South Dakota House passed a bill that would ban select foreign countries from purchasing farmland in South Dakota
PIERRE, S.D. (South Dakota Broadcasters Association) – The South Dakota House’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed a bill that would ban select foreign countries from purchasing farmland in South Dakota.
House Bill 1231, carried by Rep. JD Wangsness of Miller, would ban six countries deemed to be hostile from purchasing land in the Rushmore State. Those countries are Iran, China, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and Russia.
The push comes as some of those countries, specifically China, have begun buying up swaths of American farmland over the last several years.
”As you know, South Dakota’s number one industry is agriculture,” Wangsness said. “Losing our dirt to foreign interests is a threat, there is instability in the world and there are those that wish us harm.
