Union Farmer - May 2021

FARMER UNION

www.ndfu.org

CO-OP BONDS For the past 50 years, 17 members of the Co-op House at NDSU have committed to staying friends

MAY 2021

GET TO KNOW A FARMERS UNION INSURANCE AGENCY

Jennifer Worley Agency I was born and raised in Walhalla, and I grew up on a farm north of Walhalla and Cavalier. My husband Josh and I have a beautiful, combined family of six (one daughter and five sons) that keeps us busy.

They love sports and the outdoors as much as we both do! We love to travel and spend time with our kids. We are in the process of building a home in Cavalier this fall, and I am looking forward to a two minute drive in the mornings! I started my insurance career in 2001 and have met many great farmers and friends along this journey. I have had the pleasure of working with Dick Winkler for the past five years as my partner in the office.

I enjoy going to our office everyday! I have the pleasure of working with some great customers and look forward to hearing from them either on the phone or an office stop. The customers in Pembina County and the surrounding area are great to work with. I love being able to meet the customers' needs through discussions and listening to their concerns and thoughts. It's like a good puzzle sometimes and I love the challenge! Sometimes there is one little piece missing and the only way to find it is through listening and discussing the situation. I have to acknowledge also that having a great Customer

Service Representative (CSR) upfront is such a great asset to our customers. Jackie Klein is the front of the office and does an amazing job with our customers.

Josh and I are active in our boys' traveling basketball team Northern Elites that Josh coaches.

We have included team members from the Red River all the way over to the Turtle Mountains! We have enjoyed meeting all the parents and have made great friends along the way. I believe in giving back to the communities that support me and have donated to several organizations! I love helping out when asked to volunteer and look forward to many more years working with the community!

Jennifer Worley Agency 504 Division Ave S Cavalier ND 58220 PH: (701) 265-4090

UNION FARMER MAGAZINE Volume 68 • Number 5

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: 33,300 • USPS 016-211

SIMPLY DIFFERENT! FIND US ON THE WEB:

www.ndfu.org

http://ndfu.org/news/union-farmer

Read the Union Farmer online

CONNECT WITH US: North Dakota Farmers Union NDFU Tours @NDFarmersUnion @NDFarmersUnion

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 • May 2021 • Union Farmer

YOUTH PROGRAM CONTINUES TO THRIVE Investing in our children should always remain a top priority. Enhancing educational opportunities, hands-on learning and indoor and outdoor recreation are keys to developing our next generation of leaders. As a society, we should strive to enhance the next generation and give them every opportunity to succeed.

Farmers Union Camp is a great opportunity for our children. NDFU has invested in making our camps modern and state of the art. We are pleased to be able to provide a fun, educational environment at our new camp near Jamestown and at our existing camp on Lake Tschida, south of Glen Ullin.

Educational opportunities will always be a hallmark of Farmers Union. From camping programs for third graders to marketing sessions for young producers, we offer a wide-ranging slate of special events across the state throughout the year.

Our summer camps attract more than 1,200 youths every year, making it one of the most popular summer activities anywhere in North Dakota. We design these camps to encourage our young people to emerge as a new generation of leaders.

With our new state of the art camp, we will have

the ability to grow to over 2,000 participants a summer, giving more youths the opportunity for fun and leadership growth. With recruiting help from our members and county leaders, we can meet this goal.

Young people who are involved in our educational programs – attending EPIC events and camp – can earn awards and achieve Torchbearer status. This crowning achievement is a great asset on job applications for attaining future leadership positions.

As more and more young people grow up without an ag background, we need to spread knowledge about farming and ranching. At our camps, we include education on agriculture, cooperatives and the production of food. As you can imagine, a large percentage of our campers are food consumers, who can be a helpful voice for our industry.

As a member of NDFU, I challenge each of you to find one youth to participate in our camping program. Encourage them to sign up and bring a few friends! We even provide transportation to and from camps. It is easy to register, just go to ndfu.org. Please help us give the gift of fun and learning to the youth of North Dakota this summer.

PEMBINA COUNTY FARMERS UNION IS LOOKING FOR AN

EPIC COACH! PEMBINA COUNTY FARMERS UNION WILL PAY UP TO $500 A YEAR PLUS INCENTIVES TO HOLD AN EPIC CLASS FOR YOUTH & OTHER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. TRAINING & SUPPORT PROVIDED BY NORTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION STATE OFFICE.

INTERESTED? Call Bri Sorensen at 701-952-1404 for information.

NDFU.org • May 2021 • 3

POLICY HOPPER FROM NORTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION

VALUE-ADDED AG BILLS GOOD FOR ND When the coronavirus pandemic hit North Dakota, policymakers began exploring ways to diversify the state’s economy. While much of that discussion has focused on the energy industry, NDFU has argued that agriculture should be at the center of the state’s economic diversification strategy. That message has begun to resonate with the North Dakota legislature. Through two pieces of legislation, HB 1475 and SB 2230, the legislature provided $40 million for value-added programs.

Agriculture is our state’s largest industry and has long been the foundation of our economy.

North Dakota’s family farmers and ranchers lead the nation in production of nine commodities and rank in the top 10 in many others. We have incredible opportunities to build upon that success. Through investments in valueadded agriculture, we can improve farmers’ and ranchers’ profitability, create new jobs in communities of all sizes and grow our state’s economy.

One of NDFU’s biggest focuses this legislative session was establishing the Agriculture Diversification and Development (ADD) Fund.

Through loans, interest rate buydowns and grants, the ADD fund will give an extra boost to new and expanding value-added projects in the state. The fund is tailored to meet the needs of innovative projects and new start-ups that may otherwise find it difficult to meet capital needs or secure financing. The ADD Fund will be a difference maker for beef slaughter facilities, hemp processing, ethanol plants, feed mills, on-farm projects and more.

Early in the legislative session, NDFU had ambitious goals to secure $150 million for the

ADD Fund. When the House of Representatives passed the House Bill No. 1475 in its final form, it contained just $10 million. However, that $10 million will allow the program to serve a variety of projects. Once the ADD Fund has demonstrated its importance to the state’s economy, NDFU will be able to illustrate its value and secure larger investments in future legislative sessions.

In another win for agriculture, the legislature also expanded the Bank of North Dakota’s (BND) Value-Added Guarantee Loan program by $30 million. The program is best known for providing a lifeline to the state’s ethanol industry in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The Ethanol Recovery Program leveraged BND’s loan guarantee to keep the state’s ethanol plants operating at a time when facilities in other states were shuttering, some permanently.

In 2019, the Value-Added Guarantee Loan program was authorized at up to $50 million.

Roughly $43 million was tapped for the ethanol recovery program, leaving just $7 million remaining in the program. NDFU joined a coalition of groups in pushing for a major increase to the program’s funding, so it can serve a wide variety of value-added projects.

The passage of HB 1475 and SB 2230 is good news for family farmers and ranchers and for the broader state economy. With each valueadded project comes new upstream opportunities for higher value production and downstream opportunities for further processing. Together, these two bills will improve farmers’ and ranchers’ profits, strengthen the state’s economy and create new jobs across North Dakota.

— NDFU Government Relations Director Matt Perdue

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.

4 • May 2021 • Union Farmer

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.

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.

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

Farmers still optimistic despite dry weather 8 • May 2021 • Union Farmer

76 PERCENT OF ND IN EXTREME DROUGHT

Graphics from drought.gov

BY CHRIS AARHUS, NDFU

To find the average spring starting date for his family’s farm, Cass County Farmers Union President John Buchholz turned to his father-in-law’s journal. Buchholz, who farms just west of Fargo, found that over a period of 60 years, seeding never started until April, and on average, it was after April 20.

Not this year. Buchholz started March 24 and had all of his spring wheat planted in a week.

“Wheat can take being BUCHHOLZ cold in the ground,” said Buchholz, who also grows barley, soybeans, corn and sugarbeets. “I didn’t want to wait for it to turn wet.”

And that’s what happened.

A short rain/snowfall hit the state in mid-April and helped the Red River Valley, though most of the state is JACOBSON still in extreme drought.

“I’m a little bit concerned about how that seed is taking on the cold, wet conditions,” he said. “Prior to this, it had been bone dry. Still, we’re sitting pretty good.”

With the drought, farmers and ranchers are hoping for steady rains soon. For Buchholz, planting in March provided a much-needed boost to his spirits.

“It feels better to be going out to the field,” he said. “Working the ground is a lot better than sitting in the yard and fixing stuff. Usually, once you get to the field, the decisions are made. You get to do the easy part.”

As is common with farmers, Buchholz is optimistic about spring weather.

“It only takes two hours to get wet – it can change really quick,” he said. “ In the opposite corner of the state, Divide County Farmers Union President Devin Jacobson of Alamo is trying sunflowers this year. He already raises durum, soybeans, canola, peas and lentils.

But any excitement has been slowed by drought, as the little bit of April moisture did not help much.

“It’s very, very dry,” he said. “It helped a little bit. Some of it soaked in, but most of it melted right away.”

Jacobson said he was still taking it slow by the third week of April.

“There’s no urgency because of the dry weather,” he said. “We’re trying to get ourselves going here. We got into the shop this week. Changing oil and doing some things. It’s getting there.”

He added that he expects his durum to still be of high quality. But with limited moisture, the yield will suffer.

“It’ll be lower than expected,” said Jacobson, who no-tills his land. “I’ll probably cut back on the fertilizer and spread if need be. If we get some rains, I’ll add some later.”

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

10• •January May 2021 2021 • Union • Union Farmer Farmer 6

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 NDFU.org • January • May 2021 2021• •11 7

FROM LEFT: Jerry and Diana Dally of Montpelier and Margaret and Larry Doyle of Valley City.

a

50 year

bond

12 • March 2021 • Union Farmer

In the early 1970s, a group of Co-op House members became close friends. Half a century later, the 17 friends still vacation together.

M

argaret Doyle and Jerome Dally know firsthand about the strong friendships that came out of the Farmers Union Co-op House at North Dakota State University.

For almost a half-century, the two friends have been part of a group of 17 that has vacationed together nearly every year. It started with Fort Lincoln in 1973 and has spanned all across North Dakota and even into Montana, South Dakota and Minnesota.

“A lot of us had similar majors and were from similar backgrounds, similar socioeconomic groups,” said Doyle, a cattle rancher and former Stutsman County Farmers Union president. “In

this group, there’s not more than two or three years between us.”

The group consists of Jerome and Diana Dally of Montpelier, Larry and Margaret Doyle of Valley City, Rodney and Marilyn Hoff of Fargo, Rodney and Margaret Krogh of Fairfield (and Texas), Harvey and Gale Link of Wahpeton, Arland and Verna Rasmussen of West Fargo, Sandy Sathre of Minneapolis, Michael and Phyllis Wyum of Rutland, and Jerry and Karlene Swenson of Belgrade, Mont.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHRIS AARHUS / EDITOR NDFU.org • March 2021 • 13

In front are Larry Doyle, Marilyn Hoff, Rodney Krogh and Margaret Krogh. In the second row are Diana Dally, Jerry Dally, Harvey Link, Margaret Doyle and Arland Rasmussen. In the third row are Verna Rasmussen, Gale Link, Phyllis Wyum and Sandy Sathre.

In back are Rod Hoff, Michael Wyum and Jerry Swenson. INSET: Karlene Swenson.

CO-OP HOUSE

The bonds formed at the Farmers Union Co-op House in Fargo, which was started by the College Farmers Union Local in 1937. Students made up the board of directors, handling dayto-day decisions, but it was overseen by a board of trustees — representatives from North Dakota Farmers Union, Farmers Union Grain Terminal Association (eventually Harvest States) and the Farmers Union Central Exchange (CENEX). The latter two now make up CHS, Inc., the largest cooperative in the United States.

Dally remembers the Co-op House as being an appealing, less-expensive option for students – as long as students were willing to put in the work.

“It was economical compared to staying in an apartment or on campus,” he said. “It was run as a cooperative. It wasn’t out to make a bunch of money. It survived financially by pitching in and doing cleaning ourselves. We saved money.”

In a speech at the Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives in 2014, former North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson described similar experiences at the Co-op House.

“In most fraternities, you pledge to it as a freshman and sophomore, and you do all the grunt work. As you move up, you get to pick on the young guys and poke fun at the fact that they have to do all the work,” Johnson recalled. “In the Co-op House, it wasn’t like that because we were a co-op and everyone was equal. If you were a senior, you were in there cleaning the bathroom because it was one of the assigned tasks of the various folks.

14 • May 2021 • Union Farmer

Everyone there had a responsibility.”

In the early 1970s, Doyle and Jerry’s wife Diana became members of the Co-op House, the first year women were allowed to participate.

“We did meals there, and you turned in your schedule and someone made a schedule for you when you had kitchen duties on a regular basis,” said Doyle, who noted that women participated in events and meals, but did not stay at the house. “It was a good place to go meet people.”

It wasn’t only about cleaning, however. Doyle served as a bookkeeper for one year, doing the profit and loss statements. Dally was chairman of the education committee.

“I worked with the new people who were pledging to make them aware of what we were about,” he said.

LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS

The first reunion happened at Fort Lincoln in 1973.

“We would hang out – we always had a campfire,” Dally said. “We would pool our food together and cook.”

Said Doyle: “We brought our sleeping bags and slept around the fire.”

The first one set the tone, and the group decided to make it an annual event that would be a priority each summer.

“We settled on the third weekend in July,” Dally said. “You would clear your schedule as best you could because you wanted to be there.”

The second year was Fort Totten, near Devils

The now-defunct Farmers Union Co-op House at North Dakota State University.

Lake, and featured a few more tents. Trips to Medora, Garrison, Clausen Springs, Icelandic Park, Lake Tschida made up the next five. Each trip over the years has featured an educational aspect to it such as the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center and Fort Union in Williston, the Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile Site near Cooperstown or the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn.

“We’re proud of our state,” Dally said. “It was always something we hadn’t been to.”

As life went on, couples started having children and bringing campers to the annual event.

“One year, we had four new babies,” Doyle remembered.

Dally said there was never a thought about canceling the event or keeping it among adults.

“No one peeled off,” he said. “Everybody brought their kids. We had 19 kids at one point, and they all came to this. And they were close together (in age).”

Eventually, bad weather seemed to hinder more and more events, and the group moved its reunions to hotels. Not long after, the group’s children – once babies and toddlers around the campfire – started getting married. The annual event would often be planned around a wedding, including three one summer. By that time, the group had also started what has become known as, “The Winter Conference” each February.

“It started with just coming for dinner, but that’s grown into a full weekend,” Doyle said.

Added Diana Doyle: “With the Winter

Conference, we could plan what we were going to do for the summer.”

The lifelong friendships have helped through difficult times as well. Last summer, amid the pandemic, the group wasn’t able to meet.

However, it did get together to visit Gale Link as she was about to ring the bell at Sanford Health in Fargo, indicating she was cancer free.

“She came out and there we were to surprise her, and we had Dairy Queen (treats) waiting for her,” Dally said. “With social distancing, that was our reunion for the year, but it shows you how important (the group) is to us.”

The tradition continues this year, with the group headed to the Devils Lake area, where it will take in a play at the Fort Totten Little Theater – just as it did in 1974 at the second event.

Not everyone will be there, though. The group lost its first member in 2017, when Margaret Krogh died at age 69.

Dally said the group plans to stay together as long as it’s able. “We’re all in our 70s now. My daughter already told me that if we couldn’t take ourselves, then she would take us.”

The bonds formed 50 years ago still hold strong today, creating memories and positive feelings that have stayed with them, Dally said.

“I go back to those campfire evenings after the kids were in bed, and the conversations we would have,” he said. “If you had something to share, you did it. You left there with a good feeling that you could always plow on through another year.”

NDFU.org • May 2021 • 15

ATTEND OUR NEW CAMP IN JAMESTOWN AS AN ADULT! • Must be 21 to attend • July 9-11 and July 23-25 • Register at 2 p.m. on a Friday and stay till breakfast on Sunday!

• Campers will receive adult camp t-shirt and swag will be sold!

Call or text Mary Mertens at 218-791-1561 to sign up or email mmertens@ndfu.org!

ADULT CAMP? YES PLEASE!

COVID-19 Information: Making all efforts to keep our members and staff safe, we will be following all DOH & CDC guidelines by practicing social distancing and wearing masks during camp. If guidelines change, you will be notified of these changes.

With only 5 minutes, you could save thousands on health insurance As part of the American Rescue Plan that was passed in March, the eligibility for health insurance tax credits has been expanded and enhanced to include higher income limits. The enrollment period opened in February and will remain open until Aug. 15. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates 35,000 North Dakotans are eligible for zero-dollar plans.

“Health insurance is one of the biggest costs in most families’ budgets,” said Lance Boyer, who is Sales Director of Financial Products for Farmers Union Insurance. “For farmers and ranchers, it’s a big budget item for them. This is a way we can help drive those costs down. We can buy down your premiums with tax credits and get you some cost-share reductions to lower your out-of-pocket costs.”

Farmers Union Insurance wants to help you save potentially thousands in premium costs. The American Rescue Plan provides extra funding through tax credits for people who need to go to the marketplace for health insurance, provided they qualify by income. The income limit was raised to 400 percent of the poverty level.

The poverty level for a family of four in 2020 is $26,200. For the full table, visit aspe.hhs. gov/2020-poverty-guidelines.

Boyer stressed that if you received your health insurance from the marketplace prior to January 2021, you are still eligible to re-enroll and save

money.

“If you looked at it and weren’t eligible before, take a look again,” he said. “People who didn’t qualify in the past could now qualify for tax credits and cost-share reductions.”

The Affordable Care Act looks at Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) to determine eligibility. Your MAGI is your adjusted gross income minus expenses like education, health savings accounts, health insurance for those selfemployed, IRA deductions, student loan interest and more.

Boyer said he’s already seeing results, especially considering all plans are available through Farmers Union Insurance.

“We’re finding the savings are real to households — real impactful,” Boyer said. “We had an example of a male aged 62 and a female aged 60. Without the tax credit, they’re paying $1,468 a month. They were eligible for the tax credit that bought that premium down to $368 a month.

And these are your Sanford and Blue Cross plans.”

If you get your health insurance from the marketplace, your local Farmers Union agent can tell you in as little as five minutes if they can lower your premiums.

“I would encourage you not to wait,” Boyer said. “If you’re eligible for savings, take advantage of it as soon as possible. If we can help you with that, that’s what we’re here for.”

BY THE NUMBERS

0

dollar plans are available for qualified individuals

5

minutes with a FUI agent could save you thousands

400 35,000 percent of poverty level eligible for health insurance tax credits

North Dakotans are eligible for zero-dollar health insurance premiums

15 million Americans are without health insurance and are eligible for financial support

USDA passes new initiative The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the creation of the Pandemic Assistance for Producers, a new initiative to offer financial assistance to farmers and ranchers affected by pandemic-related disruptions.

This endeavor will direct about $6 billion towards new outreach and support programs, with a particular focus on parts of the food system that were overlooked in previous rounds of assistance. This includes small and socially disadvantaged producers, specialty crop and organic producers, dairy farmers, livestock producers who euthanized animals, and producers of renewable fuel. Additionally, this funding will be used to strengthen the food supply chain by facilitating interstate shipment of meat and poultry, developing infrastructure for the donation and distribution of surplus food, providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and other protections for food chain workers, and reducing food waste.

Another $500 million will be directed towards permanent USDA programs that support specialty crop producers, provide outreach and education for socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers and ranchers, prevent livestock disease, develop local and regional food markets, fund nutrition programs that encourage low-income consumers to purchase fruits and vegetables, and provide health care resources for agricultural professionals.

USPS PLAN AIMS TO CUT COSTS

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy released his 10year plan to "achieve financial sustainability and service excellence" within the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

The proposal outlines a strategy to offset the agency's expected $160 billion deficit over the next decade and achieve "break-even operating performance." To do this, USPS management has offered regulatory and legislative changes, including slowing the delivery of first-class mail, shortening business hours for some post office locations, and increase postal rates. These recommendations concern the Save the Post Office Coalition, to which National Farmers Union (NFU) belongs.

“Mr. DeJoy seems intent on sending USPS 20 • May 2021 • Union Farmer

into a death spiral," said the coalition. "His prescription to further slow the mail makes no sense. According to the Postal Regulatory Commission, when mail service slows, people use the mail less. When they tried reducing service standards to cut costs in 2015, it actually ended up costing USPS $65 million.” In addition to its financial implications, slowing delivery and increasing postage rates will hurt "seniors, rural communities, people with disabilities, and Black and brown communities," all of whom disproportionately depend on USPS for affordable, timely mail delivery.

However, other provisions are more reasonable, such as finding new revenue streams, launching new products and services, and modernizing post offices and the Postal Service fleet. Beyond these mechanisms, NFU also supports efforts to reestablish postal banking and addressing excessive advance funding of pension funds.

INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL

In late March, President Joe Biden unveiled The American Jobs Plan, a $2.25 trillion blueprint to “create millions of good jobs, rebuild our country’s infrastructure, and position the United States to out-compete China."

The eight-year proposal would invest $621 billion on improving transportation infrastructure, including bridges and roads, public transit systems, passenger and freight rail, electric vehicle charging stations, airports, and port and waterways. Another $50 billion has been set aside specifically to protect natural resources and build resilience to climate change within "the electric grid; food systems; urban infrastructure; community health and hospitals; and our roads, rail, and other transportation assets."

The plan also prioritizes critical services like water, broadband, and electricity. It dedicates $111 billion to ensure clean and safe drinking water for all communities by replacing all lead pipes and service lines and modernizing water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. Similarly, the package allocates $100 billion to expand broadband coverage and reduce the cost of service and the same amount to update the electrical grid.

GINGER SODA

Restaurant

The best-selling non-alcoholic beverage across Farmers Restaurant Group is house-made ginger ale. We go through as much as 50 pounds of ginger every week to keep up with the nonstop demand for this slightly sweet, slightly spicy soda with a tingly aroma. Now you can enjoy it at home.

MAKES 1 SODA (WITH EXTRA GINGER SYRUP) Ginger Syrup (makes 4 cups) 8 cups water 3 cups granulated sugar 12 oz ginger root, peeled and chopped (4 cups) Ginger Ale 3 ounces Ginger Syrup 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 3 to 4 ounces soda water Lime wheel, for garnish Fresh mint leaves, for garnish Make the Ginger Syrup Place the water and sugar in a 6-quart saucepan and bring to a rapid boil. Add the ginger and bring back to a rapid boil for 5 minutes. Be sure not to boil any longer than five minutes. Decrease the heat to low and puree the ginger mixture with a stick blender (or very carefully transfer to a blender, and working in small batches, puree the mixture and then return it to the saucepan). Let simmer over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes.

Let the syrup cool, then strain it through a fine-mesh strainer into a plastic container.

Discard the chopped ginger. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Make the Ginger Ale Place three ounces of the Ginger Syrup with the lime juice and soda water in a tall mixing glass. Add ice and shake. Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice and top with more soda water. Garnish with a lime wheel and mint.

Founding Farmers

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 JD 9350 DISC DRILL w/ factory transport.

3-8’s (24’) w/ fertilizer boxes. $2,500 OBO; 471 New Holland haybind crimper $1,200 OBO; JD 37 sickle mower $800 OBO. 701641-8691, Gayleen Tangsrud, McGregor.

GARDEN TRACTOR, Kubota BX 2350 garden tractor 430 hrs. 60 in. deck, 50 in. rear snowblower, soft cab. $8500. 701993-8418, Gary Mathiason, Edinburg.

GRILL, HOOD, FENDERS, rear wheel for WD45 Allis Chalmers. Grill for Farmall A. 701-321-1747, James Hilzendeger, Napoleon.

HONDA 2012 BIG RED 4x4, Model MUV700 with winch, used only on farm. $9000. 701-447-2461, Larry Gessele, Mercer.

BIG VALLEY CALF TILT TABLE. Selling for health reasons. Only used three times, $1,000; Hydraulic Leader mounted posthole digger with 12 inch auger, $1,200; Callicrate bander with extra bands, $150.

701-989-5394, Daryl Eckholm, Wing.

3310 CONCORD AIR SEEDER with Dutch Openers and 3000 Cart. Make offer. 701448-2398, Morris Miller, Turtle Lake.

VINTAGE JOHN DEERE MANURE SPREADER. Model B or C? Kept inside.

Wood in good condition. Seems complete.

Set up for tractor pull, pole and seat included to convert to horse pull. Great for yard art or parade. Email northcrk@ ndsupernet.com or text for pictures. 701590-8095, Mike Obach, Belfield.

2010 WHITE 8222 FRONT FOLD PLANTER. 12 ROW 30". 3BU hoppers. HD markers and down springs. Martin trash whippers. Furrow cruiser closing wheels.

Liquid tanks with contact drive piston pump. GTA I monitor. Can send pictures.

605-530-2296, Elaine Snow, Tolstoy.

ROLIN TRAILER 10x20 ft. tilt bed, winch, bumper hitch, tandem wide tires rated at 9000 lbs, stored inside, excellent condition, $2500. 701-361-3319, Donald Triebold, Valley City.

INTERNATIONAL M TRACTORS, A 1948, $2,500, wide front with a F10 Farmhand loader with power take off pump, snow bucket with grapple fork, power steering, very good tires, starts and runs good.

A 1941: $2,000, wide front with a F10 Farmhand loader with power take off pump, has belly pump, manure fork with grapple fork, good tires. Starts and runs good. Buy both for $4,000. 701-302-0037, Roger L. Westby, New Rockford.

22 • May 2021 • Union Farmer

LORRICH 3000 BUSHEL HOPPER BIN w/ air. Meridian 2300 bushel hopper bin w/o air. 701-320-8390, Larry Exner, LaMoure.

ALLIS CHALMERS W-C TRACTOR, narrow front, Restorable condition; Second Allis Chalmers W-C for parts, age about 1946. Engines on both tractors are loose.

They have been stored under cover. Call for pictures and questions. 701-240-5938, Wallace Birkeland, Minot.

12’ KIRSCHMAN DRILL, 4 Btm. Pony & Packer, 15-30 McCormick tractor 1 new tire LT245-75R- Load Range E, 2 new P23570R-15. One David Bradley Metal Grain Box, like new 1905 JD Metal Corn Sheller.

4-Wheel Steel Running Gear, 1 Covered Wagon Running Gear, 2 Covered Wagon Seat w/ leaf springs. Email: larryn@westriv. com. 701-597-3730, Larry Nagel, Shields.

5TH WHEEL FLATBED TRAILER. 25 to 28 ft, capable of hauling at least 15,000 pounds. Tandem axel with duals. 701-7994839, Curtis Bunn, Sheldon.

KOEHN 8 ROW S-TINE CULTIVATOR, 3 pt. hitch, set for 30" rows, adjustable, sway discs on ends and stand. $300. 701-6598238, Glen Nagel, Jamestown.

OLIVER 88 row crop tractor w\ 3 point, excellent condition, runs on propane; Hay rake 12 ft John Deere. 701-247-2264, Harold Severson, Lakota.

CORRAL GATES, corner posts, barb wire, and some post holes; Six wheel Vicon side delivery rake. Heavy duty spread axle pintel hitch 12 bale trailer. 701-974-3644, Loren Myran, Taylor.

MELROE PLOW-five-fourteen bottom; 10 foot chisel plow with harrow; 10 foot cultivator. asking $175 for each. 701-7486157, Dellas Sailer, Stanton.

77 OLIVER, running condition for $1800; 2 rear tractor weights, fit IHC W9, 600, 650 for $50; 2 rear fenders for early 30s ford or Plymouth for $50. Model E JD manure spreader for $900. Model R JD manure spreader for $1200. 701-260-0264, Sherman Severson, Taylor.

MOWER DECK, Auto Connect 60D mower deck, fits 1025R John Deere Utility Tractor; 1970 856 Farmall with quick tach Woods Dual Loader; Chisel plow 27 ft. J.D., Tandem Round, new tires; 60 ft. Melroe harrow; 60 ft. Heavy Herman harrow; 1984 Massey 860 combine with pickup head & 24 ft. straight head, new tires, good sieves, chains and belts. Always shedded, small grains only, excellent condition. 701-3318983/701-593-6368, Jim Kovarik, Adams.

CHISEL PLOW, JD #100 16 ft chisel plow; 4 row corn cultivator, 3 pt; and 5 section wooden harrow. 701-483-4825, Richard Jablonsky, Dickinson.

RESTORABLE TRACTORS, John Deere restorable tractors, 3-B's ranging in years 1941-1945 and one 1948 D, with extra parts for all the tractors. 701-376-5296, William Hourigan, Lemmon, S.D. ROUSE MOWER. IH heads, p.t.o. hyd cylinder for transport. Stored inside; 10X71 Westfield low profile swing auger $3,500; Brandt grain vac 4500, good fan, flighting & hoses $6,000. 701-391-1852, Marc Sundquist, Baldwin.

IH M SCHWARTZ front axle like new condition: IH Super C wide front like new condition. Call For details. 1989 -1995 Toyota pickup new bed liner: measurements will fit other brand pick ups, too. 701-663-7973, Chris Heim, Mandan.

CASE IH 75A Farmall FWD w/540 loader, 3 pt blade, no cab, 205 hrs; several hopper bins; closing wheels & hdw for 50 ft 3320 Bourgault air seeder; Used Case IH 8230 feeder chain; Antique pump jack/wooden lift arms; farm scale/steel wheels; dog house; Lincoln electric grease gun; Simer water pump; combine pickup guards/lifters; Kawasaki generator KG 1500B; steel fence posts. 701-629-9003, Doug Halden, Stanley.

1460 IH COMBINE, 3600 hours 24ft. cut; Header with finger reels, new transport, new sickle, very good condition (both always housed in a building). 701-25-3516, Robert Lefor, Lefor.

PRESS DRILLS, 2 IH 12 ft. 6200 press drills, rubber press, factory transport, folding markers, dry fert. excellent shape $4400.00 Also 2- 8 ft. IH 620 drills with steel press wheels & grass seeder will split $3800.00. 2-10 ft. IH 620 with steel press wheels & grass seeder $4200 will split; IH 620 14ft. drills with rubber press & grass seeder $2800.00 All field ready can deliver.

701-400-5742, Gerald Miller, Mandan.

WANTED WHEEL DRILL, John Deere, 12-15 with grass seeder on it; Older summer harrow with heavy sections, 50 feet. 701-7390966, James Cunningham, Thompson.

TRACTORS, IH 806 on up; JD 4520, 4620, 5010, 5020, 6030, others; MM 1000 on up; All Olivers 1963 on up; AC 210, 220, D-21, others. Will buy all, running or not. 701628-2130, Jerry Lumley, Stanley.

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE GUNS, Benjamin Franklin 22 cal. air rifle model 312; Springfield Savage arms corp, 12 gauge single shot, 94B, 30" barrel 2&3/4" chamber; Remington 22 cal. rifle, auto, model 552, will be in Beulah in May; 707-344-6495, Vernon Buchmann, Fairfield, Calif.

VINTAGE HARLEY DAVIDSON JACKET - men’s large. No cracks, tears or holes in the leather - light wear. $125. 701-6591374, Constance Benke, Jamestown.

WANTED PRAIRIE DOG HUNTERS to come & hunt on my land. Make reservations now. Email larryn@westriv.com. 701-597-3730, Larry Nagel, Shields.

VEHICLES FOR SALE OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME "Resto-Mod". 2DR hardtop, beautiful red paint, new interior, built 350ci, 400 turbo automatic, B&M shifter, mags, 442 hood. $24,500. Call or text for pictures/info. 701320-9142, Neil Baker, Jamestown.

1931 FORD MODEL A VICTORIA. Leave text/message. 701-320-8390, Larry Exner, LaMoure.

VEHICLES

LIVESTOCK/SEED FOR SALE

WANTED CHEVY/GMC TRUCKS, stub-nose trucks from the 1930's to 1950's. I am a collector and am always looking for old Chevrolet/ GMC trucks that have been stored inside.

701-974-3644, Loren Myran, Taylor.

SPRING WHEAT & BARLEY SEED, Certified & Registered Lang, Washburn, Linkert, Shelly, and Bolles HRSW varieties.

ND Genesis 2 row malting barley. Also, Certified ND Stutsman non-GMO soybeans & Enlist and traited & conventional corn varieties. 701-730-2230, Teresa Ham, Durbin.

LAND FOR CASH RENT, in Slope County.

Sec. 34-134-100 NW 1/4. Please leave message if you don’t get ahold of us. We will call you back. 701-824-0035, 701-6901944, 701-690-9422, Betty Kitzan, Hebron.

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).

SAFETY MADE Feb. 6-11,SIMPLE 2022 Feb. 13-18, 2022

PESTICIDE SAFETY TIPS • Follow chemical safety data sheets • Wear PPE indicated on the label • Never wear clothing inside the house that’s been exposed • Store chemicals safely – locked and away from children and animals • Warn others of your intent to spray

Hop on a plane to Vegas, then a bus, then a boat and see Sin City, Hoover Dam, London Bridge, Rt. 66 Museum and so much more!

FOR TRIP INFO

Dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives.

Ask for Jeff, ext. 111

A private non-profit.

www.ndsc.org

We bring growers and industry together, have a group discussion on scoping out the project and then break everybody up into groups for facilitated discussions. The groups will then come back together, discuss the problems identified and document the biggest problems. The problems will then be put in a report, shared with industry and media and used to guide the direction of Grand Farm. To register, go to Eventbrite.com and search "Growers Roundtable."

THURSDAY, MAY 6

Farm of the Future Design 11 a.m.-noon

THURSDAY, JUNE 3

Labor Shortage & Skills Gap Noon-1 p.m.

THURSDAY, JULY 1

Crop & Soil Management Noon-1 p.m.

THURSDAY, AUG. 5 THURSDAY, SEPT. 2 Autonomous Systems Noon-1 p.m.

Sustainable Practices Noon-1 p.m.

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

Iceland’s Northern Lights Oct. 24-30, 2021

Trip powered by Farmers Union Insurance

Seven days of wonderment await you in Iceland, a land forged by fire and ice. See massive glaciers, thundering waterfalls, steaming lava fields, explosive geysers, the capital of Reykjavik and more. Go to gateway.gocollette.com/link/1043452 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.