North Dakota law forbids corporations from owning agricultural land in the state, a law designed to protect family farms. But modern animal agriculture facilities require significant amounts of capital. While some out-of-state investors are interested in doing business in North Dakota, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says the law shuts them out.
People in the livestock industry offer multiple reasons why North Dakota has fallen behind, with anti-corporate farming laws, a lack of ag processing, restrictive ordinances and the 'stigma' of livestock among them.
North Dakota’s wide-open spaces are attractive to hog producers in states such as Indiana and Iowa who are trying to improve biosecurity by spreading out barns. Soybean crush plants will soon be adding even more feed to the local supply, and manure is increasing in popularity as an alternative to commercial fertilizer.
This week on AgweekTV, we'll take a look at some of the reasons why North Dakota trails neighboring states in animal agriculture and what some of the opportunities are. We'll give you a rare look inside the North Dakota State Mill as it celebrates 100 years. A farm counseling program for today's agriculture. A rural business offers a new kind of bean to consumers.