Group recommends DU land buy be rejected

A group that advises Gov. John Hoeven on land purchases by nonprofits is recommending he reject a proposed 598-acre Ducks Unlimited land buy in Kidder County, saying the land would be better off in private ownership. The Natural Areas Acquisition Advisory Committee voted 6-2 Wednesday against the $335,000 purchase. Should Hoeven follow the group's recommendation, it would be the second time in two years that Ducks Unlimited has been denied the chance to buy land in the nation's prime duck production territory. State Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson, who voted to oppose the land deal, said that North Dakota's anti-corporate farming law "presumes that these acquisitions are not to go forward" unless there are special circumstances, such as the land in question having a unique view or unique vegetation or wildlife. That was not the case with the Kidder County land, he said. Kramer said the Natural Areas Acquisition Advisory Committee often follows the wishes of the county governing board. "They are probably more in tune to what is transpiring on that property than we certainly are," he said....I've posted articles about this before. ND apparently has a law that all nonprofit land acquisitions must be approved by the Governor and there is also an advisory board to offer opinions to the Governor. Other states should take a look at this approach.