Larew testifies to Congress

On May 2, NFU President Rob Larew testified at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade, titled, “Commodity Programs, Credit and Crop Insurance: Producer Perspectives on the Farm Safety Net.” As Congress gears up for the 2023 Farm Bill process, president Larew testified on a panel alongside Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).

Witnesses from 10 commodity organizations also offered comments during the hearing.

NFU provided written and verbal testimony expressing the importance of preserving and strengthening the farm safety net, which includes expanding access to crop insurance, increasing price-based triggers in commodity programs to reflect higher prices and input costs, expedited farm program payments, and enacting a permanent disaster program.

Larew discussed the opportunity in the upcoming farm bill to promote and incentivize the diversification of farming and ranching, expand new market opportunities in food and energy, provide producers with the tools needed to combat climate change, and invest in local infrastructure.

Larew also urged Congress to take concrete steps to ensure greater competition throughout the U.S. food system and supply chains through stronger enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, cattle market reform and country-of-origin labeling, and directing research into the impacts of consolidation on farmers, ranchers and consumers. The testimony explicitly urged Congress to include a competition title in the 2023 Farm Bill.

A right to repair win in Colorado

Farmers Union has secured a major policy victory in Colorado. On April 25, Gov. Jared Polis signed into law the “Consumer Right to Repair Agriculture Equipment Act,” marking an historic victory for the Right to Repair movement. With this enactment, Colorado is the first state in the nation to pass a Right to Repair law for agriculture equipment. Rocky Mountain Farmers Union was integral to the development and passage of this historic legislation.

Taking effect on Jan. 1, 2024, this law requires manufacturers to provide parts, embedded software, firmware, tools, and documentation, such as diagnostic, maintenance or repair manuals, diagrams or similar information, to independent repair providers and owners of the manufacturer’s agricultural equipment. The law includes agricultural equipment in Colorado’s existing consumer right-to-repair statutes, which treat violations by manufacturers as deceptive trade practices. Colorado has existing enforcement mechanisms on the books, including both criminal and civil penalties.

Success at the state level should help advance the issue nationally, and the Colorado law could serve as a blueprint for other states and federal lawmakers. NFU is leading the national-level push on agricultural Right to Repair legislation with help from a variety of partner organizations and advocates. NFU has also filed petitions with the Federal Trade Commission and Environmental Protection Agency in support of Right to Repair.

Major farm equipment manufacturers have long refused to make the software tools necessary to repair modern tractors, combines and other farm equipment fully available to farmers and independent mechanics. This leaves farmers no choice but to take their broken equipment to licensed dealerships, which leads to service delays and inflated repair costs.

Furthermore, the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), a close partner of NFU on Right to Repair, released a report in April, partially based on a survey conducted by NFU. PIRG estimates the equipment downtime and higher repair costs caused by repair restrictions are costing U.S. farmers and ranchers more than $4 billion annually.

The victory in Colorado marks the beginning of ensuring farmers have fair and affordable repair access. NFU will continue to fight alongside partners and advocates to secure Right to Repair for farmers and ranchers across the country.

NFU hosts spring advocacy training

On April 17-18, NFU hosted 12 Farmers Union members from across the country for the 2023 Spring Advocacy Training workshop. For many of the participants, this event served as their first glimpse into NFU’s extensive advocacy work in Washington, D.C.

Throughout the training, members had the opportunity to connect with one another and discuss their roles within Farmers Union, their farming operations, and how they can use their experience to advocate for policies to better serve their communities. The two-day event featured workshops on public speaking, working with the media, serving on boards of directors, and becoming influential advocates for Farmers Union’s priorities.

Participants also heard from NFU President Rob Larew and the Government Relations team to discuss tips and tricks for lobbying and the most effective ways to engage in advocacy. Following a series of breakout group sessions, participants made their way to Capitol Hill for meetings with congressional offices to advocate for NFU’s 2023 Farm Bill priorities and Fairness for Farmers.

NFU’s 2023 Farm Bill priorities feature core Fairness for Farmers legislative initiatives, including the “Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act,” the “Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act,” the “American Beef Labeling Act,” and protecting USDA’s ongoing rulemaking to strengthen enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act. Members also advocated for expanding access to farm programs, through crop insurance and establishing permanent disaster assistance; providing farmers with the resources they need to address climate change through conservation initiatives; supporting the growth and development of biofuels; maintaining a strong nutrition title; better serving beginning, veteran and socially disadvantaged farmers; and expanding and funding the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN).

The event was a success as members who participated in the training left Washington with a better understanding of the legislative process, equipped with new skills and confidence to engage with elected officials at the local, state and federal levels.

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

CASE PLOW. 6 bottom, 20 inch. 6 coulters. Spring trip. 2 point hitch. Heavy duty. In good condition. Has 10 ft wide packer. 605-530-2296, Vern Snow, Tolstoy, SD.

SWATHER, 03’ Macdon self-propelled swather, 30’ 962 Head; Bendpack 6 ton automobiles hoist 3 phase power; 08’ JD 936D Draper header. 701-833-6607, Curt Gilbraith, Minot.

190 AC GAS TRACTOR with Allied Loader. $6500, runs, looks good. 701-320-6040/701-273-6040 (nights), Paul Geringer, Robinson.

TOOLBOX, new full size cross-over aluminum tool box. Single lid, heavy duty, low profile. Able to see 5th wheel ball from stop light camera. Paid $350, want $300. 701-778-7391, Howard Stemen, Dickey.

CONCORD AIR SEEDER 12/20 with dutch openers, places seed and dry fertilizer in rows 6” apart and place nh3 between the rows. Fill auger and winch for nh3 tank hook up. Rebuilt both meters. $6000 obo; 28 ft 7200 hoe drills for parts or whole drill; Two 8 ft Melroe drills w/ seeder weeders and fertilizer, $1200 obo. 851 $500 and 852 $1000, NH balers w/ autowrap, many new baler parts. 701-269-6216, Jerry Miller, Streeter.

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.

CHISEL PLOW, 41’ JD 1600 w/ Degelman Harrows, good condition. JD 42’ 1000 series, w/ Degelman Harrows. JD 9350 30’ (3-10 fts) w/ Erskine built on transport-hoe drills. Real good condition. Make offers. JD 630 6 row planter and 6 row 3 point cultivator, make offer. 701833-9630, Gary Knudtson, Donnybrook.

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.

CULTIVATOR, 8 row adjustable width Danish tines, 3 pt. hitch, depth wheels, stand, sway discs on ends, $250 OBO, pictures available upon request. 701-952-8973, Glen Nagel, Jamestown.

SPREADER, tow broadcast spreader, 125 pound, Yardworks. Used only 2 times. New price $125. Now $60. 701-541-5364, Henry Walkin, Horace.

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.

HAMMER MILLS, two Viking Hammer Mills, 16 foot pick up reel and 20 foot metal folding door panels. 701-725-4373, Steven McCormack, Des Lacs.

JOHN DEERE 222 straight grain head. $500 or best offer. 701-320-5104, Edwin Haisley, LaMoure.

SWATHER, Macdon pulltype swather, 24 foot; Farm King auger; Side delivery 60ft long, needs some work; Cenex 2200 bushel steel bin. Excellent condition, to be moved. 701-2631206, Lathan Romsos, Bottineau.

JOHN DEERE 4010 diesel tractor. $5000 or best offer; Yetter 21ft. rotary hoe. Make an offer. Both in good condition. Text or call. 701-320-8390, Larry Exner, LaMoure.

MASSEY COMBINE, 1984 Massey 860 combine with pickup head and 24’ straight head, good belts, chains, concaves(used 2 seasons); 2007 Summers NT Ultimate Sprayer 90’ booms, hydraulic pump, Raven Monitor, chemical filler, flush tank; 1974 Ford F700 grain truck with 16’ box, single axle. 701-593-6368/701-331-8983, Jim Kovarik, Adams.

1960 INTERNATIONAL TRUCK, 2-ton, good shape, hoist , 2500$ or make offer. 30’ Wilrich cultivator great shape make offer. Farmall Super” M tractor with 345 Dual loader, perfect for restorer or small farm hobbyist, always inside. Can text photos .701 -655-3588, Ron Pishtek Brocket.

DISC BLADES, 6 used disc blades for IHC disc, 17 in diameter, 11/4 in square center hole, flat center. 4 used Tie Rod/ Arbor Bolt for Krause Rock Flex disc, 1 1/2 in. diameter, 59 1/2 in long, part # 614-18-0, or 614-16-0. 19 each Nichols brand New double point chisel cultivator “spikes”, 2 in wide 17 in long, part number HC 2C*-2. ii. 701-465-3749, Arlo and Karen Blumhagen, Drake.

MARFLEX PICKUP SPRAYER, 80’ hydraulic booms, 400 gal. tank. Leave message. 701-9255821, James Kimball, Noonan.

PRESS DRILL, 12 ft. 6200 IH press drill with grasseeder recondition $3200; 7 ft. 620 IH press drill with grass seeder reconditioned $1200, have used parts for IH drills and 7, 8, 10, 14 ft. IH press drills also 28 ft. rock cushion; Krous disk good shape $5500 and 300 Artsway grinder mixer ready to go to work, $2200; Rowse 9 ft. mower new sickle $4800. Can deliver any of these. 701-400-5742, Gerald Miller, Mandan.

TRACTORS, IH 706s on up. JDs 4520, 4620, 5010, 5020, 6030, others. MM 950s on up; Olivers, 1963 on up. ACs 200, 210, 220, D-21, others. Will buy all running or not. 701-6282130, Jerry Lumley, Stanley.

SICKLER MOWER, John Deere 3 point sickle mower, Gehl 6 wheel hay rake and Gehl 9 wheel hay rake; suitcase weights with bracket for a 2590 Case tractor. Massey Ferguson 550 diesel combine and 18’ to 21’ double swath swather. 701-226-4055, Lloyd Giese, Steele.

For Sale

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

SADDLE, 14” Denver Colorado saddlery youth saddle $150; 3 Therma-A-Rest Camping mattresses (The Original) 26”x76” with pillows $50 each or $125 for all. Leave message. 701463-7187, Sheryl Krueger, Garrison.

GENERATOR, Powerhouse 2500W, new, never used, $325; Cab kit for Toro snowblower, $30. 701-297-9634, Larry Lampl, West Fargo.

REDWOOD BOARDS, 2”x6”x12’. Tore down a deck. Wood is still in good condition. Would make great raised planters. Asking $10 a board. 701-226-1060, Don Scheeler, Bismarck.

ANVILS, 100 pounder and 120 pounder. Really nice post vise, 7- UP slider pop machine, Pennzoil cast iron lollipop sign base, large 8’ porcelain co-op sign, Our Own Hardware sign, and Benjamin Moore paint sign. 701-220-5746, Val Ganje, Bismarck.

GIVE AWAY, older upright piano, real good condition. 701-833-9630, Gary Knudtson, Donnybrook.

MOTOR HOME, 1982 Chevrolet Holiday Rambler motor home in working order with generator, water system, furnace, and air conditioner, $3500. Two 10X12 garage doors including 4 panels, 4 springs, 2 torsion shafts,2 hardware boxes, 2 sets of tracks, $900. Golds Gym cross trainer 510 elliptical, $250. 701-7482873 or 701-870-1970. Verna Gowin, Hazen.

1959 DESOTA FIRE FLUTE, engine and transmission were rebuilt, been stored in the equipment shed for 20 years, interior is bad, will need a little body work, $6000. 1965 C10, longbed, 283ci, 4 speed, non running, no rust, some dents, $7000 both located in ND. 1956 Chevy 3100, 327ci, shortbed, 3 on the tree with O/D, small window, $12,000 located in CA. 707425-7315, Vernon Buchmann, Fairfield, Calif.

CAMPER, 1989 Winnebago Warrior camper on Toyota chassis, 90M miles, 6 cyl. EFI engine, auto, power steering, cruise, dually, AC, air cushion ride, shedded, dining table, couch, 3 beds, stove, fridge, freezer, bathroom, TV antennae, updated upholstery, water reservoirs, 15-30 amp plugs. 701-952-8973, Glen Nagel, Jamestown.