An Exemption for Ag Property

North Dakota Senate Bill 2279 would allow for an agriculture exemption on commercial classified property. Crystal farmer Loren Estad testified in favor of the bill, explaining how the property taxes increased after the rezoning of his potato storage warehouse. “I’m doing nothing different than a grain farmer does; harvest the crop, put it in a truck, haul it to the bin site. In 2017, the land became commercial and it resulted in my taxes going from $300 on that parcel to $32,000.” This bill would allow for storage of specific agriculture products by the owner of the warehouse or direct relatives of the owner. Bill Wocken testified on behalf of the North Dakota League of Cities in opposition to 2279. “Each exemption only increases the tax burden for the properties that are not exempt.” The Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee tabled the bill.