The issue is primarily that mineral rights were sold years ago to acquire the natural gas and coal in the region. We always knew there was oil in Bakken (never this much, though) but couldn't extract it until fracking came along.
The problem comes from a couple of things: First, many farmers rent land. It's the renters who are pissed. Second, those land owners that sold their rights years before fracking lost out quite a bit to what mineral rights are going for now that we can frack the oil out.
The problem comes from a couple of things: First, many farmers rent land. It's the renters who are pissed. Second, those land owners that sold their rights years before fracking lost out quite a bit to what mineral rights are going for now that we can frack the oil out.