(NewsDakota.com/NorthDakotaAgConnection.com) – North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has signed a bill, which modernizes the state’s corporate farming law to encourage growth in the animal agriculture sector.

“These narrowly defined changes in state law will take the handcuffs off our farmers and ranchers and allow capital investment to flow into our state, growing animal agriculture, adding value to crops, creating opportunities for the next generation, and helping rural communities and schools to thrive in North Dakota once again,” Burgum said. “With House Bill 1371, we can level the playing field with other states and expand animal agriculture with environmental stewardship. We’re grateful to the bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Paul Thomas of Velva, Commissioner Goehring and all of the bill sponsors, commodity groups and other supporters for their collaboration on this groundbreaking legislation.”

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring noted that in neighboring states, 40% to 50% of agricultural receipts come from livestock, compared with only 16% to 18% in North Dakota.

“This will add so much more (value) to every bushel of grain. It’ll help offset expenses because we’re going to be able to utilize the manure, something that’s more natural, more balanced more beneficial, and improves soil health. And then it turns around and it creates more value in our backyard, with swine, with dairy, maybe some more feedlots, also opportunities maybe to get into the poultry business,” Goehring said. “Now, I believe we have the environment to support our farmers, to support our rural communities and to support animal agriculture.”

In his State of the State address on Jan. 3, Burgum urged the legislature to modernize the corporate farming law with the goal of growing the state’s dairy, livestock, feedlot, swine and poultry production and adding value to North Dakota crops.