Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law yesterday (Tuesday) to solidify Iowa’s stance on foreign ownership of agricultural land and strengthen regulations on such acquisitions. The bill introduces registration and reporting requirements, enforcement mechanisms, and penalties for non-compliance. Reynolds says, “Iowa’s laws on foreign ownership of land have long been recognized as some of the strongest in the nation, with other states looking to us when crafting their own policies. Yet, in the decades since we first addressed this issue, adversaries like China have grown significantly more aggressive on the world stage, constantly looking for any opening to assert themselves at the expense of our country. One all-too-common weapon in this battle is the purchase of American farmland.” She highlights the strategic importance of Iowa’s fertile land, which produces 10 percent of the nation’s food supply and leads in biofuel production. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig praised the legislation, stating, “Keeping Iowa’s precious and productive farmland in the hands of Americans is an issue I’ve heard about continually as I have traveled our state.” Attorney General Brenna Bird, who joined Governor Reynolds for the signing, emphasized the importance of transparency and enforcement, urging anyone with information about foreign farmland ownership to contact the Iowa Attorney General’s office at 888-777-4590.
