North Dakotans will vote in a June 14 referendum on a law that allows corporate hog and dairy farming in the state, says the Fargo Forum. The North Dakota Farmers Union led a petition drive that collected more than 19,000 signatures to refer the law to the voters. Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed the law last March. At that point, North Dakota was one of five states with laws against corporate farming and the only one without an exemption for livestock, said the Forum.
The law, State Bill 2351, allows corporations and limited liability companies to own or lease up to 640 acres for dairy or hog farming. Supporters say the law would invigorate the livestock industry by attracting investors. Opponents say farming should be left to family operations. The Forum says that until now, state law permitted only family corporations and LLCs with up to 15 related shareholders.