BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO) – HB 1371, a bill that would allow authorized livestock farm corporations and limited liability companies to operate in North Dakota, is making its way through the state capitol.
North Dakota Farmers Union is taking a neutral position on the bill at this point.
“Last week, North Dakota Farmers Union secured major amendments to HB 1371. These amendments guarantee family farmer and rancher control of new animal feeding operations,” President Mark Watne said in a statement. “The amended bill also limits the number of shareholders that can participate and requires these new entities to comply with the same enforcement requirements of family farm corporations.”
Watne said a limited liability company must have 75 percent of a family farmer or rancher with controlling interest. In a corporation, 51 percent of the interest must be owned by family farmers and ranchers.
“We added on that they can only own 160 acres, and a shareholder can only be in up to five of those areas,” Watne told KFGO News. “And so, there’s a limitation on how big they can become. That’s the primaries, it’s really important that if we’re going to allow this, it’s important that we have family farmers and ranchers controlling this.”
According to the group, North Dakota Farmers Union will continue to protect family farmer and rancher control of animal agriculture.
