May 24, 2023
The Importance of Cybersecurity in Agriculture
In the recent Grand Farmer podcast, we hear from Kirkwall CEO Will Cromarty and farmer, teacher and NDSGA President Kasey Bitz who discuss the reason why cybersecurity in agriculture is so important.
May 19, 2023
North Dakota Memory Care and Assisted Living Facility Resources
Caring.com recently shared a few unique resources with the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association designed to support older adults in North Dakota, whether they’re experiencing Alzheimer’s or dementia symptoms or seeking assisted living options.
Finding the right care facility can be an overwhelming process for families, especially in rural farm...
May 5, 2023
NDSGA | Don’t Get Caught!
Avoid Phishing Scams
Here and there you may receive phishing emails from sources you think are trustworthy such as the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association (NDSGA) or the American Soybean Association (ASA). These scam emails often appear to come from a staff member or trusted colleague. Unfortunately, these emails may even at times include the NDSGA or ASA logo. If you carefully review the...
April 28, 2023
NDSGA | Legislative Report
April 28, 2023
The North Dakota Legislative session is in its final hours. Senate Ag Committee Chair Larry Luick says it’s been a busy year at the legislature for animal agriculture.
April 24, 2023
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #29
Tax Package Settled?
At this point, the conference committee discussion on how to reduce property tax and income tax appears to have a tentative solution.Senate Tax Committee Chair Jordan Kannianen explained to me this morning (although they do have an afternoon meeting to confirm) that property tax looks to be a $500 deduction for every single home or occupied dwelling. It would affect about...
April 21, 2023
NDSGA | Legislative Report
April 21, 2023
The North Dakota Legislative session is winding down, and legislators are working through evening sessions to get bills done. North Dakota Farm Bureau Director of Public Policy Pete Hanebutt says there are several agriculture zoning bills.
April 21, 2023
Murphy’s Law Bog 2023 | #28
Hurry Up and Wait.
At this point in the session, it is all conference committees with the House vs. Senate versions of bills. Sometimes they decide the other house amendments were fine and the agreement takes five minutes. Other times they dig in and it takes a lot of meetings. There are three legislators from each side and if they cannot make any headway, leadership may replace some...
April 21, 2023
ASA & USB Remind All Farmers:
#SoyHelp to Manage Farm Stress Only a Web Click or Social Search Away
Joint campaign during Mental Health Month will offer tips and resources to help farmers stay healthy Washington, D.C. May 4, 2022 – The American Soybean Association (ASA), United Soybean Board (USB), and soy states want to help farmers who may need a hand managing the stress of life on the farm. This May during Mental Health Month, the soy community...
April 18, 2023
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #27
Conference Committees
This is the time in a session when one is busy and then idle for long stretches. Almost all committees, other than Appropriations, have kicked their bills to the floor or are in conference committees that meet to finalize language into an agreement and enforceable form. I believe this is Day 67, and we have about two weeks left unless it takes three. Unofficial pools for...
April 14, 2023
NDSGA | Legislative Report
April 14, 2023
The countdown to get bills moved through committee is on and North Dakota Representative Jared Hager says work in the tax and finance committee and the focus on the North Dakota Legacy Fund.
April 10, 2023
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #26
Two Water Bills
Today saw some action on HB 1391 which specifies that the unofficial minutes of a Water Resource District (WRD) be published in the official newspaper within 10 days of the meeting. It also says that if the WRD has a website, those same minutes be posted there as well. A Conference Committee will settle it.
SB 2326 was also passed this morning. That bill emphasized...
April 7, 2023
NDSGA | Legislative Report
April 7, 2023
Conference Committee deliberation is underway at the North Dakota Legislature. North Dakota Grain Growers Association Executive Director Dan Wogsland discusses HB 1020.
April 4, 2023
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #25
Update - NDSU Research and Extension Budget
For obvious reasons, your NDSGA supports the NDSU Research and Extension budgets each and every year. Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations division (there are three) termed Government Operations went through a very large budget for the final time. Today, it appeared before the full Appropriations Committee and sailed through. Overall, I believe it was stated that they cut...
April 1, 2023
NDSGA | Legislative Report
March 31, 2023
Senate Bill 2183 would help costs associated with snow removal in rural townships. North Dakota Senator Terry Wanzek says he’s gotten calls about townships paying four to five times their budget on snow removal this year.
March 31, 2023
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #24
Getting Close on Policy Bills
The Senate Ag committee is closing up with some tweaks to a water bill and another on rural grocery stores.
House Ag is going to be extending its work into next week as they wait on information for a foreign adversary land ownership bill. This issue has tentacles that extend into federal laws, so it needs extra care to avoid unintended consequences (SB 2371).
Work will...
March 29, 2023
Murphy’s Law 2023 Blog | #23
Waldron Hall (NDSU Research and Extension)
Also known as the Ag Field Lab, Waldron Hall is the number one priority item identified by SBARE (State Board of Agricultural Research and Education) for this legislative session. The bill it is found within is HB 1020, which contains all manner of funding for Research and Extension efforts. The building would replace four aging structures, I believe, with the central focus...
March 24, 2023
NDSGA | Legislative Report
March 24, 2023
House Bill 1515, which would allow dairy farms to sell raw milk, is in the Senate at committee. North Dakota Senate Ag Committee Chair Larry Luick says there’s been a lot of interest in the bill.
March 23, 2023
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #22
Animal Ag Development Bills
We had good action on two animal ag development bills today. After a positive hearing last week on HB 1437, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed it out with a 6-0 Do Pass recommendation. This bill uses regional planning grants to help counties and townships update their zoning and utilize other technologies and skill sets to choose sites adequate for housing animal ag...
March 20, 2023
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #21
Snow Removal Relief
Got any snow? SB 2183 just passed on the House floor and should be able to become law upon the Governor signing it within a few days. It allows tribal governments, cities, counties and townships to apply to the Adjutant General (of the North Dakota National Guard) for grants to help with the cost of excessive snow removal. Up to 60% of any cost over 150% of your lowest...
March 17, 2023
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #20
Zoning, Roads and Bridges
A Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you, especially if you don’t need to travel. One of the benefits of being in the Capitol building is that from time to time, you can get some good fresh information. The example today is that I bumped into the Director of the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) who told me that the weather was so bad around Jamestown and east...
March 17, 2023
NDSGA | Legislative Report
March 17, 2023
The Fufeng project in Grand Forks prompted the introduction of SB 2371. North Dakota Farm Bureau Director of Public Policy Pete Hanebutt discusses the implications of foreign ownership of land.
March 14, 2023
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #19
Revenue Forecast and Township Roads
The morning started out early with a joint hearing of both Appropriations committees listening to Moody’s look ahead at what is in store for dollars coming into our state. The word is that it will remain much the same as previously expected with a slight touch of decline. Nothing major. The other entity retained to look into the crystal ball is Standard and Poors which...
March 10, 2023
NDSGA | Legislative Report
March 10, 2023
North Dakota Corn Growers Association Legislative Liaison Samantha Vangsness talks about several bills including NDSU Extension and Research budget, establishing livestock-friendly county designations and sales tax use and exemption for grain bins receiving a do pass.
March 9, 2023
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #18
Grain Bins, Research and Extension
On Wednesday afternoon during committee work in Senate Finance and Tax, the decision to recommend a Do Pass on HB 1370 got a 5 to 1 vote. That bill gives a sales tax exemption to those who would purchase grain bins for the next two years. The purpose of bringing the bill is to provide an incentive for on-farm storage given the demand for year-round soybeans serving the...
March 7, 2023
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #17
Auditor Bill
SB 2259 has passed both houses. It sets North Dakota State agency commodity group fees for the State Auditor. North Dakota Soybean Council (NDSC) was set at $6,000 dollars and most other groups at $4,000. NDSC’s latest fee was around $17,200 and unlike other commodities, is audited every year due to its status as a federal checkoff entity. Most other commodities are...
March 3, 2023
NDSGA | Legislative Report
March 3, 2023
North Dakota Soybean Growers Association Legislative Liaison Phil Murphy talks about several bills that are directed at expanding and supporting animal agriculture in North Dakota.