Blog

These past couple of weeks the House Government Operations Division has been hearing testimony in support of NDSU’s SBARE funding requests for their Research and Extension Priorities in Senate Bill 2020.  When I was asked to provide testimony on behalf of the Association I was delighted! I felt like a minor league baseball player being asked to step up to the majors. I am...

House Bill 1318 would prevent lawsuits against a chemical manufacturer based upon a failure or duty to warn, if the label complies with the federal labelling requirements. This legislation would ensure any pesticide registered with the EPA, and sold under a label consistent with the EPA’s own determinations, are sufficient to satisfy requirements for health and safety...

The North Dakota House has passed HB1524 which provides $2.4 million in new funding for the next biennium. The money is divided between the eight Regional Planning Councils. The Association strongly supports these councils and the work and role they perform is vital to rural North Dakota across the state. These councils leverage a small amount of funds to assist...

This past week in the State Capitol, Gov. Kelly Armstrong, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, and Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken, along with Dr. Greg Lardy, NDSU vice president for agricultural affairs, released NDSU’s new report on Agriculture’s Economic Contribution to North Dakota. The report was the result of a study and analysis that was conducted by NDSU’s...

The bills regarding the fate of more funding for rural roads and bridges infrastructure have not made much progress and have not been released by the committees with any recommendations for “Do Pass” or Do Not Pass.” However, this is not surprising or unusual because, even if there would be support for this serious need (and I am sure there is) these committees must also...

This past week the legislature held committee hearings on two bills relating to funding for rural roads and bridges. The Soybean Growers Association supports both bills and presented testimony in the two committee hearings. Sen. Terry Wanzek sponsored Senate Bill 2142 which would create a township sustainability fund for road and bridge infrastructure located in...

Gov. Kelly Armstrong presented his State of the State Address to the joint Senate and House of Representatives, and the citizens of North Dakota this week. He cut a wide swath with his vision and expectations for North Dakota. Among other topics, he discussed agriculture, energy, mental health and addiction, and education. He touted the values of hardworking North Dakotans...

The recent Joint North Dakota Water Convention was an excellent opportunity to meet and interact with attendees in different roles from various water resource districts and rural water systems to learn about and receive updates on water projects, issues, and needs. Here are some highlights. Andrea Travnicek, Ph.D., the director of the Department of Water Resources (DWR),...

As of July, it is my privilege to be the new Legislative Director for the Soybean Growers Association. I have been visiting with legislators, state officials, agricultural and ranching producers or groups, agricultural educational leaders, and government relations colleagues, all of whom have been very welcoming and inviting, I will have big shoes to fill in succeeding Phil...