Union Farmer - July 2023

union farmer

JULY 2023 • ndfu.org

DEDICATION

Rott, youth leaders continue to make education a priority for LaMoure County Farmers Union families

Nathan Larson

I was born and raised in Northwood. My wife Ann and I have two kids. Megan is 19 years old at NDSU, and Jace is 16 and a sophomore in Northwood. I have been an agent with Farmers Union since I graduated college at Mayville State in 1998.

I love providing service to the Northwood community and try to stay very active in community events. I also love working for the people at Farmers Union, both with other agents and the home office staff.

I am past president of the Northwood Commercial Club and current president of the Northwood Economic Development Foundation. I have also served on the Northwood Fire Department and am a current member of the Northwood Men’s Club.

Troy Enger

I was born and raised in Northwood. After high school, I attended Mayville State University and received a degree in Business Administration. I married my wife Rhonda in 2005 and we have added six pets to our family in the years that followed. Currently

we have four dogs: Luna, Phoebe, Gus and Smokey.

I have been a Farmers Union agent since 2009. What I love most about my job is meeting and working with new people on a daily basis. You get to learn about their interesting jobs, lives and the journey they took to get to where they are. I have the opportunity to learn about every individual’s insurance needs and strategize how to best meet those needs.

Being a Famers Union agent in my community keeps me up to date on different projects and needs of our small rural community. Over the years, I have helped out by donating time or money to the projects that make my great little town of Northwood the perfect place to live and work!

President: Mark Watne

President: Bob Kuylen

Secretary: Wes Niederman • Treasurer: Ronda Throener Bob Finken; Jon Iverson; Shane Sickler; Tyler Stafslien; Michelle Ziesch.

Nathan Larson

Troy Enger

Agriculture part of a global market

In late May, I attended both a World Farmers Organization and World Seed Partnership meeting in South Africa. Once again, they reinforced how challenges in agriculture worldwide are nearly similar in every country, only on a different scale.

Whether we like it or not, we live in a global economy. It is not possible to isolate ourselves, even if we wanted to try. Other countries would simply fill the gap in supply and demand.

As farmers and ranchers, we are often told we overproduce the market. And, of course, many commodity prices are based on bushels or pounds of overproduction. I find it challenging to accept we have too much food supply when we have 850 million chronically hungry people in the world and a huge need for renewable energy.

You may ask why the president of NDFU would spend time at world gatherings? I find it necessary. Issues in the global market influence us all. Government structures, trade agreements, ownership of seed, suppliers of inputs, and the buyers of our products are all international and, at times, act in monopolistic ways.

Farmers and ranchers cannot stick their heads in the sand when it comes to world events. Nearly every event in a world setting has an impact on our markets. If we focus just on seed, for example, we see the important need for a set of rules on ownership of genetics, plant protected varieties, sciencebased seed development, and seed quality controls.

At the World Seed Partnership meeting, there were seed company displays. One company was showing a hologram of a kernel of wheat. As the wheat kernel spun in the hologram, questions would appear as to seed characteristic preferences. It was all about creating a designer seed an individual farmer could plant to meet the needs of their operation or a specific market. The new ability of genetic editing, where we can basically turn on and off DNA expressions, is the latest seed tool. The early stages of this technology and its potential is overwhelming. Even if this new tool

is scientifically safe, it will present a series of market opportunities and challenges.

I could write similar examples of future opportunities and challenges. Each one would reinforce the role our government has to be engaged in foreign affairs, fair trade efforts, limiting monopolistic practices, ensuring public development of seed varieties, and the list of essential necessities to keep a global market fair.

Farmers and ranchers, the global market will always be very complex. Diversity of governments, from democracies to dictatorships, will never allow for perfect rules. I challenge you to think logically about how a global market can truly function and the need for proper rules and regulations. It will be efforts by ourselves and other farm organizations to keep markets as fair and reasonable as possible. Domestic farm programs will be necessary to maintain each country’s ability to feed their own. And we cannot forget that an abundant food supply is essential to the economic security of our nation.

with NDFU President Mark Watne

A chance to visit with Mark and ask questions about Farmers Union, agriculture and rural America.

camp signup. event registration. daily news. shop. the NDFU app coming soon!

FROM NORTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION

NDFU supports labeling proposed rule

For decades, North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) has fought for truth in labeling. We believe consumers have the right to know where their food comes from, and producers have the right to tell them. We also believe that truth-in-labeling policies create new market opportunities for family farmers and ranchers. Yet, with the repeal of COOL in 2015 and longstanding concerns over the voluntary “Product of USA” label, NDFU’s truth-in-labeling work has been an uphill battle.

In March, USDA published a new proposed rule for “Product of USA” and “Made in USA” claims. That rule would restrict the use of “Product of USA” and “Made in USA” claims to meat products derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States. NDFU offered its strong support for the long-awaited rule, while highlighting the long process that got us to USDA’s new proposed standard.

Country-of-Origin Labeling

NDFU believes mandatory country-oforigin labeling (COOL) is the most effective mechanism for ensuring truth in labeling. NDFU was a strong supporter of COOL’s enactment in the 2002 Farm Bill. Unfortunately, appropriations riders blocked implementation of COOL for most products until 2006, and COOL for beef and pork was not implemented until 2009. Ultimately, those regulations would become short-lived.

In 2009, Canada challenged COOL at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTO ruled that COOL acted as a trade barrier to Canadian and Mexican imports in 2011. USDA, in response to the WTO ruling, later amended its COOL regulations to list the country in which each production step took place. Unfortunately, WTO ruled those changes were inadequate, and Congress repealed mandatory COOL in 2015. While some members of Congress have

attempted to revive a WTO-compliant version COOL, those efforts have so far fallen short.

“Product of USA” Label

NDFU does not view voluntary “Product of USA” labeling requirements as a substitute for mandatory COOL. Instead, we recognize that in the absence of mandatory COOL, voluntary labels are actually promoting, not preventing, consumer confusion. While not all stakeholders agree on the solution, there is broad agreement that current voluntary U.S.-origin labels are misleading to consumers. On four separate occasions, NDFU has urged USDA and other federal agencies to address that concern.

Under current regulations, voluntary U.S.origin claims can be applied to products as long as they are repackaged in the U.S. In 2018 and 2020, NDFU supported two petitions pushing USDA to establish stronger “Product of USA” labeling standards and registered support for a related Federal Trade Commission rulemaking. In response to those petitions, USDA‘s Food Safety and Inspection Service acknowledged that its current “Product of USA” standards may mislead consumers. However, the agency took no action to address the issue until this year.

Prior to issuing the 2023 “Product of USA” labeling proposed rule, USDA conducted a nationwide consumer survey to better understand consumer perceptions of “Product of USA” claims. In that survey, 63% of consumers incorrectly identified the current meaning of the “Product of USA” claim. Most of those respondents believed that all production steps must take place in the U.S. for a product to qualify for the “Product of USA” claim. Respondents also expressed a willingness to pay (WTP) more for products bearing the “Product of USA” claim and more yet when all production steps take place in the U.S. In fact,

When asked what the "Product of USA" labeling claim means, only 16% of respondents correctly identified the current definition for the "Product of USA" labeling claim. Nearly half of respondents (47%) believed it means that all production steps occurred in the U.S.

consumers expressed willingness to pay $1.15 more for a pound of ground beef for products that are wholly produced in the U.S. versus products just processed here.

With the new information gained from the consumer survey, FSIS issued its proposed rule, finally advancing rules that align with consumer expectations. The rulemaking would restrict U.S.-origin claims to single ingredient products that are derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the U.S. The rulemaking also applies to multi-ingredient

products as long as all components of the product meet that same standard.

Conclusion

NDFU strongly supports truth in labeling. We believe policies like USDA’s proposed “Product of USA” rule provide transparency to consumers and create new value for producers. We will continue to urge USDA to quickly finalize its proposed rule.

— NDFU Government Relations Director Matt Perdue

1Food Safety and Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture. (2023, March 13). Voluntary Labeling of FSIS-Regulated Products with U.S.-Origin Claims [Proposed Rule]. Docket No. FSIS 2022-0015. Retrieved from https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/documents/FSIS-2022-0015_0.pdf.

2Watne, M. (2023, June 11). Comments re: Docket No. FSIS 2022-0015 – Voluntary Labeling of FSIS-Regulated Products with U.S.-Origin Claims. Retrieved from https:// ndfu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/061123-Product-of-USA-Comments-3.pdf.

3National Agricultural Law Center. (n.d.). Country of Origin Labeling (COOL): An Overview. Retrieved from https://nationalaglawcenter.org/overview/cool/.

4Id.

5American Beef Labeling Act of 2023. S. 52. 118th Congress. (2023-2024). Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/52.

6North Dakota Farmers Union (n.d.). Federal Comments. Retrieved from https://ndfu.org/legislation/testimony-letters/.

7Cates, S. C., et. al. (2022, November 30). Analyzing Consumers’ Value of “Product of USA” Labeling Claims. RTI International [Prepared for the Food Safety and Inspection Service]. Retrieved from https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/documents/Analyzing_Consumers_Value_of_PUSA_Labeling_Claims_final_report.pdf.

AGENTS HONORED AT SALES CONFERENCE

Farmers Union Insurance agents from North Dakota, South Dakota and Arkansas met June 6-7 at the Bismarck Hotel and Conference Center for the Farmers Union Insurance 2023 Sales Conference. The event featured speakers and training on leadership, sales and customer service. Farmers Union Insurance honored agents for their 2023 success and gave out awards for years of service the first night. Pictured with each winner is Farmers Union Insurance CEO Mark Anderson.

Jed Geer, Beck Hruby and Jamie Ressler (far right) of Bismarck received the Agraria Agency of the Year award.

Dave Berger of Mandan was named Property and Casualty Agent of the Year.

Adam Jiskra was named Adjuster of the Year.

Monte Weiand accepts the award for District 1 receiving District of the Year.

Russ Stremick of Langdon was named Crop Agent of the Year.

Brandi Larson of Stanley was named Rookie of the Year.

Dominic Noonan of Fargo was named Financial Products Agent of the Year.

Premier Agent Awards

David Bergeman, Forman/Oakes

Kyle DeVries, Wahpeton

Jed Geer-Beck Hruby-Jamie Ressler, Bismarck

Lance Gulleson, Lisbon

Armen Hanson-Dan Ness-Kim Zinke, Devils Lake

Garitt Irey, Edgeley

Shane Kleingartner, Fargo

Jerrod Lematta, Ellendale

Ryan Opdahl, Hillsboro

Shaun Sipma-Carlie Beuchler-Josh Ressler, Minot Ryan Schnell, Bismarck

Mary Smith, Ray

Al Weigel, Napoleon Jerry and Sjon Zunich-JR Johnson, Williston

YEARS OF SERVICE

20 years of service

30 years of service

Jerry Essler, Kenmare

Doug Kleingartner, Fargo

Julie Knutson, Bottineau

Nathan Larson, Northwood

Kary Lindgren, Ashley

Mark Johnson of Velva celebrated his 50th anniversary as a Farmers Union Insurance agent.

Armen Hanson of Devils Lake celebrated his 40th anniversary as a Farmers Union Insurance agent.

Margi Engelter, New Salem

Neil Johnston, Wimbledon

15 years of service or less

Mike Nelson, Washburn (15 years)

Tatem Brandt, LaMoure (10)

Randy Hooey, Carrington (10)

Kandie Lindemann, Beulah (10)

Chad Oswald, Wilton (10)

Ryan Ressler, Bismarck (10)

Lucas Schumacher, New Rockford (10)

David Beck, Bismarck (5)

Dave Berger, Mandan (5)

Troy Renwick, Mandan (5)

Aaron Stuckle, Linton (5)

Tyler Waslien, Casselton (5)

$2M CROP AGENCIES

Chris Arnston, Maddock

Zach Axtman-Chris Walker, Rugby Dwight Byron (not pictured)-Jay Thompson, Park River

David Bergeman, Forman/Oakes

Jerry Essler, Kenmare

Renae Fayette, Grafton

Marcus Fischer, Bowman

Lance Gulleson, Lisbon

Aaron Johansen-Garrett Murphy, Dickinson

Robbie Larsen-Kjell Vassen, Crosby

Blaine Moberg, Rolla Chad Oswald, Wilton

Lucas Schumacher, New Rockford

Mary Smith, Ray Russ Stremick, Langdon

$2M CROP AGENCIES (continued)

Million Dollar Awards

FUI RAISES MONEY FOR CAMP

Farmers Union Insurance agents, management and vendors participated in a number of contests including a raffle, bowling and golfing tournaments as well as a putting contest. The games raised $4,690 for Farmers Union camps in North and South Dakota.

Tyler Waslien-Scott Cramer, Casselton

Jennifer Worley, Cavalier

Jerry and Sjon Zunich-JR Johnson, Williston

Armen Hanson-Kim Zinke-Dan Ness, Devils Lake

David Beck, Bismarck $4 million Agaria Agency

David Bergeman, Forman/Oakes $2 million Agaria Agency

Chris Arnston, Maddock $1 million Agaria Agency

Alyssa Wiedenmeyer, Ryan Opdahl, Steven Ratti, Jamie Ressler and Troy Renwick (not pictured) each made the 55-foot putt during the putting contest at Prairie West Golf Course in Mandan. Opdahl won the putt-off, claiming the $350 prize.

Agent Aaron Dunphy of Grand Forks won the 50-50 raffle and would have taken home more than $1,100. He graciously donated it back to Farmers Union Camp.

keeping with TRADITION

Rott part of a long line of dedicated LaMoure County

Farmers Union families committed to education

Carly Rott is continuing a tradition of excellence for LaMoure County Farmers Union, and she has no shortage of support.

The third-generation youth director took the reins in 2016 after going through North Dakota Farmer Union’s entire youth program and earning her Torchbearer Award in 2009. She was a camp counselor, went to college and eventually moved back to LaMoure as a

financial planner.

“I fell in love with the youth program,” Carly said. “My dad (Ron Van Bruggen) was the county president and asked if I wanted to be the youth director. … I just jumped in and took the lead.”

She joins a long family tradition of giving

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Story and cover/main photos by

Chris Aarhus, NDFU

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

back to Farmers Union.

Her mother, Gayann, had been a youth leader for the county for more than 30 years, originally assisting her aunt Phyllis Smedshammer, who was herself a longtime director. Ron served as a longtime county president before retiring last year. Brother Tyler Van Bruggen is the youth leader in Barnes County. He’s also a Farmers Union Insurance agent. Like Tyler and Carly, brother Kale was a camp counselor and Torchbearer.

“Through the years, it’s been passed on through generations of involvement with our family,” Gayann said. “I used to work at the state office in the insurance department, and all three of my brothers were in the Farmers Union Insurance business. My parents were strong Farmers Union members. My aunt Phyllis was youth director, and she really got me started. It’s been in our blood.

“I appreciate what Farmers Union stands for and how they advocate for small family farms and cooperation. Education is really important to the organization.”

Carly also has a breadth of experience to turn to outside of her family if she needs help. Connie Bitz and Karen Sandness of LaMoure, and Mary Schlosser of Edgeley each have more than 40 years as youth educators of their respective locals.

“I’ve been really fortunate to have the help of Connie, Mary and Karen, for sure,” Carly said.

“It’s nice to bounce ideas off of them and have an extra set of hands on the day of our event.”

Carly is in her seventh year leading the youth program, or EPIC program (Education Program in Counties). As an EPIC coach, she takes the lead in planning and coordinating the EPIC events, which Gayann said fits her well.

“I’m glad she’s taken over this position in our county,” Gayann said. “She’s grown up with the Farmers Union background. She relates to kids well, and she has all the qualities needed in a good leader. We saw that in her (growing up), and her brothers were good mentors to her as well.”

EPIC EVENTS

LaMoure County Farmers Union does a trip every year for its youth program. Rott said they’ve alternated between a trip to Jamestown and a trip to another regional location. She credited her three EPIC educators for the idea, which now means an EPIC event at Farmers Union’s new camp on the Jamestown Reservoir every other year.

“It was an idea they had a year prior to me starting, and it was to promote camp for the kids who may be nervous to attend camp,” Carly said. “Their idea was to visit the campsite for the day to see what it’s like and realize that it’s not that far from home. We want to ease those nerves a little bit, and that helps them get excited and go home and ask mom and dad to

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EPIC EVENTS

LaMoure County Farmers Union

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

sign up for camp.”

With sometimes more than 50 kids attending, Carly and the educators use the time to teach kids about agriculture, cooperatives, STEM and other important topics.

Last year, the group took a trip to Northern State’s Jewett Regional Science Education Center in Aberdeen, S.D., where they learned about 3D printing. The event included a pizza party, and they swam at the Aberdeen Aquatic Center.

Other events have included trips to the food co-op and a Redhawks game in Fargo and the Valley City State planetarium. They’ve done local events like volunteering for the LaMoure County Food Pantry and receiving a Patriotism Lesson from the American Legion. Cooperative learning is also a prominent feature of the trips. This year’s trip will be an EPIC event at the Jamestown camp in July or August.

STRONG SUPPORT

Mary Schlosser also credited LaMoure County families for their dedication to making sure kids receive educational opportunities. She said that has fostered leadership.

Former NDFU President Alan Bergman came from Jud, which is in LaMoure County. Mary’s husband Richard is a former LaMoure County Farmers Union president, and their son Mike is currently president.

“We’ve always had strong leaders in this county,” she said. “The Phyllis Smedshammers, the Van Bruggens, Cliff Haro … a lot of strong leaders. Their kids were involved, and their kids became leaders.”

That leadership laid the groundwork years ago, Carly said. Those efforts are still bearing fruit, as the county receives educational funds

from Allied Agronomy and Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative.

“Not many counties are fortunate enough to have the funding to go to places like an aquatic center,” Carly said. “Educational funds from our cooperatives help fund a lot of this, so we’re very lucky to have that.”

In return, as part of the Farmers Union philosophy, the youth program teaches about the importance of cooperatives. NDFU summer camp is also dedicated to cooperative learning.

“We try to plan activities that are exciting and fun for kids, but also have a learning component,” Mary said. “We want to teach the value of cooperatives, why we are where we are and how we got here, and how we can all work together and give back to the community. And not just for farmers, but for everyone in rural communities.”

Those efforts have been at work through the years, though Carly, Gayann and Mary all said it’s more difficult with the many activities available to today’s kids. As an incentive, any youth who attends camp and the EPIC event gets a Cenex gift card, paid for by cooperative educational funds.

“We know the cost of camp may be challenging for some families,” Carly said. “This is just a way that we can give something back.”

LaMoure County Farmers Union continues to adapt with the times, maintaining strong involvement from its youth and their families. Gayann said it’s in good hands as it looks to the future.

“It’s important to (Carly) that it succeeds because she knows the benefit of what this youth program can provide,” Gayann said. “Having children of her own now, it’s important for her to see that legacy continue, so it’s available for them when they’re old enough to play a part.”

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

JUNIOR CAMPS

SENIOR CAMPS

July 10-14 Jamestown ( Grades 7-12)

July 11-15 Heart Butte ( Grades 7-9)

July 31-Aug 4 Jamestown ( Grades 10-12)

Aug 1-5 Heart Butte ( Grades 10-12)

Kid Scoop News reaching ND students

BY PAM MUSLAND, NDFU

Ask Cecile Wehrman what it feels like when a student or teacher holds Kid Scoop News in their hands for the very first time and she’ll tell you, “It’s all about the smiles. It makes reading fun.”

Wehrman, publisher and editor of The Journal, Crosby, and the Tioga Tribune in northwestern North Dakota, is leading the charge to make North Dakota one of the first states to place the activitypacked newspaper in the hands of elementary kids across the entire state.

In its first full year of delivery, 95% of school districts in the western half of North Dakota began receiving the monthly edition, published August through May. The geographic footprint covers Williston, Minot, Bismarck and Dickinson schools and nearly all of the surrounding smaller districts.

Thanks to the support of Farmers Union Insurance and others, the statewide objective and push to increase literacy in grades K-6 may soon be a reality next year.

“School budgets are stretched and our sponsorship allows for additional creative reading material being available to students across the state,” said Kevin Ressler, Farmers Union Insurance chief sales, marketing and brand officer.

With the latest national report card showing 69% of fourth graders failing to read at grade level, and only 52% of adults reading above the fifth-grade level, Wehrman said we have a serious problem. “If people don’t like to read, their ability to be productive citizens who are engaged in democracy is limited. I see this as a

crisis that not only impacts newspapers.”

For Kid Scoop News, “We have dozens of surveys from teachers who tell us this is one of the few printed items their students use because everything is on a tablet now,” Wehrman said. “Over and over, we hear from teachers how much kids like to have something they can hold in their hands. For many children, this is the first newspaper of any kind they are seeing.”

Founded 10 years ago by a former educator from northern California, Kid Scoop News is a 100% donor-funded newspaper. “So far, from what teachers are telling us, we seem to be on the right track both in encouraging kids to read and in helping kids make the connection between quality information and newsprint.”

To learn more about how you can support the project or sponsor a classroom, contact Wehrman at journal@crosbynd.com.

GRAIN BIN SAFETY

SKY PICTURES

The ancient Greeks looked at the night sky and saw the outlines of animals and people. They gave names to these and told stories about them.

LIKE MUSIC?

Lots of simple to make musical instruments can be made from easy to nd materials. Learn how to make a gutbucket, mini maracas and singing glasses.

MOTHER’S DAY

What do carnations, a lady called Ana Jarvis and President Woodrow Wilson have to do with Mother’s Day? Find out inside!

CASE OF THE MESSY MUSIC PLAYER

Cecil B. Snoopston shares the Case of the Messy Music Player. Follow the clues, read the ngerprints and see if you can solve the case.

Our Famil Book

the Fourth children’s book from North Dakota Farmers Union

$16.95 plus tax

Dusty learns about generations of family and equipment on their farm, and the latest in soil technology. Find out how Dusty makes Gramps a new thingamajig for his tractor to save the day!

Farmers First Act proposed

In mid-May, Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced the Farmers First Act of 2023, which reauthorizes and increases funding for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN). FRSAN was first authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill but did not receive funding from Congress until 2019. The Farmers First Act increases annual funding for FRSAN from the current level of $10 million to $15 million for fiscal years 2024-2028.

FRSAN supports a service provider network that connects farm and ranch families to stress assistance programs and resources.

Four regional centers established through FRSAN are increasing access to farm stress services across the United States and its territories by coordinating efforts to serve the unique needs of the populations in each region. Services provided and coordinated through FRSAN include telephone helplines and websites, training programs and workshops, support groups and outreach services.

Farming is an inherently stressful occupation, with persistent financial pressure. Sixty percent of rural residents live in areas with professional health shortages, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. FRSAN is essential for serving populations where the need is great, and resources are limited.

The bill is cosponsored by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark), Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine). NFU will push for its inclusion in the 2023 Farm Bill.

NFU OPPOSES FY24 APPROPRIATIONS BILL

On May 18, NFU stated opposition to passage of the fiscal year 2024 agriculture funding bill as passed by the U.S. House Appropriations agriculture subcommittee.

The bill includes several harmful provisions and funding cuts, including language preventing USDA from completing ongoing

and forthcoming rulemakings to modernize and strengthen the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act).

The bill also includes several other harmful provisions, including:

• Cutting funds that would support distressed borrowers of Farm Service Agency loans.

• Rolling back funding for programs that help address climate change and promote the growth of renewable energy on farms and ranches.

• Tightening requirements for low-income individuals to qualify for SNAP (in addition to the new requirements from the debt ceiling deal).

The P&S Act rulemakings would provide clearer protection for producers of livestock and poultry, clarify what conduct or actions by meatpackers violates the P&S Act (including by making clear what constitutes deceptive and retaliatory conduct by meatpackers), require poultry companies to be more transparent in their contracting practices with producers, and would settle the issue that individual farmers that are harmed do not need to prove competitive injury to the entire sector (whether cattle, hogs, poultry or otherwise) in order to bring a case under the P&S Act.

NFU has advocated for modernizing and strengthening the P&S Act for decades and has contended with similar harmful provisions instituted through the appropriations process before.

The Obama-era P&S Act rulemakings were hampered through the 2012-15 appropriations bills. When NFU and allies won the victory to lift those appropriations riders, the Obama administration did not have sufficient time to successfully finalize most of its proposed P&S Act rules.

NFU will work to ensure these harmful provisions are not part of the final House bill and similarly harmful provisions are not included in the Senate agriculture appropriations bill.

The Farmer’s Share

Did you know that farmers and ranchers receive only 14.3* 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.

DEBT DEAL AVERTED

On May 28, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced an agreement to resolve the months-long impasse over the impending debt ceiling.

The deal was struck the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. The agreement provides a roadmap for federal spending for the next decade, with two years of hard spending caps, followed by four years of non-binding spending targets. In exchange for suspending the debt

limit until January 2025, the deal freezes fiscal year (FY) 2024 federal spending at FY 2023 levels and caps FY 2025 spending levels at 1% growth.

Many observers looked to the debt ceiling standoff as an indicator for the farm bill process. Other funding considerations are also complicating the farm bill situation. Rescissions of funding that were authorized but not yet spent will cut about $3.2 billion from USDA programs.

Founding Farmers hosts DC interns

Founding Farmers has partnered with Washington, D.C., schools and their Career Technical Education (CTE) programs to host high school interns in the hospitality and culinary arts program. The restaurant has hosted three sessions so far: spring, summer and winter. Over the course of the sessions, four talented interns have made their way through the Founding Farmers kitchen.

The high school internship program is an example of how Farmers Restaurant Group grows and sustains its team with handson training and mentorship, ongoing skills building and cross-training, and opportunities for continued growth and learning within the

company. This program is a stepping stone for the next generation of mission-driven leaders of Farmers Restaurant Group.

One of our latest interns, DeAnna Mozee — who has been in all three sessions honing her culinary skills in prep and pastry — recently won first place at the ProStart Student Invitational Culinary Competition and was featured on a local news channel. Farmers Restaurant Group is also sponsoring DeAnna as she competes in the upcoming Skills USA: National Skills and Leadership Conference in Atlanta by providing her with funds to make the trip as well as baking supplies for the competition.

Donations of more than $1,000 are recognized at the state office on the NDFU Donor Recognition Wall. Giving levels include:

– $1,000 to $4,999

– $5,000 to $14,999

Mahamadul Hasan, Yony Paz, Herberth Zeyala, DeAnna Mozee, and Chef James Wiggins (holding the trophy) celebrate their success in the ProStart Student Invitational Culinary Competition.

CLASSIFIEDS

Ads must be submitted through the online form at www.ndfu.org. Click “Classifieds” at the very bottom of ndfu.org and fill out the online form. 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

1946 INTERNATIONAL M with narrow front end, it has a Dual loader with a large snow bucket. Back tires are fair condition, has extra wheel weights, front tires ok condition, carburetor was overhauled last summer, paint fair to good. $2000 OBO. 701-983-4445, John Flemmer, Golden Valley.

15-30 MCCORMICK TRACTOR, 1 new tire

LT245-75R-Load Range E. 2- Cream Separators, 4-wheel Steel Running Gear, 1 Covered Wagon Running Gear, 12’ Kirschman Drill, 1 Horse Potato Cultivator, 4 Btm. Pony & Packer, Saddle and 2 Bridles. Email: larryn@westriv.com. 701548-8020, Larry Nagel, Shields.

HAY RAKE, JD 12 ft; 12 ft JD single disk; 12 ft JD tandem desk; Lincoln welder. 701-270-0184, Harold Severson, Lakota.

TWO STEEL BINS on cones w/aeration fans; Bourgault knock on cultivator sweeps; used Case IH 8230 feeder chain; combine pickup guards/lifters; 3 triangular grain auger hoppers w/straps/chains to fasten onto grain auger; old front tine rototiller; Simer water pump; farm scale/steel wheels; used 16”JD cultivator shovels/spikes; 4x8’ wooden stone boat; John Blue anhydrous nitrolator w/hyd shut off hoses. 701-629-9003, Doug Halden, Stanley.

SPRAYER, Summers 350 gal, 48 ft manual lift booms, skid mounted pickup, Honda motor Ag-Chem foam marker, 4 gal fresh water tank, $1500, one owner nice condition; 1450 gal fresh water tank $200. 701-878-4807, Jerry Kuntz, Hebron.

SWATHER, Macdon 24 ft. Pull type swather. Price too sell. would be good for parts. Or a few repairs, finger reel. Some parts belts some bearings; Farm King 60 ft 10 inch Auger. Side delivery. Needs a few minor repairs; Ford 1991 single cab pick-up automatic. Runs, needs a tune up, body real good condition; Ashland dirt scrapper; Tractor 4630, 1973, runs like new, extra fuel tank, new, around 8,300 hours. 701263-1206, Lathan Romsos, Bottineau.

WHEEL RAKE, Vicon H1050 9 wheel; Versatile 400 15 ft. swather. 701-376-5296/701-2601065, Bill Hourigan, Lemmon, S.D.

CREEP FEEDERS, 2 Verns and 2 Apache calf creep feeders. No rust in the troughs, good tires. Asking $1000 choice for two of them and $1200 choice for the other two. Please leave message. 701-597-3107, Ken Koch, Shields.

GRAIN CART, 400 bu. J-Craft grain cart, PTO drive, hydraulic folding auger and bottom slide, bottom auger, new roll tarp, 28L-26 tires, good, all gears and drives update, made in Kimball, MN; Koehn 8 row Danish S-tine cultivator, adjustable width, depth wheels, 3 pt. hitch, stand, sway discs. $250 OBO. 701-952-8973, Glen Nagel, Jamestown.

LOADER, F11 Farmhand Loader with controls, pump, and grapple fork $700; DeLaval #618 Cream Separator $75; Deering Horse drawn mower, yard art, $125; 6 steel wheels, $35 each. 1975 Pontiac Le Mans GT original Nasa scooped hood with hinges in good condition. 701-226-4121, Allen Koth, Bismarck.

AUGER, BATCO 1335 TD grain auger with 5 horse power Electric Motor, nearly new; WALINGA 614 Grain Vacuum with 5” & 6” suction hoses. Above average condition, always stored inside. 701-830-8011, Kenneth Kellogg, Ellendale.

SLIDING DOORS, Quonset sliding doors, 14x19.5. 701-435-2521, John Backer, Courtenay.

BALER, 605-J Vermeer baler, shedded, ready to go, $3000; Sitrex 9-wheel rake, new rake wheels, new paint, good tires. $3800; Double 9’ rowse mower, new guards and sickles, $9300; 9’ rowse mower, new sickle, great shape, $6300; 6-wheel rake, great for ditches, $2000. All ready, can deliver. 701-400-5742, Gerald Miller, Mandan.

WANTED

PROPANE TANK, 1,000 gallons. 701-465-3400, Ron Cartwright, Anamoose.

3-PT HITCH, add-on, for JD 4230. 701-3202493, Ed Attleson, Spiritwood.

1956 CHEVY 3100, short-bed, small window, 327cid for a 67 Camaro, 3 on the tree with O/D runs but needs brake/body work. $12,500 located in Northern California. 707-425-7315, Vernon Buchmann, Fairfield, Calif.

BIKES, Sears 1984 Free Spirit Tourney 24 in. Boy’s 10 speed bike/original/one owner/ excellent condition/manual; Two 1985 Huffy Bay Point 26 in. 3 speed girls and boys bikes/ original/one owner/like new condition/manuals. Large hand held Armstrong pipe thread cutter, five sets of dies; 1/2 in. 3/4 in. 1 in. 1 1/4 in. 1 1/2 in. Large handheld Saunders Type No. 2 pipe cutter. Reasonable offers accepted. 701838-5014, Don Eliason, Minot.

CAMPER, 1990 Winnebago Warrior camper on Toyota chassis, 22 feet, dually, heat, AC, TV antennae, 6 cyl, gas, EFI, 90,000 miles, wired for 30 Amp plug in, solar panel, stove, fridge/ freezer combo, microwave, dining table, couch, can be made into 3 beds, air ride rear axle, power steering, cruise, crank windows, bathroom, storage tanks, good upholstery, runs great. $9500. 701-952-8973, Glen Nagel, Jamestown.

TIRES, like new, eight 235/80-R16 10-ply trailer tires. Asking $500 for all 8 tires, and 1 older tire for spare. Please leave message. 701-597-3107, Ken Koch, Shields.

DODGE PICKUP, 1978 3/4 TON Dodge D200 Adventure Prospector sleet side pickup like new, collection, perfectly maintained, new paint job. Briggs Straton 6 HP motor very good condition used for grain auger. Leave a message if no answer. 701-663-7973, Chris Heim, Mandan.

USED MICHELIN TIRES, 235/55 R20, these were on a 2021 GMC Acadia, 24,000 miles on theses tires. In excellent condition, selling because l put snow tires on my vehicle. Asking $100.00 for four tires. 701-720-3400, Albert Reiter, Surrey.

FOR SALE

1975 CHEVY PICKUP, 4WD, 92k miles, fair shape. 701-321-2275, Frank Wangler, Kintyre.

SAWZALL, Milwaukee, electric, with metal case. $20; 2 cycle 128 Husqvarna weed eater, $50. 701-840-1094, Brett Kapaun, Tower City.

E-Z DOCK kayak launch. Like new condition. Located in Mercer; Bobcat 811 backhoe attachment; Older utility/bobcat trailer. 5x12 with ramps. Call or text me with questions or pictures. 701-206-0082, Marcus Fischer, Bowman.

SIGNS/BASES, Our Own Hardware Store sign, Benjamin Moore Paints sign, Left half of a Sinclair sign (SINC). Pennzoil cast iron base, Coke cast iron base. 701-220-5746, Val Ganje, Bismarck.

2 SCOPES, Sightron 3X9 42mm dual X Crosshairs $325; Bushnell 4X for a .22; Mossberg SS One-1 .223 single shot rifle with a Weaver 3X9 40mm scope, checkered Walnut wood 24” barrel, just like new, bought used only fired to sight in the scope. $500 plus shipping. I can send pictures. 30 miles north of Williston. 701-580-3357, Martin Hanson, Zahl.

1930 MODEL A, 4-door, runs and drives. All original and 90% complete. Call evenings or weekends. Misc parts go with car. $6500. Serious inquiries only. 701-216-0094, Doug Perdue, Ray.

WANTED

OLD STUFF, ND road signs, Indian head signs, highway patrol metal door signs. ND license plates, ND picked arrowheads, ND small town metal trade tokens. All Advertising signs, gas pumps from old gas stations, signs from machinery dealerships. Advertising items like thermometers, clocks, crocks, calendars, custard glass, or anything else that’s old and interesting. I will travel to your location. 701-220-5746, Val Ganje, Bismarck.

PRAIRIE DOG HUNTERS to hunt on my land. Make reservations now; Used dependable, slower, water-cooled snowmobile with electric start and reverse. Email: larryn@westriv.com. 701-548-8020, Larry Nagel, Shields.

Around the state

On May 31, Grant County Farmers Union hosted an EPIC event with new EPIC coach Amanda Petrick. There were crafts, story time, games and sampling different breads spanning a variety of cultures from pita bread to croissants. In learning about breads and grains, the children also had the opportunity to bake a loaf of quick bread to take home.

Walsh County Farmers Union assisted with a fundraiser through the Park River Fire Department on June 5. A $500 check was presented to the PRFD, courtesy of NDFU’s Community Stewards program. WCFU assisted in serving hamburgers and hotdogs to help them raise money for the annual fireworks display that benefits all Walsh County residents.

Emmons County Farmers Union was part of “Co-op Corner” at the annual Dairy & Ag Days June 9 in Linton. They handed out 12 dozen donuts from Model Bakery and even had the NDFU Chopper on display.

McHenry County Farmers Union and Ward County Farmers Union had a table at the Verendrye Electric annual meeting in Minot. They gave away two bikes and had a Plinko game for kids to play.

1415 12th Ave SE PO Box 2136

Jamestown, ND 58402

Travel Opportunities

OCTOBER 2023: Spotlight on the French Riviera (Booking# 1106739)

View Recorded Presentation: https://tinyurl com/futfrenchriviera

For more info: https://gateway gocollette com/link/1106739

NOVEMBER 2023: Treasures of Egypt (Booking# 1159201)

View Recorded Presentation: https://tinyurl.com/futegypt

For more info: https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1159201

DECEMBER 2023: Colors of Morocco (Booking# 1159199)

View Recorded Presentation: https://tinyurl com/futmorocco

For more info: https://gateway gocollette com/link/1159199

DECEMBER 2023: London & Paris (Booking# 1159087)

View Recorded Presentation: https://tinyurl.com/futlondonparis

For more info: https://gateway gocollette com/link/1159087

FEBRUARY 2024: Wilderness of Southern Africa (Booking# 1158870)

View Recorded Presentation: https://tinyurl.com/futafricansafari

For more info: https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1158870

APRIL 2024: Best of Italy (Booking# 1159197)

View Recorded Presentation: https://tinyurl com/futafricansafari

For more info: https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1159197

For reservations & more information: Collette

1-800-581-8942

Reference Booking # Above