An association may organize, form, operate, own, control, have an interest in, own stock of, or be a member of any other corporation, with or without capital stock, which is engaged in preserving, drying, processing, canning, packing, storing, handling, shipping, utilizing, manufacturing, marketing, or selling of any product which is handled by the association, or the byproducts of any such product.
If such corporations are warehousing corporations, they may issue legal warehouse receipts to the association against the commodities which are delivered by it, or to any other person and such legal warehouse receipts shall be considered as adequate collateral to the extent of the usual and current value of the commodity which they represent. If such warehouse is licensed or licensed and bonded pursuant to the laws of this state or the United States, its warehouse receipt which is delivered to the association on any commodity of the association or its members, or delivered by the association or its members, shall not be challenged or discriminated against because of ownership or control, wholly or in part, by the association.
Any two or more corporations which are organized pursuant to this section may be merged into one such constituent corporation or consolidated into a new corporation, such merger or consolidation to be made in the manner that is prescribed by the general laws of the state which cover domestic corporations.