FARMER UNION
www.ndfu.org
SUPPORTING LIVESTOCK Boeshans, NDLA hold annual conference at Black Leg Ranch
FEBRUARY 2020
GET TO KNOW A FARMERS UNION INSURANCE AGENCY
Geer-Hruby-Ressler Agency of BISMARCK
JED GEER
I’m originally from Middle River, Minn. I moved to Bismarck when I got hired as an agent in 2005. I’ve been married to my wife, Nicole, for almost 20 years. We have three kids: Chase (22), Karissa (18) and Adria (14). I love helping people and Farmers Union’s giving-back attitude, which also aligns with one of my core values. I’ve been a multiple-year board member and seminar volunteer for North Dakota Leadership Seminar. I also volunteer on the worship team with Evangel Church in Bismarck.
BECK HRUBY
I’m from Bismarck and have lived here my whole life. I have been an agent for 16 years. I have been married to my wife Kristi for almost 14 years and we have two children: Cade (12) and Hayden (3). I like being in the insurance industry because I like helping people solve a need. One of the best feelings you can have is providing protection for someone or something when it’s needed most. I’m active in my church and with the Light of Christ Catholic Schools. Our agency contributes to and volunteers with various community programs including United Way, the Bismarck Larks and the Bismarck Bobcats.
Geer-Hruby-Ressler Agency 1820 E Broadway Bismarck ND 58501 PH: (701) 223-3715
UNION FARMER MAGAZINE Volume 67 • Number 2
The UNION FARMER is published monthly by North Dakota Farmers Union at 1415 12th Ave SE, Jamestown, ND 58401. EDITOR: Chris Aarhus 800-366-8331 ext. 118 caarhus@ndfu.org Annual subscription is $30 with membership. Periodicals postage paid at Fargo, ND. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: NDFU • PO Box 2136 Jamestown, ND 58402-2136 Copies mailed this issue: 30,224 • USPS 016-211
JAMIE RESSLER
I grew up in Bismarck. My wife Amy and I have three daughters: Mahkena (19), Brynlee (11), and Averie (6). I’ve been an agent for 11 years. I love working with people — helping protect them, their families, and their property. I enjoy the differences that each new day brings. I’m on the finance committee for my church and I also volunteer with the teens church. I also help fundraise for North Dakota Leadership Seminar. All three agents are on the board of the North Star Lions of Bismarck. They will be sponsoring the fourth year of Backpacks for Kids, which benefits children in both Bismarck and Mandan.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS: President: Mark Watne • Vice President: Bob Kuylen • Secretary: Wes Niederman Treasurer: Ronda Throener • Jon Iverson; Shane Sickler; Tyler Stafslien; Ryan Taylor; Michelle Ziesch. 2 • February 2020 • Union Farmer
Good start on trade, but more to do
I
n the middle of January, President Donald Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He signed a “phase one” trade agreement between the United States and China in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. This is the first step toward resolving a trade war that has been very burdensome to agriculture. The trade war that the president said would be easy has been extremely difficult and farmers and ranchers paid the price. In the deal, the Chinese have committed to buy $40 to $50 billion of agricultural products from the United States in each of the next two years. Exactly what commodities China will buy to reach these aggressive targets has not been disclosed. Hopefully, this will create the demand we need to move our markets up. In 2017, China purchased nearly $24 billion in U.S. agricultural products, so the agreement will be a significant increase, if China truly follows through. Keep in mind, U.S. agricultural exports to China have fallen from $21.4 billion in 2016, the year before President Trump took office, to $9.2 billion in 2018, the last full year of publicly available trade data. China’s purchases of U.S. soybeans, which have long been the top overall U.S. export to China, fell from $14.2 to $3.1 billion over the same time period. The purchase agreement is great news, but it does not cover lost sales over the last two years. It will take time to regain our market share and rebuild our reputation as a reliable trading partner. Plus, the “excess supply in the bin” will limit markets’ upward potential for as long as five years, according to some economists. We hope this first phase of the deal is real and not just rhetoric. Until vessels carrying U.S. agricultural products are landing in Chinese ports, I will remain slightly suspicious. Here’s why:
• China continues to make significant forward purchases of Brazilian soybeans, including about a dozen bulk vessels the week of Jan. 8 or about 800,000 tons. With Brazil representing a more reliable soybean market, we are left wondering whether Chinese buyers will have an appetite for vast supplies of U.S. soybeans once the deal is done. • There appears to be no enforcement language in the agreement. Without enforcement and the support of the rest of the world, we will struggle to hold China accountable. Since many of the issues said to be included in the deal have been the subject of bilateral discussions between the United States and China for quite some time, what specific obligations exist from Beijing to finally follow through with these commitments? How will the enforcement and dispute resolution mechanism in the agreement prevent future escalation of trade tensions? • The U.S. agreed to remove China as a currency manipulator. China will follow through with a pledge to refrain from competitive currency devaluations (part of its commitment to the G20) or use its exchange rate for trade advantages. The United States has dropped its findings that China is a currency manipulator. This issue has not been completely resolved. We all hope this is the beginning of the end of the trade war. But much work remains to restore demand for U.S. farm products. As the lingering effects of the trade war continue to drag on commodity prices, the type of support offered through the Market Facilitation Program will be essential to “making farmers whole.” Be assured, your organization is closely monitoring this issue and will lead the charge for securing the support you need to weather the economic storm.
NDFU.org • February 2020 • 3
Ninth Annual Precision Ag Action Summit
Putting tech to good use BY CHRIS AARHUS, NDFU
John Nowatski, an agricultural machines specialist for North Dakota State University, believes the technology involved in precision agriculture doesn’t matter if it isn’t put to good use. Nowatski was part of a panel titled, “Current and Future Impacts of Precision Agriculture,” at the ninth annual Precision Ag Action Summit Jan. 20-21 at the North Dakota Farmers Union Conference Center in Jamestown. Nowatski said farmers won’t embrace
4 • February 2020 • Union Farmer
precision ag unless they see a clear benefit to their operation. It needs to be about more than just gathering the data, he said. “It’s taking that information and turning it into something valuable, something more valuable than what the farmer himself can figure out,” Nowatski said. “Guidance systems, yield monitor sensors, cameras in airplanes and drones – it’s good technology and they work. But the key is to take all of that tech and bring it into something that can make better decisions than the farmer would, and do it profitably.”
Terry Griffin of Kansas State, right, moderates a panel on the challenges of precision ag. Also on the panel, from left, are John Nowatski of NDSU, Lanny Faleide of Satshot, Paul Fuller of GK Technology for Agriculture and Gary Wagner of A.W.G. Farms, Inc.
Nowatski’s answer was to a question posed by moderator Terry Griffin, a cropping systems economist for Kansas State, about what skills they’d like to see better honed or added to farmers’ skill sets. Lanny Faleide, president of Satshot, said he’d like to see more farmers curious about the possibilities of precision ag and how it can benefit their farm. He also said to be wary of companies that promise everything, because they often can’t deliver. “I’m tired of the hyperbole in digital ag and precision agriculture,” he said. “I will tell you if we cannot do something, if our system doesn’t do it. A lot of companies today tell the public to join them, buy a subscription and they give away free stuff. Then they fold because they can’t make it. I don’t want the industry to fall apart. Some of it coming out of certain markets is like giving you a
bunch of snake oil.” Gary Wagner of A.W.G Farms said helping farmers learn computer skills and why they’re necessary can be a hurdle in itself. “Most farmers didn’t get into the farming business to sit behind a computer screen,” Wagner said. “Basic computer skills would be a good start, giving farmers confidence in what we’re doing.” Paul Fuller of GK Technology for Agriculture said simply getting started can be overwhelming. He advised farmers interested in precision ag to start small. “Just pick a field and do something,” he said. “And don’t start with flat black soil. Start with a field that has topography changes, wet and dry issues – start with low-hanging fruit that’s really variable. “Remember that there’s never a mistake in agriculture, just unintentional test plots.”
NDFU.org • February 2020 • 5
Farmers Union
CAMP
GRADES 3-6 (4 DAYS, 3 NIGHTS)* – $100** GRADES 7-12 (5 DAYS, 4 NIGHTS)* – $150** *Grade youth will have completed by the end of the school year **Early bird price. Price will increase $25 after May 15.
Register now at ndfu.org!
7 • 0202 yraurbeF • gro.UFDN
SENIOR CAMP • • • • • •
June 8-12 – Lakewood Park, grades 7-12 June 15-19 – Heart Butte, grades 7-12 July 6-10 – Heart Butte, grades 7-9 July 14-18 – Wesley Acres, grades 7-12 July 20-24 – Heart Butte, grades 7-9 July 27-31 – Heart Butte, grades 10-12
JUNIOR CAMP (grades 3-6)
Heart Butte ~ near Elgin • • • • • •
June 7-10 – Bottineau, Burke, Divide, McHenry, Mountrail, Renville, Ward, Williams June 10-13 – Adams, Bowman-Slope, Grant, Hettinger, Morton, Sioux June 22-25 – Statewide camp June 25-28 – Statewide camp July 12-15 – Burleigh, Sheridan July 15-28 – Billings-Golden Valley, Dunn, McLean, Mercer, McKenzie, Oliver, Stark
Wesley Acres ~ near Valley City
• June 22-25 – Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Rolette, Steele, Towner, Walsh, Wells • June 25-28 – Cass, Traill, Richland • June 29-July 2 – Barnes, Ransom, Sargent, Stutsman • July 5-8 – Dickey, Emmons, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh
Lakewood Park ~ near Devils Lake • June 14-17 – Statewide camp
AWARD TRIPS (invitation only)
May 2-3 – 7th & 8th Grade Lock-In June 21-26 – All-States Leadership Camp Aug. 3-6 – Third-Year Award Trip remraF noinU • 0202 yraurbeF • 6
Projected crop profits for 2020 T
he North Dakota State University Extension’s projected crop budgets for 2020 are now available for the state’s producers, says Ron Haugen, NDSU Extension farm management specialist. The 2020 projected profits vary widely by region and crop. “The budgets are guides for large multi-county regions,” says Haugen. “Returns and costs can vary considerably between producers within a region. Also, the budgets estimate returns to labor and management with no consideration of price and yield variability or risk. A perfect comparison of crops is not achieved because different levels of labor and management, and risk exist.” Hard red spring wheat projects negative returns to labor and management in all regions of North Dakota except the northeast which shows an $11 per acre profit. Hard red spring wheat losses range from $1 to $35 per acre. Soybeans project positive returns to labor and management in all but two regions. There is a projected loss of $14 and $7 per acre in the north Red River Valley and northeastern regions respectfully. The rest of the state’s regions show positive returns ranging
12 • February 2020 • Union Farmer
from $7 per acre in the northwest to $37 per acre in the southeastern region. Corn projects losses from $2 to $21 per acre for five regions and positive returns for the other four regions from $1 per acre in the south Red River Valley to $33 per acre in the southeastern region. Malting barley shows slight losses in the northwestern and southwestern regions and larger losses in the Red River Valley regions. The losses in the Valley regions are largely due to higher land costs. Oil sunflowers project a profit in all regions but the north Red River Valley ($18/acre loss) and the southeastern region ($25/acre loss). The positive return ranges from $10 per acre in the south Red River Valley to $32 per acre in the east-central region. Canola projected the largest negative returns in the southeastern region ($50 loss per acre) to the highest positive return in the northcentral region ($31 profit per acre). The NDSU Extension-developed budgets are available online at http:// www.ag.ndsu.edu/farmmanagement/cropbudget-archive, or by searching online for NDSU Crop Budgets. Information courtesy of NDSU Ag Communications.
NDFU.org • February 2020 • 15
Photo courtesy of Gene Hanson
LIVESTOCK ALLIANCE HOLDS ANNUAL SUMMIT 10 • February 2020 • Union Farmer
Ranchers, ag groups come together to tackle livestock industry problems BY CHRIS AARHUS, NDFU
Livestock has a big role to play in the future of North Dakota, according to Amber Boeshans. The executive director of the North Dakota Livestock Alliance welcomed folks from all areas of agriculture to the North Dakota Livestock Summit on Jan. 14 at Black Leg Ranch southeast of Bismarck. Boeshans said the day was about celebrating livestock and providing information about what livestock development can do for communities and the state. “This a coming together of all the different commodity groups, landowners – pro livestock people who want to learn more about what livestock development can do for our state and how it can
happen,” Boeshans said. “Everybody is enthusiastic about it, but it’s about how we can make it happen.” Boeshans said despite the differing goals of those in animal agriculture, the approach in informing the public needs to be the same. “The dialogue needs to happen with community leaders,” Boeshans said. “Discussion about what modern animal agriculture looks like and what it will look if a (Confined Animal Feeding Operation, or CAFO) comes to their community. We really want to get rid of the fear of the unknown.” To close the conference, the panel “Livestock Development and Our Communities” discussed the questions Continued on next page
NDFU.org • February 2020 • 11
Jay Doan explains how the Black Leg Ranch, his family’s farm, has diversified its business. At left is his father Jerry Doan, who explained the family’s commitment to conservation and soil health. The ranch hosted the North Dakota Livestock Alliance’s Livestock Summit.
community leaders often have about CAFOs. Foster County Commissioner Pat Copenhaver said the key is to make sure it’s a good operator. “It’s a lot of how you operate – get a good operator who does a good job,” he said. Larry Syverson, executive director of the North Dakota Township Officers Association, agreed and said one bad operator can ruin the area for interested CAFOs indefinitely. “A bad operator will give you a lot of history and that’s hard to overcome,” he said. “It’s gonna stay in people’s minds for a long time. Part of the problem now is the stigma from years of bad operators in different parts of the country.” Bob Thaler, an Extension swine specialist for South Dakota State University, spoke during another session about the economic benefits of livestock. He said a 5,400 sow barn can employ 13-15 full-time workers and could have 12 • February 2020 • Union Farmer
a positive impact on local commodity prices. “When it comes down to livestock development, we all need to work together,” he said. “Livestock is one thing that can really keep our rural communities stable.” Karl Hoppe, a livestock specialist for NDSU Extension, went through the different types of byproducts that come from processing and said ranchers have an opportunity to fill nutrition gaps by incorporating these byproducts into their feed. One example is when phosphorus gets low in grass, adding wheat middlings can pick up the slack. “There are needs that your cattle have that these can help with,” Hoppe said. To open the conference, a panel on labor spoke about the benefits and challenges of bringing in temporary agriculture workers from other countries using programs. Pavel Danil, from Moldova, has been working at the Nelson County Pig
TOP: Immigration attorney Loan Hyunh, work visa recipient Pavel Danil, Nelson County Pig Cooperative manager Todd Erickson, USA Farm Labor CEO Manuel Fick and dairy farmer Terry Entzminger discuss foreign worker programs and work visas. BOTTOM: NDLA director Kenton Holle, Ellen Huber of the Economic Development Association, North Dakota Township Officers Association executive director Larry Syverson and Foster County Commissioner Pat Copenhaver talk about the steps that need to be taken in communities looking at livestock development.
Cooperative for the past 10 years. He originally came to the United States on a J-1 visa, which is a cultural and educational exchange program that lasts for only 10 months. He came back on an H-2A work visa, but now has a green card and would like to be an American citizen. “I never planned to stay in the U.S.,” said Danil, who received a veterinarian degree in his home country. “Most people who come over don’t plan to. My plan was to come over and make some money. Then I got involved with the North Dakota (Pork Council) and the North Dakota Rural Leadership Council. It became about something much bigger than just income. Todd Erickson, who manages the
Nelson County Pig Cooperative, said Danil fit in well, which is why Erickson helped him take the next step in the process of being able to stay in the country. “It’s a long process and takes some time,” Erickson said. “We felt it was necessary to invest the time and dollars. With him, we felt comfortable investing that time and money. He’s an individual who fit our community and fit our business, long-term.” Jerry and Jay Doan of Black Leg Ranch also spoke, giving a presentation about their family’s history on the ranch, their commitment to being good stewards of the environment and how regenerating soil health can unlock the future. NDFU.org • February 2020 • 13
Visit nfu.org to learn more UNITED TO GROW FAMILY AGRICULTURE
The Farmer’s Share Did you know that farmers and ranchers receive only 14.6* cents of every food dollar that consumers spend?
According to the USDA, off farm costs including marketing, processing, wholesaling, distribution and retailing account for more than 80 cents of every food dollar spent in the United States.
Bacon
Retail: Farmer:
$6.03 $0.65
Bread
Retail: Farmer:
Retail: Farmer:
$2.99 $0.05
Retail: Farmer:
$3.19 $0.54
1 gallon, fat free
1 lb.
$2.29 $0.65
Retail: Farmer:
$2.00 $0.10
Beer
Retail: Farmer:
Retail: Farmer:
6-pack cans
$4.59 $1.49
Flour
King Arthur, 5 lbs.
Retail: Farmer:
$2.19 $1.29
Retail: Farmer:
$4.29 $0.37
To
@NFUDC
Retail: Farmer:
Soda
Retail: Farmer:
Retail: Farmer:
Retail: Farmer:
$2.29 $0.33
$2.30 $0.70
Farmer’s share derived from USDA, NASS “Agricultural Prices,” 2019. | Prices based on November 2019 data. Retail prices based on Safeway (SE) brand except where noted. | *Figure according to U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service
/nationalfarmersunion
1 lb.
Fresh Potatoes Russet, 5 lbs.
/nationalfarmersunion
$10.99 $0.04
Boneless Ham
Fresh Apples 1 lb.
$3.89 $1.81
Fresh Carrots 5 lbs.
1 dozen
Milk
Lettuce
2 lbs.
Eggs
1 lb.
18 oz. box
Retail: Farmer:
$10.49 $1.82
Tomatoes
Cereal
Retail: Farmer:
Top Sirloin Steak 1 lb.
1 lb.
$4.99 $0.65
2 liters
$1.49 $0.05
January 3, 2020 nfu.org/topics/blog
National Farmers Union | 20 F Street NW, Suite 300 | Washington, DC 20001 | F: (202) (202) have 554-1600 554-1654 thoseP: who already donated ...| www.NFU.org | info@nfudc.org
THANK YOU! FOR YOUR GENEROUS GIFT TO THE NDFU FOUNDATION
Donations of more than $1,000 are recognized at the state office on the NDFU Donor Recognition wall. Giving levels include: COBALT – $1,000 to $4,999 BRONZE – $5,000 to $14,999 GOLD – $15,000 and above.
14 • February 2020 • Union Farmer
MAIL DONATIONS TO: NDFU Foundation, P.O. Box 2136, Jamestown, ND 58402 Please note if the gift is in honor of someone. For more information, contact Lucy Bardell at 701-952-0114 or lbardell@ndfu.org.
Feb. 18 & 25 Dickinson West River Community Center 2004 Fairway St.
March 9 & 16 Jamestown
Stutsman County Extension Office 502 10th Ave. SE
This training will help participants:
March 10 & 17 Devils Lake Ramsey County Event Center 7849 48th St. NE
• Feel better prepared to serve as an effective board, council or committee member • Recognize the components of an effective meeting • Learn basic parliamentary procedure and how to use it • Understand different personality styles and how they can work together • Use effective tools when dealing with conflict
HOURS 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with a 5:30 p.m. meal
COST: $75 (for non-North Dakota Farmers Union members) • Join NDFU for $30 and NDFU will pay remaining $45 fee • Free to existing North Dakota Farmers Union members • Includes lunch, breaks and materials
To register:
Existing NDFU members can register through the NDFU member portal at https://membership.ndfu.org DICKINSON Stark County Extension office: 701-456-7665 (register by Feb. 4)
JAMESTOWN Stutsman County Extension office: 701-252-9030 (register by Feb. 24) DEVILS LAKE Ramsey County Extension office: 701-662-7027 (register Feb. 25)
Individuals with disabilities are invited to request reasonable accommodations to participate in NDSU-sponsored programs and events. To request an accommodation, please contact the corresponding Extension office two weeks prior to make arrangements.
NDFU.org • February 2020 • 15
Solutions exist in agriculture I
n this post-holiday season and with apologies to Perry Como and the Fontaine Sisters who sang the Christmas standard “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” we’d like to make an unrhythmic play on the song’s title. As we read news stories coming from around farm country and speak at meetings of farm organizations, it seems to us that “it’s beginning to look a lot like” the early stages of a serious farm crisis that could well mirror the farm crisis of the 1980s: increasing number of calls being received by farm crisis hotlines, a clear upswing in farm bankruptcies, a steep decline in net farm income, and most worrisome of all is the increase in farmer suicides. In December, Harwood was invited to speak at a public meeting the Land Stewardship Project held in New Ulm, Minn. This meeting was
16 • February 2020 • Union Farmer
Policy Pennings
Harwood D. Schaffer and Daryll E. Ray of the Agricultural Policy Analysis Center
planned by veterans of the farm crisis of 40 years ago who believe that farmers need to establish an agenda to get out in front of the troubles currently facing agricultural areas of the country. They recalled the American Agriculture Movement’s Tractorcade that brought farmers from all across rural America to gather on the National Mall to raise awareness of the precipitous 49 percent decline in net farm income between calendar years 1973 and 1978. Some told of the establishment of farm crisis hotlines in the early ‘80s. Others spoke of the organizing that it took to lobby the Minnesota Legislature to establish a farm debt mediation process for
farmers who were being foreclosed on because they did not have enough income to make payments on all their debt. All recalled the loss of farmers who felt shame over the possibility of losing a farm that their grandfather had shepherded through the Great Depression. The meeting organizers contacted us because they believed that the only solution to the growing crisis is a farm program that provides a price and the Agricultural Policy Analysis Center/Texas Farmers Union (APAC/TFU) proposal is the only proposal out there that can solve the farm price/income problem without resorting to an indefinite extension of the massive Market Facilitation Program probably under a different name. Farm programs that establish a floor price on agricultural commodities are called supply management programs. Traditionally,
those programs were established by New Deal Democrats with the support of rural Republicans. At present, support for supply management programs exists only across a slice of Democratic legislators. The goal in making the invitation was to familiarize the audience with some of the supply management mechanisms that would allow farmers to receive their income from the marketplace instead of the mailbox—in this electronic age, direct deposit from the federal government’s till to the farmers bank account. In addition to its support of farm prices — thus farm income—the APAC/TFU proposal would enable farmers to undertake land management practices that the Land Stewardship Project has encouraged since its inception. Care of the land and the farmers who derive their livelihood from it are two sides of the same coin.
NDFU.org • February 2020 • 17
Around the state
FROM LEFT: NDFU president Mark Watne was on a trade panel with Nancy Johnson of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association, Julie Ellingson of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association and North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring at the Winter Ag and Construction Expo Jan. 16 at the Jamestown Civic Center. The panel was moderated by ag broadcaster Mick Kjar (far right).
Farmers Union Insurance agent David Bergeman, right, donated $1,000 to the Forman Rural Fire Department.
The Bottineau County Farmers Union SE Local sponsored an informational meeting about rural property owner rights.
WE’RE A FAMILY OF COMPANIES. AND FAMILY IS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU. 18 • February 2020 • Union Farmer
WWW.FUILLC.COM
Don’t wait to purchase your copy of the new children’s book from North Dakota Farmers Union!
$16.95 Follow the Rhodes family and their dog Rocky as they work the family farm together! Visit ndfubook.2020brands.com to purchase your copy today, or call Brandi at 701-952-1160. Please add $5 for shipping for any purchase of 1-3 books. Call for pricing on larger orders.
NDFU.org • February 2020 • 19
PARTIAL TRADE DEAL ANNOUNCED
In an effort to ease the tensions of a two-year-long trade war, President Donald Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He signed the first phase of a trade agreement between their respective countries. According to text made available after the signing, China will increase its purchases of American goods and services by at least $200 billion over the next two years. This includes $32 billion worth of agricultural products over an established 2017 baseline of $24 billion, bringing the annual average to roughly $40 billion. China will make a number of changes to facilitate these purchases. It has removed barriers that have previously hindered the importation of American products like beef, pork, poultry, seafood, dairy, rice, potatoes, blueberries, barley, avocados, alfalfa, hay, distillers grain, infant formula, and pet food. Additionally, the country will accelerate its approval of agricultural biotechnology traits, which currently takes between 5-7 years. Under new regulations, the process will be shortened to about two years. President Trump purportedly instigated this trade war to address China’s unfair trade practices, including currency manipulation and intellectual property theft. The deal includes some minor changes on both issues; China has agreed to strengthen legal protections for patents, trademarks, and copyrights as well as comply with preexisting intellectual property regulations. Similarly, China has promised to uphold previously established currency commitments, refraining from “competitive 20 • February 2020 • Union Farmer
devaluations and the targeting of exchange rates for competitive purposes.” The deal does not address government subsidies given to state-owned entities, though it may be included in an anticipated second phase deal. National Farmers Union (NFU) was cautiously optimistic about the agreement, though maintained some reservations about its long-term implications. “It is a good sign that our two countries appear to have found common ground,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “But this deal must deliver more than vague, unenforceable, short-term commitments - we need real and lasting behavioral change from China, and we need reliable and robust agricultural export markets.”
SENATE PASSES USMCA
The U.S. Senate voted 89-10 in favor of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), moving the trilateral deal to President Donald Trump’s desk for final approval. Mexico has already approved the deal, and Canada is expected to follow suit in late January. Though National Farmers Union (NFU) initially withheld endorsement when USMCA was introduced over a year ago, the organization’s board voted to support it after the U.S. House of Representatives made several improvements, including stronger labor standards, more robust enforcement mechanisms, and some modest improvements to environmental protections, as well as partial elimination of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) arbitration procedure. Additionally, it omits a provision that would have inflated
health care costs by granting pharmaceutical companies marketing exclusivity for certain medications for at least 10 years. Though NFU President Roger Johnson was pleased with the Senate’s passage of the agreement, he was disappointed that it neither meaningfully addresses import dumping, which has depressed domestic commodity prices, nor does it reinstate mandatory Countryof-Origin Labeling (COOL). “There is still significant room for improvement,” Johnson said in a statement. “We urge Congress and the Trump administration to continue working to strengthen trade deals so they better support the success of family farmers and rural communities.”
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Founding Farmers
peanut butter banana toast INGREDIENTS (serves 4) 4 slices, soft whole wheat bread 1 cup peanut butter 1 ripe banana 1-ounce chocolate pearls (or mini chocolate chips or freshly grated semisweet chocolate) 4 teaspoons of chopped roasted peanuts (optional)
Marshmallow Crème 1 cup granulated sugar ½ cup water 1¼ cups light corn syrup 5 medium egg whites ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS Marshmallow Crème Place sugar, water and one cup of the corn syrup in a two-quart saucepan set over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a boil. Using a candy thermometer, continue cooking until temp reaches 240 degrees. Place egg whites in a bowl of a stand mixer. Whip on medium speed until foamy. Stop. Add remaining corn syrup, then slowly pour the sugar-syrup down insides of bowl, as to not deflate foamy egg whites. Whip mixture on high until outside of bowl cools to the touch. Transfer to plastic container that is lightly coated with flavorless cooking spray. Store, at room temp, for up to two days. Assembly Toast bread or bake on baking sheet in a 400° oven until golden brown. Spread ¼ cup of the peanut butter evenly on each slice of warm toast. Top with 1 tablespoon (or more) of the marshmallow crème. Slice banana into ½-inch slices. Lay slices on top of crème. Sprinkle with chocolate (of choice); and chopped roasted peanuts (optional). Cut into slices. Serve immediately.
submit your recipes
NDFU is taking member recipes for a small cookbook by one of our in-house committees. If you have a recipe you’d like to submit, email eolivier@ndfu.org or mail it to North Dakota Farmers Union at 1415 12th Ave. SE, Jamestown ND, 58401.
NDFU.org • February 2020 • 21
CLASSIFIEDS
Ads must be submitted through the online form at www.ndfu.org. Click “Classifieds” at the very bottom of ndfu.org and follow the instructions. Ads must be re-submitted each month. No exceptions! Deadline is the 15th of every month. Limit 75 words. MEMBERSHIP DUES MUST BE CURRENT!
FARM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE JOHN DEERE 544 DH, like new, 16-ply tires and 9 ft heavy duty grapple. Great motor with Allison trans and new batteries. Call for more info. $36,000. 701-658-9108, Doug Neuharth, Hurdsfield.
MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE TIRES, 2 Michelin LT235/80R/17 allseason, brand new. Retails at $600, only $400 for the pair; 2015 Kawasaki KLR 650 stock seat in new condition, $100 obo. 701-720-5327, Jim Locken, Minot. GUNS, Llama Comanche III dbl. action 357 magnitude revolver, 6-inch barrel, wood grips, very nice; Mossberg 46T Targo ,22 Smoothbore with 5 inch screw on rifled extension for regular ammunition, made late 40’s, nice; Winchester Model 21 Side by side double 12 gauge double, 30-inch barrels, choked F and M, double triggers and extractors, beautiful wood, made 1934-5. Can send pictures. Call for prices. 701-580-3357, Martin Hanson, Zahl. CAPS, lots of them, for any collectors, never been worn. 701-771-8653, Kenny Heilman, Rugby.
CORRAL GATES, 3 BIG VALLEY, one 16 ft, two 16 ft, $225; Steel flare-sided wagon grain box, $200; 1974 Ford F-600 single axle grain truck, 15 ft box with roll tarp, 330 HD motor, 86k miles, $4000. 701-2835178, Marc Greening, Wales.
SEMI-VAN WATER TRAILER, tanks, cones, pumps, hose reel; Semi-van storage trailer; storage container like new, converter dolly; Loading ramp. Old flatbed, curtain van trailer. 701-474-5780, Richard Rydell, Fairmount.
VERN’S CALF FEEDER, $1000 obo; Scraper tire water tank with solid steel bottom, $1000 obo. 701-210-1938, Tim Pahl, Oakes.
NORDICTRACK ELLIPTICAL, ACT adjustable stride, original price $1200. Asking $7500. 701-696-2572, Jim Enlow, Manvel.
851 NEW HOLLAND BALER auto wrap in good condition, $500; Versatile swather parts, hydrostatic drives in good condition, $200 for the set or $125 per side; 15 ft reel, good $50; 881 International corn chopper with hay head; Horse drawn 2 bottom plow complete; Several steel wagon or dump rake wheels; Parting out 1976 Ford pickup 4x4 with a 390 motor 4 speed manual transfer case and both differentials. 701424-3670, Jerry Miller, Streeter.
KAWASAKI SIDE BY SIDE, 2510 Mule, high & low range, 4 wheel drive, windshield & roll bars, 490 actual hours. 701-6299003, Doug Halden, Stanley.
1932 CROSSMOTOR CASE, tractor, 18-32, engine free. 701-853-2207, Kevin Stafne, Hettinger. NUMEROUS HOPPER BINS; Case IH 75A Farmall FWD tractor w/540 loader, no cab, 202 hours; Mayrath 6x28 ft grain auger w/engine; 40 used Lange anhydrous knives; anhydrous nitrolator w/hyd shut off & hoses; steel fence posts; used cultivator shovels; transition & aeration screens & fans; 25ft heavy duty 5/8 alloy log chain; closing wheels plus hardware for 50 ft 3320 Bourgault air seeder; Hudson electric stock tank heater. 701-629-9003, Doug Halden, Stanley. 4-WHEEL STEEL TRAILER to park in corral, 15-30 McCormick tractor, 2 cream separators, late-model Super M, w/live PTO, 1 new tire LT245-75R-17 Load Range E, saddle & 2 bridles, 1905 JD metal corn sheller; Covered wagon running gear; 1950 2-wheel bicycle. Horse potato cultivator, small square bale buncher. Email larryn@westriv.com. 701-597-3730, Larry Nagel, Shields.
WANTED SWATHER, Owatana 350 swather or New Holland 903 thru 909 swather with Ford Industrial engine. 701-226-4055, Lloyd Giese, Steele.
22 • February 2020 • Union Farmer
GRILL PROTECTOR, FarmHand Sierra Chevy Pickup truck grill protector. Cost is $860, but will sell for $400. Fit 2015-19 year models. Email larryn@westriv.com. 701-597-3730, Larry Nagel, Shields.
WANTED PICKUP SHORTBOX, for 1973-76 Ford 100-350, used, in good condition, would be interested in a parts pickup as long as it’s a short box. 701-216-0094, Doug Perdue, Ray. HONDA 4-WHEELER, real nice, must be next to new, red and have low miles. 701771-8653, Kenny Heilman, Rugby. METAL TOP for gravity wagon, will consider wagon and top together. 701-7202100, David Petry, Minot. OLD STUFF, older ND License Plates, advertising gas and oil signs or pop signs, arrowheads that were picked in ND, or anything else that has advertising on it. 701-220-5746, Val Ganje, Bismarck. WINDSHIELD, for 1962 Chevy Sedan, any condition. Cracks and holes are acceptable. Any condition considered. Also need the rear window. Call or text. 701308-1371, Greg Anderson, Jamestown. MONITOR WELL PUMP BASE, 701-8532207, Kevin Stafne, Hettinger. PRAIRIE DOG HUNTERS to come & hunt on my land. Make reservations now. Email larryn@westriv.com. 701-597-3730, Larry Nagel, Shields.
VEHICLES FOR SALE 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500HD, 4 door, dark metallic green, tool box, new tires, well maintained, always garaged, very good condition. $6000 obo. 701482-7767/701-833-5116, Fay Knudtson, Donnybrook.
Planting the seeds for
SAFER WORKERS
NDSC’s 47TH ANNUAL SAFETY & HEALTH
Tuesday, February 25 through Thursday, February 27, 2020 Monday, February 24 thru Thursday, February 27, 2020 Pre-Conference: Monday, February 24 Bismarck Event Center • Bismarck, ND Bismarck Event Center
Prepare yourself for an immersive training experience designed to inspire, engage and equip you to build a safer workplace. You’ll find a number of relevant topics at our 2020 event, including: • Machine Guarding • Rescue Advancements • OSHA Compliance
• Electrical Program Auditing • Driver Safety • Safety Leadership
• Worker Fatigue • Behavior Based Safety • Safety Culture Assessment
A private non-profit.
REGISTER NOW AT
NDSC.ORG
NDFU.org • February 2020 • 23
Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America, ND Division
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This year’s crop… It’s your livelihood for today and tomorrow. Planning every last detail to get the most from your crop should include multi-peril crop insurance. We can help. We know farming. Home Auto Crop Life Health Business Farm & Ranch
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