Tuesday, North Dakota voters overwhelmingly defeated Measure one which kept the state’s ban on corporate ownership of agriculture. The ballot measure if approved would have held up legislation passed last session giving exemptions allowing for corporate ownership of swine and dairy operations of up to 640 acres. North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne who’s group opposed the measure says it took a lot of hard work to uphold the corporate ban.

He says the whole issue revolved around who should own farming and ranching operations in the state.

Watne says the reason for their success on the vote was twofold, one being the grassroots effort against Measure 1.

The Corporate Ag ownership ban in North Dakota has been in place for over 80 years.