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JACKSON, Miss. – The Study Committee on Foreign Purchase of Farmland in Mississippi held its second meeting at the State Capitol on September 27. The Mississippi Legislature created this Study Committee through House Bill 280, 2023 Legislative Session, for the purpose of studying the purchasing, acquiring, leasing or holding an interest in agricultural land by foreign governments.
“A great deal of what I do these days is listening and talking to people, and I can tell the sentiment of the people of Mississippi is that this is a major issue that needs to be addressed,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “There’s nothing I talk about that gets more of a response from the people of this state than this issue. Something as simple as keeping American agriculture, American.”
The Study Committee welcomed Staff Attorney Micah Brown of the National Agriculture Law Center (NALC) to its second meeting as a presenter. The NALC is a non-partisan source of objective, scholarly and authoritative agricultural and food law research and information. In his presentation, Brown highlighted Southern state laws and regulations relating to foreign land ownership.
The next meeting for the Committee will be October 19, 2023, in Room 113 in the Capitol. Committee Chairman, Commissioner Andy Gipson, asks that those who wish to speak at the next meeting submit a request containing their questions or concerns along with proposed remarks in advance so it may be added to the meeting agenda. Requests must be submitted via farmland@mdac.ms.gov by October 12, 2023, for consideration.
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I’m not really understanding why this committee has found a need for a second meeting. The ownership, purchase or lease of any commercial property or enterprise by any foreign entity, corporations, individuals and especially the CCP should be strictly prohibited. The rental of residences would be allowed for those attending school or a work situation.