FARMER UNION
www.ndfu.org
FOR VETS Western ND Honor Flight hopes to take 100 vets to Washington, D.C., in October
MARCH 2021
GET TO KNOW A FARMERS UNION INSURANCE AGENCY
Theron Huwe Agency I grew up and went to school in Grenora. My wife is from Keene and graduated from Watford City. We have two children, Dylan (16) and Lily (8). We also have two dogs, Abby and Rusty, and Otis our cat. We enjoy traveling, camping, fishing with grandpa and grandma and growing a garden every summer. During the school year, our kids keep us busy with all of their extracurricular activities. I have been an agent with Farmers Union Insurance for 14 years. I started in Crosby in 2006 and transferred to Watford City in 2015 when Dennis Anderson retired. During that time, I have had the opportunity to serve on several boards including the Crosby Country Club, St. Luke’s Hospital, the Moose Lodge, and the Watford City Chamber of Commerce. I have been fortunate to be able to be a volunteer fireman, Cub Scoutmaster and I also help in whatever way I can with the Watford City Food Pantry. What I enjoy most about being an agent is helping our customers, and the support Farmers Union Insurance provides both financially and time wise to give back to our communities.
Theron Huwe Agency 340 N. Main St., Suite 3B Watford City ND 58854 PH: (701) 444-3273
UNION FARMER MAGAZINE Volume 68 • 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: 32,704 • USPS 016-211
SIMPLY DIFFERENT! FIND US ON THE WEB:
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS: President: Mark Watne • Vice President: Bob Kuylen • Secretary: Wes Niederman Treasurer: Ronda Throener • Bob Finken; Jon Iverson; Shane Sickler; Tyler Stafslien; Michelle Ziesch. 2 • March 2021 • Union Farmer
THE VACCINE HELPS US GET BACK TO NORMALCY NDFU is an organization committed to strengthening opportunities and success for all citizens and people of the world. While we focus on family farm agriculture, we also include in our policy statements and action items our support for society in general. With nearly a year of dealing with COVID-19, it appears we have some positive movement forward. That being said, we are a long way from over with this challenge. The pandemic will probably not simply end with vaccinations; it will take ongoing efforts. I am well aware of the good information, the poor information, the conspiracy theories and even some crazy information about COVID-19. All of us need to try and sort through this information and do what is not only a benefit for ourselves, but for the health of all society. In our effort to control COVID-19 at NDFU, we have followed the guidance almost perfectly from the N.D. Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). We have done our best to ignore the extreme opinions and follow the most credible science. We do not plan to deviate from this guidance and strongly encourage others to follow the guidelines, get vaccinated and continue to employ practices that reduce the chance of spread. In our history, we have seen vaccines prevent diseases to the extent that we almost forget they even existed. The list is long: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B and A,
pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, chickenpox and Hib (haemophilus influenzae type b). We can add COVID-19 to the list, if we all participate. The primary purpose of this message is to strongly urge you to get the vaccine when it becomes available to you. Not only will this protect you, it will help us get COVID-19 to the nearly forgotten list. It will also help stop variants of the virus that may come in the future, if more people are immunized. Some of you may ask why am I pushing vaccination and other reasonable guidelines? I am looking for all of us to get back to normal or as close to normal as quickly as possible. I, like many of you, have made fundamental decisions to avoid family, to travel less, to do our job well but maybe not as effectively because of COVID-19 restrictions and limitations. In fact, many of the things I most enjoy have been taken away and I believe we can get back to a place of normalcy, if we all pull together. I want our conversations to be about the future of our lives, our families and where we take our organization without these constraints. In mid-February, Gov. Doug Burgum lowered some COVID-19 restrictions in our state. Always refer to these sites (health. nd.gov/diseases-conditions/coronavirus and cdc.gov) to determine risk levels and latest recommendations. Currently, the CDC and the governor recommend mask wearing, social distancing and vaccination. Thank you for all your efforts to contain this virus.
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.
MAIL DONATIONS TO: NDFU Foundation P.O. Box 2136 Jamestown ND 58402 Please note if the gift is in honor of someone. For more information, contact Lucy Bardell at 701-952-0114 or lbardell@ndfu.org.
NDFU.org • March 2021 • 3
POLICY HOPPER FROM NORTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION
Infrastructure funding needed On Jan. 6, a bicameral group of Republican lawmakers unveiled a $1.14 billion bonding package during a press conference at the North Dakota capitol. NDFU was ready to support the legislation, because it provided $90 million for counties and townships and $50 million for the Agriculture Products Development Center. Despite the fanfare of that announcement, House Bill No. 1132 was withdrawn from consideration just three weeks later. So began the tug-of-war over the focal point of this legislative session. The coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on commodity markets, putting the state’s 2021-2023 budget in a precarious position. Bonding offers an important opportunity to meet the state’s growing needs in a challenging fiscal environment. With interest rates at a near-record low, there will likely be no better time to invest in major infrastructure projects. Bonding makes sense for North Dakota; our tax-supported debt as a percent of personal income is just 10% of the national average. While the timely benefits of a bonding package are clear, budget hawks’ concerns ultimately won out in the first half of the legislative session. HB 1132 was replaced with a more modest $800 million proposal. The new package, HB 1431, includes just $70 million for highway projects and no dedicated funding for county and township projects. As this is being written, rumors of further cuts to the bonding package’s size are swirling about the capitol. HB 1431 certainly offers its benefits to the state. In addition to the highway funding, the package includes $76 million for capital projects at the state’s universities, including $50 million for the Agriculture Products Development Center. It also offers $435.5 million for the Fargo Area Diversion Project, $74.5 million for Souris River flood control and $50 million for the infrastructure revolving loan fund. However, NDFU continues to argue that the final package must include county and
u IT'S EASY! Go to ndfu.org/action and quickly fill out the form to send a letter of support for infrastructure funding to your legislators! township infrastructure. North Dakota’s county and township roads and bridges require a $9.3 billion investment over the next 20 years, according to the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. That equates to an annual investment of over $450 million. Operation Prairie Dog (OPD), which was passed during the 2019 legislative session, was intended to address those needs. However, the OPD “buckets” will not fill this biennium. State revenues are expected to be even lower in the next biennium, preventing OPD’s promise from being fulfilled in the near term. NDFU still hopes that the final bonding package will at least partially replace OPD funding in the 2021-2023 biennium. The need for the investment is obvious. Wet conditions, flooding and increased traffic have stressed rural roads and bridges to the maximum. Deteriorating and overwhelmed rural infrastructure causes delays for farmers and ranchers, especially during the busy planting and harvest season. NDFU believes bonding provides the right opportunity at the right time to address those needs. With Crossover behind us, the bonding discussion now shifts to the senate, which is expected to offer renewed consideration of county and township needs. NDFU continues to advocate for rural road and bridge funding. We have heard your concerns and want to make sure your senators hear them, too. There is no better way to influence a legislator’s vote than by talking to them directly. Call or email yours today and tell them to fund county and township infrastructure in the final bonding package.
— Matt Perdue, NDFU Government Relations Director
4 • March 2021 • Union Farmer
4 • Augu
Get your book today! $16.95 plus tax
DEAL!
Buy both books for only $25
Visit ndfu.org or go to https://north-dakota-farmers-union.square.site to purchase your children's books online! Call Becky at 701-952-0108 to purchase your children's books over the phone.
ust 2020 • Union Farmer
Cement your legacy at The North Dakota Farmers Union Foundation invites you to become a permanent part of the new Farmers Union Camp by purchasing a personalized engraved brick paver that will forever be part of the new camp location. This is an easy way to leave a lasting legacy, and at the same time, donate to the new Farmers Union Camp.
16x16
6 • January 2021 • Union Farmer
4x8
8x8
the new NDFU Camp
•• NDFU BRICK PAVERS ••
4"x8" – $250
8"x8" – $450
16"x16" – $850
8"x16" – $550
12"x24" – $1,050
Payment can be made with cash, credit card, check or directly on our website at ndfu.org. Scroll to the bottom and click on the ad! To order by phone, contact Heidi Sagaser at 1-701-952-0102. Please consider making this donation to support the North Dakota Farmers Union Foundation! NDFU.org • January 2021 • 7
Brittney Barnett of Arnegard applied for and was accepted into National Farmers Union's Beginning Farmer Institute, a yearlong program designed to help young farmers.
MAKING CONNECTIONS Barnett learns leadership qualities, business of farming with National Farmers Union's Beginning Farmer Institute BY CHRIS AARHUS, NDFU EDITOR
Brittney Barnett of Arnegard still struggles once in a while with the irregular schedule that accompanies farm and ranch life. Still, she’s grown to love it. Barnett and her husband Daniel Dwyer farm in McKenzie County after Barnett moved from Missoula, Mont., where she worked for the Montana Conservation Corps. They were married in 2019. Barnett, originally from Valley City, said large farming operations came to mind when she thought of agriculture in North Dakota, a view that has since changed. “I never realized there are people in North Dakota doing all these amazing things I didn’t know about that are focused on the small side of agriculture,” she said. With a growing interest in farming, Barnett was recruited by North Dakota Farmers Union for National Farmers Union’s Beginning Farmer Institute (BFI), a free training program for new 8 • March 2021 • Union Farmer
Visit nfu.org/education/beginning-farm-institute to learn more about the program
Christine Schmaltz Photography Brittney Barnett, right, with her husband Daniel Dwyer with their dogs Syver and Razi near their farm in McKenzie County. Barnett has been participating in National Farmers Union's Beginning Farmer Institute.
producers of all ages, operation types or size. The program typically involves three domestic trips for in-person learning sessions over 10 months. Barnett said she was drawn to the program because of its smaller class devoted to learning diversity in agriculture. “When I go to farming workshops, there might be 150 people and they’re mostly men,” she said. “I really liked the component of a small group of people making connections and not being afraid to ask questions.” Dwyer and Barnett have a diversified rotation of spring wheat, durum, barley, peas, lentils and safflower. They also raise livestock. One crop Barnett knows she won’t be growing is cotton, which is why she was eager to visit Nashville last November for the first meeting of BFI. A trip to a cotton farm had been planned, but the pandemic changed all of that. Meetings have been over Zoom instead. “I really would have loved to have had that extra knowledge,” Barnett said. “And I’m much better at connecting with people in person. It’s little things like 15-minute breaks where you go out to the lobby and engage in conversation.” Nonetheless, Barnett is making the most of her opportunity. She’s learning valuable information
about farm transitioning, which she and her husband are going through. She’s also learning about the business side of agriculture including a personal session with Poppy Davis, an ag business and policy consultant. “I’m really interested in the accounting and taxes and how this works,” Barnett said. “They talked about co-ops, and I got to speak with (Davis), and she gave me hope that women can be on boards.” The BFI program always ends with the annual NFU Fly-in to Washington, D.C., and Barnett is hopeful she’ll be able to attend. She encourages other young farmers to consider applying for BFI in the future. “It’s a great experience, and the tools I am learning, I will be able to implement right away,” she said. “You won’t regret it.” As for her irregular schedule, she’s throwing caution to the wind. “I like having a detailed plan for my day, so this has been hard to get used to,” she said of farming. “It’s a rain day, so you can’t do this, or you can’t go haying until 2 p.m. I really struggled with the lack of structure. “Last year, I threw away my planner. It’s just easier to throw it away and go with the flow.”
FREE WEBINARS FROM NORTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION
The Thursday Series NDFU hosted four education webinars in February. Go to NDFU.org to watch replay videos of all four!
FOOD TRENDS & CONSUMER INSIGHT Donna Moenning, Center for Food Integrity
COMMODITY MARKETING Frayne Olson, NDSU
BREEDING FOR NEW CROP VARIETIES Richard Horsley, NDSU
Don't miss out on four great speakers presenting on four important topics!
THE 2021 ECONOMY Dan Laufenberg, Stonebridge
An Honor Flight event is held with groups from Austin, Houston and southern Nevada at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of Katherinecresto/ Flickr.
12 • March 2021 • Union Farmer
HONORING VETERANS
Western ND Honor Flight looks to make first trip to Washington, D.C., with 100 veterans in October
I
f Kathleen Bien gets her wish, 100 veterans from North Dakota will be heading to Washington, D.C., in the fall. The executive director for the Western North Dakota Honor Flight – part of the national Honor Flight Network – hopes to raise the $160,000 necessary to transport 100 veterans and their escorts to the nation’s capital in October. “We charter a jet so we’re all together, and it’s a nonstop flight,” she said. “We’ve done some fundraising and raised
approximately $60,000. But we haven’t had a lot of fundraising events, so we’re hoping to get that going this spring.” The Honor Flight Network is a network of organizations that raise money to take veterans of World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars on trips to Washington, D.C., allowing them to visit monuments, share stories and remember friends. The travel comes at no cost to the veteran.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
STORY BY CHRIS AARHUS / NDFU EDITOR NDFU.org • March 2021 • 13
Bien formed the western North Dakota affiliate after a presentation from the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN, which serves eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota. “I met with some people and asked if they were interested in helping me form the board,” Bien recalled. “The western 32 counties (in North Dakota) are serviced by us.” In the fall of 2020, the Western North Dakota Honor Flight was supposed to make its first trip, but the pandemic forced the cancellation of fundraising events and the trip itself.
“We don’t want to do anything that might endanger the health of veterans,” she said. Bien is hoping to continue fundraising this spring and summer with events like a silent auction, fun walk, motorcycle poker run and golf scramble. When the time does come, it’ll be a busy two days. Everyone will leave on a Sunday morning at 7 a.m. from the Bismarck airport, arrive in Washington, D.C., and start touring sites such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the memorials for the Korean and Vietnam wars, as well as the World War II memorial. It also includes a trip to the National Archives,
DONATE TO HONOR FLIGHTS IN ND Western ND Honor Flight www.westernndhf.org/ ONLINE
Eastern ND Honor Flight www.veteranshonorflightofndmn.org/
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO Western ND Honor Flight PO Box 265 Bismarck ND 58502 Honor Flight of ND/MN PO Box 644 West Fargo ND 58078
NOTE: Be sure to include your name, address and if you would like the donation in someone else’s name (optional).
which houses the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. That night, a banquet is held to honor the 100 veterans. The following morning features more sightseeing before everyone gets back on the charter jet. A reception is held when they return to Bismarck. “The veterans love it,” said Bien, who attended with the Fargo-Moorhead chapter. “On the way there, there are so many chatty voices, and everybody is getting excited and talking about military times. On the way back, everybody is sleeping. It wears them out, but they love it.”
Bien said the next step is to restart fundraising in anticipation of the October trip. “For many of our veterans, it’s giving them one last tour,” she said. “Everything is completely free to the veteran. The only money they need to take is if they want to purchase souvenirs.” To donate online, visit westernndhf.org. To donate by mail, send a check or money order to Western ND Honor Flight, PO Box 265, Bismarck, ND, 58502. Be sure to include your name, address and if you would like the donation in someone else’s name (optional).
NDFU.org • February 2021 • 15
Farmers Union
CAMP
GRADES 3-6 (4 DAYS, 3 NIGHTS)* – $115** GRADES 7-12 (5 DAYS, 4 NIGHTS)* – $165** *Grade youth will have completed by the end of the school year **Early bird price. Price will increase after May 15.
Register now at ndfu.org!
JUNIOR CAMPS GRADES 3-6
HEART BUTTE ~ near Elgin June 14-17 — BOTTINEAU, BURKE, DIVIDE, MCHENRY, MOUNTRAIL, RENVILLE, WARD, WILLIAMS June 21-24 — ADAMS, BOWMAN/SLOPE, GRANT, HETTINGER, MORTON, SIOUX July 5-8 — STATEWIDE July 12-15 — BURLEIGH, SHERIDAN July 19-22 — BILLINGS/GOLDEN VALLEY, DUNN, MCLEAN, MERCER, MCKENZIE, OLIVER, STARK
JAMESTOWN July 5-8 — BENSON, CAVALIER, EDDY, FOSTER, GRAND FORKS, GRIGGS, NELSON, PEMBINA, PIERCE, RAMSEY, ROLETTE, STEELE, TOWNER, TRAILL, WALSH, WELLS
July 16-19 — STATEWIDE July 19-22 — EMMONS, KIDDER, LAMOURE, LOGAN, MCINTOSH, STUTSMAN July 30-Aug. 2 — STATEWIDE Aug. 2-5 — BARNES, CASS, DICKEY, RANSOM, RICHLAND, SARGENT
SENIOR CAMPS
June 7-11 – HEART BUTTE, GRADES 7-12 June 28-July 2 – HEART BUTTE, GRADES 7-9 July 12-16 – JAMESTOWN, GRADES 7-12 July 26-30 – HEART BUTTE, GRADES 10-12 July 26-30 – JAMESTOWN, GRADES 7-9 Aug. 9-13 – JAMESTOWN, GRADES 10-12
AWARD TRIPS
(invitation only) May 1-2 – 7TH & 8TH GRADE LOCK-IN June 27-July 2 – ALL-STATES LEADERSHIP CAMP Aug. 3-6 – THIRD YEAR AWARD TRIP
NDFU.org • February 2021 • 17
Carbon solutions in O
ne topic most red, blue, and green politicians—and, even more strikingly, farmers—agree on is climate change; it’s real. In fact, notes the Dec. 2020 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, 58 percent of Iowa farmers and landowners now agree that climate change is both occurring and is caused by either human activity or nature. Moreover, if you add the 23 percent who told pollsters climate change exists but is only natural, 81 percent of Iowa landowners and farmers now believe climate change is real and ongoing. Those numbers also suggest that most everyone in agriculture is at least somewhat open to ideas for on-the-farm carbon sequestration, a longdiscussed strategy to both slow and reduce the impact of climate-altering atmospheric carbon. So far, however, farm-directed carbon storage has been a tough sell for two big reasons. The first is the age-old dilemma for all farmers and ranchers: Does this new idea cost or does it pay? Limited evidence from relatively new, privatefinanced efforts show decidedly mixed results. Payments, mostly in the $30- to $50-acre range, are
ALAN GUEBERT
The Farm and Food File
often less than what participating farmers claim carbon storage schemes cost when bringing in and managing new elements needed for sequestration like cover crops, machinery modifications, extra data collection, and labor. The second, bigger concern, though, is if carbon sequestration is even possible. Can farmers grab, for example, 10 percent of the earth’s climatechanging carbon and put it back into the soil to help save the planet while feeding it? Scientific theory says yes; in-the-dirt practice, however, says maybe and if so, it could take decades before minor amounts of carbon can be added to, then stored, in food-growing soils. At least that’s the conclusion of Iowa State University (ISU) research published in Nov. 2019. The 10-year ISU research project (that used
ag a job for USDA winter rye as a cover crop) showed, “The ability of cover crops to stimulate microbes deep in the soil of farm fields leads to significant gains in water quality but does not necessarily increase the capacity of soil to store carbon…” The main reason, according to the Iowa research, is the same reason we need to store carbon in the first place: While crops do stimulate soil microbes to store carbon, they also “digest” at least as much carbon as they store. The digestion converts the carbon “to carbon dioxide, which is released to the atmosphere…” which then wipes out any “stored” carbon benefit. In short, it’s what plants were designed to do; asking them to do it differently might be a hard pull for both science and Mother Nature. But neither is deterring investors and curious farmers from seeking new ways to marry future carbon sequestration with workday agronomy. On Jan. 22, the Washington Post published a highly detailed, well-balanced examination of carbon sequestration efforts underway on a 10,000-acre, Maryland corn, soybean and wheat farm. It included the farmer’s hopes as well as his
skepticism (links at farmandfoodfile.com). Indeed, the farmer Trey Hill told the Post, farming for carbon “makes life a lot more difficult, and not necessarily more profitable.” Still, he, like many others who back “regenerative” farming, view carbon sequestration as not only possible, but necessary if the world is to avoid a climate—and food—catastrophe. Maybe it doesn’t work well right now, they admit, but more research, farm testing and adaptation could provide other ways to some near- and long-term storage successes and profits. Call me crazy, but that sounds exactly like the work the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was created to perform. USDA, after all, has the checkbook to finance public research to make carbon sequestration work and the bureaucratic skill to manage such a multi-disciplinary, multi-year push. It also has a public mandate to supply safe and abundant food today while ensuring the nation’s means of food production tomorrow. What could be more important for our children, grandchildren and the world?
NDFU.org • March 2021 • 19
Ag committee works on stimulus In a step toward passing a $1.9 trillion relief package, the House Agriculture Committee voted in favor of the bill’s food and nutrition title. If passed, the legislation would set aside a total of $16.1 billion worth of support for farmers, hungry Americans and rural communities, including $3.6 billion to protect food and farm workers, redirect surplus commodities to food banks and build resilience in the food supply chain; an extension of a 15-percent boost in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through the end of September; debt forgiveness for socially disadvantaged farmers; $500 million to help rural communities access vaccines and food assistance; $1 billion in funding for institutions that serve farmers of color; and $100 million to help small scale meat processors cover the cost of overtime inspection. In a statement, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew emphasized the need for additional support, saying that "far too many" Americans and businesses are "barely scraping by, living in a constant state of uncertainty and anxiety." He praised Congress for making progress toward another relief bill that will "bring us several steps closer to a full recovery."
USDA OFFERS DEBT RELIEF
To ease mounting financial pressures, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will temporarily suspend past-due debt collections and foreclosures for farmers borrowing under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs. The agency also plans to offer greater flexibilities under the Guaranteed Loan Program, extend deadlines for producers to respond to loan servicing options, and halt foreclosures and evictions that are already underway. Approximately 12,000 farmers, representing 10 percent of Farm Service Agency borrowers, will be eligible for this assistance. Larew applauded the move, saying it will "help struggling farmers stay on their land and continue growing food for their fellow Americans." He noted that it will be particularly helpful to "beginning and historically underserved farmers" who "almost certainly do not. . . have the resources" to withstand several difficult years consecutively. NDFU.org • March 2021 • 20
VILSACK LAYS OUT PRIORITIES
During his virtual confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Tom Vilsack outlined his priorities for a second stint as Secretary of Agriculture and fielded questions from committee members on his track record and plans for USDA. In his opening statement, Vilsack indicated that addressing discrimination at the agency, promoting pandemic recovery, boosting nutrition assistance, strengthening regional food systems, restoring competition to agricultural markets, and mitigating climate change would be among his top concerns. Then, over the course of nearly three hours, he expanded on his position on these issues and others and explained what he would do differently from his first go-round as secretary.
SENATE AG IMPROVES DIVERSITY
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that three new Democratic senators would join the Senate Agriculture Committee: Cory Booker of New Jersey, the newly elected Raphael Warnock of Georgia, and Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico. The committee – and agricultural leadership generally – has been subject to criticism for lacking diversity. From 2018-2020, all members of the Senate Agriculture Committee were white, even though only 60 percent of the U.S. population identifies as such. Prior to Senators Booker and Warnock's appointments, only one Black Senator, William "Mo" Cowan of Massachusetts, had served on the committee, and only for six months. The resulting racial homogeneity has been cited as one reason why agricultural policies have failed to meet the needs of farmers who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color. Both Booker and Warnock have voiced their commitment to advance policies that will level the playing field for farmers of all races. Though its makeup much more closely aligns with the racial composition of the country at large, the House Agriculture Committee has not previously had a Black chairman. That changed this year with the selection of Georgia Representative David Scott of Georgia, who has served on the committee for 19 years.
THREE GREAT TOURS FROM NDFU! Music Medley • March 15-27, 2021 • Two shows in Branson, Mo. • Graceland • New Orleans city tour
• Nashville Express Tours • St. Louis Arch • Lincoln’s Tomb
$1,950 double, $2,535 single
Alaska Discovery Land & Cruise • July 17-28, 2021 • Fairbanks • Denali National Park • Hubbard Glacier
• Glacier Bay National Park • Ketchikan • Juneau
Trip starts at $5,799 for an inside double. Visit ndfu.org/tours for full pricing.
Mackinac Island • June 1-6, 2021 • Ferry ride to Madeline Island • Historic Trolley • Horse-drawn carriage tour
• Fort Mackinac • Historic Old Mill Creek • Soo Locks boat tour
$850 double, $1,200 single
Check out all of our great tours at ndfu.org/tours! Call Jeff or Becky at 1-800-366-8331!
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 12F CAT MOTORGRADER, starts and runs great, powershift 6 forward and reverse, rear ripper/scarifier, wing, homemade lift on front with dozer, no V-plow. 701-240-1545, Bryon Fylling, Turtle Lake. PARTING OUT SEEDER, 4102 Concord Air Seeder with 3400 cart with motor. Edge on shanks and Dutch openers. 701-5809200, Rodney Miller, Williston. TRAILER, 7x30 ft 2010 Featherlight. Triple-axle with good tires. All lights work, double latch tailgate with roll-up door. Man escape door. 2 dividing gates with sliders. Just installed 6 new brakes and new rubber bumper. Really like this trailer, bought it a few months ago hoping it would be a good size for our operation but it’s too big for my pickup. A really nice clean trailer that pulls straight. $20,100. 701-516-2920, Aaron Subart, Robinson.
CASE IH MAXXUM, 125, MFWD Tractor, 850 hrs. with 755 loader; MK Martin 8ft snowblower, used very little; JD 16 ft chisel plow; 5 section wooden harrow; IH Farmall M Tractor; Horse-drawn 2 row corn planter and a one row corn cultivator, 701-4834825, Richard Jablonsky, Dickinson. 1960 INTERNATIONAL 2 TON TRUCK. Good shape. Hoist. Inside Farmer's Union shop getting tuned up! $2,000 or make offer; 18' Versatile swather stripped down to use as CRP cutter. $100; 40' Brandt auger 9-inch, $150. 30' Willrich cultivator, great shape, make offer. Can text pictures. 701-655-3588, Ron Pishtek, Brocket. FLEX COIL 5000 AIR SEEDER, 33 ft, 500# trip with 2320 tank (nice); Wil-rich chisel plow 31 ft with Flex Coil drag; Front mount Erskine snow blower model indfm; 2007 Freightliner Columbia truck, engine brake, 295 22.5 aluminum wheels; 1978 chev C70 single axel truck. 701-320-1580, David Mutschler, Wimbledon.
WANTED 3-POINT 540 PTO TILLER, 5 feet, or 3-point 540 PTO bush hogstyle mower, 5 or 6 feet. 701-247-3293, George Miller, Lakota. HAYBUSTER DRILLS, 107, 20 ft, the nicer the better. 701-240-1545, Bryon Fylling, Turtle Lake. TRACTORS, IH 806 and on up to 1586; JD 4520, 4620, 5010, 5020, 6030, others: MM 1000's on up; all Olivers 1963 and newer. AC 210, 220, D-21, others; will buy all running or not. 701-628-2130, Jerry Lumley, Stanley
24 WHITE PLANTER PLATES, N857115 60-cell, used approximately 500 acres. Sugarbeet 4m and milo. $450. 701-7993217, Kelly Thompson, Wheatland.
FENCE WORK, want to hire somebody to put up a 3-barb wire fence with steel posts in 2021. Email: larryn@westriv.com. 701597-3730, Larry Nagel, Shields.
KIRSCHMAN DRILL, 3 & 4 Btm. Pony & packer, 15-30 McCormick tractor, latest model Super M, w/ live PTO, 1 new tire LT245-75R- Load Range E, 2 new P23570R-15. One David Bradley metal grain box, two-wheel trailer with Model T axle and wood spoke wheels like new. Email: larryn@westriv.com. 701-597-3730, Larry Nagel, Shields.
WIRE WINDER, for barbed wire. 701-6932306, Steve Vetter, Harvey.
JOHN DEERE 4720 TRACTOR with quick tach loader and pallet forks. 58 engine HP. 437 hrs. E-Hydro transmission. Cruise control. Fiberglass canopy. Tires in great shape. Always stored inside. Excellent condition. I can text or email you photos. 701-206-0082, Marcus Fischer, Bowman. CASE IH 75A FARMALL FWD w/540 loader, 3pt blade, no cab, 205 hrs; closing wheels & hdw for 50 ft 3320 Bourgault air seeder; Antique pump jack/wooden lift arms; farm scale/steel wheels; used Case IH 8230 feeder chain; dog house on 4x4 skids; Kawasaki generator KG 1500B; Lincoln electric grease gun; Simer water pump; combine pickup guards/lifters; JD black tractor tool boxes; Hyd arm w/ 3 valves for 148 JD loader. 701-629-9003, Doug Halden, Stanley. JD DRILL, John Deere 12 ft. CCA grain drill. Fertilizer and grass seed attachment. $700; John Deere 12 ft. chisel plow. $300; IHC 18 ft. VibraShank field cultivator. $400. Located in western Minnesota. 701-2588732, Morris Roningen, Bismarck.
22 • March 2021 • Union Farmer
IH PRESS DRILLS, 100, 620, 6200 or 6300. Also want IH 1100 mower or New Holland any condition & tillage disc. 701400-5742, Gerald Miller, Mandan.
MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE TURTLE LAKE MONOPOLY, board game. 701-838-2218, Curtis Renfrow, Minot. PICKUP TOPPER, Glasstite white, 8 foot. 701-367-3230, Alfred Kjelden, Forman. ELECTRIC MOBILITY CHAIR, joystick operated, excellent condition, 300-pound capacity; Lift chair, excellent condition; Bose speaker system for computer or TV, like new. 701-263-1206, Lathan Romsos, Bottineau. 09 CAMPER TRAILER, fully selfcontained. 38 ft. 2 sliders, queen sized bed with private room, 4 bunks’ full-size refrigerator, 3 burner gas stove with oven, microwave, and fiber glass siding outside, central air, gas or electric water heater and gas furnace; Combine trailer bridge type with pinto hitch, 1122.5 low pro tires. Can haul 670 combines, swather, corn chopper; Cummings ISX engine block with crank and sleeves. 701-226-6633, Gerry Rattei, Napoleon.
CHARLES DALY 12 GAUGE, SXS double barrel, 5 choke tubes, 28” barrels, single trigger, checkered walnut, case colored receiver, absolutely like new. I can send pictures. Call for price. 701-580-3357, Martin Hanson, Zahl.
WANTED ELECTRIC MEAT BAND SAW, and electric meat mixer. Leave message. 701597-3107, Ken Koch, Shields. OUTBOARD MOTOR, 2 stroke, EFI 125140 hp with controls and prop. 701-3202466, Craig Neys, Jamestown. OLD STUFF, John Deere, IH, Case, MM, and Oliver advertising signs or oil cans; ND license plates, older car or motorcycle; Stuff from Service Stations like signs, oil cans, gas pumps, pop signs, clocks, and thermometers. A lot of stuff got moved to the farms after the stations closed; I like crocks or jugs that have local store advertising, ND tokens, and ND picked arrowheads. Paying top dollar cash; 701220-5746, Val Ganje, Bismarck. Y-BLOCK FORD ENGINE in good condition, 1954 through 1964 V8 motor, 272, 292 or 312. Will consider entire vehicle. 701-680-1079, Dylan Ekstrom, Forman. PRAIRIE DOG HUNTERS to come & hunt on my land. Make reservations now. Email: larryn@westriv.com. 701-597-3730, Larry Nagel, Shields. BROWNING BLR81, .223 rifle, with or without scope. Preferred in very good to excellent condition. Maybe we can trade? 701-580-3357, Martin Hanson, Zahl.
VEHICLES FOR SALE MODEL A, 1931 Model A Victoria (Vicky), runs/looks good. Leave text/message. 701320-8390, Larry Exner, LaMoure.
LIVESTOCK/SEED FOR SALE ANGUS BULLS, 2 year old black Angus bulls. AI sired bulls by Chisum 255, Fox Trot and Legendary. Docile, solid bulls raised on grass. Delivery and feeding arrangements available. 701-228-3834, Bruce Knudson, Bottineau. BREEDING, registered Percheron stallion service. If you are looking to get your mares bred, we will have openings for outside mares. $200 breeding fee plus $5 a day mare care. 701-226-3412, LaVern Frankfurth, Bismarck. NDSU SPRING WHEAT SEED, registered and certified “Barlow” and “Elgin” HRSW. Bulk or totes. Delivery available. Please call for variety specifics. 701-739-0191, Brian Ludwig, New Rockford (and Minot).
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TRI-ENERGY COOPERATIVE of Bismarck/Mandan
Tri-Energy Cooperative is offering six $1,000 scholarships for graduating seniors and college students who are continuing their education. All applicants must be a patron member or their parent/guardian must be a patron member of Tri-Energy Cooperative. To be a patron member, you must have done at least $1,500 worth of business in 2020 calendar year. Any graduating high school senior or college student patron member planning to attend college in the fall is encouraged to apply. The applicant must attend college for both the fall and spring semester of the year the scholarship is awarded. Scholarship recipients are selected on the honors they have achieved, extra-curricular activities, community involvement, career objectives, academic transcripts, and their essay. Letters of recommendation will also be reviewed in the selection process. The reviewing committee consists of the Tri-Energy Cooperative board members.
Applications are at all 11 Tri-Energy locations and online at www.trienergycoop.com
SAFE DRIVING TIPS FOR GRAVEL ROADS: • Slow down and watch for wildlife • Be aware your tires have less grip on gravel roads • Avoid sudden changes in direction • Increase following distance to avoid loose gravel and rocks hitting your windshield
Dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives.
A private non-profit.
www.ndsc.org
Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America, ND Division
PERIODICALS – POSTAGE PAID
1415 12th Ave SE PO Box 2136 Jamestown, ND 58402
Collette Tours Presents
Tropical Costa Rica Jan. 29 - Feb. 6, 2022
Trip powered by Farmers Union Insurance
Relax in tropical sunshine and the brillant colors of Costa Rica on this nine-day tour that begins in San Jose. See the majestic Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, exotic wildlife and a coffee plantation. Go to gateway.gocollette.com/link/1043451 for trip details and to register. This is a travel opportunity offered through Farmers Union Insurance. For more info, contact Jeff Willer at 952-9111.