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South Dakota’s governor wants to see action on foreign ag land ownership

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem referenced foreign ag land ownership in her state of the state address on Tuesday.

“China and other evil foreign governments are executing a plan to own our ag land and to control our food supply,” she says. “Although last year’s proposal to regulate these purchases didn’t pass, we’ve continued to discuss solutions from all those folks involved and impacted.”

She says Congress hasn’t acted and it’s too important of an issue to not address.

South Dakota Farm Bureau’s State Public Policy Director Matthew Bogue says he hasn’t seen any bills proposing changes to foreign ag land ownership yet. He says South Dakota Farm Bureau still prefers reasonable limitations on foreign owned ag land in the state. 

“We recognize there are efforts at the federal level that are ongoing making sure there are reasonable limitations and trying not to have unintended consequences,” he says. “We’ll be watching to see if there’s any legislation.”

State Representative Tina Mulally has introduced legislation that would support a study on foreign ag land ownership in South Dakota and Bogue says Farm Bureau hasn’t decided whether it will support the bill.

South Dakota’s state legislative session began on Tuesday.