What are the laws concerning the protection of agricultural land?

In Indiana, agricultural land is protected by various laws that have been put in place to ensure that it is preserved and used in a balanced fashion. The state has implemented several laws at both the state and local levels that aim to protect agricultural land from being taken for non-agricultural purposes. The Indiana State Constitution provides for the protection of agricultural land, declaring it to be a part of the public domain and that land used for agriculture shall receive special protection. This means that no public or private use of the land may be made that would be detrimental to its agricultural use. At the local level, counties have the authority to adopt ordinances to protect agriculturally zoned properties, which can include restrictions on subdivision and development. Local zoning ordinances, such as those specified under the Indiana Code, are intended to protect agricultural land and promote the efficient use of it. In addition, Indiana state law requires the use of conservation land easements and agricultural leases to protect agricultural land from development. A conservation land easement is a voluntary, legal agreement between a landowner and a local land trust. This agreement restricts the use of the land in order to protect it from development. Meanwhile, an agricultural lease is an agreement between a landowner and a tenant farmer which details the terms of the tenants rights to use the land for agricultural purposes. By utilizing these various laws, Indiana is ensuring that agricultural land is protected from any type of non-agricultural use that could jeopardize its natural and productive use.

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What are the laws concerning the protection of agricultural land?

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