North Dakota Farmers Union

Agriculture's Profit Potential Through Energy

North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) will be hosting two informational seminars on March 9th. At 9:00 a.m. in Minot and at 1:30 p.m. in Jamestown, Doug Berven of POET will discuss how farmers, ranchers and rural North Dakota can profit through the future of energy. The event in Minot is at the International Inn and the event in Jamestown will be held at the Gladstone Inn, both are free of charge and open to the public.

“North Dakota Farmers Union would like producers to have the opportunity to learn how renewable fuels can provide a great opportunity for profit in the agricultural sector,” said NDFU President Robert Carlson. “Mr. Berven has a great amount of knowledge in biomass, cellulosic and ethanol energy and can demonstrate to farmers and ranchers that the future of this country’s energy production can also enhance farm income.

”POET is a company that has 26 plants in seven states and the largest ethanol producer in the world, with 1.54 billion gallons produced annually. POET eliminates millions of imported oil barrels and replaces them with renewable domestic energy, which brings hundreds of millions of dollars back to the American economy. Doug Berven is the Director of Corporate Affairs at POET. For more information on POET go to www.poetenergy.com

Carlson speaks about climate change to NDSU students

Posted on Feb. 12, 2010, at 10:46 a.m. CST

By Kayla Pulvermacher

NDFU Legislative Specialist

FARGO — On Feb. 11, North Dakota Farmers Union President Robert Carlson spoke to North Dakota State University students about the effects of climate change on agricultural production.

“No sector is more affected by climate change than agriculture,” Carlson said. “By 2050, the world’s population will increase to 9 billion people. So we have two challenges ahead of us: feeding 3 billion more people and doing so with the effects of climate change.”

Carlson’s presentation was part of National Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions Day, a national event held across the country to talk about the solutions for global warming after December’s United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and progress that the United States hopes to see in the coming year. NDSU joined 1,100 colleges in all 50 states holding similar events.

A cooperative effort
By Michael Shirek
Union Farmer

DRAKE — When the restaurant closed a few years ago, it wasn’t a sure bet that the 322 residents of Drake would again have a place to sit down and have a hot bite to eat. Conventional wisdom suggested that the McHenry County town would be without a local eatery, as capitalizing and operating a successful business in rural North Dakota is a tall order.

It turns out there was a company willing and able to fill that order.

Situated on the south side of the city, the convenience store operated by Farmers Union Oil Co. of Velva, Butte, Drake and Martin serves not only as a place to fill up on U.S. Highway 52, but also a place to sit down and eat for residents and travelers alike.

“A lot of people talked to me, saying they need a place to eat,” said Cory Schmaltz, general manager of Farmers Union Oil Co. of Velva, Butte, Drake and Martin. “We gave them a place to eat. And it doesn’t hurt to be on the main highway.”

Transforming the store didn’t happen overnight. “We were talking about it the last two and a half years, back and forth,” Schmaltz said. The interior layout of the store was changed and the building expanded by 12 feet. The exterior also got a facelift, with a brick facade and vintage Farmers Union Oil Co. logo.

“It’s not the same building, inside or out,” Schmaltz said.

After about five months of work, remodeling work at the convenience store was completed in November. In addition to the expanded and renovated interior and exterior, the store boasts a new hot food counter, complete with broasted chicken, pizza, subs and other finger foods.

The store’s new offerings are proving to be popular, with increased traffic from the community and travelers on Highway 52. According to Schmaltz, one trucking company added an account at the Drake store, choosing to move its stopping point up the road from the store it had been patronizing. “They like our chicken better,” he joked.

That the store is able to capitalize such a venture and fill an important gap in services to the community is no small feat. Thirty years ago, it wasn’t a sure thing that the Farmers Union Oil Co. store at Drake would remain open itself. “This store was within two months of closing in the early ’80s,” North Dakota Farmers Union Agricultural Strategist Mark Watne said. “Now today, it’s going to be a thriving business.”

The success of the Farmers Union Oil Co. of Velva, Butte, Drake and Martin’s new store in Drake is an example of how the cooperative business model in North Dakota continues to successfully serve the needs of rural communities and agriculture. Supporting member-owned cooperatives allows the local community to retain the value it produces, giving back to the community with products and services that would not be otherwise provided. In addition, a successful cooperative generates profits, which are returned to its patrons to be spent again within the community.

Family fun for Emmons County Farmers Union
RURAL STRASBURG — Good old-fashioned outdoor family fun was on the docket at the Emmons County Farmers Union Fishing Derby and Winter Fun Day on Feb. 6. About 85 people traveled to Rice Lake south of Strasburg to participate in a day of outdoor activities. Although the fish were not biting, kids and adults had a great time playing outdoors.

Many parents commented about how it was nice to see kids and parents spending time together, away from all the electronics and distractions that normally keep them occupied indoors. Kids loved being out in the snow, sledding and having snowball fights. The horse-drawn sleigh ride was a new adventure that families enjoyed.

The aroma of hotdogs grilling in mid-winter and the warmth of hot cocoa were a hit among those who gathered for lunch at the Don Eberle farm.

The day’s activities came to a close with a drawing for prizes. Heidi Jacob won the grand prize, a $50 fishing tackle box from Scheels. Other business providing prizes included Kimble’s Guns & Repair, Dakota Bait and Tackle, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Keller’s Hardware Hank, Hazelton Farmers Union Oil Co. and Farmers Union Insurance. Emmons County Farmers Union also presented each participating child with an ice fishing rod.

Although Emmons County Youth Director Bonnie Mavity was unable to attend the event, North Dakota Farmers Union Outreach Staff Terri Lang was on hand to recognize the county’s youth and encourage them to join the youth program. “Farmers Union has an amazing program, and I really hope you can all come to our summer day class and sign up for summer camps,” she said.

Darius Eberle and Don Eberle, Emmons County Farmers Union board members who organized the event, thanked everyone who brought their families to enjoy the day and to all the businesses who provided prizes.

Health care forum draws 30 in Jamestown
By Jessica Haak
NDFU Communications Specialist

JAMESTOWN — A crowd of about 30 people gathered Jan. 21 to hear ordinary people speak out about why health care reform is needed. Held at the Buffalo Mall in Jamestown and moderated by North Dakota Farmers Union President Robert Carlson, the health care forum featured seven participants who told their personal stories, demonstrating varying difficulties with the current health care system.

Among the forum participants was NDFU District VI Director Ellen Linderman, Carrington, who has been fighting for health care reform for three decades. Her personal interactions with health insurance companies have been unsatisfactory, with the difficulties growing throughout the years.

As an independent producer, Linderman and her husband had to purchase health insurance on their own, which prevented them from enjoying the benefits of group plans — a scenario faced by many independent producers. When her husband decided to focus on farming full-time, the couple was denied health insurance because she had surgery for a detached retina, a pre-existing condition.

Linderman finally contacted Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., for help in getting the insurance company to reverse its decision.

“The country’s health care system is broken and needs to be reformed,” Linderman said. “Sixty percent of bankruptcies are due to medial expenses. Health insurance costs have increased 90 percent in the last 10 years and show no signs of slowing. Forty-five percent of farmers in North Dakota purchase individual health insurance, which have high deductibles and co-pays.”

Other participants included a middle-age man who, as a young farmer, was unable to afford health insurance and developed a life-threatening disease, which resulted in bankruptcy. He had to end his work on the farm and take an office job in order to qualify for health insurance due to his pre-existing condition. An Iraq war veteran discussed how government-run health care has benefited his family. A young woman shared her story, telling how she developed a chronic illness at 14 years old and how she’s been unable to get health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. “People have been fighting for health care reform for 25 years,” one panelist said. “How bad is it going to have to get before anything is done?”

Janice Chaney represented American Association of Retired Persons, speaking out against some false attacks on health care reform that have been on radio and television ads. “None of the bills being considered in Congress would cut guaranteed benefits [that] 45 million seniors depend on,” she said. According to Chaney, people on Medicare see nearly 30 percent of their income go to out-of-pocket expenses. She also said North Dakota faces a unique situation, with a workforce that makes up one-third of the population. The state cannot afford to lose that many workers, and it isn’t helpful when insurance companies penalize group plans that include older workers, causing enormous costs to employers in the state.

The Rev. Susan Lester said that people of faith should see health care for all as a moral imperative, with the Christian belief that health care is a basic right and that every citizen has the right to equal access to high-quality health care. She ended the forum with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.: “Of all the inequalities, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”

The Reasoned Voice for Agriculture

JAMESTOWN, N.D. — The Reasoned Voice for Agriculture is the theme for North Dakota Farmers Union’s 83rd State Convention being held in Fargo at the Holiday Inn on Nov. 20-21. Economist Mark Zandi, National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson, N.D. Gov. John Hoeven and N.D. Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring will be featured speakers at the convention. The entertainment for Friday night is illusionist Reza, and the band 32 Below will be playing at the Holiday Inn on Saturday night.

“North Dakota Farmers Union is very excited to welcome the speakers for this years convention,” Carlson said. “It’s been a historic year for the country. Dramatic political and social changes appear to be on the horizon. The theme ties in with all of the issues, demonstrating the organization’s steady and strong voice through troubling times. We look forward to all that the convention has in store.”

The breakout sessions planned for this year’s convention include “Global Climate Change Basics and its Local Implications in North Dakota,” presented by North Dakota State Climatologist Dr. F. Adnan Akyuz; “Transitioning the Family Farm,” presented by Jay Matthews, branch manager for National Planning Corp.; and “Rural Health Concerns and Opportunities,” presented by Brad Gibbens, Center for Rural Health UND School of Medicine & Health Services. The sessions are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday, and will be repeated that afternoon at 3 p.m.

The state convention is the organization’s event where the grassroots members of North Dakota Farmers Union from across the state come together and participate in developing policy, network with other farmers and ranchers, interact with state and national leaders, learn about new exciting opportunities in agriculture and have a great time. Registration for early arrivals begins Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m., and begins again Friday morning at 8 a.m.