Union Farmer - June 2024

Renae Fayette Agency

I grew up on a farm east of Grafton. I have a twin sister, and we are seventh and eighth out of nine children. After high school, I graduated from Mayville State College with a degree in information processing. This is where I met my husband, Gene. We moved to Grafton in 1987, and our daughter, Abigail, was born in 1988.

In 1990, I started my career at Farm Credit Services of Grand Forks, and I became a licensed insurance agent in 1993. I worked as an insurance specialist, and later, as a VP of insurance with my focus being crop insurance. In January 2016, I started my career at Farmers Union Insurance. I continue to do primarily crop insurance, but also enjoy working with health and Medicare insurance with the assistance of our District 5 agents. Being an agent for over 30 years has taught me that better solutions are created when you communicate well, keep on learning and are upfront with people.

My husband grew up on a farm east of Warren, Minn. He is a middle-school physical education and health teacher in Grafton. He started the wrestling program in Grafton in 2005 and continues to coach both high

Our daughter, Abbie, and her husband, Jesse, live in Grafton and have six children. We have three granddaughters and three grandsons ranging from the ages of 6 months to 13. They live close, so a lot of my time is spent doing “grandma duties” and attending all of their sports and activities.

016-211

school and youth wrestling. We are members of the Valley Cruisers Car Club. We have a camper on Devils Lake and spend many of our summer weekends fishing.

STB proposal could help

For several years, we have been meeting with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) about our transportation system, primarily related to rail.

Concentration in the rail system, where nearly 95% of all commodities shipped travel on four large Class I rail carriers, creates a challenging atmosphere for pricing, reliability and equitable service to farmers and ranchers. This challenge is both in the shipping of our products and in the shipping of our supplies. Farmers and ranchers pay the cost of shipping both ways.

These costs, while primarily hidden, are added to what we purchase and taken away from what we sell in the price that is quoted. The costs have increased dramatically as rail consolidation continues. In North Dakota, we

are considered captive shippers due to the lack of competition within the current Class I rail that serves us.

If we compared the cost of transporting the goods we need from the marketplace to grow crops and raise cattle to the cost of transporting finished products to market, we would discover that transportation is one of the highest costs on our farm or ranch. This is extremely important when agriculture is facing narrow profit margins. It also impacts the price of food to the consumer when transportation costs are artificially high due to a lack of competition.

A new proposal released by the STB has some ability to help. Under the new April 30, 2024, regulations, eligibility for prescription of a reciprocal switching agreement will be

determined in part using objective performance standards that address (1) reliability in time of arrival; (2) consistency in transit time; and (3) reliability in providing first-mile and lastmile service. The STB will also consider, in determining whether to prescribe a reciprocal switching agreement, certain affirmative defenses and the practicability of a reciprocal switching agreement. The rule takes effect Sept. 4, 2024.

Service Reliability: Original Estimated Time of Arrival (OETA). This will measure a Class I rail carrier’s success in delivering a shipment on time, judged on the estimated time of arrival that the rail carrier provided when the shipper tendered the bill of lading for shipment or, in the case of an interline move, when the incumbent rail carrier received shipment from a delivering carrier.

Service Consistency: Transit time. The service consistency standard measures a rail carrier’s success in maintaining, over time,

the carrier’s efficiency in moving a shipment through the rail system (i.e. the time it takes for a shipment to travel from its origin to its destination).

Inadequate Local Service: Industry Spot and Pull (ISP). This measures a rail carrier’s success in performing local deliveries (“spots”) and pickups (“pulls”) of loaded railcars and unloaded private or shipper-leased railcars during the planned service window.

The STB will require all Class I railroads to submit certain data on an ongoing and standardized basis. This information will be made generalized and publicly available. Railroads will also be required to provide individualized, machine-readable service data to a customer upon a written request from that customer within seven days of receiving the request.

I am not confident that the issues we face will be fully resolved by this ruling, but it is a start and our efforts are being heard.

Farmers Union CAMP

GRADES 3-6* (4 DAYS, 3 NIGHTS) – $159**

GRADES 7-12* (5 DAYS, 4 NIGHTS) – $199**

*Grade youth will have completed by the end of the school year

SENIOR CAMP

• June 11-15 –Heart Butte, grades 7-12

• June 18-22 – James River, grades 7-9

• July 8-12 – James River, grades 7-12

• July 9-13 – Heart Butte, grades 7-9

• July 29-Aug. 2 – James River, grades 10-12

• July 30-Aug. 3 – Heart Butte, grades 10-12

JUNIOR CAMP

Heart Butte ~ near Elgin

• June 17-20 – Bottineau, Burke, Divide, McHenry, Mountrail, Renville, Ward, Williams

• June 24-27 – Adams, Bowman-Slope, Grant, Hettinger, Morton, Sioux

• June 30-July 3 – Statewide

• July 16-19 – Burleigh, Sheridan

• July 23-26 – Billings-Golden Valley, Dunn, McLean, Mercer, McKenzie, Oliver, Stark

James River ~ near Jamestown

• June 10-13 – Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Rolette, Steele, Towner, Traill, Walsh, Wells

• June 25-28 – Statewide

• June 30-July 3 – Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Stutsman

• July 15-18 – Statewide

• July 22-25 – Barnes, Dickey, Emmons, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh

AWARD TRIPS

(invitation only)

June 24-28

All-States Leadership Camp (Minnesota)

July 22-25

Third-Year Award Trip (Twin Cities)

Your name will be entered into our prize drawing when you use the NDFU mobile app to register your kids for camp!

Win a 6-gal. YETI cooler, 2-gal. cordless DeWALT wet-dry HEPA vac or $100 CENEX gift card.

POLICY HOPPER

FROM NORTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION

Key questions remain with Farm Bill drafts

In the September 2023 edition of the Union Farmer, we explored three questions that loomed over the next farm bill. That article was published in the weeks leading up to the expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill. Soon after, the ouster of then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and subsequent disfunction in Congress painted a bleak picture of the next farm bill’s prospects. However, the past month breathed new life into the farm bill debate.

On May 1, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-Penn.) released their farm bill frameworks. The House marked up its farm bill draft three weeks later. While the recent activity is a promising sign, key questions remain.

How much will Congress improve the farm safety net?

Stabenow and Thompson each propose farm safety net improvements, though they vary significantly in their approach. Thompson’s bill is the more aggressive of the two, increasing statutory reference prices by 10-20% for all covered commodities. Stabenow takes a more measured approach, modifying the effective reference price calculation. Stabenow’s changes appear to be modest – she estimates commodities will see references prices that are 10-15% above the statutory reference price.

Those increases are within the range of the existing effective reference price, which caps out at 115% of the statutory reference price. Make no mistake, reference price updates are costly. A University of Illinois study estimates a 10% across-the-board update to statutory reference prices will cost $17.4 billion. Stabenow has secured $5 billion in additional funding for her farm bill plans. Thompson offsets his plans with restrictions on nutrition programs and Commodity Credit Corporation use, a move that has sparked controversy. NDFU is among the many groups calling for significant safety net improvements. Finding the funds to achieve that goal poses a major challenge.

Is the conversation on crop insurance over?

One area where Stabenow and Thompson show strong alignment is crop insurance. Both propose increasing premium support for the Supplemental Coverage Option from 65% to 80%. Both proposals improve crop insurance for beginning farmers and specialty crop growers. While there are some differences in the details, their frameworks have striking similarities.

With Stabenow and Thompson seemingly aligned, crop insurance discussions will likely focus more on what’s not in the bill. Neither bill includes improvements to underlying crop insurance. Sen. John Hoeven’s (R-N.D.)

FARMER Act would make the 80% and 85% coverage levels more affordable. That bill, which NDFU endorsed, has strong support from Senate Agriculture Committee Republicans, and a companion bill was recently introduced in the House. Stabenow will need to bring Republicans on board to get a bill through the Senate. Crop insurance will likely be a focus of those negotiations.

Will more be done on livestock disaster programs?

Both Stabenow and Thompson make several improvements to livestock disaster programs. Stabenow’s proposal would update Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) payments on a quarterly basis, expand the Emergency Assistance for Livestock Program, and improves emergency haying and grazing triggers on Conservation Reserve Program land. Thompson would tweak LIP by covering unborn livestock and losses caused by federally protected species.

While the proposed changes to livestock disaster programs are meaningful, NDFU continues to urge additional progress. One of our additional priorities is updating Livestock Forage Program payment calculations to reflect actual feed costs, a change captured in Hoeven’s and Sen. Jon Tester’s (D-Mont.) Livestock Disaster Relief Act.

What will happen to “climate-smart” sideboards for IRA conservation funding?

The fate of Inflation Reduction Act conservation funds has been a key question throughout the farm bill debate. Both Thompson and Stabenow bring those funds into the farm bill baseline, giving a permanent boost to voluntary conservation programs. However, Stabenow has insisted on reserving those funds for “climate-smart” practices. Thompson’s proposal would eliminate those sideboards, making the funds available for a longer list of practices.

At this point, the sideboards on new conservation funding pose a seemingly intractable problem. Democrats appear united in their efforts to protect the climate-smart purpose of those funds. Republicans appear bent on repurposing them for more general conservation uses. Whichever side gives up ground on the issue, will almost certainly leverage their position for significant gains elsewhere.

Conclusion

While questions loom over the farm bill debate, a key fact remains: farm bills require bipartisan support. With narrow margins in both chambers, that will certainly prove the case again this farm bill. As I write this, neither proposal has definitively secured bipartisan support. We now know each chairperson’s aspirations. Will they be willing to compromise?

NDFU Government Relations Director Matt Perdue can be reached at mperdue@ndfu.org

SOURCES

1House Committee on Agriculture. (2024, May 17). Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024, Title-by-Title Summary. Retrieved from https://agriculture.house.gov/ news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=7764.

2Senate Committee on Agriculture. (2024, May 1). Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act, Section-by-Section Summary. Retrieved from https://www.agriculture. senate.gov/imo/media/doc/rural_prosperity_and_food_security_section-by-section.pdf.

3Senate Committee on Agriculture. (2024, May 1). Certainty for All Farmers. Retrieved from https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/final_certainty_for_all_ farmers.pdf.

4Schnitkey, G., Paulson, N., Coppess, J., & Sherrick, B. (2024, May 14). Statutory Reference Prices and the Next Farm Bill. Farmdocdaily (14):91, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

5Grebner, M. (2024, May 2). Chairowman Stabenow Says Members are Committed to Getting a Farm Bill Finished. Brownfield. Retrieved from https://www. brownfieldagnews.com/news/chairwoman-stabenow-says-members-are-committed-to-getting-a-farm-bill-finished/.

6Abbott, C. (2024, May 17). GOP Farm Bill Puts SNAP Savings into Trade and Horticulture Programs. Fern’s Ag Insider. Retrieved from https://thefern.org/ag_insider/ gop-farm-bill-puts-snap-savings-into-trade-and-horticulture-programs/.

7Hoeven, J. (2024, April 9). Hoeven Introduces FARMER Act to Strengthen Crop Insurance, Make Higher Levels of Coverage More Affordable [Press Release]. Retrieved from https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/ hoeven-introduces-farmer-act-to-strengthen-crop-insurance-make-higher-levels-of-coverage-more-affordable.

8Hoeven, J. (2023, June 22). Hoeven and Tester Introduce Legislation to Improve Livestock Disaster Programs [Press Release]. Retrieved from https://www.hoeven. senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-and-tester-introduce-legislation-to-improve-livestock-disaster-programs.

9Stabenow, D. (2024, May 17). Chairwoman Stabenow Statement on House Republican Farm Bill [Press Statement]. Retrieved from https://www.agriculture.senate. gov/newsroom/dem/press/release/chairwoman-stabenow-statement-on-house-republican-farm-bill.

Cropland values up big, cash rents see modest gains

North Dakota cropland values increased 11.59% heading into the spring of 2024, marching upward from 2,863 per acre to 3,174 per acre, said Bryon Parman, North Dakota State University Extension agricultural finance specialist.

This represents the third year in a row where North Dakota cropland values have increased more than 10%. The increase follows cropland values appreciating 10.92% and 13.46% in 2022 and 2023, respectively. This is according to the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands Annual Land Survey data which has been weighted for this article by county acreage count and put into NDSU Extension regions. The original survey data can be found at: https://www. land.nd.gov/resources/north-dakota-countyrents-prices-annual-survey.

Within those same years, cash rental rates for cropland in North Dakota have increased 3.12%, 6.82%, and 3.71% in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively. The statewide average cash rental rate moved upward from $75.90 per acre to $78.70 per acre creating a rentto-value ratio of 2.48%.

“The rent-to-value ratio is simply the state average cash rental rate divided by the reported average market value,” said Parman. “Rent-to-value does not consider taxes or other ownership costs which would be considered in a traditional capitalization rate. Therefore, the capitalization rate will typically be lower than the rent-to-value ratio. What the rent-to-value ratio helps capture is the expected yearly income from land ownership relative to the purchase price helping identify a rate of return absent ownership costs which can vary from state to state.”

The largest increases in land prices occurred in the north central and south central NDSU Extension regions with both increasing more than 20%. The largest

increases in rental rates for cropland values occurred in the southwest and south central regions where both region’s rental rates increased more than 8%.

The north valley and northwestern regions’ cropland values were also both up more than 10% in 2024, with the remainder of the state’s regions increasing in the mid-to-high single digits. Two regions including the east central and southeast region’s rental rates barely edged up less than 1% while most other region’s cash rental rates on cropland increased somewhere between 3% and 5%.

“A jump in land values across North Dakota that large is a bit surprising given the decline in net farm incomes from 2022 to 2023, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s projected decline from 2023 to 2024,” said Parman. “It is also a bit surprising that such a large increase in land prices have not pulled cash rental rates higher, especially given that interest rates have been significantly higher over the last few years.”

With land values this high relative to rental rates and income recently, and the expectation that net farm income will be lower in 2024, the biggest financial benefit to land ownership in the current environment has been capital appreciation. The last time cropland in North Dakota saw a rapid rise in land values from 2008 to 2013, there was about a seven year period to follow where land prices along with rental rates completely flattened from 2014 to 2020. During that time, interest rates remained historically low, keeping borrowing costs down and other investment options less attractive.

Parman continued, “In the coming years, higher rates than the 2014 to 2020 period seems likely and may put upward pressure on rents relative to land prices.”

Article and graphic courtesy of NDSU Ag Communications

Estimated average per acre values of cropland in North Dakota from 2018 to 2024

Estimated average of cash rent per acre of cropland in North Dakota from 2018 to 2024

ACE INSTITUTE: Cultivating cooperation

June 24-27 • NDAREC in Mandan

Bringing co-ops together

BY CHRIS AARHUS, NDFU

Bringing together cooperative researchers, educators, practitioners and developers is the goal of the 2024 Association of Cooperative Educators (ACE) Institute.

This year’s ACE Institute event is titled, “Cultivating Cooperation” and is being held June 24-27 at the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) in Mandan.

“Folks will learn and know how to cooperate,” said Gary Hampton, chairman of the board for ACE. “There will be something there for anyone who’s looking to make a difference in your part of the world and meet the needs of your local community.”

ACE traces its roots back to the 1950s, with the idea that co-ops should work together and overcome geographical, cultural and language barriers to share ideas and educate each other. ACE serves cooperatives in the U.S., Canada and Caribbean.

“There’s so much being brought to the table with this conference,” Hampton said. “What co-ops look like and where they intersect with culture and community. Folks are going to be

talking about education and development. The mission and vision of ACE really aligns with how I see social economic development for communities and helping communities meet those needs themselves.”

Bill Patrie is one of the organizers for this year’s event in Mandan. Patrie said North Dakota’s rich history of cooperatives makes Bismarck a fitting host for the event, which is being sponsored by cooperative heavyweights in the area including North Dakota Farmers Union, NDAREC, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, CoBank, Broadband Association of North Dakota, Dakota Credit Union Association and more.

“We recognize that across these different industries that what we have is unique,” Patrie said. “We’re not trying to imitate the look of a big company. That’s what’s different about the co-op model — it’s almost spiritual. Co-ops were not organized for nuance. They were organized for needs that couldn’t be met in other places. It’s a powerful force. It’s something that can actually change the way the world works.”

This year’s event features not only breakouts and panels, but also cooperative tours, with the bus being provided by NDFU. To learn more or register for the June conference, go to ace. coop.

HAMPTON

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!

Tyler and Phillip Neubauer of Bottineau are fifthgeneration farmers.

'NOT SUPER OPTIMISTIC'

With inputs still high and commodity prices down, Neubauer brothers of Bottineau tightening belts in 2024

Story and photos by Chris Aarhus, NDFU

With commodity prices down and input costs lagging behind, Tyler and Philip Neubauer had a few more conversations with their lenders over the winter. The brothers from Bottineau are young farmers who took over their parents’ operation last year.

“The input costs haven’t come down like the markets have come down,” Tyler said. “We were talking with our lenders and going through the cash flows. It’s definitely going to be tighter. On paper, it looks like it could be a very ugly year.”

The Neubauers farm 6,000 acres, utilizing no-till or minimum-till practices to grow barley, durum, spring wheat, soybeans and canola. As farmers do, they’re preparing to tighten their belts and cut costs wherever they can.

“Crop prices are down far enough that you know inputs will come down, but the margin for this year will be tight,” Philip said.

In February, USDA’s Economic Research Service released its report, noting that it expects net cash farm income to fall another 25% to $121.7 billion in 2024. Just two years ago, net cash farm income was $202.3 billion.

It appears industry is noticing the challenges in farm country, as Deere dropped its earnings projections for the second straight quarter with net sales declining 15% year-over-year, according to its second quarter earnings call with investors.

Fifth-generation farmers, the Neubauer brothers have plenty of experience to pull from,

including from their father Larry. Getting by in a tight year means going the extra mile, they said, whether that’s putting extra attention on grain marketing or utilizing farm practices that save money on fuel.

“We’re always watching the markets to see if there’s an opportunity to lock in a profit before harvest,” Tyler said. “Everyone’s in the same boat, because the markets are what the markets are — there’s no way around it. You try to take advantage of little price swings.”

Philip said making sure the numbers are solid is even more important in a tight year.

“Knowing our break-evens,” he said. “We have a pretty good breakdown for that. We know what we’ll need to sell to cover our cost of production.”

Farmers can plan for the future, but it’s often the curveballs that hurt the most. Some of those curveballs – storms, drought, large equipment repair – can derail a farm in a year like this, Tyler said.

“We didn’t have much subsoil moisture coming into the year because we didn’t get any snow up here,” he said. “We got some (early May) rain that really helped, but we definitely need more.

“And something like an engine failure in a year like this would be a huge curveball where your profit for the year is most likely gone.”

The brothers are open to trying new things with the hope that taking small risks could mean the difference between profit and loss. This year, they’re going with a new canola variety that seems promising.

“The price premium on it is pretty enticing,

so we’ll see if that pencils out at the end of the year,” Philip said.

Soybean and spring wheat prices have had a small rebound in May after a dismal March. Still, farmers are skeptical.

“I like to be optimistic, but I’m not super optimistic for this year,” Tyler said. “This is one of those years where we just need to get through it.”

Pasture values, rental rates trend up

2024 marks the fourth year in a row that pastureland values in North Dakota have increased, says Bryon Parman, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension agricultural finance specialist.

From 2023 to 2024, statewide average pastureland values increased 6.63% from $1,273 per acre to $1,355 per acre. This marks the fourth consecutive year that pastureland values have increased since 2021, averaging an annual increase of 6.9% per year during that span.

Pastureland cash rental rates edged up in 2024, as well, increasing just over 4% to a statewide average of just over $23 per acre. This is according to the North Dakota

Department of Trust Lands Annual Land Survey data which has been weighted for this article by county acreage count and put into NDSU Extension regions. The original survey data can be found at: https://www. land.nd.gov/resources/north-dakota-countyrents-prices-annual-survey. The NDSU regions do not include values for the southern Red River Valley, northern Red River Valley, or the Northeast regions due to very low numbers of reported pastureland rental rates or sales values. Also, single year variation may not reflect actual conditions. It is more useful to look at trends or multi-year movements.

Much like cropland prices in North Dakota, pastureland values have grown significantly

Estimated average per acre values of pasture in North Dakota from 2018 to 2024

faster than cash rental rates for pastureland.

From 2014 through 2024, statewide pastureland prices increased at an annual rate of approximately 5%. However, during that same time, pastureland interest rates increased at around 2.2% per year or less than half that of pastureland values.

“As of 2024, the rent-to-value rate for pastureland, where the cash rental rate is divided by the land value to estimate a rate of return, was down to 1.7%,” says Parman. “That is essentially saying that, before accounting for management fees or property taxes, the return to pastureland in North Dakota is 1.7%. When those factors are also considered, the return is significantly lower. To put that into historical perspective, as of 1990, the rent-to-value for pastureland was approximately 7% showing that over the last 35 years, pastureland values have greatly outpaced rental rates.”

Parman adds, “Like cropland prices responding to crop commodity prices, pastureland prices and rental rates do respond to cattle prices as well. However, there are nuances and variables that impact pastureland prices differently. For one thing, with crops, a multi-year drought can be overcome more quickly than pasture, as it can take years

of additional rainfall to repair damaged rangeland, especially if it was overgrazed during the drought period. Also, following years of drought, cattle may be sold off such that when pastureland has recovered, there are fewer beef cattle inventories and therefore less grazing land needed in the short run. Pastureland can also be highly regionalized such that in areas where there are more cattle, those areas command relatively higher rents than areas with fewer cattle, even if areas with fewer cattle would be more productive. Pastureland is also tied to cropland prices in that, even if livestock prices aren’t all that favorable, rising cropland prices can pull pastureland prices up with them.”

“Moving forward, with this spring looking favorable for forage production on rangeland in North Dakota, and strong beef cattle prices, it is reasonable to expect pastureland values to continue the trend of increasing in value into next year,” Parman says. “Additionally, if strong beef cattle prices continue and inventories increase from their historical low to start 2024, pastureland rental rate increases could pickup over the next few years.”

Article and graphic courtesy of NDSU Ag Communications

Estimated average cash rent per acre of pasture in North Dakota from 2018 to 2024

E15 waiver passed for summer months

In April, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an emergency waiver permitting the sale of E15 (gasoline containing 15% ethanol) during the summer months. This marks the third consecutive year EPA has issued the waiver, following major spikes in energy costs and market volatility as a result of various conflicts across the globe.

NFU joined a group letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan urging the agency to implement emergency fuel waivers and authorize the sale of E15 for the summer 2024 driving season.

Back in February, EPA issued a final rule approving the permanent year-round sale of E15 in eight states, effective April 28, 2025. While this was a good step forward toward permanent year-round E15, the 2025 effective date has created a “coverage gap,” which would have prevented the sale of E15 this summer, had EPA not issued the waiver.

Though EPA’s decision to issue the waiver represents an important win for family farmers, much more remains to be done to promote the development and use of renewable, lowcarbon fuels. NFU supports the Consumer Fuel and Retailer Choice Act, which will enable the year-round, nationwide sale of E15 and permanently extend the Reid vapor pressure

(RVP) volatility waiver to ethanol blends above 10 percent, providing nationwide uniformity across U.S. fuel markets.

NFU has also endorsed the Next Generation Fuels Act, which establishes a minimum research octane number (RON) standard of 98 for gasoline, requires the added octane value to reduce carbon emissions by at least 40 percent compared to regular gasoline, and incentivizes vehicle technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel economy. By requiring high-octane fuel to use low-carbon sources, the Next Generation Fuels Act will decarbonize liquid fuels as vehicle technologies advance. This requirement, coupled with a new limit on harmful aromatics content, ensures the progress already made to expand the use of ethanol while lowering emissions will continue, and will lead to the usage of higher-level blends, such as E30.

Additionally, the Year-Round E15 Act will allow year-round E15 sales to begin this year, addressing the aforementioned coverage gap from EPA’s February rulemaking. NFU will continue advocating for usage of higherlevel blends of ethanol, which will add further benefits to the economy, air quality, the environment, and America’s farmers.

The Farmer’s Share

NDFU MOBILE APP How to use the

Members can use the same email address and password they use for the NDFU portal to log into the app. If you do not know your password, use the “Forgot Your Password” option. NDFU must have an email address on file for you to use the app. If we do not have an email address for you, please call 1-800-366-6338 or email us at ndfu@ndfu.org to have it attached to your account.

1

Login with your email address and password. Use the email address where you receive your NDFU communications.

If you don’t know your portal password, use the Forgot Your Password option!

2

Follow the on-screen prompts to login. NDFU utilizes two-factor authentication for security purposes.

Choose to receive your two-factor code via text or email!

3

Enter the code to get into the app. If the texting option does not work the first time, try again and choose the email option.

You will stay logged into the NDFU app continually, providing you open the app once a month!

FREQUENTLY ASKED

QUESTIONS

Do I have to be a member to log into the app?

Yes. The app is for NDFU members. Those who would like to become members can sign up at NDFU.org!

What if NDFU doesn’t have my email address? Like any online service, we require an email address to use the mobile app. Contact us at 1-800-366-6338 or ndfu@ndfu.org to have an email address added to your account. Additionally, if we have a different email address on file than the one you’re currently using, you can use the one we have on file or contact us with your new address.

NDFU has my email, but I’ve never used the online portal. What’s my password? Search NDFU in the app store or scan the QR code. Download the app, use the Forgot Password link on the login screen and follow the on-screen prompts to set a new password!

What's happening

NDFU was proud to host a U.S. Army North Department of Defense simulated threat response exercise recently at our James River Farmers Union Camp facility. The exercise involved emergency personnel from city and county law enforcement, fire departments, first responders, and the North Dakota Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support team out of Bismarck.

Around 50 members attended a spring fling held by Rolette County Farmers Union and Towner County Farmers Union.

Ramsey County Farmers Union

President Adam Leiphon (left) and director Terry Borstad serve kids at RCFU's Farm to Field Day in late April.

variety

kids could see and feel. NDFU children’s books were

teacher

A reunion of the Co-op House is set for July 19-20 at the Radisson in Bismarck. More details to come. For more information, contact F.C. Humphrey at 208-2417499 or humpflow@isu.edu.

Sioux County Farmers Union’s farm and ranch day was held April 27 at Selfridge High School.

Stark County Farmers Union sponsored Kids Day on the Farm held at Dickinson State University. The booth displayed a

of seeds

donated to each classroom

that visited the booth.

Pierce County Farmers Union held a Paint and Sip event at the Main Street Boutique in Rugby.

Grant County Farmers Union held a painting event for its members on May 4 at the New Leipzig Fire Hall.

NDFU restaurants add patios for outdoor dining experience

Just in time for patio season, Founding Farmers in Georgetown, Potomac, and Tysons have new, stunning outdoor patios that redefine the guest’s outdoor dining experience.

All three renovated patios are designed for maximum enjoyment and comfort. Georgetown and Potomac patios are fully equipped with state-of-the-art ceiling fans & heaters, retractable sides, lush greenery, and provide full, waterproof coverage. Built for any forecast, guests can enjoy a meal, drinks, and more come rain or shine and at any time throughout the year. Tysons has large umbrellas, heaters and plush seating and will be open every day during the warmer months, weather permitting.

The new expansive patios are also primed for large gatherings and private events. Whether it’s a birthday bash or corporate event, these new patios are tailor-made for hosting large groups, offering versatility and charm in equal measure. The patios are also available for exclusive rental, allowing guests to transform the space to fit their event vision with the help of the dedicated Founding Farmers team.

All three of these dazzling new additions to the restaurants are poised to become the go-to dining destinations of the spring and summer in the DC area. To learn more about the patios, visit https://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/outdoor-dining/.

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

2001 JD 9750 COMBINE, PRWD, Cont Master - Eng -4968/Sep- 3331. Above avg condition, serviced/annually; JD 635F Flex Head W/Crary Air Bar; Starfire 3000 Globe, New Shroud, good shape; JD 2014 DB60 PARTS 36 JD Pro-Series XP Meters with Mini Hoppers/Trimble True Count Air Clutches/Seed Tub Sensor Wire Harnesses 3 control boxes/Air tanks to run clutches for 3 row shutoff; Trimble Wiring/Hoses. 701-321-5711, John Kempf, Ashley.

POWER RAKE, Vermeer 2800; White 476 tool bar with shovels. 24 feet wide; 76 railroad ties. 701-206-0082, Marcus Fischer, Bowman.

TRACTOR, 1976 White 2-70 row crop diesel tractor. 6000 hours, factory 3-point, 18.4 x 38's (50%), wide front, Over/Under Trans, inj. pump done 2018. Engine starts & runs great, quiet trans. Comes with new seat kit & battery. $3900. 701-720-1263, Jim Norlin, Des Lacs.

DONAHUE TRAILER, 10’x28’. Frame and tires are good, have a spare tire. Axles are straight, needs a few boards. $500. 701-840-5117, Lee Fraase, Buffalo.

15-30 MCCORMICK TRACTOR, 1 New Tire LT245-75R-Load Range E. 2- Cream Separators, David Bradley metal grain box, 4-wheel steel running gear; Covered Wagon Running Gear, 12’ Kirschman Drill, 1 Horse Potato Cultivator, 4 Btm. Pony & Packer, Saddle and 2 Bridles. Email: larryn@westriv.com. 701-548-8020, Larry Nagel, Shields.

SWEEPS, Bourgault knock on cultivator sweeps; Simer water pump; farm scale with steel wheels; used Case IH 8230 feeder chain; used nitrolator w/hyd shut off hoses; combine pickup guards/lifters; old front tine rototiller; used 16" cultivator shovels; live traps; muskrat/ mink traps; transition for adding aeration to an existing grain bin/screens/fans; 3 triangular grain auger hoppers w/straps/chains to fasten onto grain auger. 701-629-9003, Doug Halden, Stanley.

FUEL TANK, 60 gallon w/ pump; 225 Lincoln welder; JD Haye rake. 701-270-0184, Harold Severson, Lakota.

SALVAGE, D6 Cat and Dozer, Super M with loader, Honey B loader, 300 International with sickle mower, your choice, $3,500 apiece. 701-845-3594/701-373-5480, Donald Jorissen, Valley City.

SICKLE MOWERS, 7ft and 9 ft, both reconditioned; Rowse double 9 ft. mower and 16 ft. hydro swing and many wheel rakes 16 wheel and 10 wheel and 7 wheel and a New Holland basket rake. All field ready can deliver, still have some IH press drill and parts; 18 ft. Krause rock flex disk and Oliver 14 ft. disk. 701400-5742, Gerald Miller, Mandan.

WANTED

TRACTORS, IH 706, 806, 1206, 856, 1256, 1456, 966, 1066, 1466, 1566, others; JD 5010, 5020, 6030, 4620, 4520, others; MM 950s on up; Olivers 1964 on up; ACs 200, 210, 220, D-21. Will buy all running or not. 701-628-2130, Jerry Lumley, Stanley.

SWATHER, 20 ft John Deere swather modified for clipping CRP, asking $500. Vermeer Stump grinder, asking $5000. 2 Electric 1 HP motors - single phase, 1750 RPM. Runs forwarding & reverse, best offer. Buggy wheels. Horse farm equipment- rake, plater, cultivators, plow. 509389-9562, Wade Wipperling, New Rockford.

CULTIVATOR, 3 point hitch 8' Danish tine cultivator; Gehl 206 hay rake with 6 wheels; 3 point hitch; 4 row corn cultivator; Old style Ford 4000 diesel tractor with select-o-speed transmission. 701-226-4055, Lloyd Giese, Steele.

MISCELLANEOUS

FOR SALE

CAR HAULER, Diamond, 18 ft, double axel. Make offer; John Deere pull-behind lawn accessories, roller, seed spreader, scratcher, dandelion roller. Make offer. 701-822-3242, Jim Davenport, Granville.

1930 MODEL A, 4-door. Runs and drives. Not restored, very original. Some used parts will go with the car. Not selling parts separately. Condition is a matter of opinion so if you are seriously interested come take a look at it. Evenings & weekends. $5500. 701-216-0094, Doug Perdue, Ray.

PICKUPS, 1975 Chevy Pickup C-10 Cheyenne. Blue with white top. 350 V8 and automatic transmission. Body, tires, paint very good; 1988 Chevy Pickup C-10 Cheyenne, V6 motor and 5 speed manual transmission. New paint job, brakes, tires and upholstery. Excellent body condition/Blue color. Pictures available upon request. 406-989-0019, Mike Carlson, Douglas.

CAMPER, 2022 Dutchmen Aspen Trail 17BH, lightly used bumper pull camper, 21.5' long, comfortably sleeps 5, will include hitch and spare tire, call or text for more info. 701-2518044, Nick Watne, West Fargo.

LUMBER, one 2x8x12, fifteen 2x6x10 rough cut, four 2x4x8 and 2x6x12 boards. Two large plywood, also much scrap board etc; 4 bags of phosphate fertilizer, log chain, timer, shim wool rigidizer, hooks, brackets, chain saw, needs new cord, assorted small tools, ladies bike with no flat tubes and spare tire, electronic keyboard. 701-349-4179, Betty Jo Hvistendahl, Ellendale.

LAWNMOWERS, 2020 - 42" Troy Built, 15.5 hp Briggs & Stratton (used only 1 summer), $1,000; 2006 42" Husky Hydrostatic 17.5 hp Briggs & Stratton $300. 701-330-4218, Roy Disselbrett, Hatton.

ATV, 2022 Coleman AT 200 Raptor 4, engine, 169cc, 4stroke OHV, 9 miles, asking. $1800. Please text. 218-287-4562, Ron Malbon, Fargo.

LOT in Adams, ND. Legal Description. E 38' of Lot 9 BK 25 O T. Has a house (used as hunting Shack) with pole storage shed on same site. Selling as is including contents in house and storage shed. Across from City Park. Please leave a message if no answer. 701-740-2262, Renee Kjelaas, Grand Forks.

SIGNS, Porcelain Signs, CO-OP 8' sign with ring no pole and one long Our Own Hardware store sign, both in very good condition. Three cast iron sign bases, Coke, Mobil, and one Pennzoil. Trades welcome. 701-220-5746, Val Ganje, Bismarck.

CANOE, 17 ft Alumacraft Canoe, Good Condition, includes various sizes of Life Jackets. $750 obo, No Checks. 701-226-2649, Craig Wallin, Glen Ullin.

WANTED

PRAIRIE DOG HUNTERS to hunt on my land. Make reservations now; Email: larryn@westriv. com. 701-548-8020, Larry Nagel, Shields.

OLD STUFF, Advertising signs, old gas pumps, advertising thermometers, or most anything that has local advertising. Looking for old ND road signs that have the Indian Head logo or those signs that had reflective marbles, or ND Highway Patrol door signs. I also collect ND license plates, ND metal tokens, ND picked arrowheads, and Red Wing crocks. Will travel to your location. 701-220-5746, Val Ganje, Bismarck.

ELECTRIC CHAIR, and electric golf cart, want both in good condition. 701-628-2130, Jerry Lumley, Stanley.

GOOD FARM DOG. Collie, etc., or cross. 701833-9630/701-833-5116, Gary Knudtson, Donnybrook.