TOPEKA, Kan. - Gov. Sam Brownback's administration appears ready to ask Kansas legislators to repeal state laws that restrict the involvement of corporations in farming. State Agriculture Secretary Dale Rodman told freshmen legislators Tuesday that the state's anti-corporate farming laws need to be repealed. He said later during a brief interview the state can't expand agriculture as much as it could because of the restrictions.
Also, Attorney General Derek Schmidt said he told Rodman in a recent letter that some of the restrictions are likely unconstitutional. Kansas has restricted corporate involvement in agriculture since 1931, during the Great Depression. Current law generally limits corporate ownership of agricultural land to family farm corporations or partnerships or small corporations formed by Kansas residents. It makes exceptions for feedlots, poultry operations, dairies and hog farms.