A North Dakota law lifting a ban on corporate ownership of farms has been put on “hold."
The North Dakota Legislature passed a bill in March lifting the state’s 83-year-old ban on non-family corporation or limited liability company ownership of farms with at least 50 cows or 500 pigs on up to 640 acres. The change was set to take effect Aug. 1.
A coalition led by the North Dakota Farmers Union conducted a petition drive to put the issue to a statewide referendum. North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger announced the effort had enough valid signatures, 19,354 to put the issue on the ballot next June. That puts implementation off until the vote is held.
Supporters of the change say it is needed to attract some much-needed investment dollars into North Dakota’s declining dairy and swine industries. Opponents contend farm ownership is best left in the hands of family farmers and ranchers.
Source: www.brownfieldagnews.com