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South Dakota lawmakers consider foreign ag land bills

The South Dakota House is expected to vote on a bill that updates the current foreign ag land ownership law in the state this week.

South Dakota Farm Bureau Public Policy Director Matthew Bogue tells Brownfield it’s unclear how many foreign businesses own up to 160 acres of farmland in the state and this bill would identify those entities. South Dakota Farm Bureau supports this bill.

“We see it as something that provides more information to examine the issue.”

The South Dakota Senate Ag Committee is scheduled to hear a different bill addressing foreign ag land ownership on Tuesday. Governor Kristi Noem’s proposal would create a 5-person board to investigate ag land purchases or leases for the governor to approve. Bogue says Farm Bureau has concerns about this bill.

“That is the question, when you grant unilateral authority to one person regardless of the issue, that’s something we’re concerned about.”

It is a crossover week in the South Dakota Legislature and both bills will likely see action.  

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