BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO) – North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says a federal judge has upheld North Dakota’s corporate farming law.
The North Dakota Farm Bureau and several farmers filed a lawsuit in 2016, claiming the law is unconstitutional. The corporate farming law prohibits most corporations from farming or owning farmland in North Dakota, but small “family farms” are excluded.
“In accordance with the court order, my office and the Office of the Secretary of State will continue to permit qualifying family corporations to take advantage of the family farm exception” Stenehjem said.
Stenehjem says the order from U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland also agrees with the state’s position that that there is no requirement under the family farm exception that a farmer maintain a physical presence on the farm.
https://kfgo.com/news/articles/2018/sep/21/federal-judge-upholds-north-dakota-law-that-bans-corporate-farms/