Association Perspectives

Addressing Issues That Affect Our Grain Profitability, Competitiveness

I’m Dan Wogsland, the new executive director of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association (NDGGA) and the U.S. Durum Growers Association (USDGA) and I am very excited about being a part of two of the most dynamic producer organizations in North Dakota.

I grew up on the family farm in Walum, N.D. (just south of Cooperstown), which I later operated for 26 years with my wife Deb, my dad, Richard, my mother, Evelyn, and my Uncle Vernon. Deb and I have three children and a new son-in-law:  my daughter Amber and her new husband Garett Lien, my oldest son, Adam, and my youngest son, Aric.  Family is the backbone of my life, very important to me.

I served 16 years in the N.D. Legislature as a state senator; one legislative session as the State Senate Majority Leader (which was a lot of fun) and one session as Minority Leader (not as much fun).  In November 2002, I went to work in Washington D.C. as a Legislative Assistant for Agriculture on the staff of U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan, an awesome experience that I am very grateful to the Senator and his staff for.

In July of 2004, the NDGGA and the USDGA gave me the opportunity to become executive director of their organizations.  Wasted no time unpacking dishes – there’s a lot of issues on the plate.

We’ve got the state legislative session around the corner, and some big issues in Washington. Debate on the next Farm Bill is expected to get underway this year, overshadowed by the massive federal deficit that will require deep cuts in federal spending. We’ll want to ensure that agriculture does not sustain a disproportionate share of the budgetary reductions.

Federal crop insurance is expected to receive attention. The need for adequate crop insurance that will truly and affordably reduce production risk is a major concern to farmers. Farmers need crop insurance products that will provide adequate protection even in times of disaster, including better protection of quality losses.

Biotechnology and the need for small grain producers to have seed varieties that meet today’s needs are major issues as well. If small grains are to stay a viable part of agriculture, seed varieties must keep up with the technologies found in corn and soybeans.

Education remains a big part of our mission, and we often cooperate with other associations and groups (such as the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers and others) as well as industry to accomplish this task. Information is critical in today’s ever changing agricultural world, and cooperative efforts such as this magazine and grower meetings have these objectives in mind. Take advantage of these educational and informational opportunities.

Membership support and involvement is critical to accomplish the goals of our Associations.  This magazine contains information on our association activities and on membership, and I encourage you to check it out. I consider it a great opportunity to be working with growers, industry, and other groups to address issues that affect our grain profitability and competitiveness in today’s global agricultural world.