North Dakota Farmers Union members have turned in what they hope will be more than enough signatures to place a corporate farming measure on next summer’s election ballot. State Farmers Union President, Mark Watne says the number of signatures still needs to be certified by North Dakota’s Secretary of State.

Watne says his group opposed a measure passed by this year’s legislature that allows dairy and hog operations to be owned by corporations on up to 640 acres of land. He says that’s why they began this petition drive.

He says there is a thorough process to go through to certify the petitions before it can be approved as a ballot measure. He says that will take 35 days.

Watne says once the petition signatures are certified and meet state law requirements, the Secretary of State will place the measure on the ballot to be voted on in July of 2016.