South Dakota Agricultural Land Trust

Land Trusts

In legal terms, a trust is any arrangement in which one party holds property for another party’s benefit.

Using a conservation easement, a landowner can voluntarily enter into an agreement with a land trust to restrict certain development and uses of the land in order to protect desired resources.

Agricultural conservation easements are designed to keep land available for farming or ranching by limiting certain non-agricultural development. Every conservation easement is unique, tailored to the landowner’s wishes.

The landowner retains ownership of the property. The Land Trust holds the rights as specified in the conservation easement.