(a) 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; and engage in preserving, drying, processing, canning, packing, ginning, compressing, storing, handling, shipping, utilizing, manufacturing, marketing, or selling of agricultural products handled by the association, or the by-products thereof.
(b)
(1) If the corporations are warehousing corporations, they may issue legal warehouse receipts to the association or to any other person and the legal warehouse receipts shall be considered as adequate collateral to the extent of the current value of the commodity represented.
(2) In case the warehouse is licensed or licensed and bonded under the laws of this state or the United States, its warehouse receipt shall not be challenged or discriminated against because of ownership or control, wholly or in part, by the association.