Leasing and Leases in South Dakota

Almost three-fourths of the 83,000 Farm Operators in South Dakota Lease All or a Part of Their Land. These tenant operators, the owners of that land and agents who handle it constitute a high proportion of the people of the state. With a large and ever increasing amount of land in county, state, and federal ownership every citizen within the state is more or less affected by the manner in which the land is handled. As a consequence, leases and the leasing systems employed have some bearing on the economic and social welfare of practically every individual in the state. Equitable leases, that consider not only the best interests of landlords and tenants but that also provide for the proper use of the land, may beneficially affect the well-being of a high percentage of the people of South Dakota. (See more in text.