Cultivation of state land - legislative declaration

(1) In no case shall a lessee of state land be allowed to convert native grassland to cultivated land so long as the federal government has in place incentives intended to encourage the reduction of the amount of land under cultivation when such incentive is applicable in Colorado. (2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to a lessee who wishes to convert native grassland to cultivated land on a single parcel of state land which is twenty-five acres or less in size and which is contiguous to other land owned or leased by that lessee which is being cultivated at the time of the proposed conversion. (3) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that this section is enacted to assure that this state's grasslands and topsoil, invaluable and nonrenewable resources, are protected and preserved for future generations. Additionally, this section is enacted to further the national and state interest in maintaining the highest price levels for agricultural products by reducing the amount of land under cultivation and thereby reducing the supply of such products. In furthering this national and state interest, the state is also assuring that existing and future leases of state land will continue to provide the maximum possible revenue to the state.