Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds at the Capitol

(Photo: Iowa Soybean Association / Joseph Hopper)

Iowa Soybean Farmers Welcome Tighter Restrictions on Foreign Ownership of Farmland

April 9, 2024 | Brock Johnston

Ankeny, Iowa – Governor Kim Reynolds today signed into law Senate File 2204 that strengthens Iowa’s foreign ownership of farmland law, a move applauded by the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA). The bipartisan legislation will increase ownership transparency and provide greater enforcement and penalty mechanisms.

Suzanne Shirbroun, ISA president, seed business owner and sixth-generation soybean, corn and livestock farmer from Farmersburg, issued the following statement:

“Today’s signing is welcomed news for Iowa farmers and our state’s thriving agriculture industry, who have long supported efforts to govern foreign ownership of farmland and business in a way that protects producers, consumers, national security and economic interests. This legislation will strengthen land ownership transparency and enforcement without limiting the market access and industry research that farmers rely on. We thank Governor Reynolds for her continued leadership on this priority issue for Iowa farmers, as well as the overwhelmingly bipartisan coalition of support within the state legislature. We also extend thanks to ISA Advocate-members for their engagement with their legislators on this issue.” 

Read the full text here.

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The Iowa Soybean Association (www.iasoybeans.com) is “Driven To Deliver” increased soybean demand through market development and new uses, farmer-focused research and results, timely information and know-how and policy initiatives enabling farmers and the industry to flourish. Founded in 1964 by farmers to serve farmers, ISA is governed by a board of 22 farmers to advocate on behalf of the state’s 40,000 soybean producers, including more than 15,000 ISA farmer members and industry stakeholders.

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