Rude family farm near Tolna has been raising turkeys for more than 60 years SEPTEMBER 2022 TURKEYSTALKIN’ ARME FR www.ndfu.org UNION
Brad Greff Agency
GET TO KNOW A FARMERS UNION
I have coached basketball at every level, both boys and girls, and I am still coaching. I have been the “Voice of the Wildfire,” announcing football games with attendance usually around 10,000 (give or take a few thousand), and boys and girls basketball games. I love being with my kids and grandkids. When I am not with them, I am taking care of cows and helping by oldest son, Lucas, with his haying operation. I also enjoying golfing or horseshoes with my brothers. Life is good! INSURANCE
I grew up on a farm and still live on the farm. I got married in 1981 to Lena Dvorak. We have five kids that are all married, and we now have 17 grandkids. I became an agent in Mott in 1998 and started with one file cabinet and a card table for a desk. Now I have eight file cabinets, three desks, a full-time customer service representative (CSR), and two part-time CSRs. I love helping people feel comfortable with their insurance, and why they need or don’t need it. Also to give them a place they can stop in for a cup of coffee, soda and candy bar! Farmers Union has been very good to me, my family and our communities of Mott-Regent.
UNION FARMER MAGAZINE The UNION FARMER is published monthly by North Dakota Farmers Union at 1415 12th Ave SE, Jamestown, ND 58401. EDITOR: Chris caarhus@ndfu.org800-366-NDFUAarhus 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: 36,704 • USPS 016-211 North Dakota Farmers Union NDFU CONNECT@NDFarmersUnionToursWITHUS: 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. FIND US ON THEwww.ndfu.orgWEB:ReadtheUnion Farmer http://ndfu.org/news/uniononlinefarmer Volume 69 • Number 9 2 • September 2022 • Union Farmer @NDFarmersUnion SIMPLY DIFFERENT! Brad Greff Agency 308 Brown Ave. Mott ND 58646 PH: (701) 824-3318
AGENCY
October is National Co-op Month. It is a good time to reflect on North Dakota Farmers Union’s strong support of cooperatives and co-op allegiance. We have relationships with all types of cooperatives in North Dakota, from marketing to finance to supply cooperatives. The cooperative business model has stood the test of time and continues to be a viable structure for existing and future businesses.
NDFU believes cooperative enterprises that retain equity, control and ownership by agriculture producers are a proven self-help, home-grown rural development tool needed to build economic infrastructure in rural communities. NDFU continues to support cooperatives maintaining principles that have made them successful: open and voluntary membership; democratic member control; members’ economic participation; autonomy and independence; ongoing education; cooperation with other cooperatives; and concern for their community. Each cooperative principle is important and essential. I believe we have been a little reluctant, at times, to carry out each principle. Ongoing education, for example, impacts how cooperatives operate. We lose the purpose of the cooperative without ongoing education. Democratic control is also very essential but is only as good as member participation.
Cooperatives need your participation. They need you to be active and participate in meetings. They need you to encourage the next generation to do business with them and participate, as all members should. Do not become a member who only cares about the cooperative after it has changed. Help lead change and encourage the cooperative to maintain its overarching principles, which ultimately will determine its success. P.O. Box Jamestown ND 58402 contact Lucy Bardell at 701-952-0114 or lbardell@ndfu.org.
Please note if the gift is in honor of someone. For more information,
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.
2136
NDFU.org • September 2022 • 3 Celebrate Co-op Month in October THANK YOU! To those who have already donated ... FOR YOUR GENEROUS GIFT TO THE NDFU FOUNDATION MAIL DONATIONS TO: NDFU Foundation
Cooperatives only hold true to their mission and values when members are active in policy and governance of the organization. At NDFU, we do educational events and participate with other cooperative businesses to train members and others on the fundamentals of participating in a cooperative. We focus a portion of our youth education on the cooperative business model during summer camps and EPIC events. This past camping season, we had over 1,200 kids attend Farmers Union Camp. They set up their own cooperative store, elected a board of directors, hired a manager, and distributed profits back into the camp for enhancement purposes. This early stage of cooperative education helps set the stage for future cooperative leaders and gives them a sense of community and cooperative values. I encourage all of you to think about the number of cooperatives in North Dakota that you patronize. Think about all the services and products they offer. Consider where you would be without them. Consider the fact that many small towns in our state still have cooperatives that help support the community and make rural North Dakota a great place to live.
POLICY HOPPER FROM NORTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION 4 • September 2022 • Union Farmer
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is a nonpartisan federal agency within the legislative branch. CBO conducts nonpartisan, objective analyses of budgetary and economic issues to support Congressional budgeting processes. Each year, CBO provides baseline projections for a wide array of mandatory spending programs, including farm bill programs. In the farm bill context, Congress is typically required to draft a budget neutral bill. Without any net increase in total farm bill spending, increased spending for one program must come at the expense of another. The CBO baseline serves as the foundation for evaluating any changes to mandatory programs.
The 2018 Farm Bill made no changes to statutory reference prices but established the “effective reference price.” The effective reference price acts as an escalator, increasing reference prices during cycles of elevated commodity prices. The effective reference price is equal to the greater of: (a) the statutory reference price, or (b) 85% of the Olympic average price for the five most recently completed crop years (capped at 115% of the statutory reference price).
The effective reference price has had only a modest impact on Price Loss Coverage payments. In 2022, only five commodities have an effective reference price that is higher than the statutory reference price: large chickpeas, mustard seed, crambe, sesame seed, and temperate japonica rice. Together, those five crops account for just 3.5% of base acres enrolled in PLC and 1.4% of total enrolled base acres.2
During NDFU’s recent Farm Bill listening sessions, farmers from around the state shared concerns about rising input costs and increased reliance on ad hoc programs. The two concerns serve as justification for strengthening the farm safety net in the 2023 Farm Bill. One option for strengthening the farm safety net is to increase reference prices under the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program. This article will analyze current reference prices, commodity price projections and cost of production trends.
CBO projections
Reference Price and Effective Reference Price PLC was established in the 2014 Farm Bill and continued in the 2018 Farm Bill. Payments for the program are issued when the marketing year average (MYA) price for a given commodity is below the reference price for that crop. The reference price for each program crop is set in statute (see Figure 1).
Rising input costs among concerns $13.00$12.00$11.00$10.00$9.00$8.00$7.00$6.00$5.00$4.00$3.00 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 BushelperDollars Figure 2. Marketing Year Average & Effective Reference Prices, 2022 20313 Soybean MYA Wheat MYA Corn MYA Soybean Eff. Ref. Price Wheat Eff. Ref. Price Corn Eff. Ref. Price
NDFU.org • September 2022 • 5
Cost of production
Figure National Average Cost of Corn Soybeans
Figure 4 uses the yield and cost of production estimates from NDSU’s 2022 Projected Crop Budgets to illustrate the losses a farmer would incur before a PLC payment is triggered. For the East Central region of North Dakota, the breakeven cost per acre for the PLC reference price is below the projected cost of production. As a result, the farmer would incur a loss of $71 per acre for wheat and $14.50 for soybeans before a PLC payment is triggered.
Wheat 1 Agricultural Act of 2014, 7 U.S.C. § 9011 (2014).
2 USDA. (2022, July 26). Program Year 2022 Covered Commodity Contract Base Acres (And Percentage) On Enrolled Farms by Program by Commodity as of 7/26/2022.
Conclusion
5 Haugen, R. (2022, February). Projected 2022 Crop Budgets, East Central North Dakota. North Dakota State University.
As noted previously, PLC payments are triggered when the MYA price falls below the effective reference price. As Figure 2 illustrates, CBO projects MYA prices for soybeans to remain above the effective reference price throughout the 10-year window. If the projections are realized, no PLC payments for soybeans would be triggered.
3. Indexed
PLC payments for corn would be triggered in 2025-2027, and wheat payments would be triggered in 2024 and each year thereafter.
As the cost of production increases, so does a farmer’s breakeven price. When the reference price is below the breakeven price, the farmer would incur a loss before a PLC payment is triggered. As the gap between the reference price and the breakeven price increases, so too does the loss incurred before a payment is triggered.
As Congress considers ways to strengthen the farm safety net, updating PLC reference prices is an important policy option. Existing PLC reference prices do not reflect recent commodity market and input cost trends. Recent increases in input costs provide particularly strong justification for increasing PLC reference prices. 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022F 2023F
Production per Planted Acre4
4 USDA Economic Research Service. (2022, May 2). Commodity Costs and Returns.
3 Congressional Budget Office. (2022, May). CBO’s May 2022 Baseline for Farm Programs.
1.251.151.050.950.911.11.2 2014
Advocates for increasing PLC reference prices often cite rising costs of production as justification for making the change. As Figure 3 illustrates, national average costs of production have increased markedly since the statutory reference prices were first established. USDA’s projected production costs for 2022 are 21.5% higher than 2014 for soybeans and wheat, and 17.9% higher for corn.
CONTEST youth video NDFU is holding a video contest for its members! Winning videos will be shown at the state convention in December! Video should be: • 30-60 seconds • Educational/informative • LightheartedRequirements•Age22andunder•MustbeNDFUmember•SubmissiondeadlineSept. 30
GRAND PRIZE Contact$1000!IS•Second—$750•Third—$500•Fourth—$250•Fifth—$100BrittanyRodinatbrodin@ndfu.org to set up video submission. Contest rules and information available at ndfu.org/videocontest
Bernhardt, a Linton native, was the co-op manager in Mohall and Rugby before joining Minot. He said the most important part of any merger is communication. “You have to have a plan specific to each co-op,” he said. “There’s culture and personality, and they have to get along on both sides. There can’t be one winner and one loser. It’s relationship-building. You don’t get there overnight.”
Bernhardt said it’s about keeping the cooperative spirit alive in small communities.
“It’s about survival in my mind,” Bernhardt said, “and how we are going to get to the next level of the cooperative system if we don’t work together at the end of the day. The membership has to look at it the same way.”
8 • September 2022 • Union Farmer BY CHRIS AARHUS, NDFU General Manager Tony Bernhardt has overseen the expansion of Enerbase Cooperative’s footprint in northwest North Dakota. With 15 locations that include eight rural communities, Bernhardt knows what it takes to get a community to understand why a merger might be necessary.
QBCC capstone training covers what to consider with a cooperative merger
Mergers: Why and how
Quentin Burdick Center for
Cooperatives
The topic of mergers — if they’re necessary and what to take into consideration — was featured as part of this year’s capstone training by the Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives (QBCC) on July 27-28 at the Roughrider Hotel in Medora. The registration-limited event featured managers and directors from across the region learning details considered “in the weeds.” It’s the highest level of the three-tiered training. Bernhardt said the advantage of a bigger cooperative goes back to the roots of why cooperatives matter. “Can they do better by us being allowed to get better structure and look at the possibilities of better pricing and more quality?” he said. “It’s not why we do it, of course. But it does allow members to join and do business with more facilities.”
Tony Bernhardt, general manager of Enerbase in Minot, talks about how and why mergers happen at the Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives’ capstone training July 27-28 in Medora.
QBCC Director Frayne Olson said co-ops typically seek to merge for four reasons: greater
“We need these cooperatives to survive into the future,” he said.
North Dakota Farmers Union Headquarters Conference Room 1415 12th Ave SE Jamestown, ND 58401 This event is FREE. Registration is required for the food count.
When you’re trying to think 5-10 years down the road and making decisions that will have longterm impacts, that’s not easy.”
REGISTRATION
cooperatives-30th-anniversarynbsstore.net/quentin-burdick-center-for-https://agext-northdakotastate-ndus.LINK:
NDSU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable. Direct inquiries to Vice Provost for Title IX/ ADA Coordinator, Old Main 201, NDSU Main Campus, 701-231-7708, ndsu.eoaa@ndsu.edu. This publication will be made available in alternative formats for people with disabilities upon request, 701-231-7881. Burdick
Join the Quentin
“If you only focus on preserving the business and don’t put enough weight on how it impacts your members, you can get yourself in trouble.
“Board members have to make sure they have a strong, vibrant, thriving company,” he said. “At the same time, you have to serve your members. Some decisions you make benefit both of those objectives, but not always. Yes, your members have entrusted you as a fiduciary to manage their assets. But the reasons co-ops exist is to serve their patrons.
Center for Cooperatives for our 30th Anniversary!! We will be having Too Old to Stand and a way!helpedofCooperativesBurdickworkcelebratingDinnertheoftheQuentinCenterforandallthosewhohaveusalongthe 30th Anniversary Celebration!
NDFU.org • September 2022 • 9
October 22,
bargaining power, ability to attract and retain talent, the spreading of risk, and prestige and influence. He also said co-ops have the careful balancing act of making sure they are profitable while also serving their members’ needs.
5 pm Social • 6 pm Dinner
2022
10 • September 2022 • Union Farmer
“A common cause of round baler fires is mechanical issues, primarily problems with roller bearings found within the baler,” said Angie Johnson, North Dakota State University Extension farm and ranch safety coordinator. “The roller bearings inside the round baler can easily become damaged due to wear and extended use. Once the bearings are damaged, they become dangerously hot and can start a fire inside the baler chamber.”
Take proper steps to avoid fires when baling
Timely baler maintenance is key to prevent dangerous round baler fires.
An infrared heat thermometer is an inexpensive tool ($20 to $40) found at farm and ranch supply stores to help prevent baler fires. Photo courtesy NDSU Ag Communications.
“It seems odd to think about the risk of baler fires right now, as the grass is still green in many areas where hay is still being harvested,” said Tom Clays, North Dakota Forest Service director. “However, the amount of ‘fuel’ or biomass that is out there this year in the ditches, meadows and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) areas is substantial. There’s enough ‘fuel’ out there that can easily catch fire with just one spark or overheated part and quickly become out of control.”
Even though most of North Dakota has received adequate rainfall this summer, reports of round baler fires are occurring.
As the haying season shifts into more mature and drier grasses, including the baling
“A baler can be replaced. You can’t,” Johnson reminds farmers.
In the event of a fire, immediately call 911. Firefighters can help contain the fire quickly and lessen the extent of the damage.
To prevent round baler fires this haying season, Johnson recommends conducting a visual assessment of the baler by walking around the baler when both the baler and tractor are shut off. Performing preventative measures, including daily maintenance when in active use, can help farmers maintain their equipment for peak performance, reduce repairs and prevent equipment fires.
Article courtesy of NDSU Ag Communications
NDFU.org • September 2022 • 11 of small grain straw, these types of fuels can burn quickly and spread over a large area.
During the visual assessment of the baler, Johnson recommends farmers consider the following actions: Inspect bearings, chains, hoses and belts for wear, and replace worn parts. Some balers use chains or drums rather than belts to create the bale. Take time to inspect. Remove excess net wrap and/or twine pieces that may have accumulated around the rollers.
Look for purple discoloration on the shields of the baler where the roller bearings are located, as this could be a sign of a “hot spot” on the baler. These hot spots are indicators that the bearing might be wearing out and needs to be replaced. Check for belts that may have become loose around the rollers. If a belt becomes too loose, the belt starts slipping on the rollers, causing friction. That friction can allow for dust particles, loose material and the bale developing inside the baler chamber to ignite.
When assessing the rollers and belts inside the round baler, farmers may need to have the chamber door of the baler open.
An infrared heat thermometer is an inexpensive tool ($20 to $40) found at farm and ranch supply stores to help prevent baler fires.
Use an air compressor to blow dry matter, such as leaves, dust and plant stems, off the baler after every 50 to 75 bales.
“An infrared heat thermometer is a great tool to help monitor the temperature of your baler’s roller bearings,” said Johnson. “Take the time for a stretch break while baling and use the thermometer to check the temperature of your baler’s roller bearings. If you see a temperature spike with one or more bearings, it is time to stop and get the bearing replaced before your baler becomes damaged and catchesFarmersfire.”should also carry a fire extinguisher and make sure it is full and working correctly, Johnson says. “Let others know your plans before going out to bale hay so if you don’t return when you said you would, someone can check to make sure you are OK,” said Johnson. “This also means you should carry a fully charged cellphone with you while baling.”
“We have to remember that there is a tremendous amount of friction and static that builds up during baling,” said Johnson. “Add that combination of friction and static electricity or a mechanical failure on the baler, with extremely dry hay, and you have the perfect recipe to start a fire.”
“Always make sure the chamber door is in the lock position by manually shifting the lever to the lock position,” said Johnson. “By locking the chamber door open, you prevent the possibility of the chamber door closing on you if the hydraulics of the chamber door fail.”
Lubricate chains, gears and bearings following the recommended lubrication instruction schedule from your baler’s operator manual. The operator’s manual for the baler will provide the best maintenance schedule for your baler.
REAL-WORLD APPLICATION 12 • September 2022 • Union Farmer
To find out more about the North Dakota Farm Management Education Program, visit ndfarmmanagement.com. There you can find a complete listing of instructors, along with their contact info, if you are interested in the program and would like more details.
Farm management program can help agriculture producers navigate difficult times
Economics textbooks use agricultural production in the United States as an example of “pure competition,” meaning the stiffest competitor for any farmer or rancher could live right down the road or on the other side of the globe. Add the wide range of weather conditions, huge commodity price swings, and the fact that each farm and ranch faces changing logistical issues every day, and what do you have? Just another day in the life of any ag producer living the dream here in North Dakota. Any one of these real-life factors can have a large impact on the long-term success of a family farm or ranch. If a particular producer needs help navigating these challenges, is there somewhere they can turn? Yes, they can come to any of the 10 Farm Management Education instructors across the state associated with four public technical colleges. Any active ag producer across North Dakota can enroll in this educational program. So, what does the Farm Management Education curriculum look like? First, your instructor will help you evaluate where you are at financially. Instructors and producers work side by side to determine the level of accuracy in cash bookkeeping (cash ins and outs), balance sheets (what is owned and what is owed at that specific moment), and production expectations (derived from historical results). Helping you become more accurate in your bookkeeping will give you a higher level of confidence in any projection you make for future business decisions. This is the foundation for cash flow projections, expansion, addition of new crops or livestock, a succession of ownership between generations, and marketing plans. The starting point for all this is, “Where are you at now?” Then, goals can be set. Having a flexible plan to overcome problems is important in reaching both short and longterm goals. Through this program, producers can learn to track loan draws and payoffs; make accrual adjustments to revenues and expenses; get a score card on the financial success of their operation; compare their financial success with other operations in their region; plan for expansion; plan for succession between generations; develop projections for lenders; and put marketing plans together and execute them. The program is not a service — it is an educational program. Instructors and producers work together to develop the knowledge base and tools producers need to accomplish these goals on their own. Information that flows between the producer and instructor is confidential and stays between the Enrollmentindividuals.intheprogram is slightly different between the technical colleges. The producer is typically admitted as a “non-degree” student within the college and enrolls in the specific class for Farm Management Education. There will be a twocredit fall semester class and a two-credit spring semester class. The cost will also vary among technical colleges, ranging from $750 to $1,000 for the entire year. To help off-set some of the costs, producers have access to several different tuition reimbursement grants. There are grants available through the N.D. Department of Agriculture, N.D. Rural Rehab Corporation, and the Bakk Grant administered by the N.D. FFA Foundation.TheNorth Dakota Farm Management Education Program, along with the help of North Dakota State University Extension Service, provide financial analysis reports from producers on a regional and state level. Both the “whole farm” and “enterprise analysis” are available for anyone to review — free of charge. Individual names are not used in these reports and confidentiality is always maintained.
By Kyle Olson Farm Management Instructor Bismarck State College
• $1 billion for the cost of loans under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 by the USDA RUS; the loans are for electric generation from renewable energy (solar, wind, hydropower,
This legislative process began with a social spending and safety net framework, central to President Biden’s domestic agenda, known as “Build Back Better” (BBB), which NFU supported when it was first proposed. The White House proposal was marked at roughly $3.5 trillion, but the first Senate version was put forward at about $1.75 trillion. In November 2021, the U.S. House passed its version of Build Back Better, at around $2.2 trillion. Prospects for BBB were dashed in late December 2021 when Sen. Manchin announced his opposition, due to concerns about rising inflation.
This August, however, it’s been anything but quiet, as both the House and Senate pushed forward with a legislative package pursuing key domestic priorities, particularly related to addressing climate change and economic issues.
Following House passage on Aug. 12, President Biden was expected to sign the bill into law within a week. NFU strongly supports this landmark legislation and looks forward to ensuring proper implementation over the next several years.
August is usually a quiet month on Capitol Hill, as Congress adjourns from session for its annual summer district work period. Representatives and senators typically head back to their districts for constituent meetings, town halls, and loads of casework requests and projects.
AG PROVISIONS
Climate-Smart Agriculture: $20B • $8.45 billion for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
• $6.75 billion for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).
• $3.25 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
Renewable Energy and Biofuels: $14B
The IRA (also known as H.R. 5376) includes $369 billion in “energy security and climate change” spending and another $64 billion on an Affordable Care Act extension (totaling $433 billion) over 10 years. The bill also allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices, aiming to reign in skyrocketing prescription drug costs.
• $1 billion for Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA).
Titled the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), the bill invests hundreds of billions into renewable, clean energy projects to fight climate change, lowering health care costs, and making corporations pay their fair share in taxes. It is widely considered to be the largest climate investment by Congress in U.S. history.
BREAKDOWN
On July 27, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) issued a joint statement announcing a deal reviving Senate Democrats’ efforts to pass a social spending bill, through the budget reconciliation process, which allows the Senate to pass legislation through a majority vote without the threat of a filibuster. This process sunsets most provisions after 10 years and requires legislation to make budgetary changes.
The bill will be funded by roughly $740 billion in new revenues over the next 10 years, imposing a 15% corporate minimum tax, imposing a small excise tax on corporate stock buybacks, and stronger IRS enforcement measures. The Congressional Budget Office recently estimated the bill will raise revenues and reduce the deficit, easing inflationary pressures.
• $300 million for NRCS to carry out a carbon sequestration and GHG emissions quantification program.
Congress passes climate legislation
14 • September 2022 • Union Farmer
What followed over the next seven months were intense negotiations between Senate Democrats to come to an agreement on passing some of the legislative provisions from BBB. Negotiators kept details largely out of public view, and a period of soaring prices and conflict overseas presented major obstacles. Despite this, NFU remained committed to its policy priorities – including how farmers and ranchers can be part of the solution to addressing climate change.
• $1.4 billion for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).
The IRA scraps the stalled ARPA program and creates a new debt relief program, adding new funding to support underserved farmers, ranchers and foresters. This includes a new debt relief program with $3.1 billion for aid to distressed holders of Farm Service Agency direct and guaranteed loans. It also designates $2.2 billion for payments of up to $500,000 each to farmers who “experienced discrimination” prior to Jan. 1, 2021, in USDA farm lending programs.
• Nearly $2 billion for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), and the grant limit was raised to not more than 50 percent of project cost (eligible entities are rural small businesses and agricultural producers).
The following week, the House of Representatives returned and passed the bill, by a largely partyline vote of 220-207. Because this bill was passed through the budget reconciliation process, there will likely be attempts to rescind or repurpose some of these funds. The funding in agriculture committee jurisdiction might be able to be used in the 2023 Farm Bill. This could provide more flexibility for writing the next farm bill, and NFU will closely monitor the implementation process for the IRA.
• Washington, D.C. Farmers Union members will hear from U.S. Department of Agriculture officials about initiatives the department is undertaking on behalf of farmers. They expect to meet with officials from the Biden Administration about their important work on competition and resiliency in the food system. Participants will also receive briefings from key Congressional leaders, especially related to the preparations for the 2023 Farm Bill.
Farm Loan Relief and Assistance for Underserved Farmers: $6 Billion
• $500 million for biofuel infrastructure; grants with up to 75% cost share to fund infrastructure improvements for blending, storing, supplying, or distributing biofuels.
biomass, or geothermal) for resale to rural and nonrural residents.
NDFU.org • September 2022 • 15 National Farmers Union LEGISLATIVE2022 Sept.FLY-IN11-13,2022
In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) established a debt relief program for Black and minority farmers, attempting to reverse decades of discrimination by USDA. It authorized USDA to offer payments worth 120% of a minority farmers’ loan balance, but this program has been blocked by federal courts.
The Senate voted 50-50 on final passage in the late afternoon on Aug. 7. Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the session and cast the tiebreaking vote in favor of the IRA, to conclude a nearly 30-hour long session of debate and votes on amendments, also known as a “vote-a-rama.”
• $9.7 billion in assistance for rural electric cooperatives; grants, loans, the cost of loans, and loan modifications for rural electric coops to purchase renewable energy, renewable energy systems, carbon capture and storage, and energy efficiency improvements on generation and transmission systems.
FINAL PASSAGE AND FUTURE
STORY PHOTOS BY CHRIS AARHUS,
“Our family has done it for years,” said Donald, who also raises cattle. “I’d like to keep it going if I can.”
David Rude, who’s had his own turkeys for the past 54 years, has seen just about everything try to get to his flock – from cats to fox, raccoons, skunks and coyotes. And then there are owls. “The owl doesn’t kill them, but it scares the heck out of them,” he said. “The whole next day, the birds are totally quiet and laying down after an owl has been in there. And they’ll get so scared, they’ll pile up and trample each other.”
&
While he admits turkey farming is in his blood, David is transitioning his organic operation to his nephew Donald and his wife Sheila. Donald, at 52, said he doesn’t want to see the turkey tradition end with David.
“He was the second one in the area to raise turkeys, and from what I understand, other people saw that and thought it was a pretty good thing,” David said. “The ground here isn’t real good for crop land because it’s a sandy raising turkeys
NDFU 16 • September 2022 • Union Farmer
For the Rude family near Tolna, keeping pests away from their 14,000 turkeys is no easy task.
Rude toorganictransitioningoperationnextgeneration
Norman Rude — David’s father and Donald’s grandfather — started raising turkeys in 1959 and it caught fire in the area.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Donald Rude (left) and his wife Sheila (not pictured) are taking over the family’s longtime turkey farm from Donald’s uncle David (at right), who has been raising turkeys for more than 50 years.
However, a bad market in the early-1960s cleared out many of the farms in a single year, but not the Rudes. Their turkey farm has proven to be resilient, with David keeping a watchful eye on the markets to the point that he switched the entire operation to organic.
None of the turkeys receive antibiotics, and David needed to open up space on the end of his barns to make room for organic requirements, which says so much square feet needs to be allowed per bird. In addition to that, David also makes sure he keeps a long paper trail of everything he uses. The feed is organic out of a co-op in Wisconsin, the chemicals used to disinfect are from
ground.” It picked up steam quickly, Donald said. “At one time, there were so many turkey farms in the area that Tolna was called the turkey capital of North Dakota,” he said.
NDFU.org • September 2022 • 17
“Before we were organic, we were antibiotic-free,” David said. “I didn’t see a lot of difference in changing to organic other than the paperwork. The return is a little more, but the cost is also high.”
18 • September 2022 • Union Farmer an approved list and the air quality inside the barn has to be monitored. Additionally, the Rudes participate in the Global Animal Partnership (GAP), which is an even stricter set of requirements that means the farm is inspected reguarly. Both the organic and GAP labels allow the Rudes to sell their turkeys at a premium. It has given them a leg up in avoiding H5N1 bird flu, a contagious virus that has affected more than 40 million birds in 39 states. It’s been found in 11 counties in North Dakota, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“You try to keep them safe,” David said. “You limit the people that come into your barn. Just us comes in here, but we’ll disinfect our boots. And we have signage about staying off the property. We also have boomer cannons we added this year near standing water to keep
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
Still, the transition of the operation is underway, something David knows needs to be done, even if it’ll be hard to walk away altogether.“I’matthe point that if I didn’t do (raise turkeys), I think I’d be missing something,” David said. “Just kind of comes natural, doing it for so many years.”
Turkeys need around 15 weeks to mature, a process the Rudes are going through now and one that they’ll repeat again in the spring. In early November, they’ll ship their flock to Northern Pride, a turkey processing cooperative in Thief River Falls, Minn. With expenses up everywhere in agriculture, David is hoping for a little better price this year. In the Rudes’ case, it’s propane to heat the barn and a significant increase in organic feed.
NDFU.org • September 2022 • 19 migratory birds away. They’re the general carrier of the flu.”
STOCK PHOTO
“Everything is just way higher,” he added.
ARemembersummertoATNDFUCAMP
ARemembersummertoATNDFUCAMP
Cowboys and cowgirls of all ages enjoyed the Morton County Farmers Union ice cream social on the rodeo grounds of the Morton County Fair on Aug. 6 Mara Vig, daughter of Ben and Megan Vig, presents a $500 donation to Laree Misek of the Finley Public Library for the purchase of books. The donation is from NDFU’s Kommunity Kids program.
aroundhappeningthestate
24 • September 2022 • Union Farmer What’s
Renville County Farmers Union held a member appreciation barbecue Aug. 2 at the Mouse River Park.
NOV. 6-8 NFU Women’s Conference, Nashville, Tenn. DEC. 9-10 State Convention, Bismarck
NOTES: Annual meeting and county commissioner candidates forum starting at 5 p.m. at the performing arts center at Grafton High School (1548 School Rd).
Farmerscounties.Union
SEPT. day for county conventions SEPT. 11-14 Fly-in, Washington, D.C.
Bowman/Slope County Farmers Union held an EPIC class and celebration with activities and swimming on Aug. 1.
Sheridan County Farmers Union held a farm safety day for their EPIC event Aug. 5 at Hoffer Lake. The kids learned about electrical safety with Verendrye Electric Cooperative.
SEPT. 14 Forks County Farmers Union Fall Festival
SEPT. 21 Walsh County Farmers Union Fall Festival
Countycalendarevents
Ransom and Sargent County Farmers Union made a bus trip to a Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks game on Aug. 17. Fern Schauer of McIntosh County Farmers Union (left), and Bill Becker (middle) and Isadore Gross of Logan County Farmers Union serve watermelon at the Tri-County Fair on July 17 in Wishek. Fairgoers of all ages enjoyed the cool treat of 30 watermelons, sponsored by both
NOTES: Annual meeting, county commissioner candidates forum and farm-to-table meal starting at 6 p.m. at the AgCountry Meeting Room (4350 32nd Ave. S).
Insurance and the Bismarck Larks partnered on a jersey giveaway and food drive for Great Plains Food Bank on July 28 in Bismarck. A thousand jerseys were given away in one hour and nearly 3,900 pounds of food was donated, a record for the annual event.
Grand
NFU
NDFU
NDFU.org • September 2022 • 25
1 First
26 • August 2022 • Union Farmer It’s the end of calving season and it’s time to move the herd! But before that, Daisy and her calf face an unexpected danger. Read about how Daisy protects her calf and joins the herd in “Cows on the MOOOVE!” Our FamilBook Dakota Farmers Union Foundation Mooove!theonCows•FarmFamilyOurSullivan NDFU the third children’s book from North Dakota Farmersplus$16.95Uniontax
NDFU.org • August 2022 • 27 FamilySeriesFarm GET 3 BOOKS FOR $40 + tax NOTE: only ONE “Cows on the mooove!” book is included in $40 deal © North Dakota Farmers Union Foundation Mooove!theonCowsFarmFamilyOurSullivan NDFU visit ndfu.org to purchase your books online or call the state office at 1-800-366-6338
Medicare Advantage gives retirees eligible for Medicare an “all-in-one plan” that combines original Medicare with Part D coverage (prescription drugs). NextBlue’s plans also include den-tal and vision coverage, telehealth, fitness programs, over the counter coverage (OTC) and cov-erage when traveling anywhere.
“There are some big companies in this space that have dipped their toe in this market, but they weren’t doing things with our state in mind,” she said. “Our plans are tailored for the people of North Dakota. When you look at our plan and what we are doing, it’s right in line with the Farmers Union Insurance model. Farmers Union Insurance is very focused on its customers in North Dakota, and that’s what NextBlue’s mission is too.”
“Our provider network is extremely strong,” West said. “For snowbirds and others who like to travel, you can bring your coverage with you. You get the backing of the Blue Cross national network of providers.” West said as baby boomers have aged into retirement, there is a need for more comprehensive plan options that are cost-effective.“Medicaresupplement plans can be pretty pricey — Medicare Advantage takes a different ap-proach,” she said. “Medicare Advantage is for a growing number of people who prefer a lower monthly premium with a pay-as-you-go framework with copays and cost shares, along with the protection of an annual maximum out of pocketRetireeslimit.”can rest assured that when they purchase a Medicare Advantage plan from NextBlue through their Farmers Union Insurance agent, they’re working with two companies who are committed to North Dakota.
NextBlue Plan President Beth West said NextBlue coverage has expanded year over year.
Delivering your health planNEXT
NextBlue of North Dakota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
The popularity of Medicare Advantage continues to grow, and NextBlue of North Dakota is fo-cused on making sure every North Dakotan has access to coverage that fits.
NextBlue of North Dakota — a subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota — has partnered with Farmers Union Insurance to offer the plan to Farmers Union members, who can contact their local agent to learn more or enroll.
“We started small, offering it in only five counties,” West said. “This year, we are offering it in 40 counties and have plans for continued expansion. We are now at approximately 4,000 enrollees in the plan. That tells us people want the coverage and value the NextBlue plans bring to North Dakota.”
NextBlue of North Dakota is a PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in NextBlue of North Dakota depends on contract renewal. Call your Farmers Union Insurance agent to learn more!
Lower premiums. Comprehensive coverage. Is Medicare Advantage right for you?
BETH WEST
PUPPY, one year old English Shepherd. Female, 45 pounds, ESC registered. Loyal, loving farm dog. Natural herding instinct. 701-818-5286, Kally Johnson, Lansford.
AIR SEEDER, red Trifold 4010 Concord for Sale with 2000 cart. Loop Monitors. No till points on 10” spacing. $9500 OBO. 701320-5480, Terry Schwartz, Jamestown. DISCS, 12 ft tandem disc; 12ft single disc; 220 welder; Fishing motor, electric 701270-0184, Harold Severson, Lakota.
GARDEN TRACTOR CAB to fit a 300 and 400 series John Deere garden tractor. A JD cab or Cozy or Curtis cabs. All metal and glass in good to fair condition. 701-5278949, Miles Bosch, Bismarck. PICKUP/TRUCK, 1947 International pickup or truck. It need not run but need parts; Chicken Coop that is in restorable condition. Stubnose Chevrolet/GMC trucks from the 1930s to the 1960s. 701-9743644, Loren Myran, Taylor. FOR SALE
FARM EQUIPMENT
MISCELLANEOUS
ELLIPTICAL, Golds Gym crosstrainer 510 elliptical $250; 1982 Chevrolet Holiday Rambler motor home in working order: generator, water system, furnace, air conditioner $3500. Two 10x12 garage doors including 4 panels, 4 springs, 2 torsion shafts, 2 hardware boxes, 2 sets of tracks. $900; Used stainless steel refrigerator side by side, refrigerator and freezer work, icemaker and water dispenser do not work. $30. 701-7482873/701-870-1970, Verna Gowin, Hazen.
•
WANTED
COMBINE, 7720 John Deere combine w/ straight header, 14’ JD pickup, new teeth, real good condition. Many new parts. not used much last 10 yrs, ready for the field; 48’ Summers harrow; 24’ JD #100 chisel plow; 41’JD #1600 chisel plow; 42’ JD #1000 cultivator; All three have Degelman drag attachments. 701-482-7767, Gary Knudtson, Donnybrook.
Maytag engine single cylinder looks like new. Telephone Booth 1950’s style, rare pre-aluminum style heavy steel and glass construction with rare gable roof. Restored Dual Traffic signal light has dual set of control signal lights for multiple directions. Pennzoil cast iron base for lollipop sign used at Pennzoil gas stations. 701-220-5746, Val Ganje, UTILITYBismarck.POLES. Various lengths. 605530-2296, Vern Snow, Tolstoy, SD.
CULTIVATOR, 3 pt tree cultivator, 8 ft 9 shank sweeps inc. $100; appx 400 lf of 4 inch well pipe $1.00 per lf; Melroe center cart harrow drag sections, good extra sections available, hyd cyl included $300. 701-341-0331, Dale Mason, Fessenden.
MEMBERSHIP DUES MUST BE CURRENT!
GENERATORS, two PowerHorse 2500W portable generators, 3 yrs old; never used. $375 each. 701-297-9634, Larry Lampl, West MOWER,Fargo.3-point King Cutter brand mower. 6 ft cut. In good condition. Can send pictures. 605-530-2296, Vern Snow, Tolstoy, GENERATOR,SD.
TIRES, four Michelin X ice 195/65R15 winter tires. Used one winter. $50. Great tires. 701-308-0840, Randy Gallagher, COLLECTIBLES,Lisbon.
OLD STUFF, advertising signs Gas, Oil, Soda, Tractors. ND license plates, ND Indian head road signs. Crocks, jugs, or bean pots that have small town store names advertising on them. ND picked arrowheads, ND small town metal trade tokens. Anything else that you have that’s old and interesting like gas pumps, animal traps, or clocks and thermometers that have advertising on them. 701-220-5746, Val Ganje, Bismarck.
CLASSIFIEDS
CASE IH 8230 FEEDER CHAIN; combine pickup guards/lifters; 2 steel bins on cones w/aeration fans; 3 triangular grain auger hoppers w/straps or chains to fasten to grain augers; old front tine rotor tiller; Simer water pump; farm scale/steel wheels; used 16” JD cultivator shovels & spikes; Used Bourgault knock on cultivator sweeps & spikes; wooden dog house on skids; John Blue anhydrous nitrolator w/ hyd shut off & hoses. 701-629-9003, Doug Halden, FENCINGStanley.MATERIALS, barbed wire, 8’ to 10’ corner posts, 8’ to 16’ steel gates. Pictures on request and serious offers will be considered. 701-974-3644, Loren Myran, COMBINE,Taylor.1984 Massey 860 with pickup head & 24’ straight head, good belts, chains, and concaves (used 2 seasons); 2007 Summers Ultimate NT Sprayer, 90’ boom, triplet nozzles, 1500 gal tank, flush tank, chemical fill, hydraulic pump, Raven monitor. 701-593-6368/701-331-8983, Jim Kovarik, Adams.
WANTED MOWER, New Holland 755, 7-foot mower for parts or complete in good working 337-5836/406-989-0019,condition. Mike Carlson, TREEDouglas.SPADE to fit on a skid loader. Doesn’t need to be such a big one. Send pictures. 701-202-6067, Richard Lynne, FRONTMaddock.GRILL to fit a 2390 Case tractor. Should be white with silver screen. Please leave a message. 701-597-3107, Ken Koch, PRESSShields.DRILL, 12-14 feet, 2 7s or 2 8s with grass seeder, will consider without; also, 6 wheel vicon rake. 701-626-1492, Leo Thomas, Velva.
1981 LUND BOAT, 14 ft with floor in it, 15 hp motor, electric start, with heavy duty trailer with spare tire. Stored inside, very nice. 701-246-3469/701-720-1483, Vernon Hochstetler, TOPPER/TONNEAURolette. for a Subaru Baja. Hard or soft models. Ural (sidecar) 1wd or 2wd. 2005 or newer preferred. 701-8181568, Dustin Hammond, Napoleon.
FOR SALE SPRAY COUPE, Melrose-Kirshman spray coupe; 8 ft x 6.6 ft JD utility trailer tilt bed with heavy duty tires; 22 ft x6 inch hyd auger like new; 16 ft x 5 inch hyd auger; all items kept inside. Swather transport trailer, excellent tires; 16 ft Morris cultivator; cattle squeeze chute; antique gas pump; wood dining side chair; Call late evening or leave a message. 701-482-7749, Robert Huff, AIRDonnybrook.COMPRESSOR, Kellogg-American, electric 220, 48 inches in height and approximately 60 inches long. $800. Email: Vgowin@westriv.com. 701-748-2873/701870-1970, Verna Gowin, Hazen.
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.
Farmer
1974 CHEVY TANDEM AXLE TRUCK, lift tag, 427, 22’ box, air brakes, good shape. 701-529-4887, Joe Price, Douglas.
PUPPIES, English Cream Golden Retriever puppies for sale, $1000. 701710-0082, Tracie Zetocha, Crete.
BOAT, 1989 19 ft. Alumacraft Trophy 190 with 9.9 HP Suzuki motor and Shore Liner boat trailer with rollers. Always shedded. 701-925-5821, James Kimball, Noonan.
20 KW continuous and 35 KW surge GENERAC generator mounted on 2 wheel trailer. Includes PTO shaft for 540 rpm. Older unit with very little use. Needs minimum 45 horsepower tractor for full output. 701-840-0138, Mike Stahl, Valley SPRAYER,City. Spray master, 90-foot booms, 1000 gallon tanks. Has new nozzles; Willmar fertilizer spreader. Has random axels; 8820 John Deere Titan II, straight head 924. Has pickup head. 701-2908477, Duane Opp, Hebron.
CULTIVATOR, used Koehn 8 row Danish tine row crop cultivator, depth wheels, sway discs on ends, stand, 3 pt. hitch. $300 OBO. 701-659-8238, Glen Nagel, Jamestown.
DONAHUE HAY TRAILER, 28 ft long by 8 ft wide, good tires plank floor; 1967 cab over-Ford truck good tires and hoist and hoist all steel box and also cattle rack; 8 ft x 6.6 ft JD utility trailer tilt bed with heavy duty trailer; 22 ft x 6 inch hyd auger like new; 15 ft x 6 inch hyd auger, all items kept inside; Swather transport trailer, excellent tires; cattle squeeze chute. Call late evening or leave a message. 701-4827749, Robert Huff, Donnybrook. 15-30 MCCORMICK TRACTOR, 1 new tire LT245-75R-Load Range E., 2 new P235-70R-15. David Bradley metal grain box, like new. 2 pair cowboy boots size 6 ½, to small, like new $40. 1905 JD Metal corn sheller, 4-wheel steel running gear, 1 covered wagon running gear, saddle and 2 bridles. larryn@westriv.com. 701-5488020, Larry Nagel, Shields.
30 September 2022 • Union
TRACTORS: IH 806 on up: JD 5010, 5020, 6030, others; MM 950s on up : Oliver 1964 on up: AC 200, 210, 220, D-21, others. Will buy running or not. 702-628-2130, Jerry Lumley, Stanley.
ELECTRIC GOLF CART in good condition: lever action deer rifle, pump 22, 357 pistol, older good running farm pickup. 701-6282130, Jerry Lumley, Stanley. PRAIRIE DOG HUNTERS to hunt on my land. Make reservations now. larryn@ westriv.com. 701-548-8020, Larry Nagel, Shields. NDFU.org • September 2022 • 31 Do you know a member who does caarhus@ndfu.orginterestingsomethingorunique?Letusknow!or701-952-0118
PAIDPOSTAGE–PERIODICALS1415 12th Ave SE PO Box Jamestown,2136ND 58402 Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America, ND Division Collette Tours Presents Australia & New Zealand March 6-27, 2023 Trip powered by Farmers Union Travel Encounter the untamed beauty of Australia and New Zealand! See Wellington, Queenstown, Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef and more. Go to gateway.gocollette.com/link/1086458 for trip details and to register. This is a travel opportunity offered through Farmers Union Insurance.
