North Dakota's Farm Bureau is promoting a state constitutional amendment that says no one may restrict "modern livestock production and ranching practices." The Farm Bureau intends to circulate an initiative petition to put the amendment on the statewide ballot. The proposed initiative was delivered to Secretary of State Al Jaeger's office.
The amendment has two sentences. The first says "the right of farmers and ranchers to engage in modern farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state."
The second sentence reads: "No law shall be enacted which abridges the right of farmers and ranchers to employ agricultural technology, modern livestock production and ranching practices."
The amendment would raise questions about some laws, including zoning restrictions on farm land and limits on biotechnology in farming operations. PD
—AP newswire report
