Vol. 3 - Issue 33
September 13, 2023
A Community Newspaper a Serving N orthwest North Dakot “A LIE DOESN’T BECOME TRUTH, WRONG DOESN’T BECOME RIGHT, AND EVIL DOESN’T BECOME GOOD, JUST BECAUSE IT’S ACCEPTED BY A MAJORITY.” — BOOKER T. WASHINGTON PETRICHOR: THE ENCHANTING SCENT OF EARTH’S RENEWAL By Kary Moltzan Dive into the science of petrichor - the delightful, earthy scent that often accompanies rain - and the feelings it can encourage. Page 4 BURGUM SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATING TEACHER RETNETION AND RECRUITMENT TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE. “North Dakota students deserve high-quality teachers in every classroom across our state, and school districts shouldn’t be scrambling every summer to fill positions at the last minute,” Burgum said. Page 5 ND PUBLIC SCHOOLS STATE THEIR CASE AMID VOUCHER DEBATE By Mike Moen, Prairie News Service In the educational landscape, there have been stronger pushes to use more public funding for private school vouchers. But some North Dakota voices express caution. Page 3 PRAIRIE FARE: MEALS IN THE FIELD, PAST AND PRESENT By Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist Regardless of how we spend our days, we need balanced meals to fuel our bodies and minds. Page 12
CRAFTS-4-U
By Erica Kingston, Page 8
brings global speaker to talk on suicide prevention
ND Farming Community Joins Push for Jumpstart on Farm Bill Talks By Mike Moen Prairie News Service North Dakota farmers and fellow producers from around the country are in Washington, D.C., this week, calling on Congress to prioritize the soon-to-expire Farm Bill. The sweeping policy, which carves out funding for agriculture programs as well as SNAP benefits, is updated every five years, and parts of the current version expire at the end of the month. The looming deadline is overshadowed by another fiscal fight: Lawmakers must agree on a broader spending plan by Oct. 1 to avoid a government shutdown. Christopher Lundeby, a fifth-generation farmer from
Policy analysts said the Farm Bill is generally a bipartisan issue, but reauthorization can get held up by spending disputes over certain programs, especially the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. (Adobe Stock)
northeastern North Dakota, is among those meeting with members of Congress, asking them to kick-start efforts on the Farm Bill. “You hope that they are truly feeling the same way that you are and are taking it to heart,” Lundeby explained. “But at the same time, in the
end, do they really agree with you or are they just trying to make you feel better?” Lundeby is also with the North Dakota Farmers Union, which wants provisions like a stronger farm safety net, better and permanent disaster programs, and farmer-friendly climate provisions. But some House Republicans, namely the Freedom Caucus, have said they want reductions. Policy experts have said with an agreement out of reach for now, the current Farm Bill could see a temporary extension. Even if a temporary extension happens, Lundeby pointed out there is real concern some aspects of the Farm Bill will be cut. He stressed with
market concentration still a problem within agriculture, now is not the time to lose sight of protecting smaller farmers from corporate influence. “Corporations and packers and other entities find the loopholes,” Lundeby emphasized. “It needs work. It’s getting better but it’s still a struggle when it comes to some of the issues.” Labor organizations representing farmers also want federal policymakers to enact a competition title. They say it would increase fairness in the marketplace and address corporate consolidation in food and ag markets. Those who traveled to Washington to demand action are expected to wrap up their meetings today.