Posted 09/08/2020

North Dakota Stockmen’s Association Member Update: Sept. 8, 2020

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) is proud to be the voice of the state’s beef cattle producers. Here are a few things you should know about:

Department of Trust Lands' fall surface auctions to be held online only

Following an executive order issued by Gov. Doug Burgum in April, the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands (DTL) will be conducting its fall surface lease auctions via an online auction platform called EnergyNet instead of the usual face-to-face sales in the respective county seats. Interested parties should be aware that they will be required to register to bid at www.energynet.com, and other changes will also be in effect.

Bidder registrations are now being accepted. EnergyNet indicated that bidders interested in participating in these auctions should be sure to check “Government Listings” in the registration process to avoid some unnecessary screens. The tracts up for lease are also now available for viewing at that site.

The opening and closing of tracts will be staggered and conducted alphabetically by county. Bidding will start Sept. 28, but be open for seven days, with the auctions for the first of the tracts (A = Adams County) closing Oct. 6 and the last Oct. 9.

Another change is that checks will not be accepted for payment. Instead, payments must be made via wire transfer or automated clearing house (ACH). EnergyNet’s 3 percent online auction “convenience fee” assessed on the first year’s rent will be covered by the DTL; however, any associated bank charges will be the responsibility of the lessee.

For questions about the bidding process, call EnergyNet at (806) 463-3621 or (877) 351-4488 or visit www.energynet.com/page/How_to_Bid. For questions about specific tracts, contact the DTL at (701) 328-2800 or dtlsurface@nd.gov.

The NDSA has heard from many producers with questions and concerns about this process and is meeting with state officials this week to discuss them.

Beware: Palmer amaranth found in Stutsman County

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) was confirmed in Stutsman County last week. A county weed officer noticed some suspect plants in a field and notified the landowner. The weed officer then worked with North Dakota State University Extension to submit samples for DNA analysis to the National Agricultural Genotyping Center, where it was confirmed as Palmer amaranth. This is the second finding this year. Palmer amaranth was also found in Benson County earlier this year, and originally in 2018.

Palmer amaranth is native to the southwestern United States, but was accidentally introduced to other areas and has devastated crops in the South and Midwest. It is a prolific seed producer that can emerge throughout the growing season. It grows rapidly at 2 to 3 inches per day in optimum conditions and is prone to herbicide resistance and multiple modes of action. It is a highly invasive weed that can dramatically cut crop yields.

The public is urged to work with local weed officers, Extension agents and other experts to identify and report suspect plants.

More information on Palmer amaranth and other noxious and invasive weeds is available here. To report a suspect plant, click here or contact your local county weed officer or Extension agent.

Taiwan to lift 30-month age restrictions

Taiwan announced last week that it is beginning the process of lifting its 30-month age-based restriction on U.S. beef imports. This non-science-based trade restriction is a holdover from the 2003 BSE case and illustrates how non-tariff trade barriers are still being used against the United States.

The NDSA welcomed Taiwan’s announcement as a positive move, especially since the country has become the United States’ sixth-most valuable beef export market.

NDSA to host Tomorrow’s Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit

Students ages 14 to 20 years old who are interested in the beef industry are invited to take part in the 2020 Tomorrow’s Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit, which is scheduled for Oct. 22-24 at the Sleep Inn & Suites in Minot. The Tomorrow’s Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit is a high-energy leadership development and career exploration event with national-level speakers, industry tours and training for the industry’s next-generation leaders. Full details and registration forms can be found here.

PETA erects billboard in Bismarck

An anti-meat billboard claiming that “Meat is Murder” and paid for by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is now hanging on the east end of Bismarck’s Main Street. It is a reminder that animal rights messaging can be found even in rural states like North Dakota. A few tips for combatting the negative messaging: 1) Share positive, fact-based information about meat (the way animals are actually handled, the nutritional value of beef, the positive contributions of the livestock industry to the environment, etc.) and 2) Avoid sharing the opposing, negative rhetoric via social media channels so as not to spread the antagonistic messages for PETA. To see how animal rights groups in the United States and around the world are interconnected, see the illustration posted here.

Last call: CFAP deadline coming Friday

Sept. 11 is the last day to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Authorized by Congress earlier this year, CFAP provides direct relief to agricultural producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More information about the program and how to apply can be found here. The NDSA continues to work on legislation to supplement this program.

NDSA members help set record straight with Prevention magazine

Chalk one up for NDSA members Joan Hoff of Richardton and Sue Mosser of Medora, who stepped up and helped set the record straight with Prevention magazine after it published an article entitled “Why Cutting Back on Beef is Good for You and the Planet.” In it, the magazine announced it will no longer create recipes that include beef, citing environmental and health concerns and a 2006 study stating that industrialized beef production is responsible for up to 80 percent of deforestation in the Amazon and that red meat has been “definitively linked to higher risks of health hazards like heart disease and cancer.” The North Dakota ranch women know that is not the case and told the magazine editors about the positive nutritional, environmental and economic benefits of beef and the beef industry. Way to go, ladies!

Their efforts complimented work by the checkoff-funded issues management team that also responded to the article’s author, citing research and correcting misinformation, and worked with regional influencers to submit op-eds and share accurate information about beef’s role in a healthy diet.

The shows will go on

The NDSA is committed to hosting its regularly scheduled activities as normally as possible. Plans are still on for the All Breeds Cattle Tour Oct. 2-3 in the Minot area, the NDSA Annual Convention & Trade Show Oct. 8-10 in Bismarck and the Tomorrow’s Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit Oct. 22-24 in Minot. Detailed event information will be included in the September Stockman magazine. Know that precautions are being taken to ensure your safety and well-being as you join us for these events.

Auto-renew membership options available

NDSA members who would like to simplify their lives and automatically renew their NDSA dues are now able to do so. Those paying via credit card may elect to use the auto-renew option on their renewal form if they would like the convenience of this feature. The auto-renew election can be cancelled at the member’s discretion at any time.