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Extended drought in North Dakota could threaten farmers this season Dylan Sherman BISMARCK — Lower snowfall and rain this year has brought about drought conditions in North Dakota, which could be an issue for farmers in the spring. North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said there are varying degrees of drought throughout the state. “Central-west toward the northern part of the state is probably the most severe,” he said. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Index, 84.5% of North Dakota is dealing with a severe drought, up from 80.1% a week ago. Severe drought inclu...

North Dakota’s House of Representatives in a historic move Thursday expelled a Republican member embroiled in sexual harassment allegations made by female legislative staff, interns and fellow representatives. The House voted 69-25 to expel Rep. Luke Simons, R-Dickinson, after a four-hour floor session, reaching the necessary threshold of a two-thirds majority vote. The expulsion is believed to be the first in state history. Even the format was unusual -- the resolution was introduced and debated in a House committee of the whole, a procedure not seen since 1967. Rep. Emily O'Brien, R...

North Dakota House rejects change to state beef checkoff The North Dakota House has rejected a bill that would have allowed beef producers to choose whether to pay a $1-per-head assessment to the state Beef Commission, favoring the current system where the $1 must be paid but can be refunded. 5:30 am, Feb. 19, 2021 × North Dakota Beef Commission Chairman Weston Dvorak registers healthcare professionals to receive meals during a Sept. 11, 2020, event put on by North Dakota beef groups. (Jenny Schlecht / Agweek) A one-word law change that would have made North Dakota's st...

Effort to make beef checkoff voluntary fails in the House Dylan Sherman BISMARCK – An attempt to make the state beef checkoff payments voluntary failed in the North Dakota House on Feb. 9 by a vote of 41 to 53. However, legislators said changes need to be made in the future. House Bill 1487 would have made the $1 beef checkoff paid to the state Beef Commission voluntary for local producers. Beef producers now pay a $1 per head checkoff on all beef sold in the U.S. and a second $1 per head to the state Beef Commission. Beef producers can request a refund for the state checkoff payments.

Jan 19, 2021 BISMARCK – State agriculture officials are backing HB 1045, a proposal to keep the state in line with any federal changes regarding the growing of hemp. The bill includes changing the definition of hemp, leaving that to the department, as well as changes in hemp testing requirements. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said changing the definition allows for the department to mirror the federal law easily, especially as new rules are expected to come later this year. “The problem was, our law that we had changed (in 2018), which we thought was going to mirror federal law, ...