January Union Farmer 2013

Mission Statement: North Dakota Farmers Union, guided by the principles of cooperation, legislation and education, is an organization committed to the prosperity of family farms, ranches and rural communities.

UNION FARMER www.ndfu.org

A winter day in Jamestown

In this issue:

3.

Legislative outlook

14.

A visit from Santa

23.

Teddy bear toss

31.

President’s message

January 2013 – Volume 60 Number 1

North Dakota Union Farmer

The UNION FARMER is published monthly by North Dakota Farmers Union at 1415 12th Ave SE, Jamestown N.D. 58401.

Annual subscription is $30 annually with NDFU membership. Periodicals postage paid at Fargo, ND.

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DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS/EDITOR: Anne Denholm 800-366-8331 • www.ndfu.org adenholm@ndfu.org POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: NDFU PO Box 2136 Jamestown N.D. 58402-2136 Copies mailed this issue: 35,084 • USPS 016-211

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: President: Elwood “Woody” Barth Vice President: Bob Kuylen Secretary: Ellen Linderman Treasurer: Terry Borstad James Kerzman; Wes Niederman Jr.; Dennis Stromme; Jim Teigen; Ben Vig

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

Getting ready for 2013 sessionReviewing top legislative topics NDFU has been busy preparing for the North Dakota state legislative session, which starts January 8, 2013. The legislature meets every two years for just 80 days. This year, with a booming economy and great infrastructure needs, the legislature will have its hands full. The NDFU legislative team will be tracking any legislation affecting family farmers and ranchers, especially the following hot topics:

Property Tax Relief North Dakota is known nationwide for its robust economy.

Agriculture directly accounts for 25 percent of the state’s economy; ag-related activities increase that to 40 percent. Ag also carries the majority of the property tax burden, and, while all North Dakotans need property tax relief, property taxes are hitting farmers and ranchers hardest. NDFU will work to ensure that the tax burden in the state does not unfairly fall to family farmers and ranchers. We will push to ensure the three-legged stool of sales, income and property taxes remain intact. We will educate leaders about the need to retain the productivity formula for ag land valuation.

Infrastructure Needs

If you’ve taken a tour of oil country, you’ve seen the enormous burden on roads, highways, sewer and water systems in western North Dakota. If you raise cattle or crops in the west, you know the odd and damaging effects of dust. If you’ve lived and farmed on the Sheyenne River, near Devils Lake, or near the Red, Souris, or Missouri Rivers, you know the wearing effects of floods. If you’ve tried to drive a township road or over a bridge nearly anywhere in the state, you know the precarious nature of our rural routes of commerce. NDFU will join with others to tell that story. We need to replenish the state’s depleted infrastructure and invest in its future.

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

Oil and Gas Tax Revenue As oil development grows, the state’s tax revenue from that development increases. This session, the legislature will hear ideas about how to use that revenue to meet infrastructure needs, including how to fine-tune formulas for funneling revenue back to the counties, cities and townships to address needs at a local level. NDFU policy advocates that a significant percentage of the oil and gas production tax – a tax paid in lieu of property taxes – goes back to the local level.

Conservation Fund

NDFU policy supports stewardship of our land and animals and conservation practices that family farmers and ranchers can implement on working lands.

NDFU is working with fellow ag groups and conservation, energy, parks, tourism and business groups to develop legislation creating a grant program for conservation purposes. We’ll continue to work to make sure NDFU has a seat at the table. Funds should be available for working lands as well as hunting, habitat, and park programs. Funds should not be used to acquire or tie up land.

Animal Treatment

As part of a coalition that successfully defeated a narrowly tailored initiated measure on the November ballot, NDFU will continue to play a lead role in pushing for a comprehensive rewrite of the state’s animal humane treatment statute. The broad coalition consists of shelters, zoos, ag groups, veterinarians and

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Meet the NDFU Legislative Team

Woody Barth, NDFU President wbarth@ndfu.org

Kristi Carlson kcarlson@ndfu.org

the agriculture department – all animal caretakers who believe in a standard of stewardship and in protecting those who do right by animals.

Throughout the session, the NDFU legislative team will keep you educated about these and other important issues including agriculture research, school funding and tax reform. If you have

Richard Schlosser rschlosser@ndfu.org

Mark Watne mwatne@ndfu.org

questions or if you want to get weekly updates, sign up for e-mail updates on our website, and “like” NDFU on Facebook. You can also contact a member of the NDFU legislative team.

NDFU has always been an influential voice in Bismarck because we have a strong and active membership. Our members

Pam Musland pmusland@ndfu.org

develop our policies, speak up to our legislators and local officials, and even offer to serve our communities in township, county, city and state government. On behalf of all NDFU members, thank you for telling your story. Let’s get ready for a lively legislative session! s

Precision Agriculture ACTION SUMMIT January 21-22, 2013 in Jamestown North Dakota Farmers Union Conference Center or join by satellite at the Ernie French Center in Williston 4 Hear about precision agriculture and upcoming trends 4 Earn CEU credits 4 Keynote speakers and session panelists 4 Get information or register online at: theresearchcorridor.com/precisionagsummit2013 4 Break-out sessions on commercial sensor options, spatial data management, crop management & field sensors 4 Networking opportunities and equipment demonstrations 4 Technical information on vegetation indices, variable rate application Sponsors include: North Dakota Farmers Union, Red River Valley Research Corridor, NDSU Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and the Dakota Precision Ag Center.

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Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

NDFU members offer input at district meetings In December, the NDFU legislative team met with key leaders from each district around the state. The meetings were designed to solicit information and concerns before the legislative session begins in January.

District 1 - Wednesday, Dec. 12 in Devils Lake District 2 – Tuesday, Dec. 11 in Minot District 3 – Monday, Dec. 3 in Stanley District 4 – Monday, Dec. 3 in Dickinson District 5 – Tuesday, Dec. 11 in Mandan District 6 – Wednesday, Dec. 12 in Jamestown District 7 – Thursday, Dec. 13 in Fargo Discussions were held at each site about a variety of topics relevant to each district.

The feedback will be used when speaking to representatives at the state capitol. Here are some of the main points covered during the meetings:

TAXES

Discussed property taxes, oil production taxes, Legacy Fund, abatements, assessments, mill levies, homestead tax credit, record land prices and valuation.

• Producers are seeing increased property taxes due to the cap removal on the productivity index. To eliminate or reduce taxes on sloughs, shelterbelts, etc., counties must have abatement “modifiers” in policy by Feb. 1 to affect 2014 taxes. Landowners should contact their local county assessor to ensure modifiers are in place.

• Focus on property tax relief for ag land • Too many counties are trying to protect landowners by not raising taxes, and then not having money to operate.

• The impact of out-of-state Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

landowners buying up property for hunting and investment.

• Ag land valuation tied to productivity, not market value of ag land

CONSERVATION & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY Visited about the proposed Heritage Fund, wetlands, pipelines, power lines easements, alternative energy, blender pumps, loss of CRP ground, and special interests and accountability. Concerns about the Heritage Fund include whether it will tie up ag land, reduce tax base and which entities will seek grants.

ANIMAL STEWARDSHIP AND RIGHT TO FARM

Discussed legislative action to strengthen animal cruelty laws, and the Right to Farm constitutional amendment and its possible affect.

OIL IMPACTS

Discussed a wide array of impacts on communities from the oil boom.

• Percentage of oil tax revenue going back to townships has to be greater to build infrastructure.

The slice of the pie needs to be increased for counties, too. Money should be given back as soon as it

is generated.

• Impact from traffic has increased gravel expenses. Gravel doubled in price in one year in Burke County.

• Demand for services that can’t be met.

• Challenges for fire and ambulance staffs to meet higher demand. The issue is how to pay for services and equipment.

• Major concerns with roads and traffic in oil country. Examples given at several meetings: Out of one gravel pit, 40 trucks run every two hours, seven days a week.

Roads destroyed in 14 months.

In eight weeks time, Mountrail County revenue dropped to 10%.

Predicted 18 years of very active drilling in northwest corner. Have active farmers that struggle to farm with the traffic. County is borrowing money to gravel; roads are quickly worn. No base on many roadbeds.

• Road dust, because of the high traffic, causes trickle down problems for roadside vegetation, crops, growing cycle, productivity and more. Dust affecting yields.

Production loss extends 300 feet into the field from the road. Both sides of the field are red because of the scoria dust.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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• Livestock production reduced due to dust pneumonia. Dust affects grazing availability and land use.

WATER

Discussed the Fargo water diversion project, Sheyenne Valley, Devils Lake, flooding issues, home buyouts, water management, tiling and planning.

• Lost 100,000 acres of farmland in Devils Lake. Truck traffic has significantly increased over the years. What will happen with infrastructure when lake goes down?

• Need compensation for lost land.

• Downstream impacts.

HOUSING

Housing is scarce. A lot of people are living in campers/trucks; oil boom has impact statewide.

SCHOOLS

Increased student enrollment and challenges on how to handle growth in rural areas, especially for funding and infrastructure. State should fund schools. Just because school aid is increasing, doesn’t mean needs are being met.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Geese damaging fields; muskrats damaging roads.

• Failure to replace State Highway Department employees when they retire.

• Exempting farm equipment from overweight restrictions.

• Post office privatization and pay reductions.

• State redistricting • Concerns about the influence of money in politics. s If you have any comments on the upcoming legislative session, please contact 1-800-366-8331.

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Final decision on dust The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized an update to its national air quality standards for harmful fine particle pollution (PM2.5), including soot, setting the annual health standard at 12 micrograms per cubic meter, in response to a court order.

According to EPA, the report has no effect on the existing daily standard for fine particles or the existing daily standard for coarse particles (PM10), which includes dust from farms and other sources, both of which remain unchanged.

“We now have a finalized standard for harmful, fine particle pollution,” said North Dakota

Farmers Union President Elwood “Woody” Barth. “All in family farm agriculture can put this issue behind us and continue to produce food, fiber and feed for our world.”

National Farmers Union also commended the EPA on continuing its position to leave PM10 standards unchanged. NFU Vice President of Government Relations Chandler Goule said, “We can finally put this issue to rest. There has been a lot of misinformation circulating about supposed regulatory overreach so this final rule will hopefully put to rest any remaining anxiety regarding ‘farm dust’ regulation by EPA.”s Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

What you need to know about oil and gas leasing

North Dakota Farmers Union provided a breakout session at the 2012 state convention on mineral rights and how modern drilling techniques are changing impact on surface and mineral owners and how legal agreements and forms need to account for some of the changes.

From various questions at the convention, to various questions asked on NDFU’s oil field bus trips, we have compiled some of the most common questions and answers to assist mineral and surface owners. Many of the concerns have changed from leasing questions to surface damage agreements and pipeline easements.

Additional questions and topics will be published in the future and everything will be posted on www. ndfu.org. We are also exploring the possibility of hosting educational meetings for members and guests later this winter or early spring.

These questions and answers are not a substitute for legal advice. Persons are urged to seek professional counsel for answers to their specific questions.

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

I received a letter from an oil company that I have never heard of and they want to lease mineral acres that I did not know I had. Is this a scam? How do I find out if I own any minerals?

Ownership of mineral rights, like ownership of land, is a matter of public record. All transfers of mineral rights are recorded in the county register of deeds. A search of public record in the courthouse will reveal any transfer of mineral rights. An analysis of the transfers will reveal the current ownership of the mineral rights. This is the same process used to determine ownership of the surface rights.

Consult an attorney to help you determine whether you own the mineral rights suggested by this oil company.

How can mineral rights be separated from the surface acres? My grandfather would have never sold any minerals.

Mineral rights are severed or separated from surface rights by a transfer of either the mineral rights or the surface rights. Check the public record to determine whether any transfers by previous owners separated the mineral rights from the land. Separation could have occurred when ownership of the land was transferred but the mineral rights were retained, or when the mineral rights were transferred and ownership of the land was retained.

A summary of all previous transactions is compiled in the abstract. If you have access to the abstract and are willing to pay to have the abstract updated, information from public records would be easier to review.

Landowners and mineral owners should retain an attorney to help understand the information contained in the public record and summarized in an updated abstract.

A review of the public records will indicate what grandpa did. It could be that the mineral rights were separated from the surface rights before grandpa acquired ownership of the surface; that is, grandpa may have never owned the mineral rights.

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Finding answers to common

If a tract of land is sold and there is no mention of minerals being reserved by the seller, does that mean the minerals come with the land?

A transfer of surface rights transfers the mineral rights unless the transfer explicitly mentions that the mineral rights are being reserved or retained. If mineral rights are reserved, ALL minerals are presumed reserved except 1) those minerals that are explicitly stated as staying with (transferring with) the surface rights, and 2) gravel, clay and scoria. The only way to separate gravel, clay and scoria from the surface rights is to explicitly state that they are being severed.

North Dakota law addresses this question; see North Dakota Century Code 47-10-25 for more information.

How did various lending institutions end up with all these mineral acres in North Dakota? Was that legal to retain minerals after deed backs and foreclosure actions?

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Yes, it is legal for financial institutions to receive ownership of land through foreclosure and deed backs; and yes, it is legal for them to keep the mineral rights even if they sell the surface.

Except: For minerals acquired after July 1, 1985, any corporation or limited liability company (most financial institutions are organized as either a corporation or limited liability company) that 1) acquires mineral interests through foreclosure or in lieu of foreclosure which were not specifically valued at the time the security interest in the minerals was acquired, and 2) is prohibited from owning or leasing land used in farming or ranching, is prohibited from retaining mineral interests when the corporation or limited liability company divests itself of the land.

The mineral interests must be transferred with the surface rights when the corporation or limited liability company divests itself of the land. See North Dakota Century Code 10-06.1-03.

Borrowers may want to consider negotiating mortgages that encumber only surface rights.

These questions and answers are not a substitute for legal advice. Persons are urged to seek professional counsel for answers to their specific questions.

My sisters and I signed a mineral lease two years ago with oil company A; now we get a division order from oil company B saying they have determined that we will get a .000012 share of the production of the new well just drilled. How can that be?

This portion that has been designated for your family reflects the amount of mineral rights you own within a 1280-acre spacing unit. Horizontal boring technology has led the Industrial Commission to regulate oil and gas production in spacing units one mile wide by two miles long.

It may take as many as seven or eight wells with parallel horizontal bores two miles long to capture the oil from the spacing unit. That is, the horizontal bores are placed approximately 600 feet apart along one edge (one mile wide) of the spacing unit. Even though your family’s land may be located in one corner of the spacing unit, you will share in the production of all oil from all wells that will be used during the coming years to capture the oil and gas from the 1280-acre spacing unit.

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

questions on gas/oil leasing

Also see North Dakota Century Code 38-08-20 & 38-08-20.1 for statutes requiring meters and the testing of meters.

What is a “tight hole” that my friends at the coffee shop keep talking about?

Tight hole means the information about the well is held in confidence by the Industrial Commission for no more than six months.

It states in North Dakota Century Code 38-08-04(1)(i) that oil developers must “keep and maintain … complete and accurate records of the quantities thereof, which records must be available for examination by the commission or its agents at all reasonable times, and to file with the commission reports as the commission may prescribe with respect to oil or gas or the products thereof.”

From North Dakota Century Code 43-02-03-14: “… The confidentiality of any data submitted which is confidential pursuant to subsection 6 of North Dakota Century Code section 38-08-04 and section 43-02-03-31 must be maintained.”

From North Dakota Century Code 38-08-04(6): The Industrial Commission is “to provide for the confidentiality of well data reported to the commission if requested in writing by those reporting the data for a period not to exceed six months.”

From North Dakota Century Code 43-02-03-31: “All information furnished to the director on new permits, except the operator name, well name, location, spacing or drilling unit description, spud date, rig contractor, central tank battery number, and any production runs, shall be kept confidential for not more than six months if requested by the operator in writing.”

A shut-in well is an oil well that has been drilled but is not producing at this time. An oil well that is not producing does not entitle the oil company to retain the leased mineral rights. An oil company that wants to retain mineral rights associated with a Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

Company A may have leased your mineral rights but Company B may begin to drill the well and produce the oil within the spacing unit. Company B then has the right to control the production within the spacing unit. Company B will share the oil production with your family based on your lease agreement with Company A. Companies A and B have a business relationship and legal understanding about their relative rights in this spacing unit. In this case, Company B is producing this spacing unit, but Company A is probably leading production in another spacing unit.

The first company to acquire a drilling permit from the Industrial Commission and to commence production has the right to produce the entire spacing unit. This practice of designating spacing units and authorizing one company to produce the oil for the benefit of all mineral owners and mineral lessees leads to more efficient and lower cost production of the oil and gas.

What are the reasons for signing a mineral lease? If I don’t lease, will they drill anyway, and would I get either no royalty income or would I get more than my relatives who did sign their leases?

If a mineral owner does not sign a mineral lease and the spacing unit is brought into production, the mineral owner will likely be given an opportunity to lease their mineral rights to the oil company. The royalty rate for the lease will likely be the average royalty rate in the spacing unit or 16%, whichever is less.

A mineral owner who does not lease after being given an opportunity to lease will be considered partial owner of the oil well and responsible for their portion of drilling and operating costs. If the non-leasing mineral owner does not agree to bear a portion of the cost, an additional 50% penalty will be imposed.

Mineral owners have to carefully consider whether they

want to enter into a mineral lease or whether they want to be a coowner in the oil well. See North Dakota Century Code 38-08-08 and North Dakota Century Code 43-02-03-16.3.

A land man gave me a proposed lease document to sign. It was all completed before I saw a copy. He says it’s a “standard 88 form paid up lease” and no changes can be made in the wording. Is that true?

There is no such thing as a standard mineral lease, nor is there any lease that cannot be negotiated and refined. This individual is blowing smoke. Do not sign a mineral lease unless you understand it and agree with it.

Do not get greedy and sign a lease because the bonus payment is attractive. Take time to review the lease and have an attorney review it with you if you so desire.

If a company is interested in developing your minerals at this time, there will be additional leasing opportunities from others if you are not satisfied with the lease offered by the first company.

Can we trust the oil company is actually telling us the truth about how many barrels of oil are being produced? What’s to stop them from trucking a few valuable loads to Canada and selling it?

The oil and gas industry is highly regulated and the North Dakota Industrial Commission has the responsibility and authority to enforce reporting requirements.

See North Dakota Century Code 38-08-06.3. “Any person who makes a payment to an owner of a royalty interest …shall provide with the payment to the royalty owner an information statement that will allow the royalty owner to clearly identify the amount of oil or gas sold and the amount and purpose of each deduction made from the gross amount due.”

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Getting the facts on leases

mineral well that is not producing will want to include a provision in the mineral lease whereby the oil company will make a payment to the mineral owner to continue the mineral lease until the well is brought into production.

If I don’t own any minerals under my farm, can I stop the oil company from drilling on my land? Can I make them change the location?

No, the owner of the mineral rights and anyone who leases those mineral rights has the legal right to come onto the surface to explore for and produce the minerals. This is a long-standing principle in our legal system; that is, the mineral estate dominants over the surface estate.

No, the surface owner cannot change the location of a well. The

Industrial Commission determines the location of a well as part of its regulatory responsibilities and authority. Industrial Commission regulations specify the factors to consider in siting a well, but the final decision lies with the Industrial Commission.See North Dakota Century Code 43-020318.

How close to my farmstead and farm well can they drill?

The location of oil wells is determined by the North Dakota Industrial Commission. North Dakota statutory law specifies that oil wells must be a minimum of 500 feet from a residence.

For more information, see North Dakota Century Code 3808-05: "It is unlawful to commence operations for the drilling of a well for oil or gas without first obtaining a permit from the Industrial Commission … The applicant shall provide notice to the owner of any permanently occupied dwelling

located within one-quarter mile of the proposed oil or gas well. Unless waived, the commission may not issue a drilling permit for an oil or gas well that will be located within five hundred feet of an occupied dwelling. If the commission issues a drilling permit for a location within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling, the commission may impose such conditions on the permit as the commission determines reasonably necessary to minimize impact to the owner of the dwelling." (http://www. legis.nd.gov/cencode/t38c08.pdf).

North Dakota Century Code 4302-03-01(30: “Occupied dwelling" or "permanently occupied dwelling" means a residence which is lived in by a person at least six months throughout a calendar year."

Compiled by Dale Enerson, North Dakota Farmers Union; Responses prepared by David Saxowsky, Department of Agribusiness & Applied Economics, North Dakota State University, Sept. 2012 s

These questions and answers are not a substitute for legal advice. Persons are urged to seek professional counsel for answers to their specific questions.

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Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

CHS holds annual meeting During the annual meeting for CHS on Dec. 6-7 in Minneapolis, plans for the proposed nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing plant in Spiritwood, N.D. were confirmed and celebrated.

North Dakota Farmers Union President Elwood “Woody” Barth attended the convention and said, “We were pleased to hear that plans are progressing as promised and that leadership continues to support the project. CHS is owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States and this new fertilizer plant will definitely fit their market and help North Dakotans.”

“When it comes to the producers and cooperatives who own us, and the customers we serve around the world, we must not only invest in the future, but make sure we provide relevant options for doing business with us,” said Carl Casale, CHS president and chief executive officer.

“In the last two years we’ve made three dozen major news announcements on investments and acquisitions on our owners’ behalf that strengthen our presence at home and round the world in energy, grains, processing and food ingredients.”

“We were pleased to hear that plans are progressing as promised and that leadership continues to support the project.

Casale and other leaders reported on 2012 results to more than 2,200 of the cooperative’s owners and other guests at its annual meeting at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

In November, CHS reported record net income of $1.26 billion Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

as well as strengthening refined fuels supply and distribution in the northern tier of the U.S. and growing its propane, lubricants and renewable fuels businesses.

• Expanded global commodities presence with new offices in South Korea, Singapore and Paraguay, along with grain origination and export acquisitions and joint ventures in the Black Sea region and South America.

Strengthened U.S. grain exports through expansion of and investments in its TEMCO joint venture in the Pacific Northwest and establishment of a Port of Houston, Texas, grain through-put agreement.

• Proposed construction of the first CHS nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facility, planned for Spiritwood, N.D., and an investment in a Texas clean fuels project that includes sole access to 700,000 tons of urea.

for fiscal 2012 (Sept. 1, 2011 –Aug. 31, 2012) on revenues of $40.6 billion, setting a new mark for U.S. agriculture cooperatives. CHS Chief Financial Officer David Kastelic reported that in 2012 CHS “made key investments in current business operations and in new ventures that will drive long-term success while maintaining a healthy balance sheet that will allow the company to continue investing in the future.”

Highlights for 2012 included • Plans to acquire sole ownership of the McPherson, Kan., refinery in which it has long been majority owner. The facility also is the site of a $555 million coker project. CHS also continues to invest in its Laurel, Mont., refinery,

• Acquisition of an Israel-based soy foods and food ingredients business with two locations in that country, one in China and one in Nebraska. CHS also acquired a Creston, Iowa, soybean crushing plant focused on soy flour to supply the company’s existing soy protein foods business.

• Stronger cooperative system alignment as five co-ops and a Canadian firm chose to join the CHS Country Operations retail business unit and CHS partnered with several local co-ops on a variety of grain, crop nutrients and energy projects.

NDFU sent several representatives to the meeting including Barth, the Board of Directors and staff. s

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Greetings from Washington and Happy New Year! January will be a busy time in Washington D.C., as the 113th Congress convenes in early January while the inauguration of President Obama takes place on Jan. 21. It will be an exciting time of change and adjustment, and NFU will continue to work in the best interests of our members.

The beginning of the year will see the National Farmers Union office bustling with activity as our convention rapidly approaches.

If you haven’t already done so, please make your arrangements to travel to Springfield, Mass. for the convention.

Farm Bill Update

As of press time, Congress had yet to take action on a new version of the farm bill, which expired on Sept. 30. House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders are reportedly still working on a compromise version of the

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2012 farm bill to insert into pending “fiscal cliff” legislation, although an aide to House Speaker John Boehner has stated opposition to this approach. Other options Congress may pursue include a short term extension of the 2008 farm bill, agricultural disaster relief provisions attached to a larger bill authorizing assistance for Hurricane Sandy victims, or taking no action at all. NFU’s legislative staff is actively engaging in numerous meetings with members of Congress and their staff encouraging the completion of the farm bill and stressing the importance of providing longer term price protection for family farmers.

Policy Committee

The NFU policy committee will meet the week of Jan. 17 in Washington, D.C., to begin evaluating NFU’s current policy and to make suggestions for changes to present at the convention in Springfield, Mass. this March.

Policy is driven by Farmers Union’s grassroots membership across the country and determines the priorities our organization will work on for the next year.

This year’s policy committee members are Jeff Eschmeyer of Ohio (chairman), George Davis of Calif., Tom Wingfield of Colo.

(Rocky Mtn.), Daniel Truelove of Ill., Mary Howell of Kan., Tim Velde of Minn., Ronda Throener of N.D., and Kent McAninch of Okla.

On behalf of all the members of Farmers Union, we are grateful for the committee’s work.

Convention

NFU’s 111th annual convention in Springfield, Mass. is fast approaching and plans are continuing to shape up. A tentative schedule, hotel reservation link and registration details are posted at www.NFU.org/convention.Book your hotel accommodations by Feb. 7, 2013, to secure the discounted room rate. See you in March! s

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

Applications now being accepted for 2013 NFU Beginning Farmers Institute

National Farmers Union (NFU) is now accepting applications for its 2013 Beginning Farmers Institute (BFI) program. The annual program, now accepting its third class of students, is open to individuals who are new to farming, are in the process of transferring an operation from a relative or non-relative to themselves, or are contemplating a career in farming or ranching.

NFU’s focus for this national program is to develop and encourage agriculture leaders from all backgrounds. Our new nationally focused program provides an opportunity for beginning farmers to acquire leadership and farm management skills. It concentrates on building confidence in beginning farmers and farm couples, and additionally encourages them to learn, and apply leadership abilities to become actively involved in community organizations. Farmers Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

Union employs educational sessions, business tools and professional speakers in a structured setting, yet avoids the simple “classroom” workshop feel to achieve this goal. Our training includes on-farm experiences and tours of cooperatives.

“The Beginning Farmer Institute underscores our commitment to growing a new generation of family agriculture,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “This program will answer the questions new farmers have, and more importantly share our expertise to answer questions that people might not think of asking when they begin farming.”

The BFI program helps students gain insight and practical skills needed by beginning farmers and ranchers, including business plan

writing, financial planning, and researching available programs to help starting up and sustaining a successful operation.

Applicants accepted into the 2013 program will attend three separate education sessions, to be held in the spring and fall of 2013 in Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis, respectively, with a final session culminating at NFU’s annual convention in March 2014 in Santa Fe, N.M. Program topics at the education sessions will include business planning, U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, tax and record keeping, estate transfer and marketing.

The Beginning Farmers Institute is supported by the NFU Foundation, Farm Credit and the CHS Foundation.

Interested applicants can download the 2013 application on the NFU website, as well as visit NFU’s education Facebook page for updates and further information.

Applications must be postmarked on or before Feb. 11, 2013.

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Wishes do come true

Farmers Union Insurance agents visited with Santa and two of his elves at the special Make-A-Wish event in November. Pictured from left to right around Santa are: Kyle DeVries of Wahpeton; Jeff Kruger of Fargo; Shane Lebahn, West Fargo; Kevin Ressler, state sales director; Doug Kleingartner, Fargo; Ryan Ressler, Mandan, Chris Arnston, Maddock and Kelly Braun, Dickinson.

Farmers Union helps Make-A-Wish

BY ANNE DENHOLM, NDFU

Farmers Union Insurance agent Kelly Braun of Dickinson is one of those special people who has touched many lives through his volunteer efforts. For the last four years, Braun has been a MakeA-Wish® North Dakota board member. Through his training, he has literally made wishes come true.

On his recommendation, Farmers Union Insurance partnered with Make-A-Wish® North Dakota to sponsor a special night at the Fargo Force hockey game on Saturday, Nov. 24. Santa was in town as part of the Macy’s nationwide Believe campaign, visiting 26 cities in 26 days with Fargo as its first stop on the tour. Santa helped drop the puck at the beginning of the game and handed out presents to 12 Make-A-Wish children. The kids celebrated with the team during 14

post-game and visited the locker room to get autographs from all the players.

According to State Sales and Marketing Director, Kevin Ressler, “The Farmers Union Insurance night with the Fargo Force was a great night. Our $2000 donation was increased to $3626 since the hockey team ended up giving $1 for each reserved ticket sold. I met some of the coolest kids.”

Families and friends of both organizations were able to sit together, enjoy food and share individual stories. Ressler added, “One of the little guys who attended was diagnosed with kidney cancer when he was three years old. He is now five and living a happy, healthy life. His wish was to be a policeman and was presented with a bike made up as a police car. He was sworn in and spent the day with the police force.”

Another boy was diagnosed with a debilitating condition that requires regular IV infusions.

His mother shared the special challenges with the group and verbalized how thankful she is for friends, church and Farmers Union

Insurance for doing something special for her child.

Ressler said, “The optimism and positive attitude that was demonstrated by families faced with such adversity made me think about my own attitude. I think we could all learn a lot from these brave young people. The event solidified the need to continue to be active in our communities and share what time and resources we can.”

That’s exactly why Dickinson Farmers Union Insurance agent Braun continues to volunteer with Make-A-Wish.

Braun is one of nearly 25,000 volunteers across the country that enable the Make-A-Wish Foundation to serve children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Braun said, “When you work with families, it’s amazing that they open up and let you into their lives.

You really become an extended part of their family. You go in as a stranger and help them focus on their future dreams and getting the child healthy. You really try to fit the child’s wish into what they are interested in and take it a step Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

further than what they expect.”

Every fulfilled wish represents a unique collaboration between wish families, medical professionals, volunteers and donors. The magic of wish granting usually begins with a referral call to the chapter office by a physician or social worker; however, the family or even the child himself may do the referral.

A wish referral form is completed with relevant information about the child. After the Make-A-Wish Foundation® has been contacted, a medical authorization form is sent to the child’s primary physician.

Upon medical approval, a team of volunteers will schedule an initial wish visit to discover the child’s wish. Then chapter staff and volunteers work the magic for the child’s wish to come true.

For a child with a lifethreatening medical condition, a wish experience can give back what the illness takes away. It can help children forget about being sick.

Make them remember how to be kids, to laugh out loud and inspire them to keep making plans for the future.

There are four steps to granting a wish. Each step builds on the next to help create the amazing experiences that delight wish kids and their families. A wish experience is frequently a source of inspiration for children undergoing difficult medical treatments and a positive force that helps them overcome their obstacles. A wish experience is often more than a dream come true: It’s the catalyst

that rekindles their belief in themselves and the promise of their future.

Most wish requests fall into four major categories:

I wish to go…

Some Make-A-Wish® kids want to travel to their favorite theme park, while others want to visit an exotic beach, go on a cruise, see snow for the first time, or attend a major sporting event or concert.

I wish to be…

Children search the depths of their imagination when they wish to be someone for a day - a fireman, a police officer, or a model.

I wish to meet…

Many want to meet their favorite athlete, recording artist, television personality, movie star, politician, or public figure.

I wish to have…

Children often wish for a special gift, like a computer, a tree house, a shopping spree, or something that they have coveted for a long time.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980. Since its humble beginnings, the organization has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon, reaching more than 170,000 children. For information, go to www.northdakota.wish.org. s

Twelve Make-A-Wish North Dakota children met with Santa during the Fargo Force game. The children and their families met with the team to gather autographs.

Santa Claus dropped the puck to start the Fargo Force game sponsored by Farmers Union Insurance on Nov. 24.

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

15

Agent at home in Hettinger

BY ANNE DENHOLM, NDFU

For Jerel Seamands, being part of the community is important.

That commitment has been evident during his career as a North Dakota Farmers Union Insurance agent in Hettinger since 1982.

Seamands was born and raised in Hettinger on a dairy farm with seven brothers and two sisters.

He grew up as an active family member and wasn’t afraid of working hard. He said, “I always want to help out my family and my neighbors. It’s important in a small town to be involved.”

There have been many opportunities to get involved over the years. Seamands has been a member of the local American Legion for 39 years and for countless years on the chamber board. He has been active in the Eagles, Jaycees and worked part-time as the play-by-play radio announcer for local football, baseball and wrestling events. At the high school level, he refereed wrestling and football for years.

He started out selling life insurance with another company and joined North Dakota Farmers Union Insurance when a partner agency opened up. Seamands ended up at the agency himself but hopes his son, Darrin, will join him one day.

“I have a very good base of farm and ranch customers with lots of homeowners and some

Jerel Seamands has been an insurance agent in Hettinger since 1982. He is assisted

by Carla Ecker, an employee for over 24 years.

bigger commercial businesses,” Seamands said. “Three years ago, we signed the local Sanford hospital. I am very diversified and love what I do.” Customer service representative, Carla Ecker, has been with the office for 24 years, too. “It helps to have Carla help out,” he said.

According to Seamands, the job is never boring. “There’s always something to do. I like to keep in touch with clients. They end up to be your best friends,” he added.

Over the years, there have been a lot of changes. “I definitely have less farm business. There used to be a farmstead on every mile. There’s been a definite decline on multi-peril customers

and farm and ranch policies. The evaluation of homes has really changed, too. In 1974, a house valued at $25,000 is now valued at over $100,000.”

From the past to the future, the agent is excited for whatever comes his way. Seamands commented, “We have new industry coming into town. Things are moving and the oil industry isn’t going away. It’s going to impact us and we need to be prepared. We’ve had some town meetings on what we need to do and to start infrastructure planning.”

“I’m glad I’m here and can continue to serve my customers,” Seamands concluded. s

Insurance donates $500 to SADD Haley Risovi, New RockfordSheyenne Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) president, received a $500 check for the local SADD chapter from Farmers Union Service Association.

Presenting the check to Risovi was Donn Frahm, New Rockford area Farmers Union Insurance agent. The generous donation is a result of the SADD chapter’s request for funds to help offset costs for local activities and state conference expenses.

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Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

Census Helps Boost Rural Services for Farmers

Complete the 2012 census form As one farmer discovered during a recent winter, using Census of Agriculture data to educate local government leaders can help prevent potential havoc and hardship.

It all started when a Pennsylvania dairy producer learned that his county was looking to save money by cutting back on rural snow plow service.

That was alarming news to the farmer, because tanker trucks rely on rural roads to pick up the farm’s milk and deliver it to processors and bottlers. A snow-packed road without plowing service would certainly interrupt the farm’s operations.

Enter the farmer armed with accurate, timely facts.

“I used the county data in the Census of Agriculture to show our county officials the value of all that milk produced and explained the need for commercial

trucking for every dairy farm,” the farmer explained. “These officials had no idea of the size of the dairy industry in our county and reconsidered their plan for the snow removal budget with dairy farmers in mind.”

This case is a perfect example of the important role the census can play in helping America’s farmers run a successful business.

Conducted only once every five years, the census is more than just a count of U.S. farms and the people who operate them. It is a look at land use and ownership, production practices, expenditures and other things that affect the way farmers do business in the 21st Century.

“The Census of Agriculture gives farmers a voice to help spread the word about the value of farming,” added North Dakota Farmers Union President Woody Barth, “Along with their

achievements as business men and women, U.S. farmers know about the demands and obstacles they face in their community and industry. Providing accurate and timely information during the Census helps tell the story of farming today, especially among urban and non-farming neighbors.”

Completed forms are due by Feb. 4, 2013. Farmers can return their forms by mail, or online.

Census information is used by companies, cooperatives, planners and lawmakers who serve farmers and rural communities.

Federal law requires all agricultural producers to participate in the Census and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential.

For more information, call 1-888-4AG-STAT or 1-888-4247828. s

Teddy bears tossed on ice

Last month, According the Jamestown to Farmers High School Union Insurance Boys’ Hockey employee and team presented event coordinator, their version of Danny Schneider, the “Teddy Bear the event was a Toss,” an idea complete success. taken from an “. This is our 3rd annual event annual teddy bear hosted by the toss & it has been a Calgary Hitmen great thing to help of the Canadian out the Jamestown Hockey community. We will Leagues. be doing it again next During the Over 200 teddy bears were collected at the hockey game in Jamestown. Pictured year.“ Jamestown The teddy from left to right: Craig Beedy, a North Dakota Highway Patrol trooper; Danny Schneider from North Dakota Farmers Union Insurance; seventh grade students bears were tossed varsity game against opponent Matthew Schneider, Connor Fuch and Tanner Hillerud and Jamestown Police at the four minute Department Corporal Bob Schlenvogt.

Bismarck High mark in the second School, people were invited to toss period during the hockey game.

The event collected over 200 a stuffed teddy bear onto the ice Schneider explained, “Even though teddy bears and will be distributed following the first goal scored by the the final score of the game was to Toys For Tots, the Anne Carlson Jamestown Blue Jays.

4-2 in favor of Bismarck, the real Center, Jamestown Hospital The teddy bears were donated winners were the kids that will and the local police officers

by North Dakota Farmers Union be getting teddy bears that were organization.

Insurance. donated by Farmers Union.” s Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

17

Appreciation dinner in Williston

BY MEGAN BERGER, NDFU

North Dakota Farmers Union and local cooperatives have a strong history together.

From the beginning of the organization, NDFU has worked to educate its members on cooperative principles. From teaching children at Farmers Union camp about cooperative principles through the co-op store, to co-op board planning assistance, NDFU has long been an advocate and supporter of local cooperatives.

In return, many local cooperatives provide NDFU with educational funds to continue these programs.

To show their appreciation to the local cooperatives, the Williams County Farmers Union Board of Directors held their annual Cooperative Directors’ Appreciation Evening on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at the James Memorial Art Center in Williston, N.D. “We have held this event for many years and always have a great turnout from the co-op directors,” said Kurt Andre, vicepresident of Williams County Farmers Union. “The evening is an opportunity for our board to show appreciation to the co-op boards and managers in our area for their hard work and all they do throughout the year,” said Andre.

Over 40 people attended the event representing six area cooperatives. Also in attendance were four of the five Williams County Board of Directors; VicePresident Kurt Andre, Secretary & Youth Director Alvina Skogen, Treasurer Syvert Mahlen, and Director John Skogen. The evening began with a thank you speech from Andre. He expressed his thanks to the directors and told them to contact the county board if there is ever a need that can be filled. Megan Berger, member relations specialist for the western region of NDFU, briefed the group on the new online learning system that will be available to cooperatives in the spring. She also provided attendees with a brochure of all the benefits that NDFU has to offer cooperatives.

Williams County Youth Director, Alvina Skogen, gave a 18

Attendees dined on prime rib, shrimp, several side dishes and Christmas goodies.

youth report about the activities that were held throughout the year. These activities included day classes in three different communities throughout the county, which emphasized cooperative principles through projects and activities. Day class participants also toured area cooperatives. Skogen commented, “These The Midnight Rainbow entertained during the evening. activities are made possible through the educational funds that are provided from your cooperatives.

We thank you for your continued support of our day classes and educational trips.”

The group was treated to a delicious meal of prime rib, shrimp, several side The co-op dinner was a time for food and fellowship dishes, and Christmas goodies. Following the meal, the band, Midnight Rainbow, and Signe Verhasselt. They are entertained the group. This is a accompanied by prerecorded drum local Williston band made up of and keyboard tracks that Richard two members, Richard Halvorson records in his at-home-studio. s Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

McKenzie County sponsors trip

BY MEGAN BERGER, NDFU

Last month, members of the McKenzie County Farmers Union headed to Colorado on a bus trip sponsored by the McKenzie County Farmers Union and the Watford City Oil Company. The first stop on the trip was an overnight stay in Deadwood, S.D. where participants were able to roam the historic downtown streets. On Saturday, the group continued to Golden, Colo. where they were able to tour the Miller Coors Brewery.

For many of the participants, the brewery tour was the highlight of the trip.

“Members really enjoyed touring the brewery and learning the process of turning grains into beer. The tour gave a great picture of the “seed to shelf” process. Living in rural America, we see the planting, Outside the Miller Coors Brewery, the group poses in front of the replica of a copper kettle growth, and harvest of grains. used in the fermentation process.

It was interesting to be able and the leftover solid husks of hockey team to a victory over to see the processing method,” the grain. These leftover husks, a Colorado College. The following commented Josh Norby, president high-protein animal feed, are sold day, the group traveled to Denver of McKenzie County Farmers Union. to local farmers. Yeast is added to take in a Broncos football game Norby shared that the beer to the “worst” and put into cool at Mile High Stadium. Following making process begins with four fermentation tanks. The fermentation the game, the group traveled to main ingredients; water, hops, process takes about 10 days.

Cheyenne to spend the night yeast, and barley. Depending on Depending on the type of beer, after and returned to Watford City on the type of beer, other cereal grains 10 days it is either fermented further Monday, Dec. 2. such as corn and wheat are used or packaged. From “seed to shelf”, “Thanks to the educational as ingredients as well. In order the beer making process averages funds from the Watford City to allow the yeast to work, the about a month.

Oil Company, we were able to grains must go through the malting subsidize the trip and make it Following the brewery tour, process to convert the natural very affordable for our members the group attended a University starches into simple starches and to attend. The Watford City of North Dakota hockey game in sugars.

Oil Company has long been a Colorado Springs. Participants Following the malting process, supporter of these educational enjoyed cheering on the UND the grains trips. The trip are put into was a great large kettles opportunity for called mash the members tuns, which to learn about further breaks the ‘seed to down the shelf’ process starches into of making fermentable beer, and we sugars. This were fortunate process to be able to creates two take in two products; great sporting a sweet events,” Norby liquid known commented. s as “worst” The group outside Mile High Stadium in Denver prior to the Broncos game.

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

19

Stevens awarded Moore scholarship National Farmers Union (NFU) Foundation presented scholarships to college students in memory of Amanda Stevens Stanley Moore, a long-time leader of North Dakota Farmers Union. Recipients for 2012 included Amanda Stevens of North Dakota Farmers Union; Ramon Portuese of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union; and Kirsten

Slaughter of Wisconsin Farmers Union.

Stevens is the daughter of John and Arlette Stevens of rural Valley City. She has been a very active member in North Dakota Farmers Union. According to North Dakota Farmers Union Education Director, Jennifer Sundeen, Stevens is a good role model for youth. “Amanda worked as a camp counselor last summer and earned a Torchbearer Award in 2010. She is a great leader and I am happy that she won this scholarship.”

All three students have

demonstrated a commitment to improving rural America,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “This year’s winners will be the next generation of leaders, and Farmers Union is proud of what they have accomplished so far and will continue to accomplish.”

The program was established in memory of Stanley Moore for his life-long dedication to Farmers Union. Moore was born into two prominent Farmers Union families.

He also served as the NFU vice president and as chairman of the NFU Insurance Companies. s

Scholarship applications being accepted

committees make their determinations after evaluating the applications and essays. For details on deadlines and to download application forms, please visit the NFU education page, as well as visit NFU’s education Facebook page for updates and further information on NFU’s youth and young adult education programs. s

Calling all 7th & 8th graders NDFU would like to invite you to the first annual

Kick–Off p m Ca

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Seymour Scholarship is open to all graduating high school seniors who are continuing their education in an accredited two or four year college. Scholarship amounts vary from $1,000 to $2,000. Hubert K. Seymour was a leader in Illinois Farmers Union and subsequently was active at the national level.

Applicants must be Farmers Union members. Selection

Fe

National Farmers Union (NFU) is encouraging students to apply for several scholarships made available through the general farm organization and its affiliated foundations. The amounts vary from $1,000 to $2,000.

“We are thrilled to once again scholastically honor the best and brightest young Farmers Union members and aid them on their path to becoming future leaders of their schools, communities and the Farmers Union family,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.

The National Farmers Union Foundation and Farmers Union Industry (FUI) Foundation present scholarships to college students in memory of Stanley Moore, a long-time leader of North Dakota Farmers Union who later became vice president of National Farmers Union.

The NFU Foundation Moore scholarship is open to Farmers Union members and their children who are seeking funding to attend a two- or four-year accredited college or university, or technical school for any area of study. The foundation presents several scholarships in the value of $1,000 annually.

Separate FUI Foundation scholarships are also available to Farmers Union members in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The foundation awards several $1,500 scholarships each year in honor of Moore.

The Hubert and JoAnn

0 y 9 & 10, 2

REGISTER TODAY!

• food & entertainment provided • meet the 2013 summer staff • dance, movies & education on social media • transportation provided at specified points • bring: sleeping bag, blanket, pillow, personal hygiene items (no showers) & change of clothes Free to all members, must have current Farmers Union membership ($30/year)

Space limited so get your registration in early!

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

Dakota Plains Cooperative

Santa Day in Valley City

Santa Claus visits co-op It was Santa Day at Dakota Plains Cooperative in Valley City on Saturday, Dec.15, and that meant big savings to area customers. In addition to merchandise discounts and a truck load pizza sale, the cooperative sponsored sleigh rides and pictures with Santa Claus. General manager Ken Aistrup dressed up as Old Saint Nick. A wide assortment of holiday treats was served, too. The local chamber of commerce got into the action as well by holding a grand prize giveaway for an I-pad and $500 in chamber bucks.

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

21

BY MEGAN BERGER, NDFU

Jacklyn Damm and her husband, Jack, live on a farm on the Montana/North Dakota border three miles from Fairview, MT. The Damm’s are long-time North Dakota Farmers Union members and have participated in several trips and a fly-in with the organization. The home they live in is where Jack was raised.

The Damm’s raise sugar beets and wheat, which are very typical crops for the area they live in.

However, the unique thing about their farm is that they sharecrop, a method of farming in which the owners of the land allow tenants to farm for a share of the profits.

This method of farming is not the only unique thing about their family.

Over 20 years ago, Jacklyn started a side business for their family called “The Poor Damm Farm Creations.” “The business was born out of my love for crafting. I have been making jewelry for 22 years and have built onto that,” Jacklyn said.

For many years, the business revolved around jewelry making.

Jacklyn experimented with several types of beads from metal to glass. She went to several craft shows in the area, and at the time, there were only a few jewelry makers. However, as the years went by, many more jewelry makers began to attend craft shows. After searching for inspiration online, at craft stores, and at hardware stores, four years ago she entered the world of painting tiles. “The tiles are a great way to share inspirational thoughts with my customers. I also paint similar inspirational sayings on paper and frame them,” Jacklyn shared.

22

takes a lot of concentration so Recently, the business has I can make it look like the hair also begun selling “Reborn pattern of a real baby,” said Babies”. “Since I was a little girl, I Jacklyn. have loved dolls. About six years Jacklyn puts the finishing ago, I began collecting dolls and touches on the dolls with a discovered the ‘Reborn Babies’,” magnet in their mouth to attach said Jacklyn. Originally, doll a pacifier and a baby scented makers took store bought dolls perfume block to make the doll and repainted them to look more smell like a real baby. The babies realistic. Over the years, the market are also weighted down with a for these dolls has grown and they bag of sand or a bag of tiny glass are no longer redone dolls. “I buy beads that is placed in their head the parts and supplies from makers and body to make it feel like you who produce them just for ‘Reborn are holding a real baby. Once Babies’. The supplies come from completed, the dolls are sold at all over. Some of the babies have craft shows starting at $650.

German, hand-blown, glass eyes,” Jacklyn said, “People Jacklyn shared. purchase the dolls for a wide The process of making these variety of reasons whether it be dolls is very time consuming and requires no interruptions.

From start to finish, it takes about 1 month to make a doll.

Jacklyn begins with the vinyl bodies and paints very thin layers to create the look of skin. After each layer is painted, it has to be baked on a very low temperature to seal the paint on.

When complete, each doll has roughly 40 layers of thin paint.

After the painting is completed, each strand of hair is applied individually. “The hair is mohair Jacklyn carefully attaches hair to one of her newest dolls. from a goat. It Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

The Poor Damm Farm Creations jewelry, painted tiles and painted pictures as displayed at craft shows.

to add to their doll collection or for therapeutic reasons.” Jacklyn shared that after taking a doll to show to her grandmother who lives in an assisted living facility, several of the patients asked where they could get one. After seeing how the patients took to the dolls, she donated 18 dolls to the facility for the patients. “For them, the dolls are therapeutic. It helps make their days happier,” said Jacklyn.

In the beginning, crafting was just a hobby for Jacklyn. However, as the years went by her husband and two children, Jake and Elizabeth began helping. “Originally the business had a different name, but the kids thought that they should be included in the name because they helped with the business. That’s when I came up with the name ‘The Poor Damm Farm Creations’. Our tagline is ‘by the Whole Damm Family’ because everyone has had a part in the business over the years,” commented Jacklyn.

Although Jacklyn’s children, who are now adults, no longer help with the craft business, her husband and her mother still assist in making crafts and working craft shows. “Right now I do about six craft shows a year. I also have some of my crafts on my website. Eventually, I hope to sell my crafts online through a site like Etsy.com,” said Jacklyn. If you are interested in learning more about “The Poor Damm Farm Creations” visit www.thepoordammfarmcreations.com. s

Jacklyn holds one of her creations.

Jacklyn with several of her dolls in her craft room.

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

23

Precision Agriculture Summit set for Jan. 21-22 in Jamestown

There’s still time to register for the second annual Precision Agriculture Summit at the Farmers Union Conference Center in Jamestown on Jan.21-22, 2013.

Western North Dakota residents will have the opportunity to join the summit at a satellite location at the Ernie French Center in the North Dakota State University Research Center in Williston.

Continuing education units of credit are also available. Topics will include commercial sensor options, spatial data management, crop management and field sensors.

Equipment demonstrations will also be featured this year.

John Nowatzki, North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural machine systems specialist, is coordinating the summit agenda, and will be moderating sessions on in-field crop sensors and crop field data management.

“The summit is intended to be an opportunity for sharing precision agriculture research, technology and needs among farmers, industry, consultants and university personnel,” Nowatzki said.

The agenda focuses on using in-field crop sensors for 24

variable-rate fertilization to increase nitrogen use efficiency and on farm field information and data management. The agenda also includes a presentation on livestock precision agricultural applications.

The agenda and other information for the summit are available online at www.ndfu.org.

Sarah Bedgar Wilson, Jamestown area farmer, will share her stories of adventures in agriculture in a fashion intended to entertain and educate people with positive information about agriculture.

She is a fifth-generation farmer with roots on a diversified dairy, livestock and crop farm in Maryland. In 2002, she ventured west to attend graduate school in animal science at NDSU. Wilson and her husband, Jeremy, raise corn, soybeans and cover crops.

Dave Franzen, NDSU Extension Service soil specialist, will present information summarizing his research using in-field optical sensors as a tool to increase nitrogen use efficiency on corn. Franzen will describe how information from the sensors can be related to potential corn yield.

He also will discuss his research of incorporating corn height to

improve the relationship between optical sensor readings and yield estimates.

Newell Kitchen, soil scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service at the University of Missouri in Columbia, will discuss the impacts of soil texture and weather on in-season corn nitrogen fertilization.

Kitchen is involved in cropping systems research that Raj Khosla improves surface and ground water quality, and the development of precision agriculture strategies for increased nutrient-use efficiency.

Raj Khosla, Colorado State University precision agriculture professor, will discuss managing the spatial variability of soils.

Khosla’s work includes evaluating different techniques of precision nitrogen and water management across productivity level management zones. His research Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

work is focused on enhancing crop input use efficiency, productivity, profitability and sustainability of large- and small-scale agricultural production systems.

Richard Ferguson, University of Nebraska Extension soil fertility specialist, will present research information on the interactions among nitrogen rate strategy, corn hybrid and population on the Northern Plains. Ferguson’s research includes the use of crop canopy sensors for in-season nitrogen management and site-specific crop management.

Ferguson also teaches university classes on site-specific crop management and spatial variability in soils.

David Clay, South Dakota State University soil biochemistry professor, will discuss the use of nitrogen-rich strips to increase the accuracy of in-field optical sensors.

Clay has researched the impact of climate, soils, and management on agricultural systems. He has developed techniques to calculate yield losses due to water and nitrogen stress in corn plants.

Carl Dahlen, NDSU Extension beef cattle specialist, will discuss precision technology applications for livestock management and will include information on the NDSU beef cattle research complex. The complex has systems capable of monitoring individual feed intake

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

and quantifying feeding behavior.

It uses devices to monitor cattle digestive processes and has applications for electronic animal identification.

Brian Arnall, Oklahoma State University Extension precision nutrient management specialist, will present his work on GreenSeeker sensors for increased grain yields and nitrogen use efficiency in wheat. Arnall conducts research and presents Extension programs on soil fertility and plant nutrition and sensor-based technologies for increased grain yields and nitrogen use efficiency in all crops.

Abbey Wick, NDSU Extension soil health specialist and assistant professor in the Soil Science Department, will discuss salinity mapping as it applies to precision agriculture. Her expertise includes soil organic matter and nutrient cycling, soil structural development and microbial ecology, especially related to areas impacted by salinity or sodicity.

A North Dakota Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soil scientist will discuss the precision agriculture applications of the Web soil survey.

Also, an NRCS program specialist will share information about precision agriculture incentive programs.

Several industry representatives will participate in a panel

discussion about commercial optical sensors for agricultural crop management. Joe Tevis, Topcon Positioning Systems, will discuss the CropSpec sensor system. Paul Backstrom, farmer and dealer from Maddock, will discuss his work with Ag Leader OptRx crop sensors. Doug Kieffer, Spectrum Technologies product manager, will discuss a smartphone application.

FieldScout GreenIndex+. Spectrum Technologies developed the app to identify nitrogen needs in corn crops.

A panel of company representatives will discuss the industry perspective of variable-rate fertilizer applications, including their recommendations on preparing field management zones.

Another industry panel will discuss and demonstrate farm geographic information systems (GIS) computer programs. The panel presenters include Ted Macy, MapShots Inc., Cumming, Ga; Paul Overby, Verdi-Plus Farm Works Mapping, Wolford; and Jordan Schuetzle, Libera Systems, Grand Forks.

The conference is sponsored by the Red River Valley Research Corridor, NDSU Extension Service, North Dakota Farmers Union and Lake Region State College’s Dakota Precision Ag Center. s

25

Haak elected to the House Twenty-six year old Jessica Haak has worked at North Dakota Farmers Union since 2009 but she was recently elected to a new job that begins this month. As the new democratic representative to the North Dakota House of Representatives, Haak will step up to serve the citizens of District 12. Haak has taken a leave of absence from NDFU but took a moment to answer some questions before traveling to Bismarck for the upcoming legislative session.

What was your reaction upon winning the election?

I was humbled that the voters chose me to be their representative, and to be the top vote getter in my district. It was an exciting moment and I look forward to working hard for the people of District 12 and North Dakota.

It took a lot of hard work to campaign. Tell us the steps you took---specific things you did to win?

The most important thing I did was knock on doors, lots of “shoe” wear and tear, but it was critical to the campaign. You have to get out there and listen to the concerns of the citizens.

NDFU tries to encourage more women in leadership – what advice do you give?

Don’t ever be afraid to speak up and ask questions. Attend meetings, get involved and offer your ideas and solutions. Step into a leadership role whether it’s on a county board or in WILD/TAG. Find your passion and get involved in it. Remember, don’t get angry, get elected and make a difference!

What prepared you most for the race?

There is no doubt that my job at North Dakota Farmers Union prepared me the most for this race. I talk issues with people across the state, and in my district, and hear what the concerns are and what solutions can be offered. Also, serving on the North Dakota Women’s Network board 26

and attending educational events, such as Ready to Run, helped me prepare for this step.

What kinds of things/issues do you look forward to addressing and why?

Three key issues that stand out and I look forward to working on during the session are infrastructure needs, property tax reform and educational resources. All three of these issues will need to be addressed to ensure that North Dakota can build a strong future.

I am most excited to address some of the most pressing issues that face North Dakotans every day. I also look forward to building relationships with colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, to come up with a comprehensive and sustainable plan to address statewide concerns.

I look forward to serving on the Finance & Tax committee and I am completely thrilled to serve North Dakota’s hardworking farmers and ranchers on the Agriculture committee! My email address is jehaak@nd.gov and I’d love to hear from you.

In dealing with people, what were some things you heard during the campaign that stuck with you?

The stories people tell about the struggles that they face every day.

I met an elderly woman who after paying her medical bills has $16 a month left for food, a young family who wants to send their next two children off to college, but is not sure how to tell them that they can only afford for one of them to go.

I met a veteran who has to make trips all the way to Minneapolis every month because that’s the closest VA hospital that can treat his ailment. We can do better in North Dakota.

Many volunteers/staff helped you succeed - any specific acknowledgements you’d like to make?

So many wonderful people gave their time and donations to make this campaign a successful one, but key volunteers were Lucy Bardell, Carla Edinger, Mark & Michelle Watne, Traci Rinehart, Robert & Sue Carlson, Dean Remboldt, Laurie Mosolf, George Barnes, Fmr. Rep. Joe Kroeber, Scott & Karla Sandness, Courtney Reinerts, Ashley Roeske, Molly McLain, Jill Schlenker, Maria Kellam, Brock Fietzek, Victoria Clark and Tony Edland. s

Please call the state office with any questions during Haak’s leave of absence.

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

WINTER sURVIVAL KIT Be prepared this winter!

Put together a winter survival kit for your vehicle and include the following items: • shovel • broom • flashlight batteries • first aid kit • knife • tow chain and rope • booster cables • cell phone adapter for lighter • snack food (energy bars) • candle and matches • winter hat, socks, mittens • sleeping bag or blankets • road salt, sand or kitty litter to use as traction • whistle • heavy duty ice scraper Store these items in the passenger compartment in case the trunk is jammed or frozen shut.

Survival tips: • Prepare your vehicle and make sure you keep your gas tank at least half full.

• Be easy to find – Tell someone where you are going and the route you will take.

• If stuck – tie something bright on your antenna or hang it out the window. At night, keep your dome light on. Rescue crews can see a small glow at a distance • To reduce battery drain, use emergency flashers only if you hear approaching vehicles.

• If you’re with someone else, Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

make sure at least one person is awake and keeping watch for help at all times.

• Stay in your vehicle – Walking in a storm can be very dangerous.

You might become lost or exhausted. Your vehicle is a shelter.

• Avoid overexertion – shoveling snow or pushing your car takes a lot of effort in storm conditions. Don’t risk a heart attack or injury. That work can also make you hot and sweaty. Wet clothing loses insulation value, making you susceptible to hypothermia.

• Fresh air: It’s better to be cold and awake than comfortably warm and sleepy. Snow can plug your vehicle’s exhaust system and cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to enter your car. Only run the engine for 10 minutes an hour and make sure the exhaust pipe is free of snow. Keeping a window open a crack while running the engine is also a good idea. Don’t expect to be

comfortable– you want to survive until you’re found.

Follow these safety tips: • If possible, call 911 on your cell phone. Provide your location, condition of everyone in the vehicle and the problem you’re experiencing.

• Follow instructions: you may be told to stay where you are until help arrives.

• Do not hang up until you know who you have spoken with and what will happen next.

• If you must leave the vehicle, write down your name, address, phone number and destination.

Place the piece of paper inside the front windshield for someone to see.s 27

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS

Classified ad space is free and available to NDFU members. Ads will run one time only.

Ads must be mailed, emailed or faxed. NO ADS WILL BE TAKEN OVER THE PHONE. Include your name, address & phone number and mail to: NDFU Classifieds PO Box 2136 • Jamestown ND 58402-2136 email: bthoms@ndfu.org Fax: 701-252-6584 • 701-952-0102 Deadline is the 15th of every month.

Contact us to repeat your ad.

FARM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE JD 30’ 9350 drills, rock guard, transports, markers, track whackers. 220-0993 or 223-0948, Jeff Spitzer, Wilton.

FOR SALE 2640 Haybuster round bale processor with grain tank, shedded, used very little and not used the last four years, excellent condition. 327-4261, Alvin Mertz, Dawson.

FOR SALE John Deere 410 baler, makes 750 to 800 lb. bales, good condition, always shedded. 320-5129 or 669-2249, David Holweg, Marion.

FOR SALE IH W4 with 7’ hyd. dozer, runs good, $2,000; 70 Oliver, factory wide front, four factory wheel weights, nice tin, engine is complete but tight, $800; IH 700, 6x16 auto reset moldboard plow with 8’ packer, $1,000. 391-6865, Ron Gessele, Bismarck.

FOR SALE 1979 835 Versatile tractor with 855 Cummins engine, 6,986 hrs. with a complete engine major at 5,737 hrs., 4 hyds., auxilliary pump for air seeder, runs excellent, always shedded, very nice, $18,500; shop built cattle squeeze chute with Pearson self catching head gate, $500. 438-2461, Jim Hvinden, Maddock.

FOR SALE 2006 Case IH SDX30 no-till air drill with variable rate ADX 2230 cart and monitor, Agtron seed count blockage monitor, 6,000 total acres, always shedded, fertilizer bin always oil sprayed, discs measure 21 3/4”, excellent condition, $55,000. 680-7926, Chris Gillespie, Lisbon.

FOR SALE 60’ Heavy duty 5 bar Gates harrow, $14,000; fine meter roller for a Flexicoil 345 air cart, $100. 871-0302, Paul Solberg, Bottineau.

FOR SALE Grapple fork to fit DuAll loader, not fancy, works good, reasonable. 769-2325, Larry Gruman, Hannaford.

FOR SALE 16 Hemlock 6”x6”x10’ and 6”x10”x14’ timbers; homemade 6’x8; horse drawn sled; 146-16.1 4 rib tractor tire on a JD 8 hole rim; Wheatheart hyd. drag line for grain bins; 45’ Melroe drag; factory made hitch for chisel plows or field cultivators; 65 steel fence posts; 6 row Sund edible bean pickup on a JD 15’ platform; 65 cement blocks; grain tank cover for 7720 JD combine; JD Model H Series 47 wood box ground driven manure spreader. 9452379, Jack Vadnie, Clifford.

28

FOR SALE Must sell! 60’ Summers 3 pt. sprayer, 1,000 pto. pump, 300 gal. tank, $1,800 obo; 2 WD 2590 Case tractor with 3 pt. dual hyd., new starter and battery, 5,531 hrs., power shift, 200 hp., duals, 1,000 pto. 438-2157 or 351-3698 leave a message, Dean Hagen, Maddock.

FOR SALE MacDon 3600 Prairie Star Model, pull type swather; Cenex 2,200 bu. grain bin to be moved; Redekop straw chopper, fits 1680 thru 2388; 1973 900 Series 1 Versatile; truck mounted drill fill auger, could be used to fill air seeder cart; misc. parts for N6 or N7 Gleaner combine - filters, belts, sickle sections and sickle guards. 228-3161, Lathan Romsos, Bottineau FOR SALE IHC 50T baler; Schulte RS hyd. rock picker; F10 Farmhand w/weigh all Snoco bale loader; h.d. Russell Reliance 10’ grader; 10’ h.d. V packer; 5 bottom packer w/hitch; 8 steel grain bins w/steel floor, 1,00012,400 bu.; 6’ JD combine w/2 cyl. motor & ground driven reel; new & used 10:00x20 truck tires; IHC 2 row hyd. cult. for H or M; Peterson dual rims, 18.4-34 to 232.1-30; Letz 163 burr mill; 11’ wide push-all hay basket for DuaAll loader; push-off hay basket or DuAl loader. 584-2025, Elmer Lemke, Bentley.

FOR SALE Snowco 80 bu. hopper wagon with 7” discharge auger, new fitted tarp, pto. drive, nice shape, $1,500; 20 bu. feed hopper, side discharge, orbit drive bar, Bobcat used for feeding grain, $350; 4”x16’ grain auger with elect. motor, mounted on cady with winch lift, save your back, $190; calf cradle bar, working cover with attached crowding alley, $1,000. 225-3435, Arthur Wolfe, Dickinson.

FOR SALE IHC 656 Hydro diesel, 3 pt. w/Farmhand, 233 loader; 2008 Hiniker windrowing stalk chopper, only 400 acres use; new Koyker 545 loader, 8’ Quick Tach bucket w/4 tine grapple, mounts available; like new Koyker 645 loader, 9’ Quick Tach bucket w/5 tine grapple, joy stick, JD mfwd mounts. 7090103, Allen Wald, Edgeley.

FOR SALE 930 Case tractor with easy-on loader; reversed W-9 IHC with F-11 loader, both have grapple forks, $3,000 ea.; Case rough terrain fork lift; 35.5x32 tire on John Deere combine wheel. 883-5889, Milton Ostby, LaMoure.

FOR SALE IHC 1086, new Diode torque, batteries, starter, alt., 2 pto’s, 5,400 hrs., 3 pt. 2 hyd., with 2450 IHC loader, always shedded.

547-3873 or 341-0988, Dean Kiefat, Fessenden.

FOR SALE 7520 JD tractor, 4 whl. drive, pto. and 3 pt., 1973 yr; Reliance elctric motor, 1 hp., 1745 rpm., 115-230 volt, 7/8” shaft. 752-4381 or 320-9195, Ed Hintz, Woodworth.

FOR SALE 2 wheel trailer, approx. 7’x12’, used for District 5 float, priced at best offer. 5223226, Wes Niederman Jr., Morristown, SD. FOR SALE 10 ton dual compartment fertilizer tender, roll tarp, hyd. drive, and hyd lift boom, $2,000; Melroe 903 plow, 7-18, excellent shape, $1,400. 789-0966, Allen Gruman, Cooperstown.

FOR SALE MacDon 972 Harvest header, 30’ draper head with finger reel, transport wheels, adaptor for Case/IH combines, fits 1400, 1600, 66 & 88 series, new guards, sickle & canvas’s, mint, like new condition! Not used for the last 4 yrs. and always stored inside! Brittonya 90’ pull type sprayer, trailing boom with gauge wheels, 1,000 gal. tank, mixing cone, foam marker, auto fold from tractor with adjustable rate contro, stainless steel wet booms with triplet nozzle bodies, good condition; Western 70’ four bar harrow, down pressure springs on sections, new cables, great condition. 228-4656, Paul K. Berge, Souris.

FOR SALE 1975 IHC Farmall 666 gas with Allied loader #595, with 7’ bucket and grapple fork, 3 pt., 540 pto., good tires - 15,5x38 rears, 11L-15 fronts, 2 hyds., no cab, call for pictures. 361-0678, Lee Fraase, Buffalo.

FOR SALE 5 spd. feeder house for 9870 JD combine; Case Model 420 outdoor forklift; 96 Ford truck, single axle, Allison transmission, with or without sky hook 100’ boom; reversed W-9 Int. tractor with F11 loader.

883-5889, Milton Ostby, LaMoure.

FOR SALE Fair snowblower, $4,000; 93’ Timpte Super hopper, 43’ 90”, $14,200; 8440 JD, 4 WD, rebuilt trans, pto., $15,000. 286-7345, Marc Sundquist, Baldwin.

FOR SALE Knight Little Auggie and mixer wagon w/ new bottom and augers; extension on JD unloading auger for 8’ 1860 air drill; one Titan Goodyear tire, 18-4R-38 w/50% tread; 4 shallow well pumps. 683-4809, Phil McDaniel, Englevale.

FOR SALE John Deere 4020 diesel tractor, Serial # RW4020P081105 with bucket and grapple forks, loader - JD 158, 540 pto., 2 hyd., power shift transmission 8 F/4 R, about $5,500. 626-7181 leave message, Amy Yecoshenko, Butte.

WANTED NH3 tanks. 764-6410 leave message, Casey Lund, Killdeer.

WANTED IHC combines and balers from the 1930’2, 40s and early 50s, they don’t need to be usable just mostly complete for public display purposes. 974-3644, Loren Myran, Taylor.

WANTED Header trailer for 30’ header. 263-7011, Layton Gimble, Souris.

WANTED Would the fellow from the Fargo area that had an old IHC pull-type combine please contact me again? I lost your name and number. 974-3644, Loren Myran, Taylor.

WANTED 18’ JD 1000 Series field cultivator; 41’ DMI 5250 anhydrous applicator. 945-2379, Jack Vadnie, Clifford.

WANTED The following IH tractors - 806, 1206, 1456, 856, 1256, 1066, 1466; John Deere 5010, 5020, 6030, 4620; Minneapolis Moline - 1350, 1355; D-21, 210 Allis Chalmers. 628-2130 evenings, Jerry Lumley, Stanley.

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS

WANTED Used AC-DC stick welder, 220 volt. 7692325, Larry Gruman, Hannaford.

WANTED Grill guard front bumper for a Ford, Furgeson or Massey utility tractor; complete swinging drawbar assembly for the same tractor; seat with a backrest.

984-2328 evenings, Jim Heron, Cathay.

VEHICLES FOR SALE 1988 Ford Escort LX, automatic, 4 cyl., 4 door, 86 to 87,000 mi., cruise control, air cond., good am/fm radio, blue exterior and interior, owned by non-smoker, no pets and used Cenex super unleaded gas and Cenex oils exclusively. 537-5129, Orlin Oium, Towner.

FOR SALE 1997 Chevy 1/2 ton Silverado, extended wheel base with 10’x7’ flat bed, inflatable air overloads, wired for trailer pulling and trailer brakes, heavy duty tires, new transmission with heavy duty upgrade installed, very good condition. We used it for pulling our little camper and to haul our Arctic Cat side by side UTV. $5,500. 302-0037, Roger Westby, New Rockford.

FOR SALE 1999 Buick Park Ave car with 3.8 engine, leather interior, newer tires, always in garage, 180,000 mi., $2,000 obo. 4382461, Jim Hviden, Maddock.

FOR SALE 2004 Impala, damage on right side. 7826863, Phyllis Will, Hazelton.

FOR SALE 1981 Buick Century, auto on floor, bucket seats, air, factory installed V-8 4.3 liter motor, mint condition; 1951 straight eight Buick. 597-3730, larryn@westriv.com, Larry Nagel, Shields.

FOR SALE 2005 Denali bunkhouse 32’ 5th wheel camper, basement for storage, separate bunk room w/entertainment center and storage, superslide, new tires, queen bed up front, sleeps 9, good condition, clean, lots of storage inside and out, can e-mail pics, $16,900 or make offer. 206-0082, Marcus Fischer, Bowman.

FOR SALE 2005 Chevy Impala, LS sport package, silver, loaded, leather heated seats, sunroof, one owner, very clean, 58,000 mi,, 3.8 engine, traction control, premium sound system, must see to appreciate.

374-7851, Gary Hoffman, Ashley.

FOR SALE 1945 Chevy truck, box and hoist, runs and drives good; 3 - 1951 Chev. trucks, nun runners (parts); 1987 Ford Ranger pickup, front clip w/motor, radiator, 5 spd., OD, transmission, $200; new windshield and left front fenter for a 93-97 Dodge Intrepid, $100 each. 789-0966, Allen Gruman, Cooperstown.

WANTED Looking for 50s - 60s Volkswagon buses (must have split windshields), VW bugs, Karmann Ghias, cash in hand, give me a call! 219-5847, Joel Herman, Harwood.

WANTED 1951 -1955 Chevy or GMC 1/2 ton stepside pickup. 438-2461, Jim Hviden, Maddock.

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

1 colt and 3 filly weanlings by Matthew Twenty Two, own son of Dual Pep and grandson of Shorty Lena, Matt is a money earner in the cutting arena, one filly comes from a full line of money earners (in cutting) top and bottom.

We have won money on her mother; RNR Shining Spark (AQHA reg. #51755666) a 2009 mare by Sparkin Hot and out of a mare by Mega Powder, she is broke to ride and has about 50 rides on her, see them on our website (doublequarterhorses.com) or 391-6404, Pat Roehrich, Washburn.

FOR SALE

Holstein bull calves, day to week old holstein bull calves, have all clostrum and shots, available in single or groups, price negotiable on groups. 489-3256 or 269-1124, Karen Rosemore, Jamestown.

WANTED

Goats. 430-3423, La Verne Koenig, Blanchard.

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE Save your back-save your money! I have an Easy Track lift for sale. I brought my husband home from the care center. I cared for him at home for 2 1/2 years, never lifted him physically once. 8459242, Bernice Botner, Valley City.

FOR SALE Homco Model AE18013, 4 hp. rider mower, 3’ deck; Kato Light pulley drive standby plant, 1,000 watt, 3 ph.; oil, grease and antifreeze cans - Co-op, Farmers Union and Texaco; small misc. antiques - tools, iron implement seats, ice chest, trunk, tackle box. 945-2379, Jack Vadnie, Clifford.

FOR SALE Dell 922, all in one printer; old style revolving beer bar sign; Sears Craftsman router and 2 cutting bits; round head lights, fits Lincoln or Ford; aluminum mail box; 14 gal. gas engine on wheels; 1981 Ford Custom 4x4; 8’ gray and black fiberglass pickup topper. 228-3161, Lathan Romsos, Bottineau.

FOR SALE Two cream separators, electric #518 and a #S16 with crank, both with complete attachments. 597-3730, larryn@westriv. com, Larry Nagel, Shields.

FOR SALE Writing desk, very nice, 4 large drawers, front opening can be used as writing table, partitioned compartments, $400; sofa table, 47” length, 16” wide, 26” height, $125; Stitch By Stitch Torstar books, 20 volumes, excellent condition, $200. 232-1534, Neil Krumm, Fargo.

FOR SALE Horse collars & related items; 45 used utility poles, 35-50’ long; new tires: 1-10:00 R20 Dunlap steel radial SP777, 16 ply, new tube & flap; 6 Bridgestone tires 245-75-R16; 4-225/60/R16 M & S; 4 used Firestone P265/70/R16 M&S; 3 Michelin P225/60/R16 M&S. 584-2025, Elmer Lemke, Bentley.

FOR SALE

14 VHF programable business band radios $150-$200 each, all for $2,100; LaForge front mount 3-pt. hitch for 8000 Series John Deere tractors $5,000; Beline granular applicator complete with hose and monitor $250; 12 radial soybean cups for JD 7200 or 7300 planter, $1,000. 2 steel bin roof stiffeners for 30’ diameter bins, $150; pickup topper for full size 1989 Chevy pickup box $50; 12”X72’ Feterl grain auger, $2,500; barn stanchions $5 each; fifth wheel plate $125; hay sides for 40’ trailer, $100.

John Deere Accu-depth monitor, $100.

Propane heater, $50. 247-3058 or 2592373, John Steffan, Michigan.

FOR SALE Oak gun cabinet, glass front, holds approximately 11 guns, 5 drawers on bottom, all drawers lock. 734-6703, Robert Anderson, Wilton.

FOR SALE Gear box drive from Westfield auger, secondary drive for jump auger w/ reverser, $400; 35 ton Reiten hyd. press w/many dies, $5,000; garbage compactor for 1 ton truck, 6 yds.; 4 wheels for 2007 Jeep Liberty, 255-75R16; Austin Western front axle w/tires and wheels from road grader; 8’ long topper, fully enclosed, vertical rear doors, side compartments, bolts on top of 8’ pickup box, all steel construction, $1,200. 789-0966, Allen Gruman, Cooperstown.

FOR SALE New MDS attachments: 2 MDS rock badgers, Bobtach mounts (heavy duty, used to dig out and carry large rocks); 7’ & 8’ MDS buckets, universal Euro mounts; 7’ MDS bucket, Bobtach mount; 7’ MDS tined bucket w/5 tine double cyl. grapple (heavy duty for rocks, brush, trees, scrap, etc.) w/Bobtach mounts; 8’ MDS buckets and grapples for JD 148-158 and 740 classic tach and others; new 7’ JD bucket w/Euro mount; new 5’ JD bucket for 400-500 Series JD loaders; new 7’ Koyker Quick Tach bucket; new 7’ Bobcat bucket, 4 used Bobcat buckets, 55” to 80”; used 8’ bucket for JD 280 loader; new 8’ black Farmhand bucket w/4 tine grapple; 2 - 8’ Farmhand buckets; 10’ hicapacity snow bucket for JD 158 loader; Farmhand F10 loader w/9’ bucket; 4 tine grapple; F11 loader & loader parts. 7090103, Allen Wald, Edgeley.

FOR SALE 4 new 20.8x38 Titan bias tires; 2 new 520/85R42 (20.8R42) Michelin Agri Bibs; 2 new 520/85R42 Firestones; 2 new 16.9x38 Goodyear, 8 ply; 1 new 18.4R34 Verstorque 10 ply Goodyear, for bi-directional;4 - 420/85R34 Titan 10 ply FWDs @ 80%;4 - 380/85R34 GY @ 75%; 23.1R30 Titan 12 ply @ 70%; 23.1x30 FS, 8 ply @ 95%; 8 - 20.8R42 @ 50%;4 - 480/80R42 Titan combine tires @ 85% (rated 11,700 lbs./tire); 2 - 20.8x38 GY-OT 710s @ 50%; new Titan skid steer, 1016.5x8 ply; 12 - 16.5x10 ply; 14 - 17.5x14 ply; 2 new 15.5x38; 2 - 12.4x38 @ 50%; 2 - 16.9x28xx10 ply @ 65%; new GY-DT 710-20.8R42; other rims, bands, hubs, hardware. 709-0103, Allen Wald, Edgeley.

FOR SALE

Cub Cadet rider lawn mower,with snow blower, hydrostatic drive; Snowflite walk behind, 8 hp., 26” cut, snowblower. 8300129, Eugene Taszarek, Kulm.

29

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS

FOR SALE Save your back-save your money! I have an Easy Track lift for sale. I brought my husband home from the care center.

I cared for him at home for 2 1/2 years, never lifted him physically once. 8459242, Bernice Botner, Valley City.

FOR SALE Homco Model AE18013, 4 hp. rider mower, 3’ deck; Kato Light pulley drive standby plant, 1,000 watt, 3 ph.; oil, grease and antifreeze cans - Co-op, Farmers Union and Texaco; small misc. antiques - tools, iron implement seats, ice chest, trunk, tackle box. 945-2379, Jack Vadnie, Clifford.

FOR SALE Dell 922, all in one printer; old style revolving beer bar sign; Sears Craftsman router and 2 cutting bits; round head lights, fits Lincoln or Ford; aluminum mail box; 14 gal. gas engine on wheels; 1981 Ford Custom 4x4; 8’

IN MEMORIAM

A former North Dakota Farmers Union field staff member died on Wednesday, Nov. 28 in Williston, N.D. Phyllis Gronfur, age 75, worked for the state office for 13 years from 1989 to 2002.

Gronfur was born May 14, 1937 to Erling and Cora (Njos) Johnson at Wildrose, North Dakota. She was raised in rural Alamo and graduated from Alamo High School in 1953.

She married Erling Duane Gronfur and together, they farmed in the Williston area. During the winter months while living in Williston and after raising her children, Phyllis worked at Piggly Wiggly and later the Family Thrift Store. Summers were spent on the farm. For a time, Phyllis and Duane owned and 30

WANTED Antique crocks, jugs with store advertising; metal advertising signs, gas pumps, metal oil cans, advertising clocks or thermometers; road signs, traps, knives, shell boxes, guns, pop or medicine bottles; highway road signs; 1 lb. coffee tin cans; ND pottery, carnival glass; ND books - 50 yrs. in the saddle. 258-0420 or 220-5746, Val Ganje, Bismarck.

WANTED Old motorcycle license plates. 797-7610, Tim Soma, Cooperstown.

FEED AND SEED FOR SALE Large round bales of mixed grass hay (not CRP), 100 plus available, 2 sizes 1,250 lb. or 1,550 lb. 430-3423, La Verne Koenig, Blanchard.

operated the Gateway Market in Williston. When time allowed from farming, she and Duane loved to travel and had made several trips to Norway and many places in the United States. Gronfur had a love of music and enjoyed playing the piano and accordion. She played piano/organ at Wheelock Lutheran Church, Bethel Home and many community events. She even played accordion and gave lessons for a time. Together, she and Duane would travel and entertain sharing their music for most any occasion. She had a strong faith and shared those teachings with her family and Sunday school.

Having family together was very important to her. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were especially important to her and she closely followed their activities. She was also one to keep in close touch with friends and family.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

4 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath home just minutes from Spearfish, SD with highway frontage, charming home in a peaceful setting on 33 acres with wrap-around deck shaded by mature trees, living room w/large windows providing beautiful view, private dwelling, as well as operating as B&B, added bonus of a 140’ x 400’ roping arena (75% steel construction), 32’ x 49’ horse barn, bunk house, and 3-car garage, can be sold in 2 parcels of 10 and 23 acres, the possibilities for recreation and entertaining are endless, check out property at www. sandcreekbedandbreakfast.com. Call for pricing and other information: Josh at 605-641-5674, Coral at 605-642-7251 or leave message at 605-642-4061.

Dues to increase

At the North Dakota Farmers Union state convention, a dues increase of $5 was approved by the delegates and members.

Beginning Jan.1, 2013, $30 dues will be collected for members paying cash. Co-op checkoffs will be increased as they are renewed. Insurance dues will be increased as the various lines of insurance are switched to the new system.

For a period of time, we will have a gradual switch as memberships come up for renewal at different times throughout the year.

Thanks for your cooperation during this time of change.

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

Message from

the President

Hopes for a Happy New Year It’s a new year and a great time to look to the future. We should ask what we can do to make 2013 better for ourselves, our state and our country.

One goal is to continue to work with Feeding America to help fight hunger throughout the United States with the Howard G. Buffet Foundation.

I was shocked to learn how widespread hunger is in America.

Even though we are known as the breadbasket of the world, the United States still has an alarming number of citizens that don’t have enough to eat.

Hunger is real and it is in North Dakota. Food pantries, soup kitchens and other charitable feeding programs are serving clients every day. According to a survey report prepared for the Great Plains Food Bank: • 39% of respondents said they have to choose between paying for utilities and food each month • 76% of client households

reported that in the last year, they had been in a situation where food just didn’t last and they did not have money to get more.

• 57% said they ate less than they should because there was not enough money to buy food • 29% of adults did not eat for a whole day because there wasn’t enough money to buy food.

• 18% of client with children said their children skipped meals during the last year In our nation, it is estimated that 12 million kids do not have a secure food source and three million are under the age of five.

Please consider joining thousands of people across North Dakota and across America in fighting hunger.

For the last two years, Howard G. Buffett, a Midwest farmer and hunger advocate, has offered to match every dollar given through Farmers Union members to the Feeding America project, up to $50,000 annually. The Feeding America mission is to

feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks.

Feeding America sends the donations back to the state it was donated from so, in North Dakota, the money comes back to the Great Plains Food Bank in Fargo and is distributed statewide. During the last two years, North Dakota Farmers Union has participated in the campaign, giving over $11,750 to the organization from NDFU camp store, board match and other donations.

I hope we can continue to support this campaign against hunger and I want to thank everyone who participated last year.

Farmers and ranchers have always been stewards of the land, our communities, our families and our neighbors. In 2013, we will continue to provide food, fiber and fuel to the world. Let’s start that mission in our own backyard and allow everyone a place at the dinner table. s

State office hires new employees Two new employees have been hired to work at the state office for North Dakota Farmers Union.

Leon Senn joined the team on November 15 and will be working with information technology systems for Farmers Union Insurance.

“This is a good fit for me,” Senn said. “I will be managing the infrastructure for our information technology needs, writing policies and aligning technology with our business goals.”

Senn earned a degree in business education from the University of North Dakota and has worked for the last 14 years with the Network Center in Fargo.

Union Farmer • www.ndfu.org

Leon Senn

Nancy Kangas

Nancy Kangas joins the staff as a part-time human resource director.

She has over 35 years of leadership in human resource management and owns her own business. Initially, Kangas was brought in as a consultant

to complete a human resource assessment at NDFU. She explained, “It just worked out to continue my career here.

I was very impressed with the leadership and people.”

Kangas will be putting together a new employee manual and outlining human resource processes and procedures that are consistent throughout the company.

“I am fortunate that the management team wants to make a difference. I will also be looking at writing job descriptions and classifying all jobs to give us a better structure,” Kangas added.

Kangas will work about 20 hours per week. s 31

Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America, ND Division

PERIODICALS – POSTAGE PAID

1415 12th Ave SE PO Box 2136 Jamestown, ND 58402

You need an UMBRELLA ...

... if you ha

ve assets

ve ou ha ent y f i . . . m equip on e g r a l icles & veh roads ic publ

have a ... if you siness family bu ip artnersh p r o / d n a

have ... if you ers riv young d

... if you

are ne retirem aring ent

Contact your local Farmers Union agent today!