Posted 05/06/2022

North Dakota Stockmen’s Association Member Update:

May 6, 2022

Farm Service Agency releases updated Livestock Indemnity Program payment rates

The 2022 payment rates for the Livestock Indemnity Program were released this week by Farm Service Agency. The current rates are $175.27 for non-adult beef cattle less than 250 pounds; $474.38 for non-adult beef cattle 250 to 399 pounds; $661.32 for non-adult beef animals 400 to 799 pounds; $1,102.20 for non-adult beef animals 800 pounds or more; cows, $829.18; and bulls, $1,077.94. A complete program fact sheet can be found here.

NDSA calls for adjustments to Livestock Indemnity Program

The NDSA has made the case to federal decision-makers that the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), which provides some financial assistance for livestock deaths caused by adverse weather conditions, needs some refinement. Some gaps in the program have come to light following two back-to-back spring storms in April that caused widespread livestock deaths and illness in North Dakota.

NDSA President Jeff Schafer penned a letter last month, pointing out the need to revisit payment rates, particularly for calves under 250 pounds. “As we understand, the payment rate is supposed to reflect 75 percent of the market value, yet the compensation for the under-250-pound category is only a fraction of that,” the New Rockford cattleman pointed out. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture does not publish an official price for baby calves, the NDSA conducted research to document average prices in North Dakota and found a 2022 average to be $392.86. “As such, Farm Service Agency should consider increasing this category’s value or, perhaps, merging the young calf categories and adjusting the rate accordingly to better reflect the market value,” Schafer continued.

Subsequent deaths resulting from adverse weather-induced illness is another area that needs to be accounted for, according to Schafer, who cited challenges like pneumonia and scours. “Oftentimes, problems that can be attributed to the qualifying weather event persist even after the storm has passed, and death occurs later,” he explained. “These mortalities too should be considered.”

The full letter can be viewed here.

The NDSA shared these concerns with the Congressional delegation and the State Farm Service Agency office and appreciates these entities helping it elevate them at the federal level. Sen. John Hoeven’s press release can be found here. Sen. Kevin Cramer’s letter can be found here.

Stockmen’s Association and Foundation to provide blizzard relief

The NDSA and North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation (NDSF) have teamed up to support the state’s cattle ranchers who suffered significant impacts in back-to-back storms in April. First, the record-breaking statewide Blizzard Haley dumped more than 40 inches of snow in some areas and coupled it with consistent 50-mile-an-hour winds. Then, Mother Nature delivered a second, serious blow the following weekend, pounding livestock operations with a combination of perils, ­including severe winds, several feet of snow, rain and/or ice. Livestock industry impacts range from widespread livestock death and illness to damaged buildings and fences. Feed resources are also low, with the storms coming on the heels of significant statewide drought.

To help North Dakota cattlemen and women offset the challenges from these disastrous storms and those that will linger long after the snow has melted, the non-profit organizations are launching the Hope After Haley Disaster Relief Fund. The NDSA and NDSF have kickstarted the relief fund with their $40,000 initial contribution and are inviting others to join them by contributing to the effort.

Monetary contributions to the disaster relief fund can be made two ways: 1) Checks can be made to the NDSF with “Hope After Haley” written in the memo and sent to 407 S. Second St., Bismarck, ND 58504; or 2) Credit card gifts can be made online by clicking here. The gifts will be pooled and distributed in their entirety to North Dakota cattle ranchers later this spring through an application and nomination process. A selection committee comprised of fellow ranchers will make selections and distribute the funds to those most in need.

The NDSF is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, so gifts can be deducted as charitable contributions for income tax purposes. For more information about the Hope After Haley Disaster Relief Fund or other ways to help, call (701) 223-2522 or visit www.ndstockmen.org.

Application and nomination forms for the disaster relief will be available for cattle ranchers later this month.

NDSA to celebrate careers of Northrop, Frederikson and Greiner

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association will celebrate the dedicated service of longtime NDSA brand inspectors Blaine Northrop, who has been the chief brand inspector since 2018; Fred Frederikson, who has been a deputy brand inspector for 25 years; and Dennis Greiner, who was a full-time market inspector for 40 years before his passing in January. A retirement and life celebration will be held for the trio from 4 to 8 p.m. CT on Friday, May 20, at The Harvest in Mandan. All are welcome to attend. Those who cannot be at the party are welcome to send greetings and well wishes to 407 S. 2nd St., Bismarck, ND 58504.

Extension to launch mineral nutrition program this month

Ranchers will have an opportunity to learn more about mineral nutrition for beef cattle through an educational program hosted by North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, Montana State University and the University of Wyoming. Extension beef cattle specialists from the four universities are accepting registrations for the series entitled “Mineral Nutrition for the Beef Cow Herd.”

The program, which was developed due to increased interest in grazing mineral nutrition, will kick off with educational webinars that will be held in May. It will include information on mineral nutrition along with tools to help producers successfully monitor mineral consumption and make adjustments to achieve desired mineral consumption levels.

The spring webinar sessions are scheduled for May 17, 19, 24, 26 and 31 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. MT (7 to 8:30 p.m. CT).

Extension personnel in each state will also conduct face-to-face ranch visits and follow-up on an individual basis throughout the summer with all participants to help them evaluate their mineral programs. Another valuable component of the program is laboratory analysis for mineral content of forage and water samples submitted by participating operations. The analysis will provide a starting point for analyzing individual mineral supplementation programs.

The program will conclude with another webinar series in the fall, with dates to be determined.

Janna Block, Extension livestock systems specialist at NDSU’s Hettinger Research Extension Center, said, “Mineral supplements may cost producers between $20 and $50 or more per cow per year. While minerals are a small component of beef cow diets, they are critical for a variety of functions in the body. This program gives producers more information about specific mineral challenges on their ranch and how to deal with them effectively to increase value and efficiency of mineral supplementation.”

North Dakota producers who would like to participate in the program can register online here. If you would like additional information about the program, contact Block at (701) 567-4323 or janna.block@ndsu.edu.

Registration for the program is $130 per operation. The program is partially sponsored by Ward Laboratories and Micronutrients, a Nutreco company. This fee includes the first forage and water analysis and travel to the ranch by Extension professionals.

Township Officers Association: Creative steps may be needed to flag widespread road issues

The North Dakota Township Officers Association is spreading the word that, due to recent weather events, many rural roads have been seriously damaged and there may not be enough “Road Closed” signs to go around.

Larry Syverson, NDTOA executive secretary, is reminding township officers and others to “do what you can to protect the public from washed-out roads and culverts.” “Any marking is better than nothing – a couple T posts with orange snow fence or barrels and boards – be creative. Anything you can add for night visibility will help, such as driveway markers or even old license plates.”

He offered this further advice:

“If you are not a township officer, but you notice something that indicates a road is about to give way or has already, please notify the township or county. If you have the means to safely place some kind of warning on the site, please do so. Very often a small hole, perhaps a foot across, will fall in over a culvert. That is a warning sign that the culvert has likely been mined out and a complete cave-in is possible. Cave-ins can occur even weeks after a flood event.

Townships are also held responsible for public safety on unimproved section lines. So, if you find out that a washout has developed across one of your unimproved section lines or prairie trails you must provide a warning to the public. You would not necessarily have to make repairs, but you must provide a warning of the hazard.

Whether it is a well-traveled township road or an unimproved section line, your effort to warn the public may save a life and prevent weeks of legal nightmares that would result from an accident.”