The following provisions apply to the ownership or leasing of agricultural land in this state:

1. (1) A prohibited entity may not own agricultural land in this state;

2. (2) A prohibited entity may not lease or hold an easement on agricultural land in this state, unless:

   1. (a) The lease is exclusively for agricultural research purposes and encumbers no more than three hundred and twenty acres; or
   2. (b) The lease is exclusively for contract feeding of livestock, at an animal feeding operation, by a family farm unit, a family farm corporation, or an authorized farm corporation;

3. (3) Excluding a prohibited entity, a foreign entity, foreign government, or foreign person may not own more than one hundred and sixty acres of agricultural land in this state, provided this limitation does not include:

   1. (a) Agricultural land acquired by devise or inheritance; or
   2. (b) Agricultural land held as security for indebtedness; and
4. (4) Excluding a prohibited entity, there is no restriction on easements or the number of acres of agricultural land that a foreign entity, foreign government, or foreign person may lease. This section does not apply to a foreign entity, foreign government, or foreign person whose right to hold land is secured by treaty.

Source: SL 1979, ch 291 , § 1; SL 2024, ch 176 , § 3.