FARMER UNION
www.ndfu.org
TURNING TO TECHNOLOGY Professor leading the charge with new precision ag major
MARCH 2019
UNION FARMER MAGAZINE Volume 66 • Number 3
The UNION FARMER is published monthly by North Dakota Farmers Union at 1415 12th Ave SE, Jamestown, ND 58401. EDITOR: Chris Aarhus 800-366-8331 ext. 118 caarhus@ndfu.org Annual subscription is $30 with membership. Periodicals postage paid at Fargo, ND. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: NDFU • PO Box 2136 Jamestown, ND 58402-2136 Copies mailed this issue: 30,993 • USPS 016-211
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS: President: Mark Watne • Vice President: Bob Kuylen • Secretary: Wes Niederman Treasurer: Terry Borstad • Shane Sickler; Tyler Stafslien; Ryan Taylor; Ronda Throener; Michelle Ziesch. 2 • March 2019 • Union Farmer
FAMILY FARMS CHOPPER EPISODE TO AIR MARCH 5 Don’t miss the episode of American Chopper featuring North Dakota Farmers Union and the Family Farms Chopper with Paul Teutul, Jr. TUESDAY, MARCH 5 9 p.m. Central Time DISCOVERY CHANNEL Watch it online the day after it airs at discovery.com NOTE: Episode is very likely to run at this time, but is not guaranteed
2019 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
NDFU President Mark Watne testifies in opposition to HB 1388 before the House Agriculture Committee Feb. 15 in BIsmarck.
CHANGE TO CORPORATE FARMING LAW PASSES OUT OF AG COMMITTEE North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne testified before the House Agriculture Committee at the state capitol in opposition to HB 1388. The bill would amend North Dakota’s anti-corporate farming law to include second cousins. The bill, sponsored by Aaron McWilliams of Hillsboro, passed 10-4 out of committee. Below is Watne’s testimony: Two years ago, 75 percent of North Dakotans voted in favor of family farms. Yet here we are McWilliams again, taking up a bill to weaken the corporate farming law. HB 1388 seems pro-family at first glance. It adds just two words – “second cousin” – to the list of kin that can legally form a corporation or a limited liability corporation in the state for farming and ranching. Some have even said this change will bring more new people back to the farm. But the devil is in the details. First, there is a pervasive misconception that you must incorporate in order to farm. There are multiple business entities available to farmers and ranchers who want to farm together. In addition to corporations, farmers and ranchers who want to operate a family farm or ranch can form general partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, or limited liability limited partnerships. The restriction on the degree of kinship under North Dakota’s corporate farming law only applies to corporations and LLCs. The other business entities are not subject to the same requirement. HB 1388 seeks to expand who can participate in a corporate or LLC family farm by adding
“second cousins.” But who is your second cousin? If you ask a group of people, you will probably get different responses. Some might say your second cousin is the child of your first cousin. Others might say your second cousin is the grandchild of your great-aunt or great-uncle. Who is correct? There are multiple ways to get to who is your second cousin. Your second cousin is the grandchild of your great-aunt or great-uncle, the children of your parents’ first cousins or the grandchild of your parents’ aunt or uncle Ultimately, you and your second cousin have the same great-grandparents. Although adding “second cousin” to the law may appear to simply expand the definition of family, it does not. For example, two first cousins are farming together. A child of one of the cousins wants to join the corporation and the other cousin’s nephew wants to join the corporation. The son is a first cousin once removed with his father’s cousin. The nephew is a first cousin once removed with his uncle’s first cousin. But they do have options: The four could choose to farm or ranch together as a different entity as discussed above. Given the wording of the current corporate farming law and the amendment proposed in HB 1388, we have so far been unable to envision a combination of currently allowed family farm corporation members that a second cousin could join. Because each shareholder must be within a certain degree of kinship with all other members, second cousins are too far out on the family tree to meet the requirements. So simply adding the term “second cousins” to the current law does not add a degree of kinship that will allow “first cousins once removed” into the family corporation.
Michelle Ziesch, a rancher from Pettibone, testifies in opposition to HB 1388.
So, as you can see, it’s not a simple fix. And any “simple fix,” like adding first cousins once removed, only serves to dilute current statute. Let’s modify the situation slightly: A dad, son, nephew (first cousin to son), grandson and nephew’s son want to farm together? This would not be allowed under the current law or under HB 1388 either. The kinship would have to be further expanded to include great-uncle. Examples like this could go on and on. The line has to be drawn somewhere. If the bill sponsors’ objective is to help a new producer succeed, a corporate business structure is no guarantee. Profitability, tied to good market prices, determines success. Working with property owners that are willing to contract directly with a beginning farmer for sale of land, machinery, livestock, or other assets; contracts that range from cash deals to share rent to work-in arrangements in which labor pays for part or all of the property; loans through the Bank of North Dakota and local banks with agreeable terms. These are just some of the ways to ensure new and established farmers succeed. NDFU continues to put high priority on working with beginning farmers, farmers dealing with the depressed market situation we are currently living in, and farm succession with our members that are planning for the future. Along with valueadded projects like our restaurants and specialty cooperatives, being on the front end of precision agriculture, drones, and other new technologies by hosting a conference for farmers and agriculture suppliers, and advocating for increasing agricultural research funding while we continue to invest in research at NDSU, too. So, in closing, North Dakota Farmers Union
believes that expanding the family requirement would only weaken the law, something our members vastly oppose. I can’t say it enough: the further we stretch our corporate farming law, the weaker it becomes; and that may very well be the objective of the bill’s sponsors. It’s easy to make a two-word change on paper; but the reality on the ground, neighbor to neighbor, is much different. And opening up our law to further erosion for the sake of a second cousin is not good public policy. It puts all family farmers at risk for the sake of just one. The voters of North Dakota have spoken, and being the judicious people they are, they voted for the long held belief that farmland should stay in the hands of family farms, because family farms have always been the backbone of North Dakota. It’s now the Legislature’s job to work with the corporate farming law, not against it. We urge a “no” vote on HB 1388. Voting in favor of adding second cousin: Rep. Dennis Johnson (Republican-District 15) Rep. Wayne Trottier (R-D19) Rep. Jake Blum (R-D42) Rep. Jay Fisher (R-D5) Rep. Craig Headland (R-D29) Rep. Dwight Kiefert (R-D24) Rep. Aaron McWilliams (R-D20) Rep. David Richter (R-D1) Rep. Cynthia Schreiber-Beck (R-D25) Rep. Kathy Skroch (R-D26) Voting in opposition: Rep. Ruth Buffalo (DemNPL-D27) Rep. Gretchen Dobervitch (DNPL-D11) Rep. Bernie Satrom (R-D16) Rep. Bill Tveit (R-D33)
MEMORIES IN AT NORTH DAKOTA
GRADES 3-6 (4 DAYS, 3 NIGHTS)* – $100** GRADES 7-12 (5 DAYS, 4 NIGHTS)* – $150** *Grade youth will have completed by the end of the school year **Early bird price. Price will increase $25 after May 15.
Register now at ndfu.org!
THE MAKING
FARMERS UNION SUMMER CAMP! JUNIOR CAMP - COMPLETED GRADES 3-6
Heart Butte ~ near Elgin
June 16-19......Bottineau, Burke, Divide, McHenry, Mountrail, Renville, Ward, Williams June 19-22......Adams, Bowman-Slope, Grant, Hettinger, Morton, Sioux June 24-28......Statewide camp July 14-17.......Burleigh, Sheridan July 17-20.......Billings-Golden Valley, Dunn, McLean, Mercer, McKenzie, Oliver, Stark
Wesley Acres ~ near Valley City
June 23-26......Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Rolette, Steele, Towner, Walsh, Wells June 26-29......Dickey, McIntosh, Ransom, Sargent 7-8 GRADE LOCK-IN July 6-9...........Cass, Traill, Richland April 27-28 at Wesley Acres July 9-12.........Barnes, Stutsman July 16-19.......Emmons, Logan, LaMoure, Kidder
SENIOR CAMP - COMPLETED GRADES 7-12
June 10-14 (Heart Butte), June 17-21 (Wesley Acres), July 8-12 (Heart Butte, grades 7-9), July 22-26 (Heart Butte, grades 7-9), July 29-Aug. 2 (Heart Butte, grades 10-12)
thank you The commitment of youth leaders to the development of our young people is of primary importance to the growth and success of rural America and Farmers Union. The following list recognizes our NDFU youth leaders for their energy and exceptional service.
DIVIDE Jessalyn Thomas
ADAMS Libby Gravning
EMMONS Lori Schmidt
BARNES Tyler Van Bruggen
GRAND FORKS Jill Johnson
BENSON Robin Arnold
GRANT Linda Koepplin
BILLINGS/GOLDEN VALLEY Tina Davidson
GRIGGS Kristi Halvorson
BOTTINEAU Brandy Brown
HETTINGER Nancy & Darlene Nadvornik
BOWMAN/SLOPE Mary Fischer, Joy Kinsey
KIDDER Stacie Fettig
BURKE COUNTY Harley Eckert
LAMOURE Carly Rott, Constance Bitz, Karen Sandness, Mary Schlosser
BURLEIGH Michaela Froseth, Cheryl Fenster, Mary Ludwig, Laurie Weigel CASS Kristi Brink CAVALIER Carissa Iverson DICKEY Pam Henningsen
DUNN Eliza Jensen EDDY Kathryn Fleming
LOGAN Megan Marquart, Morgan Schwartzenberger MCHENRY Krystal Jo Watne MCINTOSH Fern Schauer
epic coaches
& EDUCATORS!
MCKENZIE Stephanie Scofield MCLEAN Roxann Bloom MERCER Siggy Scheid MORTON Lisa Rebenitsch MOUNTRAIL Jodi Obert NELSON Hazel Rude, Sheila Rude OLIVER Becky Dollinger, Shandy Kraft PIERCE Becky Tofte RAMSEY Andrea Johnson RANSOM Tyann Henderson RENVILLE Thurstan Johnson
SARGENT Kyla Temple SHERIDAN Melissa Axt SIOUX Mary Jean Hunter STARK Sarah Ewoniuk STUTSMAN Ashley Vinje, Danielle Walleen, Maria Willer TOWNER Laura Dease TRAILL Cayle Fossum WALSH Kathy Houser WARD Deanna Ness, Debbie Hansen, Fay Knudtson, Karley Porter, Deborah Peterson, Shirley Christensen
RICHLAND Cassidy Ziesch
WELLS Michelle Kukowski, Jean Hauser, Dynella Schmitz
ROLETTE Jackie Heinz
WILLIAMS Bernadette Perdue, Alvina Skogen
EPIC coaches needed for Pembina, Foster and Steele counties. Contact Bri Sorensen at 701-952-1404 or bsorensen@ndfu.org.
Sen. John Hoeven (far end) meets with NDFU President Mark Watne (right) and a delegation of members during a mini fly-in Feb. 11-13 in Washington, D.C.
NDFU delegation attends mini fly-in A small North Dakota Farmers Union delegation participated in a mini legislative fly-in Feb. 11-13 in Washington, D.C. The delegation met with Sen. John Hoeven and Rep. Kelly Armstrong as well as Sen. Kevin Cramer’s staff. The group also participated in meetings with the Surface Transportation Board.
Rep. Kelly Armstrong met with the NDFU delegation.
Bryce and Dylan Carr of Carrington were part of the delegation. They also enjoyed eating at Farmers, Fishers and Bakers!
To those who have already donated ...
THANK YOU!
FOR YOUR GENEROUS GIFT TO THE NDFU FOUNDATION Donations of more than $1,000 are recognized at the state office on the NDFU Donor Recognition wall. Giving levels include: COBALT – $1,000 to $4,999 BRONZE – $5,000 to $14,999 GOLD – $15,000 and above. Donations can be mailed to: NDFU Foundation, P.O. Box 2136, Jamestown, ND 58402-2136 Please note if the gift is in honor of someone. For more information, contact Lucy Bardell, assistant to the president, at 701-952-0114 or lbardell@ndfu.org. The NDFU Foundation was established in 2000 to raise funds for Farmers Union’s renowned youth education program. As a Farmers Union supporter, you are part of a larger mosaic – a piece of the spirit and light – that can help establish a permanent, sustainable fund for NDFU’s youth program. Please consider a donation.
The future of farming
PRECISION AGRICULTURE North Dakota State University gets ahead of the curve with new precision agriculture major
D
r. Xin (Rex) Sun recently proposed a question to students in his precision agriculture class at North Dakota State University.
great platform for academia,” he said. “It really creates an opportunity for professors and students to get connected to the industry and farmers as well. I learned a lot from actual growers that I can take back to my classroom.” Sun figures to stay busy with the new major at NDSU, as seven students have already signed up for it. According to NDSU’s description, the major will “teach students how to manage, analyze “Why did you choose this class?” Sun asked. and use large amounts of digital data to increase The response: “I am the next generation on production, profit and better protect my farm. I want to learn this the environment.” technology, so I can do something One of the classes as part of the beneficial with it on my farm.” major is Geographic Information The next generation of farmers Systems, which is mapping and is looking to technology for Story/Photos can “really help farmers locate soil answers to modern problems by types and plant health information.” in agriculture, and NDSU is Chris Aarhus, Remote sensing technology and getting ahead of the curve. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) school recently announced a new Editor are also popular aspects of precision precision agriculture major in agriculture. Sun said he also sees its College of Agriculture, Food robotics, specifically autonomous Systems and Natural Resources. vehicles and equipment as being a “In the big picture — with all big part of the future. Other classes of the challenges in farming right include big data management and electronic now — we need technology to help farmers with systems, and each student will have a capstone better quality and better yields,” he said. “Right project and be required to take an internship in the now, all of the big corporations like John Deere industry. and even Microsoft and Google really want to get “Each class has a lab, and we’ll give students involved. There are so many eager to collaborate hands-on experience and ask them to collect real with us.” data from a farm using precision ag technology,” Sun spoke as part of a panel at the eighth annual he said. “We’ll make sure they have enough Precision Ag Action Summit at Jan. 21-22 at the experience.” North Dakota Farmers Union Conference Center Chris Duchsherer, an ag instructor at the North in Jamestown. The panel was titled, “Growing Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, said Talent: Universities and students that are driving he asks students to consider looking far into the the industry.” Sun took in both days of the future at what agriculture might look like in 20 to conference. 50 years. “It’s awesome — this conference really gives a
Dr. Xin (Rex) Sun, a professor at North Dakota State University, will be one of the faculty in charge of implementing the new precision ag major. Sun said the major has seven students already signed up.
The 2019 Precision Ag Action Summit was held at the NDFU Conference Center in Jamestown. The event draws hundreds interested in precision ag each year.
“What’s coming down the road?” he said. “These are the things they’ll have to deal with in their careers.” NDSCS offers precision ag classes as part of its agricultural program, as does Lake Region State College in Devils Lake. Bismarck State College also features precision ag in its agriculture curriculum. NDSCS and Lake Region, in particular, are working with NDSU on a “twoplus-two” option in which students would start a major in precision ag at those schools before transferring to NDSU for their final two years. “We’ll probably get that up and running later
this year,” Duchsherer said. “If students know they’ll want to transfer, we can easily get them done within four years.” According to NDSU, the college has an agreement in place with Microsoft in which the tech giant will help “guide the curriculum so instructors will be on the cutting edge of the latest technological advances.” It’s the wave of the future, and Sun said there’s no getting around it. “Nobody can stop it,” Sun said. “If you don’t like it, that’s OK, but somebody else will continue it.”
Dakota Pride Cooperative celebrates 20 years BY CHRIS AARHUS, NDFU
Helping producers find ways to generate extra income when times are tough — that’s what Dakota Pride Cooperative is all about. DPC is celebrating its 20th anniversary this season and hosted its annual meeting Feb. 21 at the Ramada Inn in Bismarck. Executive Director Travis Bruner said DPC — which NDFU helped develop and has continued to support — has a goal of creating extra value for its member-producers. “We seek out new and innovative markets,” Bruner said, “and that will hopefully provide some extra cash flow and value to our producers’ operations over and above what you see on a day-to-day basis in ag.” The co-op works directly with buyers to select the ingredient characteristics they need to produce a profitable end product, while identifying varieties of grains and oilseeds to accomplish their goal. Producers grow crops to buyer specifications and guarantee quality with the highest level of
LOOKING FOR WHEAT GROWERS Dakota Pride Cooperative is seeking out growers to contract acres for hard white spring wheat for this spring. Premium price and trucking available depending on location. Call Executive Director Travis Bruner at 701-626-2070.
identity preservation. One of the latest successful programs out of DCP is hard white spring wheat. Bruner said DCP works as a go-between for the producer and the state mill and elevator in Grand Forks. “We help find the growers and get the contracts between them and the state mill,” he said. “We help the (producers) out in any way we can, whether it’s agriculture marketing or transportation.” Bruner is in his fourth year as executive director, and he gets a thrill helping producers find better markets. “The cool and interesting thing to me is, especially in times like the ag world is now, is that a cooperative or a group of people like folks at Dakota Pride really rack their brains and work very hard on trying to find ways to produce extra dollars for farmers and ranchers,” said Bruner, who both farms and ranchers with his family. “It gives you a sense of worth and good feeling to know that DCP is there trying to create some avenues and markets for producers in a time of need.”
“It gives you a sense of worth and good feeling to know that DCP is there trying to create some avenues and markets for producers in a time of need.” Travis Bruner
Executive Director Dakota Pride Cooperative
McHenry County Farmers Union presents ...
DEUCES WILD DUELING PIANOS Saturday, April 6 • Velva High School • 7 p.m.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from MCFU board members and the Velva FFA Chapter. Tickets at the door are $25. Children under 5 are free!
AROUND THE STATE
The Executive Women in Agriculture Conference was held Jan. 15-17 in Chicago. Attending for North Dakota Farmers Union were, from left, Pam Hoff, Libby Gravning, Amanda McLean, Member Relations Specialist Chelsey Jacobson and Tracey Miller.
Stark County Farmers Union held an EPIC event, hosting a night of bowling, pizza, prizes and fun on Jan. 20 in Dickinson.
NDFU Youth Education Specialist Miranda Letherman leads a regional officer training in Minot. NDFU held regional officer trainings around the state in January and February.
Lauren Steeves, Ashlynn Johnson and Ginger Savelkoul hold popcorn bags during a basketball game at Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood High School. Renville County Farmers Union sponsored free popcorn with camp dates printed on the bags.
Towner County Farmers Union President Myron Jacobson, left, and FUI agent Cindy Farbo, right, present NDFU’s children’s book to Christyna Bruce of the Towner County Medical Center Daycare. TCFU also donated to the local library.
Don’t wait to purchase your copy of the new children’s book from North Dakota Farmers Union!
$16.95 Follow the Rhodes family and their dog Rocky as they work the family farm together! Visit ndfubook.2020brands.com to purchase your copy today, or call Eunice at 701-952-0108. Please add $5 for shipping for any purchase of 1-3 books. Call for pricing on larger orders.
2019 CROP PROJECTIONS IN NORTH DAKOTA
Corn projects losses in all ND regions; wheat, soybeans to see limited returns
T
he two highest acreage crops in North Dakota, soybeans and wheat, project limited returns to labor and management in most regions for 2019, said Andy Swenson, North Dakota State University Extension farm management specialist. Generally, hard red spring wheat projects a return between $5 and $10 per acre. The strongest return, $22 per acre, is projected in the northeastern region, but losses of $5 to $10 per acre are projected in the northwestern, south-central and southern Red River Valley regions. “Surprisingly, soybeans project positive returns to labor and management in all but one region, despite lower soybean prices compared to last year’s budgets,” said Swenson. “There is a projected loss of $10 per acre in the northeastern region, but for the rest of the state, returns range from $1 an acre in the southern Red River Valley to $33 per acre in the north-central region. The third most popular crop by acreage, corn, projects losses in all regions. A loss of $5 to $10 per acre is projected for the western regions and for the southeastern, and losses between $20 and $40 per acre are projected in the other regions. Dry beans, malting barley, lentils and chickpeas normally show relatively strong returns, but weak prices for these commodities caused 2019 profit projections to be much lower. Dry beans project a positive return to labor and management of $31 per acre in the north-central region and returns of $7 for the south-central and southeastern regions. All other regions project losses ranging from $1 to $10 per acre. Malting barley projects losses by region between $20 and $90 per acre. Projected losses for growing lentils range from $35 to $70 per acre and for large chickpeas about $10 per acre. Projected prices for sunflowers and canola were also lower, relative to last year’s budgets. Oil sunflowers project a slight profit in the southwestern region, breakeven in the south-central region, losses of about $5 to $10 per acre in the northwest, north-central and east-central regions and larger losses
elsewhere. Projected returns for confection sunflowers varied greatly, from $55 per acre in the south-central region to a loss of $77 per acre in the northern Red River Valley. Canola projected negative returns ranging from near breakeven in the north-central and southwestern regions to losses of nearly $70 per acre in the southeastern region. Flax showed positive returns of $4 and $18 per acre in the northwestern and southwestern regions, respectively, but negative returns elsewhere. Field peas only projected a return to labor and management of $13 in the north-central region and losses ranging for $20 to $50 per acre in other regions. Durum wheat projected a return to labor and management of about $10 to $15 per acre in the east-central, southwestern and south-central regions. Losses between $6 and $18 per acre were projected for the north-central, northwestern and southeastern regions. “The southwestern, north-central, and south-central regions had the most crops that project a positive return to labor and management,” Swenson adds. “However, the returns are modest.” For most crops the projected total costs per acre were slightly higher than last year’s projections. Fertilizer, interest expense and expenditures for chemicals were higher. Expenditures for seed was generally similar to last year. Cropland rents for most regions declined and projected crop insurance expenditures were generally lower. Swenson cautions that the budgets are guides for large multi-county regions and that returns and costs can vary considerably between producers within a region. Also, the budgets estimate returns to labor and management with no consideration of price and yield variability, or risk. A perfect “apples-to-apples” comparison of crops is not achieved because different levels of labor and management, and risk, exist. The NDSU Extension-developed budgets are available online. The easiest way to get to the information is to Google “NDSU Crop Budgets.” Article courtesy of NDSU Ag Communications.
A call to strengthen the farm safety net
Due to depressed commodity prices and oversupply, both of which have been exacerbated by trade barriers, the National Farmers Union Board of Directors is calling on the administration and Congress to strengthen the farm safety net. In a resolution written during the quarterly board meeting in San Diego, Calif., the Board emphasized the economic difficulties family farmers and ranchers have been enduring for several years. “Net farm income in 2018 is estimated to be nearly 50 percent less than 2013 levels. Median farm income is estimated to be minus-$1,548, meaning a majority of farms — farms of all sizes — lost money this past year,” the resolution states. “Despite their best efforts, many farmers are struggling to stay afloat.” The Board expressed appreciation for recent efforts to provide greater assistance to struggling farmers and ranchers, including improvements in the 2018 Farm Bill and trade assistance provided through the Market Facilitation Program. However, these efforts only provide marginal, short-term aid for significant, long-term problems. “In neither case do the changes reflect the severity of existing market challenges and the immediacy of the financial crisis facing family farmers and ranchers,” the Board said. To address these problems, the NFU Board urged lawmakers to pursue “significant, longterm solutions to strengthen the farm safety net.” Additionally, they recommended that Congress “examine options to meaningfully address chronic oversupply in the marketplace,” which has been particularly damaging to U.S. dairy and grain sectors.
SOTU ADDRESSES TRADE AGREEMENTS
In early February, President Donald Trump gave his second annual State of the Union Address. In the 82-minutelong speech, he touted his administration’s work on a broad range of issues that affect agricultural and rural communities, including tax reform, the farm bill, trade negotiations, opioid misuse, and infrastructure. On most of these issues, his comments were overwhelmingly positive. In particular, he boasted about his ongoing crusade to overhaul international trade relationships. “After years of targeting our industries and stealing our intellectual property, the theft of American jobs and wealth has come to an end,” he said, adding that tariffs on Chinese imports have brought in “billions and billions of dollars” in revenue. He also praised the U.S.Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is intended to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), saying it will “deliver for American workers like they haven’t had delivered to for a long time.” He urged Congress to quickly pass USMCA “so that we can bring back our manufacturing jobs in even greater numbers, expand American agriculture, protect intellectual property, and ensure that more cars are proudly stamped with our four beautiful words: ‘Made in the USA.’” However, these glowing remarks largely ignore the reality that most American farmers and ranchers face on a daily basis. “The reality is that the downward trend in the farm economy has only worsened over the last two years, leaving many farmers and ranchers in
significant financial stress,” said NFU Vice President of Public Policy and Communications Rob Larew in a statement. He added that most of the difficulties that farmers are enduring have been exacerbated by President Trump’s international trade war. “To tout progress with China or USMCA as a win is misleading - you can’t dig a 10-foot hole, fill it up with a foot of dirt and call that a win.” To improve conditions in agricultural communities, Larew urged President Trump to “restore our reputation around the world as a reliable trading partner.” In particular, Larew recommended that he “reassert American leadership in the international trade arena” and “back up his calls for bipartisanship by working with Congress to ensure farm families can succeed with fair and stable markets for their goods.”
It’s Branson in June!
Hop on the NDFU motor coach for a six-day getaway to Branson and experience: • The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theater • Buckets N Boards • Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve • Silver Dollar City • Duttons and more!
June 3-8 $850 a person (double occupancy) $1,200 a person (single occupancy) *Price includes transportation, lodging, attractions, and some group meals
Call 800-366-8331 for trip info Ask for Eunice (ext. 108) or Jeff (ext. 111)
Founding Farmers
SEVEN-CHEESE MACARONI (serves 4-6)
INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons unsalted butter Sauce 3 cups whole milk 2 cups heavy cream 5 tablespoons unsalted butter ½ cup all-purpose flour ¾ cup (3 oz) shredded smoked Gouda ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper Macaroni Mixture 1 lb dry elbow macaroni 4 lg eggs 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup whole milk 1 tablespoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon granulated garlic 2½ cups (10 oz) shredded sharp yellow cheddar 2½ cups (10 oz) shredded white cheddar 1 cup (4 oz) shredded mozzarella 1 cup (4 oz) shredded Asiago 1½ cups (6 oz) shredded Gruyère 2/3 cup (2½ oz) shredded Muenster Topping ¼ cup unsalted butter 1½ cups panko bread crumbs ¼ teaspoon kosher salt 2½ tablespoons finely sliced fresh chives
INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 325°. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish (or six 16-oz individual dishes) with the 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Set aside. Fill 6-qt saucepan with water and bring to boil. For sauce. Heat the whole milk and heavy cream in medium saucepan over medium-low heat. In separate 2-qt saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. As the butter bubbles, whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, for one minute. Slowly pour the hot milk/cream into the flour mixture while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens. Whisk in Gouda and white pepper. Remove sauce from heat. Transfer to large mixing bowl. When pasta water is boiled, cook macaroni for a few minutes. Drain. Transfer to the large bowl with the warm sauce and mix until pasta is well coated. In separate small bowl, whisk: eggs, heavy cream, whole milk, salt, black pepper, and granulated garlic. Pour mixture over pasta. Add remaining cheeses; gently fold until combined. Transfer pasta mixture to the buttered casserole dish. Cover dish with foil. Bake for 20 minutes (12-15 minutes, if using individual dishes). While macaroni bakes, prepare topping. Melt butter in medium sauté pan over medium heat. Stir in panko and salt, until crumbs are coated. Remove from heat. Remove macaroni from oven. Discard foil. Sprinkle buttered bread crumbs evenly over top. Return dish to oven, uncovered. Bake for additional 5-10 minutes, until bread crumbs are golden brown. Remove from oven. Let rest 5 minutes. Sprinkle fresh chives over top. Serve.
CLASSIFIEDS
Ads must be submitted through the online form at www.ndfu.org. Click “Classifieds” at the very bottom of ndfu.org and follow the instructions. Ads must be re-submitted each month. No exceptions! Deadline is the 15th of every month. Limit 75 words. MEMBERSHIP DUES MUST BE CURRENT!
FARM EQUIPMENT FOR SALE IH PRESS DRILLS, many sizes and combinations, reconditioned or as is, can deliver; IH 12 and 14 ft. hoe drills; Disks 14,15, 16, 24 ft., have used parts for IH press drills can ship. 701-400-5742, Gerald Miller, Mandan. IH W-9 PARTS, hood and grill, excellent shape. 701-771-8653, Kenny Heilman, Rugby. VERMEER 605N BALER, only 2433 bales made, has twine and new wrap, like new condition. Can text or email pics. 701-2060082, Marcus Fischer, Bowman. FLEXICOIL 65XL PULL TYPE SPRAYER, 1000 gal tank, 136 ft, good screens and extras to go with pro pump and foam marker, 2 1450 gal nh3 tanks, 1 has new paint decals, pop off valves replaced in both, other tank has recently been repainted, both have good tires. 701-7826888, Craig Schiermeister, Hazelton. CASE IH PLANTER PARTS, air clutches, seed tubes, meters, hexagon shafts, soybean & corn seed plates; 360 yield saver gathering chains, fits geringoff 22” head, original brushes, approx. 1,500 acres on chains; Crary air system, all attachments for a 40 ft header. 701-6809727, Brandon Hanson, Forman. GEHL 1600 ROUND BALER, Gehl 95 Mix Mill; Sioux 100 Bu. hog feeder; 300 gallon fuel tank and stand; Wilrich 38 ft. cultivator; model 16 BW, single wheels on wings; IH model 56 6 row 30 inch planter; IH 6 row cultivator. 701-320-4281, Les Koll, Wimbledon. TRACTOR CHAINS, size 1020, 1 new set and 1 used set. $100. 701-794-3385, Howard Windhorst, Center.
NEW FLEXICOIL/CNH OPENERS, Seven gd-857v3 stealth boots). Have 67 87506291 3 inch paired row attachments non-carbide, No hardware, make offer. 701-570-2900, Jay Heller, Williston. 8030 ALLIS-CHALMERS MFWD, 135 hp 6-speed power shift, 3 point with allied loader in excellent shape, $18,000 firm; Powder River calf table with tailgate, $700. 701-763-6163, Walter Job, Windsor. 51 FT. NEW HOLLAND AIR SEEDER with SC430 grain cart. NH3, field ready, don’t need anymore. 701-208-0545, Daniel Brossart, Rugby. 1959 MODEL D17 with hydraulic loader. 3 point, $1000 obo: 1970 IH 756 diesel quick attack loader with grapple, new front tires, new clutch, new joy stick for loader, $7500: Flat bed Triple axle trailer hauls 8 round bales; Mexican Pine Bar with tons of storage. $1000. 701-320-8392, John Visser, Spiritwood. 4-WHEEL TRAILER, 15-30 McCormick tractor; 2 cream separators; Leon #3100 HD 10 ft 3-Point Blade; Late Model Super M w/ live PTO; 12 ft Kirschmann drill, New tire LT245-75R-17 Ld Range E; Email: larryn@westriv.com. 701-597-3730, Larry Nagel, Shields. AIR SEEDER, 57 ft., Flex coil, 2320 tow between tank, best offer; two gravity pup trailers with roll tarps, stored inside, best offer; Summer fork type rock picker, trade or best offer. 701-228-6571, Greg Sletto, Willow City. 1999 J & M 875 GRAIN CART with scale and tarp, good shape, $18,500; 30.5L32 Goodyear combine tires and 10 hole rims off JD 9750; Also have short ladder extension and rails. Make offer. 701-3215711, John Kempf, Ashley. D6 CAT AND DOZER, for salvage, $3000; Tox-O-Wix Model 370 Batch Dryer; 3 Rock Forks for loader from $600 to $2,500; Quick attachment bucket adapter for 3600 Dual loader $125; 3 Bar 5 ft Melroe harrow sections $50 each; Hudson tank heater for stock tank $125; Viking Hammer Mill $250; 2 Hydraulic breakaways and valves for 4630 John Deere tractor $500 each. 701373-5480, Donald Jorissen, Valley City. 1951 OLIVER 77 STANDARD, equipped with factory hydraulics, belt pulley, PTO, all engine covers, factory wheel weights and real good 14-9x26 tires, needs paint and engine overhaul. This is a nice straight little tractor. $1000. 701-391-6865, Ron Gessele, Bismarck.
JD 3200 5 BOTTOM PLOW; Mayrath 6 inch x 28 ft grain auger w/Briggs engine; Hudson tank heater for stock tank; 1,000 gallon fuel tank; 40 used Lange anhydrous knives; steel & wooden fence posts; used cultivator shovels; transition & aeration screens; Gustafson seed treater; 25 ft heavy duty 5/8 alloy log chain. 701-6299003, Doug Halden, Stanley. CANOLA ROLLER, excellent condition; Case wdx 1203 swather, mint condition, preform roller attached, hydraulic lift; Mac don pull type swather; Blue gray pickup topper 8 ft box; Farm king auger; Surrey rider cover for cabless tractor; Flexcoil 67 XL cart sprayer 1500 gal tank, new hoses, new10 gal and 5 gallons low drift nozzles. 701-263-1206, Lathan Romsos, Bottineau.
WANTED TRACTORS, IH 806, 1206, 856, 1256, 1456, 1066, 1466, 5288, 5488; JD 5010, 5020, 6030; MM 1050, 1355; Oliver 1960s and newer; Allis D21, 210, 220, and others, running or not. 701-629-1721, Jerry Lumley, Stanley. CASE DC-4 TRACTOR, short-wheel base, running or not, leave voicemail or text. 701331-0116, Dennis Brodina, Lankin.
MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE TWO TOOL BOXES for pickup, like new; Three parlor wood stoves, good condition; Monarch wood stove, best you’ll find; Used phonograph, make offer. 701-771-8653, Kenny Heilman, Rugby. CENTENNIAL FIREARMS, Winchester 94AE 30-30, Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 Mag. Both unfired, beautiful gold and silver inlaid and engraved. Ruger comes with oak display case. $2250 each or both for $4000; Mossberg Targo .22 Smoothbore for birdshot, comes with a rifled extension for standard .22 ammunition, bolt action, 5 shot clip, made in late 40s. Can send pictures. 701-694-4621, Martin Hanson, Zahl. 4 HANKOOK VENUS TIRES, S1 Noble 2 255/50 R20’s tire 105H, 2500 actual miles. $700 for all 4 tires. 701-794-3385, Howard Windhorst, Center. STORAGE CONTAINER, gray, one time use, like new, $2,700. Pick up or delivery is an option. 701- 474-5780, Richard Rydell, Hankinson.
DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE! TALK TO SOMEONE! — IF IT’S AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE DIAL 9-1-1 — CALL 2-1-1, THE HELP LINE FOR FIRSTLINK — ABOUND COUNSELING AT LUTHERN SOCIAL SERVICES OF NORTH DAKOTA, CALL 701-223-1510 — NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE AT 1-800-273-8255 — NDSU EXTENSION HAS A STRESS PAGE AT AG.NDSU.EDU/FARMRANCHSTRESS
FALLS SNOW WING, for road grade, used little, $1000. 701-220-2993, Elliot Iszler. Bismarck. 4,000 WATT GENERATOR, 8 HP, cast iron sleeve. B&S engine, new carb. comes with 30 AMP circuit breaker panel, asking $325; 2013 5x8 ft carry on trailer, mesh deck & ramp, 13” tires, new $800, asking $600. 701-331-0116, Dennis Brodina, Lankin. 55 FT TRUCK-MOUNTED BOOM on 2 ton Ford truck, worked when parked 10 years ago, $950 or offer; 5 Porta-Potties, $140 each. 701-653-5230, Wesley Miller, Carrington. WESTERN HAT, size 7 3/8, chocolate brown color; Sears router, like new, comes with original box; Antique parlor furnace. 701-263-1206, Lathan Romsos, Bottineau.
WANTED PRAIRIE DOG HUNTERS, to hunt on land, make reservations now. Email: larryn@ westriv.com. 701-597-3730, Larry Nagel, Shields.
MANUAL TYPEWRITER which prints in cursive: Lever action deer rifle, .22 pump rifle, .357 pistol. 628-2130, Jerry Lumley, Stanley. WILDLIFE HABITAT LAND, within 50 miles of Bismarck, anything from 70 acres to a half section. Call, leave message or text. 701-471-9078, Jim Miller. Bismarck. FLASCO WOOD TRUCK BED/BOX. 701720-6701, Rod Walth, Minot.
VEHICLES
LIVESTOCK/FEED FOR SALE BULLS. Simmental, Sim-Angus yearly registered, reds, blacks, blaze. 701-8700597, Dennis Flemmer, Zap. ALFALFA BALES, large round bales. Second cutting, 1600-plus net wrap, protein 21 pct rfv153. 701-320-0569, Richard Irmen. New Rockford.
FOR SALE MATTRACKS 150-M1A2, set of 4 mattracks with new tracks, low miles, like new condition. have brackets to mount on 2008 Chevy 2500 HD pickup. $22,000 OBO. 701-321-5711, John Kempf, Ashley. 1989 CHEVY PICKUP, 2-door, reg. cab, 1/2, 4wd, air, power windows, no rust, good condition. 701-246-3469, Vernon Hochstetler, Rolette.
FARMERS! Interested in selling your products at a food hub? Visit ndfu.org and click at the bottom of the page to fill out a survey!
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Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America, ND Division
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1415 12th Ave SE PO Box 2136 Jamestown, ND 58402