Ag Outlook 2021
Cavalier County
Republican
Page 2 – Monday, March 22, 2021
Ag Outlook 2021
Cavalier County Republican
Legislative Update
Senator Janne Myrdal R – District 10 jmyrdal@nd.gov – 701-331-0946 The 67th Session of the North Dakota Legislature has been very successful as far as agricultural issues go. Although we have not seen a high number of bills in our AG committees in either chamber the legislature has taken action to work on proposals that are substantial in nature. The first one out of the chute was SB2208 which was a bill relating to water drainage and assessments. The Senate AG Committee turned the bill into a substantial interim study which will include regulation of water in the state, including eliminating redundancy and conflicts in chapters 61-16.1, 61-21, and 61-32; making assessment procedures uniform across all types of water projects,
including drain projects; revising procedures for appeals from water resource board decisions, including the possible creation of an appeals board or appealing the decisions to an existing entity such as the North Dakota mediation service within the department of agriculture; managing water on the basis of watersheds or water basins throughout the state; reviewing responsibility for culvert sizing decisions; applying cost-benefit analyses to additional projects before the state water commission considers whether to approve the projects; reviewing the cost-share for and regulation of snagging and clearing; reviewing the structural relationship between the state water commission and water resource districts; and related issues. The study committee must include the following nine voting members and eight nonvoting members representing all stakeholders. We’re investing in ag innovation and value-added agriculture with several bills. HB 1475 invests in ag innovation by buying down interest rates for value-added projects, enhancing profitability for our producers, creat-
ing jobs and growing the state’s economy. We are changing the BioPACE program (SB 2058) to allow feedlots, poultry houses and swine facilities to access interest buydowns to enable them to purchase or install a biodigester system. SB 2230 will increase the match fund for the Bank of North Dakota loan guarantees to one hundred million dollars. Along with that, we’ve invested in an Agriculture Products Development Center at NDSU with new labs and facilities as part of the university systems budget (SB 2003). We’ve enhanced the federal environmental law impact review fund with five million dollars and allocated a portion of funds paid into an environmental impact mitigation fund to help landowners, farmers and ranchers when a proposed infrastructure project doesn’t take into consideration agricultural activities (HB 1158). With HB 1026, changes were made to the grain licensing and inspection program to benefit producers and the industry. HB 1197 changes the reporting requirements for specialty fertilizers from retailers to the wholesale level to capture more concise data. I spon-
sored SB 2041 which will address potato warehouses that are being treated as commercial property for tax assessment purposes even though they are not being used for commercial purposes. This is urgently important to pass. It passed unanimously in the Senate but as of this report still at a stand still in the House. It is the usual urban versus rural fight with so many urban lawmakers’ lack of understanding the ag Industry. We’ve proposed the addition of the Agriculture Commissioner to the Department of Trust Lands Board so there is representation for ag activities that are occurring on state lands with SB 2282. This will create a measure that will go to the voters. We are also moving the oversight of the North Dakota Trade Office under the Agriculture Commissioner, who will manage the contract (HB 1009, SB 2018). Spring looks to come early this year so be safe and my sincere wishes for a blessed season to all producers. Senator Janne Myrdal Vice Chair Senate AG Committee
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Cavalier County Republican
Ag Outlook 2021
Monday, March 22, 2021 – Page 3
Report From the Legislature
Rep. David Monson R – District 10 What a year we had in 2020! Pretty decent crop yields, pretty good harvest weather, and OK commodity prices with great fuel prices, not to mention all the government payments. Farmers would much prefer to have better prices for their crops than all the government payments, but we all took them and ended up with a profitable year in most cases, I believe. Now for 2021. There is a lot of uncertainty here, but there are probably even larger government payments on the horizon. It seems the current administration in Washington is on a rampage to spend more money, give away more covid-19 money, and probably raise taxes to pay for it. Fuel prices are already soaring with gas prices at the pump up about 25% since the new administration took office about two months ago. This is mainly due to the push to do away with fossil fuels of any kind. With oil
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prices hitting over $60 per barrel, all inputs like fuel, fertilizer, and anything made from petroleum will put a lot of strain on the bottom line of farmers and truckers. Grain prices have risen, especially soybeans and canola, but how long that is going to continue is anyone’s guess. Unfortunately for me, I don’t have any canola or soybeans in the bin to sell, much like everyone else. The lack of snow in most areas, and the relatively dry conditions in much of the Midwest, including ND, could make it a bit risky to contract too much of our 2021 crop production. A severe drought could see grain prices continue to go up, but a severe drought could really impact the production, too. The net result of higher prices with smaller crops won’t put a lot of money in the farmers’ pockets. This will be a year to really try to gauge the markets and do some smart marketing, I believe. As for the price of oil, we are getting a new revenue projection on March 16 for the legislators on Appropriations. We are expecting the revenue picture for ND to be looking up a bit in the short term due to higher oil prices. However, the House Appropriations Committee had a new oil projection report from Lynn Helms, the director of the oil and gas division of the ND Minerals and Gas Department. His report to us was short
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term optimistic, but long term rather glum, I felt. Production of oil and gas is holding its own, near a million barrels a day. The price is at about the break even point for oil companies to drill and frack wells which is about $60 per barrel West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude price. With the small number of drilling rigs, we are not going to see a big push to drill new wells, so production will be stagnant. The wildcard in all the discussions is the potential shutdown of the DAPL and Keystone pipelines. If the new administration has its way, the pipelines will be shut down. ND oil will have to flow by rail at a big discount to us and a big boom to Warren Buffet who owns huge parts of the rail service in the US. We already see about a $7/ barrel discount to WTI prices. Rail is much more dangerous than pipelines as well as much more expensive. There is a shortage of double lined rail cars which are required to ship our more volatile light sweet ND crude. Furthermore, if rail cars are found for the oil, the space on the rails will become tight and grain trains on the rail will be plugged up much like a few years ago. That spells bad news for farmers and elevators. The next real potential problem is letting Iran and Russia go unchecked on their oil production. Right now, OPEC is regulating worldwide prices and pro-
duction with Saudi Arabia voluntarily limiting its production. If they open the spigots and push the price of oil down, ND drilling, fracking, and production will be in real jeopardy. The US is on the verge of being an oil importer again and dependent on foreign countries not always very friendly with us. That is not a place we want to be. Brace yourself for higher fuel prices or very volatile prices at best. Inflation, a word we’ve scarcely heard in recent years, has already started to ramp up too. So, I think the farm outlook for ND in 2021 is a little precarious. If we can get timely rains with good production, it could be a pretty good year, especially with the prices of oil seed crops where they are now. Unfortunately, we, as usual, seem to have to depend on mother nature to treat us very well. I don’t expect a real easy year, over all. If DAPL and Keystone stay open, our oil can get to market to the refineries, so fuel prices may not go out the roof. WOTUS could become a huge issue again with this administration. We are already hearing how that could be a repeat of the Obama regulations. Just one more thorn in the side of the farmers. About all I can say in summary; market smart, keep checking input prices, pray for timely rains, and have a good dose of good luck.
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Page 4 – Monday, March 22, 2021
Ag Outlook 2021
Cavalier County Republican
Report From the Legislature
Rep. Chuck Damschen R – District 10 Uncertainty is something one would expect that farmers have become accustomed to. We all know that growing conditions, soil conditions, previous crops, proper tillage, markets, weather, world politics and world economies can have profound influences on our farming operations here in ND, and specifically in District 10. As each of us evaluate the need for moisture, the cost of inputs such as fuel, fertilizer, seed, equipment and labor, we must also consider the costs of operating capital as well as availability. This doesn’t necessarily seem like a concern for most of us as there are quite a few farmer friendly, dependable farm lending institutions right here at our disposal. One cannot express the good fortune of having these
assets so accessible. Still, they have their limits as we have seen on occasion, and it always hurts to see a neighbor close an operation where he has spent the better part of his life working to succeed at making a living, raising a family and securing some assets to retire on or pass along to the next generation. Did I forget to mention taxes? They, of course, enter into every aspect of the operations we, as farmers, enter into. This is where I’m going to touch on a subject that I have limited knowledge about, but that I want us all to be aware of because I believe it could be more devastating than any of the uncertainties we have faced to date. Many of us are aware of the misinformation related to climate change alarmism as we’ve been dealing with it in a number of areas, whether it be through joining grass roots groups that refute the alarmist myths or the extra work and expense resulting from cumbersome red tape caused by needless regulations that supposedly save the environment. Enter ESG, environmental, social governance. While the effects of extreme environmentalism seemed to
subside markedly under the Trump administration, behind the scenes the alarmists planned for the days of weaker leadership when they would mount their next assault. It appears that ESG could potentially be that event. I’ll share the basics of what I’ve learned about it. I first heard the term ESG at a briefing we had from industry at the very beginning of this Legislative Session. I didn’t think I liked the implications of it at the time but had very little information. It surfaced again recently as House Energy and Natural Resources heard a bill sponsored by Senator Bell. It would prohibit the ND Department of Commerce (NDDOC) from doing business with companies that subscribe to the ESG business model. Companies, and these include big banks and investment firms, that operate under the ESG philosophy will not finance a company that wants to invest in the ag industry or the oil and coal industry because they believe these operations are contributing to climate change. They would rather see ND as a buffalo commons than a successful multi industry leader in energy and food production. No matter how our
local citizens and businesses feel, it will be very difficult for them to continue lending without good financial backing. It may be a good time to inquire at your banking institution to see if they have any information concerning this and see if they have information coming down the line. It is really a shame that a state that has the energy and ag resources and the cleanest air in the country would be a candidate for shut down because of the lies that big business has bought into. I’ve wondered over the past while why some of the industry people seem to have softened their position on environmental issues. Could it be the extremists have gotten to them? This is without question something I will keep tabs on and watch where it goes. People are going to have to stand up to the untruths that are being spread to the detriment of our state and our whole country. I hope you have a successful crop year in 2021, and I hope we can eliminate one of the most threatening uncertainties before it takes full effect, namely the ESG.
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Ag Outlook 2021
Monday, March 22, 2021 – Page 5
Cavalier County FSA Report
By Julie Howatt
Cavalier County FSA News and Updates: The spring of 2021… As of this writing, our snow has disappeared and pretty much all the area fields are black. Maybe early spring planting is in store for the 2021 planting season. Temperatures have been in the 30’s and 40’s, exceptional weather for early March. “You know, farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower The FSA office in Langdon wishes you a safe and bountiful 2021 farming season. Let’s be careful out there! Your Farm Programs Staff: Julie Howatt, Cavalier County Executive Director Program Technicians: Carlie Wenzel Skyler Moline Molly Mueller Morgan Kempert 2021 ARC/PLC Signup Ended March 15 Unless the deadline was extended after this writing, the 2021 ARC/PLC signup ended March 15, 2021. Producers could elect a coverage option and enroll in cropby-crop ARC-County or PLC or ARCIndividual for the entire farm. Although election changes were optional for 2021, enrollment is required each program year. 2020 Certification Maps The FSA office will be printing maps in early April for producers to use as their certification maps. We will be using the 2020 imagery. You will be notified when maps are ready via GovDelivery email or by GovDelivery texting; we will see how our COVID restrictions are if maps can be picked up or if we will be mailing them to producers. Read further on how to sign-up for text notifications from the FSA Office. FSA Offers Text Alerts to Cavalier County Producers To subscribe to this service, producers can text NDCAVALIER to FSANOW (372669) to subscribe to text message alerts
from Cavalier County. Standard text messaging rates may apply. Contact your wireless carrier for details associated with your particular data plan. Participants may unsubscribe at any time. Make sure you subscribe to FSA emails and texts. Contact the Langdon FSA office at (701) 256-5521 if you have questions regarding FSA’s email news service or the new text message option. Update Your Records FSA is cleaning up our producer record database. If you have any unreported changes of address, zip code, phone number, email address or an incorrect name or business name on file, they need to be reported to our office. Changes in your farm operation, like the addition of a farm by lease or purchase, need to be reported to our office as well. Producers participating in FSA and NRCS programs are required to timely report changes in their farming operation to the County Committee in writing and update their CCC-902 Farm Operating Plan. If you have any updates or corrections, please call your local FSA office to update your records. USDA Extends Application Deadline for the Quality Loss Adjustment Program Signup extended to April 9, 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline from March 5 to April 9 for agricultural producers to apply for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program because of recent winter storms and some clarifications to program rules. This program assists producers who suffered crop quality losses due to qualifying 2018 and 2019 natural disasters. The QLA program assists producers whose eligible crops suffered quality losses due to qualifying drought, excessive moisture, flooding, hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, or wildfires. Eligible crops include those for which federal crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage is available except for grazed crops and value loss crops, such as honey, maple sap, aquaculture, floriculture, mushrooms, ginseng root, ornamental nursery, Christmas trees, and turfgrass sod. Additionally, crops that were sold or fed to livestock or
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that are in storage may be eligible. Assistance is available in counties that received a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or Secretarial Disaster Designation, or for drought, a county rated by the U.S. Drought monitor as having a D3 (extreme drought) or higher. Producers in counties that did not receive a qualifying declaration or designation may still apply but must also provide supporting documentation. FSA will issue payments once the application period ends. If the total amount of calculated QLA payments exceeds available program funding, payments will be prorated. More Information To apply, contact your local USDA Service Center. Additional information is also available at farmers.gov/quality-loss. Producers can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364 CRP General Signup Deadline Extended FSA is currently accepting offers to enroll land in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The General Signup deadline was originally February 12, 2021, but has now been extended for an indefinite period of time. If you are considering enrolling land in CRP, please contact Molly at 701256-5521. Farm Loan Updates Farm Operating Loans Farm Operating Loans may be used for normal operating expenses, machin-
ery and equipment, minor real estate repairs or improvements, and refinancing debt. The direct loans are available up to a maximum of $400,000. Microloans are also available. Farm Ownership Loans Farm Ownership Loans may be used to purchase a farm, enlarge an existing farm, construct new farm buildings and/or improve structures, pay closing costs, and promote soil and water conservation and protection. The direct loans are available up to a maximum of $600,000. Microloans are also available. Guaranteed Farm Loans FSA guaranteed loans are available to farmers who may not meet loan qualifications from a commercial lender. Guaranteed loans are made and serviced by commercial lenders, such as banks, Farm Credit System institutions, or credit unions. Under a guaranteed loan, a commercial lender makes and services the loan, and FSA guarantees it against loss up to a maximum of 90 percent in most cases or 95 percent in limited circumstances. Let us know how we can assist you! Farm Loan Program Staff: Kimberly Wenzel, Farm Loan Manager Erica Brown, Farm Loan Officer Trainee Loan Analysts: Katherine Hoffarth Megan Hartz
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Page 6 – Monday, March 22, 2021
Ag Outlook 2021
CHS holds virtual education webinars
where we think, or there appears to be, positive movement or potential in market prices. A bearish market CHS hosted a series of five vir- is the opposite, where we think, or tual educational webinars about there appears to be, negative movegrain marketing. The webinars were ment or potential in market prices. The cash price you get for your streamed on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. from February 16 through March 16 grain is equal to the futures price and hosted by Megan Schmit, Di- plus the basis. Futures is a market rector, Grain Origination with CHS in which participants can buy and sell a commodity (corn, soybeans, Country Operations. Other presenters throughout the and wheat) for a specified future webinars were Asa Nelson from CHS Brandon in Tracy, Minn.; Joshua Platt from CHS Prairie Lakes in Glenwood, Minn.; Amber Bloms from CHS SunPrairie in Minot; Jona Hodgen from CHS Larsen in Readfield, Wisc.; Aaron Ulland from CHS Rochester, Minn. Grain Alliance; Ethan Klundt from CHS in Devils Lake; Patrick Gibbs from CHS United Plains Ag in Sharon Springs, Kan.; Steve Meisch from CHS Elburn in Elburn, Ill.; and Lance Kalmbach from CHS SunPrairie in Minot. A summary of the first four sessions follows below. Each summary is a brief overview of the webinar content, not a complete or thorough explanation of each type of contract. If you are interested in viewing past recorded sessions, reach out to date. It is driven by global supply your local CHS grain team for access. and demand and can fluctuate up Session One: Introduction to and down within trading hours each day. Live markets trade MonGrain Markets The first webinar was an Intro- day through Friday from 8:30 a.m. duction to Grain Markets and Un- to 1:20 p.m. Central Time. Electronic derstanding Futures and Basis. The markets (“overnights”) trade from webinar started with defining some 7:00 p.m. to 7:45 a.m. Central Time, common terminology concerning starting Sunday night. Futures marmarkets. A bullish market is one kets have trading limits to protect By Linda Timian Republican Writer
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the participants in the market. If the trading limit is reached, it is called a limit move, and the next day will have an extended trading limit. In reading the futures markets, futures months are represented by a letter: January (F), March (H), May (K), July (N), August (Q), September (U), November (X), and December (Z). Corn and Soybeans are represented by C and S respectively. Wheat is differentiated by exchange: Kansas
City (KW), Minneapolis (MW), and Chicago (W). As an example, CZ1 would be Corn December 2021 (1 representing 2021). Corn and Wheat can be contracted for the futures months of December, March, May, July, and September. Soybeans can be contracted for the futures months of January, March, May, July, August, September, and November. Each futures month is associated with a delivery timeframe for delivery of the grain. For Corn and Wheat, March futures can be delivered in January, February, or March; May delivered in April or May; July in June or July; September in August or September; and December in October, November, or December. For soybeans, January futures can be delivered in December or January; March delivered in February or March; May in April or May; July in June or July; August in August; September in September; and Novem-
Cavalier County Republican
ber in October or November. Each commodity has a futures month that is designated as “new crop” and is dependent upon when harvest happens in your region. Most often in northeast North Dakota, the new crop futures month for corn is December, spring wheat is September, and soybeans is November. Spread is the difference between two futures contracts with different contract delivery months, such as the difference between the March and May corn futures price. Spread is a general term and does not have a positive or negative value. Carry is when the spread difference from one futures month to a later one is a positive number. If December is $5.00 and March is $5.25, then there is a 25 cent carry (gain) from December to March. A carry is the market’s way of telling you that your grain is worth more in the future than it is now, so hold on to it. The profit of the carry needs to make up for the cost of the storage. Inverse is when the spread difference from one futures month to a later one is a negative number. If December is $5.00 and March is $4.50, then there is a 50 cent inverse (loss) from December to March. An inverse is the market’s way of telling you your grain is worth more now than in the future, that demand is stronger now. Basis is the difference between the local cash price and the corresponding futures price, and it can be a positive or negative value depending on where you sell your grain. If basis is a negative number, it is said to be “under” a given futures contract month. If it is a positive number, it is said to be “over” a given futures contract month. If the number is zero it might be called “option.” Basis is affected by local supply and demand, the feed and processing market (soybean processing, ethanol, and feed mills), and transportation costs to get the grain to its final destination. The webinar provided cont. on page 7
Cavalier County Republican
Ag Outlook 2021
Monday, March 22, 2021 – Page 7
CHS webinars _______________________________________________________________________________________continued from Page 6 in-depth analysis of basis, what affects it, when and when not to lock it in, and how to read bid sheets. Session Two: Basic Grain Marketing Contracts The contracts covered in this session were Cash contracts, Hedge To Arrive contracts, and Basis contracts, all considered “Essential” Grain contracts. Cash Sales contracts are the simplest, most common form of selling grain. Basis and futures are set, and therefore risk is low. If cash prices are above your breakeven or making money points, a Cash Sales contract eliminates extra decisions about basis and locks in your known guaranteed price. The Hedge to Arrive (HTA) contract, also known as a “futures priced only” contract, is the next simplest way to sell your grain. In an HTA contract, the futures price is set. but the basis is yet to be determined so it carries a little more risk. Use this type of contract when you are happy with the futures price but think the basis can or will improve. Basis values will react to the local crop conditions over the growing and harvest seasons. You have from the time you establish your HTA contract until delivery to set your basis. With basis still open in an HTA, you have the flexibility to roll the contract to another futures month, if allowed in your area and it makes sense to do so. Fees vary by geographic area. A Basis Contract is the opposite of an HTA/futures price only contract. A basis contract locks in the basis on a specified quantity of grain, the timeframe and location for delivery, but leaves the futures price open. This makes them less flexible than an HTA. You would do a basis contract when you think the basis level is a good value and the delivery location and timeframe works for you, but you think the futures price will improve. You can deliver your grain at the set place and time, even if the futures price is not set yet. Basis contracts are riskier because you are exposed to full market movement risk until you set the futures component, or you may forget about setting your futures price. It is a good
idea to put in an offer on the futures side as soon as you set a basis contract. Rolling a contract is important to understand so you can take advantage of market opportunities if you have set an HTA or basis contract and start to feel differently about things. You would roll an HTA/futures only contract when you want to take advantage of any carry in the market and you have the ability to store the grain for a later delivery. You would roll a basis contract when you feel like the futures market is going to improve and you want to buy time for that to happen (though it may not improve or might get worse). The webinar walked through detailed explanations of rolling an HTA and a Basis Contract. Offers are another, though underutilized, form of marketing. Firm offers are where you call your grain originator and tell them, “When grain gets to X dollars, I want to sell XX bushels.”That is entered into their computer, and if the market trades there any time, day or night, it will be accepted without you having to do anything or having to watch the market yourself. If the market doesn’t go where you expect, you can change or cancel the offer as long as it has not been accepted. Once the offer is accepted, you have entered into a contract. Soft offers are when you call your grain originator and tell them, “When the market gets to X dollars, call me.” You are not committing to anything or making a contract. This is riskier because it is not automated, and by the time you are called, the numbers may have already changed. Also, you will not get a call during the overnight hours so you run the risk of missing it. Spread offers relate to rolling contracts. In rolling a contract you look at the spreads to determine what your new HTA or basis value will be if you roll to another month. If the current spread is 10 cents from December to March, but you want 15 cents, you can put in a spread offer for 15 cents. If and when that spread moves to 15 cents, they would roll your contract accordingly.
Session Three: Managed Price, Average Price Contracts Grain marketing tools covered in this session were ProAdvantage, Average Price, and CHI Foundation contracts. The similarities among these contracts are that the producer decides the type of grain, the quantity of bushels, and time length or date range. Basis is generally left open so you will need to set your basis at some point ahead of the final pricing period of the contract. The final cash price will not be known until the end of the pricing period, at which time you will have an HTA contract with all the flexibilities and risks inherent in a traditional HTA. Diversification should be a key part of any marketing plan. A marketing plan doesn’t look the same for everybody nor does it look the same year to year for the same person. The managed price and average price contracts reviewed here are on the lower end of the risk scale and can add diversity to your marketing plan. The CHS ProAdvantage contract is a managed contract. The bushels in the program are managed, traded, and priced by the professionals at CHS and the AgSurion team. The producer decides which type of grain (corn, soybeans, and wheat are eligible), how many bushels to enroll, and the timeframe. The fee for the contract is dependent of the pricing timeframe. One of the benefits of a ProAdvantage contract is the market intelligence you get from the monthly updates from the professionals who watch the markets. Getting a glimpse of this insight can be very
helpful when it comes to marketing other bushels and diversifying your business. Average Price Contracts will price a set amount of bushels every week or every day for a set period of time, giving producers an average price over that time period. The producer decides how many bushels to put into the program, and those bushels are divided up equally between the pricing days. No one is looking at the market deciding when to sell; selling is happening automatically during the specified time period. Fees will vary by geographic area. Some average price contracts allow you to set the futures price for unpriced bushels after the contract has begun. For example, if you think the market has no more upside after two thirds of your bushels have been priced, you can lock in the price that day on the remaining unpriced bushels. Whether the market goes up or down after that day, your bushels have all been priced, and you cannot undo that. The third type of contract is the CHI Foundation contract which is like an average price contract with a locked in floor price. The producer decides the bushel quantity. Working with their grain originator, they find a date range and a floor level they are comfortable with. You must set the pricing time frame before you start pricing any bushels. Cost is dependent on the floor level and time frame you choose. The closer the floor level is to the current market price, the more the contract will cost. It is important to note that the cont. on page 8
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Page 8 – Monday, March 22, 2021
Ag Outlook 2021
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CHS webinars _______________________________________________________________________________________continued from Page 7 floor level cannot be changed once it is set at the beginning of the contract. Session Four: Compass Tools The three contracts discussed in this session were called Compass Contracts and included the Cash Plus, Daily Price Plus, and Price Builder Bonus contracts. Each allows you to price bushels at a premium to the current market in exchange for a potential second set of bushels at a specific pricing level on a specific date – in the three contracts discussed here, the end of the
pricing period. Note: if market level is higher than the offer level on the last pricing day, the bushels are still contracted at the offer level, not the higher market level. All bushels (first set and possible second set) should be considered sold until you know for sure whether the second set does or does not become a contract. These contracts all turn into HTAs at the end of the pricing period, so you still need to set basis. The Compass contracts are more complex and riskier than most of the contracts discussed earlier. There
are many varieties of these types of contracts, and the finer points of the contracts vary by area and company. Therefore, it is very important to discuss and understand all the details of each specific contract you enter with your grain originator. The Cash Plus contract is the most flexible. The grower gets a premium on pricing now, and in exchange makes a non-modifiable offer on a potential second set of bushels for a specific date. If the market settles at or above the offer level on the final pricing day (and only on the
final pricing day), the second set of bushels is contracted for that offer. If the market settles below the offer, no contract is made for a second set of bushels. A Daily Price Plus contract has an Initial level, Floor level, and a Trigger level agreed upon at the beginning of the contract. Bushels are priced at the Initial level as long as the market price stays above Trigger level. If market settles at or above the Premium (offer) level – which is nonmodifiable - on the final pricing day, an additional set of bushels is priced at that Premium (offer) level. If the market settles below the Premium (offer) level on the final pricing day, no additional set of bushels is contracted. If the market settles below Trigger level at any point during the pricing period, the contract stops. Bushels up to that point are priced at Initial level, remaining bushels are priced at the Floor level. Price Builder Bonus has a higher risk and higher reward potential than the Daily Price Plus contract. This contract has an Initial/Premium (non-modifiable offer) level, a Trigger level, but no Floor level. Each day the market settles above Trigger level, bushels are priced at the Initial Level. If the market settles below the Initial level on the final pricing date, no second set of bushels is contracted. If the market settles at or above the Initial level on the final pricing date, a second set of bushels is contracted at the Premium (offer) level. If the market settles below the Trigger level at any day during the pricing period, the program stops. Bushels priced to date are contracted at the Initial level, but remaining unpriced bushels are not contracted and a second set of bushels are not contracted. Session Five, titled “Other Grain Contracts,” was streamed after this publication went to print. The webinars provide detailed, in-depth information about markets, contracts, possibilities, risks, and opportunities relevant to marketing your grain. Each webinar was one hour or less. To access the webinar recordings, reach out to your local CHS grain team.
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Monday, March 22, 2021 – Page 9
Page 10 – Monday, March 22, 2021
Ag Outlook 2021
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Rain and snow observers needed to better assess N.D. drought A statewide citizen science network is looking for volunteers for rain and snow reporting in North Dakota. These observers will measure rainfall, snowfall and snow depth as part of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) Network. Observers also are encouraged to measure the water equivalent of the snow after it melts, although that is optional. “This is your chance to become part of the state’s climatological history and contribute to an accurate flood potential forecast in your local areas as well as drought assessment during the growing season,” says Adnan Akyuz, state climatologist and professor of climatological practices at North Dakota State University. North Dakotans have been collecting precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) data since the early 1900s in most places. When farmers, engineers, and weather and river forecasters ask for precipitation data for a given location, that information comes mostly from volunteer observers. “Providing that data is fun and easy, and only takes five minutes a day,” Akyuz says. “The data, however, have tremendous value for farmers, researchers, forecasters and decision makers.” Data from CoCoRaHS Network volunteers routinely are being viewed and used by meteorologists, hydrologists,
emergency managers, city utilities, insurance adjusters, agribusinesses, engineers, science teachers and the National Weather Service. Data are used for many applications, such as flooding, water resource planning, severe storm warnings, teaching Earth science, predicting crop yields and assessing drought. “We need as many volunteer observers as possible around the state to fill the gap, especially in unrepresented rural areas,” Akyuz says. “We have a lot of training materials for you to participate in this activity,” he adds. “All you need is an interest in weather and a 4-inch cylindrical rain gauge.” “Currently, more than half a million North Dakota citizens are under a drought in the heart of the rural farm and rangeland,” Akyuz says. “Your observation in these areas can help identify fast-emerging drought for decision makers to allocate resources to mitigate the impact.” This year, Akyuz is giving away 10 CoCoRaHS designer face masks to random new observers. To qualify for the drawing, you must join the network in March and submit your first observation by April 15. Visit https://www.cocorahs.org/ Content.aspx?page=application to learn more about joining the network.
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Page 14 – Monday, March 22, 2021
Ag Outlook 2021
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Research updates of crop diseases
Venkata Chapara Langdon Research Extension Area The diseases that were discussed below were observed in 2020 crop production season in our area and are very important to monitor and manage them. Fusarium Head blight (FHB)/scab Management in Small Grains: FHB is an endemic disease on small grains in our area. The best way to manage FHB and the associated mycotoxins is to integrate varietal, cultural, and chemical controls. Fungicides are critical tools in this management strategy. A number of factors influence the effectiveness of a fungicide application, including the fungicide’s efficacy, when you apply the fungicide, the orientation of the sprayer nozzles, and water volume. Foliar fungicides Prosaro, Caramba, and MiravisAce at recommended rates work best when the spray is warranted at 10% flowering stage. Figure: Fusarium Head Blight on spring wheat
Bacterial stripe or bacterial leaf streak on small grains This disease is caused by a common bacterium that persists on and in seed, mainly in the external seed coats. Bacterial streak develops on the upper leaves of wheat during periods of cool, wet weather, after the plants have reached the boot stage. Leaf streak is associated with high relative humidity, wet weather, and cool spring temperatures (59°F to 77°F). Warm, dry weather stops the disease and new emerging leaves may be relatively free of bacterial infection. B l a c k chaff of small grains: Bacterial stripe, also known as black chaff when it appears on wheat heads. Infection occur on young shoot during germination and is through wounds or through stomata
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on the coleoptile. The disease derives its name from the darkened glumes of infected plants Figure: Black chaff on Wheat Head The best management practice is to avoid the disease by planting pathogenfree seed. Use a crop rotation of three or four years. Remember “No chemical controls exist”. Canola: Blackleg, white mold and clubroot are the three major diseases in our area. Blackleg: The disease blackleg is well managed by the use of available resistant varieties and by rotating the varieties each year. White Mold: Foliar fungicides available which should be sprayed at 20-50% flowering stages of canola. A minimum of one spray is needed in our northeastern North Dakota. The labelled chemicals with good efficacy are proline, priaxor, endura, topsin and quash. Clubroot: In fields with clubroot history, select clubroot resistant varieties of Canola. Our annual surveys found visual clubroot galls on canola roots in 10 canola fields this year out of the 50 fields scouted. There were fields found with resting spores per gram of soil of clubroot pathogen and the numbers are at a very high levels indicating that they can cause losses if susceptible varieties are planted. While choosing the clubroot resistant varieties of canola also check for blackleg resistance in the same variety.
of young plants very early after emergence. Early symptoms appear at the flowering stage and later growth stages consist of the presence of chlorotic (yellow) spots on the leaves between veins. As the symptoms advance, the yellow spots may coalesce, but stay between the veins at the leaf margin. Eventually the yellow areas between the veins will become brown (necrotic) as the tissue dies. Symptoms on the foliage appear late in August, which is too late to control. In fact no foliar fungicides are available to treat this disease. If the disease found please be sure to rotate with non-soybean crop for at least two years.
Figure: Sudden Death Syndrome in Soybeans Bacterial blight of field pea Bacterial blight is a serious disease of field peas that is caused by the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi. This bacterium survives on seed. Rainfall, heavy dews, strong winds and cold temperatures provide the most favorable conditions for spread of disease within crops. It can be controlled by crop rotation, time of sowing, farm hygiene, sowing disease-free seed and using resistant varieties.
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Figure: Clubroot on Canola Soybeans: Beware of soybean sudden death syndrome: Sudden death syndrome is a fungal disease has been identified for the first time in our County in 2020. The pathogen infects the roots
Figure 4: Bacterial Blight of filed peas on field peas in Cavalier County For the information on registered fungicides to manage any disease in our area can be found in “North Dakota Field Crop Plant Disease Management Guide”
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Page 16 – Monday, March 22, 2021
Ag Outlook 2021
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Soil health issues that cause major financial losses Naeem Kalwar Langdon Research Extension Area Specialist/Soil Health
Soil salinity, sodicity and high magnesium (Mg2+) levels versus calcium (Ca2+) are some of the key soil health issues that are causing major financial losses every year in the NE part of our State.
A saline and sodic area resulting in net financial loss. Wet weather had resulted in shallow groundwater depths and brought excess salts and sodium (Na+) causing sodicity into the topsoil, however, recent drier weather has not helped either as not only there has not been enough free (gravitational) water to force the salts into the deeper depths but due to increased evaporation, more groundwater has wicked up towards the topsoil bringing more salts and Na+ with it. Soil salinity is caused by the excess levels of water soluble salts that compete with plant roots for water resulting in drought stressed plants despite decent moisture levels. Soil sodicity is caused by Na+ that is not present as a salt and is attracted to the negative charges of soil particles such as clay and humus. By forming a relationship with clay and humus, Na+, separates clay and humus from soil aggregates resulting in very dense soil layers. That process is called “dispersion”. Due to dispersion, soil pore space shrinks resulting in much slower water infiltration compared to the same soils not having dispersion. Higher Mg2+ levels compared to Ca2+ result in excessive swelling of soils. Again, that shrinks soil pore space resulting in much slower water infiltration compared to the same soils not having excessive swelling. The very first step to remediate these issues is to create zones based on the severity of issues, cropping history and landscape and take separate three to four feet deep soil samples from each zone in 12 inch increments. Each depth should be analyzed separately for Electrical Conductivity (EC), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) and pH by using “Saturated Paste Extract Method”. For calculating rates of soil amendments such as gypsum, the 0-12 inch depths should also be analyzed for Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) by using “Na+ Saturation and NH+ Extraction Method”. Once soil results are available, need for soil amendments should be looked at first. Soil amendments are best utilized in powder form and when incorporated after spreading. If application is not economically and logistically feasible, salttolerant perennial grasses can still be established successfully. After that em-
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phasis should be to plant a salt-tolerant annual crop or salt-tolerant perennial grass mix based on soil salinity (EC) and sodicity (SAR) levels. A good vegetative cover will reduce evaporation resulting in less wicking up of groundwater
towards the topsoil. Good vegetation will also use excess soil water under wet weather and preserve more moisture in topsoil under drier weather. Barley and oats are two annual crops that can successfully produce good stands and profitable yields on low to moderate salinity and sodicity levels (EC = 4.0 to 6.0 dS/m and SAR = 7.0 to 10.0 in the 0-6 inch soil depths) where sensitive crops such as soybeans will result in net loss. Here are the pictures of four barley and four oat varieties producing good stands at low to moderate salinity and sodicity levels. Barley and oat varieties growing at EC of 3.99 dS/m and SAR of 7.12 in the 0-6 inch soil depth on July 28 and September 15, 2020 at the NDSU Langdon Research Extension Center. However, once soil EC is more than 6.0 dS/m with a SAR of over 10.0, even barley and oats may not grow well. That is when planting a mix of perennial salt-tolerant grasses will be most beneficial. That mix could be Tall Wheatgrass, Slender Wheatgrass, Western Wheatgrass, Green Wheatgrass (AC Saltlander) and Russian Wildrye. Generally, a seeding rate of 8 pounds of all five grasses per acre is sufficient. In addition, mixing 1-2 pounds of a winter-hardy alfalfa have produced good results. They are planted best in spring or dormant planted in fall. Being perennial, grasses take about a year to get established and two years to suppress the weeds on their own. Since salinity and sodicity mostly show up on headlands along roadside ditches, in-field ditches and wetlands, planting 25-30 feet wide buffer strips of
the above mentioned perennial salt-tolerant grass mix is the best way to minimize the spread of salts and sodicity. One can say that planting buffer strip means taking some land out of the annual crops, however, not only these areas lose money but the size of the saline and sodic areas keep getting bigger every year. An established perennial salt-tolerant buffer strip can not only provide better trafficability but grass roots will also intercept capillary water before it would wick towards the higher productive areas. A Saline and sodic headland, which can benefit from a perennial salt-tolerant grass mix buffer strip. It is best to mow, hay or graze these grasses as when they are cut abovethe-ground, roots grow deeper below-the-ground. Cleaning the roadside and in-field ditches will also help improve the flow of water and surface drainage. In addition, we need to be patient with these issues. It took some time for these areas to be unproductive and it will take some time for these issues to go away, especially sodicity. For more information, please contact your County Extension Agriculture and Natural Resource Agents or Extension Soil Health Specialist at the Langdon Research Extension Center.
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Monday, March 22, 2021 – Page 17
North Dakota local food development alliance strengthens local food markets Local agencies, farmers, and nonprofits unite to build North Dakota’s local food systems. North Dakotans interested in local food production, marketing, processing or other innovations are encouraged to join the North Dakota Local Food Development Alliance (NDLFDA). The nonprofit coalition aims to create a vibrant, prosperous local food sector in North Dakota. Members represent farmers markets, consumers, food banks and hunger organizations, sustainable agriculture nonprofits, farmers, and economic development organizations. The NDLFDA holds monthly virtual meetings to share information between members, create opportunities for collaboration, and identify ways to strengthen our state’s local food system. The group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 2:00 pm CST and all are welcome to attend. More information is at www.farrms.org/ndlfda. The term “local food” has differing definitions. In this case, local food refers to food and ag products that are produced, marketed, and consumed within North Dakota. “Local food has been a growing sector in our state for about a decade,” said Stephanie Blumhagen, Board Chair, NDLFDA, and Executive Director, FARRMS. “More consumers want to know where their food is coming from and they want to know the farmer who grew it.” A 2019 study in
the northeastern part of the state found that demand for local food outstripped supply, with many farmers markets selling out shortly after opening. (Northern Plains Resource Conservation and Development Council, 2019). In 2020 the global pandemic led to grocery store shortages and supply chain disruptions. More North Dakotans turned to local farmers for produce, meat, eggs, and other local food products. The NDLFDA works to support all parts of the system so more locally grown food is available for all North Dakotans. “Local food presents a great opportunity for beginning farmers or producers wanting to diversify,” said Paul Overby, President, Northern Plains Resource Conservation and Development Council, and NDLFDA member. “We also need processors and transportation from farms to markets. We need cooperatives and food hubs to aggregate products. We need ag educators, financial institutions, and economic developers to support local foods. Through coordinated efforts, we can bring more local foods to school cafeterias, hospitals, and nursing homes, restaurants, and grocery stores. No one organization can achieve this all on their own, but by collaborating we can build a strong vibrant local food system in North Dakota,” said Overby. “We know we can achieve more together. The ND Local Food Develop-
ment Alliance is creating a space where we can share ideas, ask questions, and support each other,” said Felicity Merritt, NDLFDA Coordinator. “Our meetings are open to the public and we encourage anyone interested in food and agriculture to join us. Membership is open to anyone interested in improv-
ing our food system.” The group meets virtually on the second Tuesday of the month from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm CST. More information is at www.farrms. org/ndlfda, on Facebook @NDLocalFoodAlliance, and Instagram @ndlocalfood.
Page 18 – Monday, March 22, 2021
Ag Outlook 2021
NDSU Extension Notes
Anitha Chirumamilla Ag & Natural Resources Agent Cavalier County Extension
Lookout for new insects and diseases in canola and soybeans Canola Flower Midge: A new insect species Contarinia brassicola Sinclair was recently identified infesting canola and was found wide spread in Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada. Canadian Entomolgist Dr. Mori also observed larvae and pod damage in the Swan River Valley area of Manitoba, Canada. This midge is similar in appearance to the swede midge, being small (<2 mm) and brown. The larva is a small white colored headless and legless maggot (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1. Canola flower midge adult and larva Larvae injure the flowers by causing a swelling (or gall), that prevents flowers from opening. Damaged flowers do not produce pods or seeds.
Fig. 2. Canola flower midge damage on canola A. unopened flower buds B. Canola flower midge larvae inside flower bud C. Aborted canola pods
The shape of the flower galls damaged by canola flower midge are elongated, bottle-shaped and closed flower galls (Fig. 2). For the first time in ND, pheromone traps were set out to monitor for canola flower midge in 7 counties, mainly along the northern tier of ND. Six of the 10 traps sites were positive for canola flower midge in 5 counties including Bottineau, Cavalier, Pembina, Towner and Walsh. Langdon REC had the highest number of canola flower midge trapped with a total of 344 midges captured in 2020. Canola flower midges were captured during late July through the first week of August. All specimens in trap bottoms were confirmed by Dr. Mori, Research Entomologist in Canada. Canadian entomologists do not know the economic impact of this new flower midge in canola. Earlyplanted canola (mid May) had more midge damaged pods compared to late-planted canola (early June) in Canada. However, the early-planted canola also had the highest yield due to more important agronomic factors. Insecticide seed treatments were tested for control of flower midges, but little or no negative effect on midge injury to pods was observed. This is not surprising since canola flower midges emerge about 4-6 weeks after seeding whereas insecticidal seed treatment residual wanes after 3-4 weeks of seeding. Additional yield loss studies in canola are planned in Canada. Soybean Gall Midge: The soybean gall midge, Resseliella maxima (Gagné), is a new species that was recently identified infesting soybeans. Its origin has not been determined. Soybean gall midge has been recorded in soybeans in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota in 2018, and in Missouri in 2019. It has not been detected or confirmed in North Dakota yet. A survey conducted last summer for the soybean gall midge, especially in southeastern ND was negative. The midge belongs to the insect family Cecidomyiidae and is about ¼ inch long, with black and white banding on legs and reddish abdomen. Early instar larvae are white and more mature instar larvae are orange to red. They probably overwinter as larval cocoons in the soil, similar to wheat midge. Entomologists have recorded multiple generations per season in Nebraska, but are uncertain on number and timing. In 2019, adult emergence of the 1st generation ranged from mid-June in Nebraska through early July in Minnesota. The adult has a long emergence window which could make insecticide control difficult. Larvae were observed in soybean stems from late June through July in Minnesota. Crop Damage is caused
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by the larval feeding inside the stem, which causes brittle stems and significant yield losses when populations are high. Midge larvae feed under the epidermis of the stem, weakening the stem and causing lodging, which further adds to the yield losses. Scouting: Look along the field edges for plants with dark stems at the base near the soil level. The feeding injury is visible after the V2 stage for soybeans. Peel back the stem epidermis with your fingernail to see the larvae. Research is in progress studying the various aspects of this insect such as biology, life cycle, damage potential and insecticide efficacy. Sudden Death Syndrome in Soybeans (SDS): SDS was identified in Cavalier County for the first time in 2020. The only other county that has been identified with SDS was Richland County of ND a few years back.
Fig. Soybean field infested with SDS in Cavalier County Photo: A. Chirumamilla, NDSU SDS is one of the leading soybean diseases that is known to cause yield-losses. The disease is caused by soil borne fungus Fusarium virguliforme. The disease was first spotted by Dr. Venkat Chapara (Research Plant Pathologist, Langdon Research Extension Center) and was confirmed by Dr. Sam Markell and Dr. Berlin Nelson (Extension Plant Pathologist and Soybean Plant Pathologist, NDSU Fargo). Severe SDS can result in yield losses greater than 50 percent. Symptoms: Foliar SDS fungus primarily attacks the roots and the fungal toxins later reach the above ground parts of the plant causing defoliation and drying of the plant. Symptoms on leaves usually appear late vegetative to flowering and pod development stages of the crop. Leaf symptoms first appear as pale green to yellow spots in between the veins. As the disease progresses, the areas between veins turn bright yellow and eventually dead-brown leaving the veins green. The leaves get detached from the petiole and fall leaving the peti-
cont. on page 19
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Ag Outlook 2021
NDSU Extension ________________________continued from Page 18 oles attached to the stem. In severe infestation, flowers and pods may abort or not fill. Root SDS causes root discoloration along with root and crown rot. Diseased plants come off easily when pulled because of decayed roots. Also, when split lengthwise, the tissue right underneath the epidermis will be greyish brown with white pith. A blue mold may appear on the
outer surface of the roots in advanced stages and during wet conditions. Fig. SDS foliar symptoms: A. yellow color spots in between veins; B. Bright yellow spots and green veins; C. Dead brown spots between green veins Photos: A. Chirumamilla, NDSU
Monday, March 22, 2021 – Page 19
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T Fig. Dr. Chapara checking for SDS symptoms on soybean roots Photo: A. Chirumamilla, NDSU Association with soybean cyst nematode (SCN): There is a high degree of association between the presence of SCN in a field and SDS development. If the field is confirmed with SDS it is always better to get tested for the presence of SCN. Management: 1. The most important tactic is to practice crop rotation with non-host crops such as wheat and canola 2. Planting SDS resistant soybean varieties, if available 3. Considering the association of SDS with SCN, varieties should also be resistant to SCN 4. Planting into warm soils and reducing excessive soil moisture with drainage
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Page 20 – Monday, March 22, 2021
By Katie Henry NDSU Extension Family and Community Wellness Agent The Most Important Agricultural Equipment It feels like spring is here. As those of us who have lived here our whole lives know, there may be some chilly weather and snow yet to come, but we are over the hump of the winter hill, so to speak. The sunshine is staying longer, the air feels fresher, and the long-lasting winter chill we feel in our bones is starting to leave. It feels good. Along with spring comes the busy season for people in agriculture. As soon as the snow melts and temperatures rise, the agricultural community works on what they can as they wait in anticipation for the ground temperature to rise high enough for seed sprouting. Even as a young girl, I remember how my dad used to always be an early riser and work into the night no matter what the season was, but the atmosphere of the home changed as spring neared. There was excitement for the season to come. With that excitement comes additional stress. There are time limits and deadlines that need to be met. There are things to take care of (like maintaining equipment and other management duties) to make sure the crops get planted, spraying gets
Ag Outlook 2021
NDSU Extension Notes
done, and harvest gets finished. There are also things that we cannot control, like falling market prices and inclement weather or drought. We need to take special heed to those things we feel the most stress over and our reactions to them. Agricultural equipment needs to be maintained because it is expensive and plays a vital role in the operation. The most important pieces of equipment of any agricultural operation are the people. Lives are priceless, and people need to be maintained just like any other piece of equipment. Managing stress is part of that management, and now is the time to start managing the stress for the growing season to come. Stress is linked to diseases that could affect our lives in large ways. According to The American Institute of Stress, 75-90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related problems. (www.stress.org) Heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, chronic pain, ulcers, lowered immune system function, accidents, and mental health issues are just some of the issues people could experience from long term exposure to stress. The good news is that if we can address our stressors, recognize the signs and symptoms, and take care of ourselves, stressful situations can be managed in healthier ways. With stress management, we can live life to our fullest even during a busy agricultural season. First, it’s important to recognize our
stressors. They are different for everyone. The key is to pinpoint what causes you stress and start managing it before it even happens. Once stress happens, it’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of those stressors. Stressors take a toll on your body and mind, so they need to be dealt with in an efficient manner. Common Signs and Symptoms of Stress: • Headaches • Irritability • Difficulty sleeping (sleeping less or more) • Muscle tension and aches • Changes in eating habits (eating less or more) • Anxiety and depression • Foggy thinking (memory, concentration, and decision-making difficulty) If signs and symptoms do appear, then further action should be taken to alleviate the stress as much as possible so that the physical and mental effect of the stressor is kept to a minimum. The best ways to manage stress: 1. Sleep: It’s often one of the most underrated ways to reduce stress, but it’s one of the most effective. Seven to nine hours of sleep helps the body heal and repair itself from working long hours. It not only helps alleviate stress symptoms, it’s also been connected to weight management and overall well-being. 2. Healthy Eating: Making sure to get a balanced, nutrient-rich food intake helps your body and mind cope with the stresses. Limiting certain “comfort foods” that are higher in caffeine, sodium, fat, and sugar will be helpful as well. 3. Exercise: Even though people in agriculture are typically active because of the nature of their work, it’s important to recognize that 30 minutes of purposeful activity that increases heartrate helps alleviate stress both physically and mentally. 4. Planning: If planning takes place and things can be managed before they take place, a lot of stress can be alleviated before it even starts. It does take diligence and thinking ahead, and we all know that
Cavalier County Republican some things come up last minute that we cannot control. If there are contingency plans in place incase of something happening, then we can alleviate the effects of the stressor. 5. Seek Professional Assistance: Whether it’s you or someone you know experiencing the pressures of stress and the toll it can take, there are several professional resources that can help if you feel it’s needed. Anyone can seek medical attention for physical or mental symptoms of stress from a primary care physician. Counselors or other mental health professionals can also be helpful resources. Whether it’s for you or someone you know, you can call FirstLink ND by dialing 2-1-1 for mental health assistance, or the National Suicide Helpline (1-800-2738255). NDSU Extension is also here to help. There are resources available to help you cope with farm and ranch stress throughout the year. Some helpful publications such as “Managing Stress for Better Health” (FS1730), “Stress Symptoms” (FS283), and “Managing Stress and Pursuing Wellness in Times of Tight Margins” (FS1925), are just a few of what we have to offer. You can visit all of our farm and ranch stress resources on our website at https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/extension/farmranchstress/. If you would like help finding a specific topic or would like a printed copy, feel free to call our office here in Cavalier County at 256-2560, or email katie.d.henry@ndsu.edu. Always remember that you don’t have to deal with stress alone. Don’t hesitate to use the emergency assistance of 911, The National Suicide Hotline (1-800-2738255), or FirstLInk 2-1-1. Help is just a click or phone call away. If stress can be managed, your season will be more enjoyable and run more smoothly. Just like you maintain the agricultural equipment on the farm, if you consider yourself as the most important piece of agricultural equipment there is, the rest will fall into place. You are priceless to your operation and should be treated as such. Have a great growing season!
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