That's my whole point from the beginning. But when you said "you still qualify if you buy between the record date and the ex-date." Then things became more confusing.
But that's NOT what I said. Read it again.
Yes, you still qualify if you buy between the record date and the ex-date and the ex-date is AFTER the record date
According to the article you sent me, this distribution order only applies to "Cash-Dividend." It did not specify much about other type of dividend distribution such as stock dividend.
Again, reread the quote I posted. It does also apply to stock dividends. Although the problem here can be determining whether the value is greater than 25% of the share price. Shouldn't be a problem for SIAF !