Issue 67
Prairie Grains

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Prairie Grains is the official publication of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, Montana Grain Growers Association and South Dakota Wheat, Inc.

Copyright Prairie Grains Magazine
March  2005

New Wheat Resolutions, Leaders for 2005

Following are some of the new and notable farm policy resolutions approved by grower-members of state wheat/grain associations in the Northern Plains for 2005, forwarded to the National Association of Wheat Growers for national consideration.  NAWG resolutions can be found online at www.wheatworld.org .

Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers New Resolutions for 2005

  • MAWG encourages wheat growers to support the use of biotechnology to improve wheat production and wheat end use qualities.
  • Supports permanent funding for Minnesota Department of Agriculture international marketing activities.
  • Supports permanent funding for Minnesota Department of Agriculture international marketing activities.
  • Supports further reform of Crop Insurance to accurately reflect crop quality losses including falling numbers and updating quality adjustment factors.
  • Supports the option of insuring on a whole farm revenue basis.
  • Supports seeking legislation that creates a state indemnity fund that protects producer sales against merchandiser insolvency and is fair and equitable to all producers.
  • Opposes re-establishment of base acres on CRP acres.
  • Opposes the legislature or any local units of government passing any law preventing farmers from planting seed approved by the federal government.

2005 MAWG Board of Directors
Richard Magnusson, Roseau, president; Gaylen Affield, Fergus Falls, first vice president; Bryan Hest, Perley, second vice president; Scott Swenson, Elbow Lake, secretary-treasurer; Chad Anvinson, East Grand Forks; Paul Johnson, Hallock; Melissa Petry, Ada.

North Dakota Grain Growers Association New Resolutions for 2005

  • Supports no reduction in domestic support policies until Europe takes steps to reduce theirs.
  • Supports no reduction in U.S. ag tariffs until other countries make significant reductions.  Export credits are not export subsidies and should be maintained along with U.S. food aid programs.
  • Encourages USDA-RMA to use personal T-yields as an option in determining producers’ crop insurance yields. 
  • Urges Valent Corporation to seek EPA registration of Curumba fungicide.
  • Urges EPA to grant Bayer CropScience a Section 3 label for Folicur fungicide and that Bayer CropScience obtain a Section 18 label for jau6476.
  • Supports expanded domestic production of oil and natural gas and expanded development of renewable energy sources.
  • Encourages U.S. Wheat Associates and NAWG to apply for Market Access Program funding for biotech education of wheat buyers.

2005 NDGGA Board of Directors
Terry Wanzek, Jamestown, president; Greg Daws, Michigan, vice president; Doyle Lentz, Rolla, vice president; Mike Martin, Forbes, secretary-treasurer; Keith Neshem, Berthold; Mark Anderson, Regent; Bob Bahm, Minot; Robert Ferebee, Halliday; Jay Elkin, Taylor; Greg Nelson, Litchville; David Thompson, Lakota.

Montana Grain Growers Association New and Key Policy Resolutions for 2005

  • Supports the development of individual risk management accounts.
  • Supports a crop insurance closing date that more accurately reflects the season in which the crop is planted.
  • Supports the producer’s right to accept or reject RMA administrative policy changes implemented after the sign-up date for that current year.
  • Encourages MSU to establish at each research center, where possible, a dedicated acreage in an organic system for the purpose of yield trials and other research projects.
  • With respect to glyphosate tolerant wheat, MGGA asks biotech providers not to introduce the crop until volunteer control packages that are at least as cost effective as current generic glyphosate production systems are available.
  • Opposes net expansion of CRP acreage. All conservation practices should be production-based programs and not land retirement based.
  • Urges limiting acreage on all new CRP contracts to no more than 25% of total cropland acres of any owner.
  • MGGA supports full funding and full implementation of the conservation security program.
  • Supports the Alliance for Rail Competition and their efforts to achieve increased rail competition for all shippers.
  • Opposes discriminatory inverse transportation rates offered by BNSF for shuttle trains hauling grain from Eastern North Dakota and Minnesota at lower rates than from Eastern Montana to the PNW.
  • Urges Montana Department of Transportation to maintain & improve farm to shuttle facility roads to handle increased loads and traffic.

For a complete list of MGGA’s 2005 Policy Resolutions, log on to www.mgga.org/mgga/res.html.

MGGA 2005 Officers
Keith Schott, Broadview, president; Jon Stoner, Havre, vice president; Alex Smith, Lewistown, treasurer; Darin Arganbright, Carter, secretary; Lochiel Edwards, Big Sandy, past president.

South Dakota Wheat Inc
A key resolution in 2005 is requesting the S.D. Legislature for a ½ cent increase in the check-off for wheat research and promotion.  The increase would generate about $500,000 annually to be used for further research, transportation issues, market development for white wheat and possible research of selenium wheat and/or selenium enriched wheat products.

SDWI 2005 Executive Committee/Officers
Carl Schwab, Andover, president; Steve Masat, Redfield, vice president; Bill Huber, Parmelee, secretary-treasurer; Julian Roseth, Midland; Larry Nagel, Gettysburg; Chet Edinger, Mitchell.