Nine states restrict who can own agricultural land, including Iowa. The nine states have differing requirements and exemptions from their laws. However, South Dakota’s and Nebraska’s laws were determined to be unconstitutional under the dormant commerce clause by the federal courts in 2003 and 2006.  All nine states allow exemptions for family farm corporations, LLCs and trusts that meet certain criteria, such as majority ownership by close family members and required percentages of gross income coming from farming.

Of these nine states, seven do not apply to poultry operations (Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). Kansas, Oklahoma and South...