High levels of agribusiness and corporate farming concentration have serious implications for North Dakota, given that agriculture is the largest economic contributor in the state. The combination of consolidation and wealth extraction from rural communities has left little competition and fewer opportunities for the state’s next generation of farmers and ranchers. In addition to consolidation, multinational agribusinesses use largeness to their advantage by exerting influence over industry groups, policy, and programs intended to help farmers and consumers. The evolution of federal and state beef checkoff programs, lack of autonomy for farmers to fix equipment they own, and repeal of the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements are recent examples where agribusiness and corporate operators have benefited over family farms. This brief shows some of the national trends, while tying in specific policy concerns facing North Dakota farmers and ranchers.
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