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Noem signs bill tightening foreign ownership of South Dakota farmland

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Noem signs bill tightening foreign ownership of South Dakota farmland
(Photo: State of South Dakota)

March 4, 2024

Austin Goss

PIERRE – Governor Kristi Noem signed into law House Bill 1231 Monday morning, imposing limitations on foreign ownership of agricultural land in South Dakota.

The measure aims to prevent six foreign governments from acquiring the state’s agricultural assets.

In a statement, Noem emphasized the importance of safeguarding South Dakota’s agricultural heritage while simultaneously addressing concerns about foreign influence in the state’s farming and ranching sectors.

Under the new law, foreign entities from China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela are barred from owning agricultural land in South Dakota.

Noem underscored the urgency of signing the bill into law, citing growing concerns about foreign control over American agricultural land. China, in particular, has seen a significant increase in its ownership of U.S. agricultural land in recent years.