701-566-9300During this first full week there have been bills being drafted and dropped into the system as quickly as possible. There are now around 500 and we expect it to roughly double. Today was a big day for Agriculture kicked off by the Ag Coalition breakfast in the Capital cafeteria at 7:00 a.m. as it does each Thursday during session. This morning the NDSGA testified in support of returning to the policy (taken away last session) of the State Water Commission being allowed to cost share snagging and clearing projects on natural waterways. Integral to maintaining the health of roads and bridges in much of North Dakota, it had been policy since the early 2000’s and no one testified against. That bill number is 2139. Most of those active at the Capital in Agricultural issues were across the hall listening to HB 1020 which is the budget for NDSU Extension Service, Northern Crops Institute, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, the main and branch NDSU research centers and the agronomy seed farm. The value of these various entities can be difficult to overstate in relation to production agriculture. Friday the commodity groups report in front of both houses of the Agriculture committee in the Brynhild Haugen room starting at 8:00 .m. if you would like to come and listen.
