Powerful Kansas lobbyists came out in force against Senate Bill 446, a bill that would bar foreign nationals from owning 10 or more acres of land unless approved by a council created by the bill.
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach proposed the bill citing concerns about foreign countries pricing young farmers out of Kansas farmland, cartel-owned parcels used in the drug trade and the Chinese company Cnano creating a manufacturing plant in Johnson County.
The bill wouldn’t apply to foreign-born citizens or green card holders, but other residents or foreign companies would need an exemption when purchasing more than 3 acres.
The state’s largest lobbyists in agriculture, utilities, business and civil rights rose in opposition to the bill. The Kansas Farm Bureau, Livestock Association, Agribusiness Retailers Association, Corn Growing Association and Soybean Association all opposed the motion, citing its infringement on private property rights and existing laws prohibiting corporate farming.
“There are anti-corporate farming laws. Not only can a foreign corporation from China or any other foreign country not own agricultural land in the state of Kansas, neither can an evil corporation from Nebraska,” said John Donley, a lobbyist with the Kansas Farm Bureau.