be a U.S. citizen.

“You also must maintain your actual dwelling place in the United States for at least six months in a 12 month period. There’s also a couple of small exemptions: one for dairy and there are three ownerships grandfathered in from the 1970s still grandfathered in.”

Petersen, whose department oversees the enforcement of this law, says it has worked well the way it is written. He also says lawmakers are taking a closer look at the corporate farming law.

“In the next 20 years, about 50% of the land in Minnesota will change hands from the baby boomer generation. Minnesota is also working on other programs like a beginning farmer tax credit and a land access grant. It’s important to look at all of those land pieces.”

Minnesota’s Senate Ag Committee reviewed the law in a hearing on Wednesday, but no formal decision has been made yet.