North Dakota farm groups are at odds over a corporate farming law in their state. Earlier this year the North Dakota Farm Bureau filed a lawsuit in federal court to throw out a state law banning corporate ownership of swine and dairy operations. This week the North Dakota Farmers Union filed a motion to intervene in that case. Farmers Union President Mark Watne says family farming is the backbone of their economy and his members want the corporate law left in place.

He says North Dakota’s corporate farm law has been on the books for a number of years and has worked well.

Earlier this year the North Dakota legislature had approved a measure to do away with the corporate farm law. However, it was referred to the voters and 75-percent voted to overturn the law and keep the corporate ban in place. Watne says control should be in the hands of the state and local governments.

Watne says family farms are the only business structure that provides rural and urban stability, national prosperity and preserves human and natural resources.