The Democratic-NPL candidate for North Dakota agriculture commissioner wants a new commission created to combat potential outsourcing of the state's land, mineral and energy resources.
Merle Boucher, a longtime state legislator from Rolette, says the state's natural assets should be kept in the hands of private, family-owned North Dakota farms.
He criticized Republican incumbent Doug Goehring for opening the possibility of outsourcing through the expansion of corporate farming laws.
"My campaign is about solutions, and there is nothing more important in this state than our agricultural future and ensuring that our family farm way of life continues on in the face of the threat of outside interests," Boucher said Tuesday in Fargo.
Boucher said his proposed commission could include representatives of agriculture and energy organizations, financial and tax planning experts, legal experts, marketing experts and processors, and private citizens.
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"The best thing to do is put our brains together and prepare for the transition so that we're not left behind or unprepared," Boucher said.
