[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6380562,"mediaKeyId","2131191-b103ef289eee7b1da88a34ad9f4eaff8","parentId",2131191,"title","Committee holds bill to raise wheat and barley assessments after hearing debate over uses of new funds","audioSeconds",2840,"startMs",2663000,"endMs",5503000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2131191-b103ef289eee7b1da88a34ad9f4eaff8&start=2663&end=5503","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2131191-b103ef289eee7b1da88a34ad9f4eaff8/thumbnail_2663000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6380562/North-Dakota/Committee-holds-bill-to-raise-wheat-and-barley-assessments-after-hearing-debate-over-uses-of-new-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380562-e10085909d2c4ce00402f798f603fd30/orig.mp4?Expires=1775315165&Signature=Jk0aktILcmFynwh-agywqiR96Y3cnrcPu4ygxb9nrACOCBltXJMXArXGv5CbPWtBrjQuqhzZ67dYMjkMKkjy-iNLgF0bbr51oHLq5fNfkTrnECrdfrqIYY7RQ-JECGHyzZy8v6XooyzXYeTeVveuJMu1WnTCj8PwwflB-tMSKLhGe8UhtGvnjQ8SwYgkBKmCqWATHw~tvG6KtRzFSdoA1REh6ZSi6ep-YgCEdK39Ue5aEDTxgcuiZFhnR1XloQ8l06nGReCcemPDQreMtargS9xKi4wUD~54Ea7nGl4iWR3RYy~wrC~pneobSxE7DV578gMHhdZ~E~xrNPPNwgy8NQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs, ND","date","2025-01-16T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee heard extensive testimony on Senate Bill 2161, which would raise assessments collected for the North Dakota Barley Council and the North Dakota Wheat Commission. After testimony supporting the increases for research, breeding and promotion, the committee chose to hold the bill for further consideration.

Senator Greg Kessel, a family farmer and sponsor, summarized the proposal: increase the barley assessment from 20 mills to 30 mills per bushel and the wheat assessment from 15 mills to 20 mills per bushel. He presented the increases as measures to ensure funding for research, marketing and staff continuity. \"These funds will be invested in key initiatives including research and development in improved crop yields and sustainability, marketing efforts to enhance competitiveness,\" he told the panel.

Barley and wheat representatives and industry groups offered repeated support. Nathan Ball, chairman of the North Dakota Barley Council, said the council had run deficit spending for several years and estimated a five‑year average deficit of about $65,000 annually; he said growers overwhelmingly supported the increase at the county‑representative level. Scott Husell and Aaron Chelland, commissioners and board members with the North Dakota Wheat Commission, described investments in public wheat breeding at North Dakota State University, international market development and the need to keep checkoff revenue aligned with rising costs. Alyssa Glass of the U.S. Durum Growers Association and Ryan Ellis of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association also testified in favor, citing research, domestic promotion and international marketing needs.

Speakers provided concrete figures and context: the current wheat checkoff of 15 mills is $0.015 per bushel; a 5‑mill increase was described as roughly an added two cents per bushel by one witness and \"about a dollar an acre\" by another when translated into per‑acre cost depending on yields. Nathan Ball said of 1,627 growers in 2024, 19 requested refunds (about 1.17%). Several witnesses pointed to lost capacity in other states that did not raise checkoffs.

Opposition testimony came from Matt Perdue representing the North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU). Perdue told the committee that while NDFU recognizes the value of checkoffs for research and market development, its membership policy opposes checkoff funds being used for political or lobbying activities. He explained that North Dakota Century Code 4.1‑13‑23 currently requires that at least 2 mills from the wheat checkoff be distributed to trade associations for activities including domestic wheat policy and sales. NDFU submitted a proposed amendment to remove the word \"at least,\" seeking to ensure any additional dollars created by the increase would be dedicated to research, education and market development rather than expanding funds available for policy or lobbying activities.

Committee members asked technical questions about how assessments are collected and refunded, reciprocity between elevators across state lines, and the current statutory allocation. Matt Perdue said he was not seeking to eliminate the existing 2‑mill allocation but to ensure the new revenue would not increase funds directed to policy activities.

After more than an hour of testimony, the committee did not vote on SB 2161 and opted to hold the bill to allow further review and potential amendment. No final fiscal figures or amendment language were adopted during the hearing.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Jan 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 2161, which would increase barley and wheat assessments to fund research, marketing and education, drew broad support from commodity groups and concern from the North Dakota Farmers Union over potential use of added dollars for policy or lobbying; the committee decided to hold the bill for further consideration.","taxTitle","Agriculture and Veterans Affairs, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28898,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6380566,"Committee gives do-pass recommendation to study farm safety insurance discount program",829,972000,1801000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2131191-b103ef289eee7b1da88a34ad9f4eaff8&start=972&end=1801","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2131191-b103ef289eee7b1da88a34ad9f4eaff8/thumbnail_972000.jpg","/articles/6380566/North-Dakota/Committee-gives-do-pass-recommendation-to-study-farm-safety-insurance-discount-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380566-f5668d74b077b285c7c0c10dfef60179/orig.mp4?Expires=1775315165&Signature=UJl-SgUnFFZ8Tet0m6K7QQ3QKsx5iLyOvHxDDksCB5CJm9CchKonsiQ6T50-X8bdUQ2K3AZxyu5Q0IueEt7MkoSe5joJ7-5QmbFa7veQHwJqJfvNmmD5os-nyvDOK~3eNUiW~HMc~peuQsKr1WWkOkChnqEtOnU2UVlwgLfVXcgGZ16kkm9yt4SqOdDA2nyAHzdVTO3xjwL5uhX~R9QWJv1z-lNTag9P3d0iyDcLCxCYHhpirVyvuyFwenoazCQgmEcwgBBdK4RHDuwUrMTMTATjFDt-6EDrYStBwX2QqqVt1ret1TS3lEwfWX-8Hit5z7fOJWBmEgeEGlaSpkaoMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee voted to recommend Senate Bill 2157 for passage after witnesses urged the Legislature to study whether a farm safety program could support insurance premium discounts for safer operations.

Senator Scribe, who introduced the bill, told the committee the idea grew from conversations with local farmers and from an alarming number of recent farm accidents. \"The number is quite staggering,\" he said, listing tractor mishaps, grain bin entrapments, well falls, baler and equipment entanglements, and chemical inhalations. He urged a legislative study to identify durable, measurable safety training that could justify an insurance discount.

The bill would create a legislative management study to explore how a farm safety insurance discount program might be designed and implemented. Senator Scribe said he consulted the Insurance Commissioner John Godfried, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goin and NDSU Extension farm and ranch safety coordinator Angie Johnson while developing the idea. He told the panel a single course is unlikely to cover the many hazards on modern farms and recommended a meaningful, multi‑stakeholder study rather than a cursory review.

Supporters who testified told personal and industry stories to underscore the toll of farm accidents. State Representative Keith Kepnick said training can be scarce for smaller operations and hired help and described grain‑handling and livestock incidents he has witnessed. Christie Schlosser Carlson of Farmers Union Insurance and the North Dakota Farmers Union said her insurer has run similar programs and would be willing to assist. Dan Wagsland of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association said the measure is \"a proactive approach to safety.\" John Arnold, Deputy Insurance Commissioner, told the committee the insurance department is \"happy to take part\" and noted safer operations mean fewer claims and the potential to help constrain premiums.

A motion to give SB 2157 a \"do pass\" recommendation was made and seconded. The committee recorded affirmative votes during a roll call (Senator Marsalai: yes; Senator Weston: yes; Senator Weber: yes; Chairman Lueck: yes; Vice Chair Meyedal: aye; Senator Lamb: aye). After the vote, the committee designated a member to carry the bill to further proceedings.

The bill as written directs a study; it does not create an insurance discount or set eligibility criteria. Witnesses and the introducer emphasized the study should include the Insurance Commissioner and Agriculture Commissioner and consider funding for NDSU research and nonvoting industry experts in interim workgroups. No timetable or appropriation amount was specified in testimony.

The committee's recommendation advances the study concept to the next step in the legislative process; further drafting and any future statutory changes would depend on the study's findings and subsequent bills.

","The Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee recommended Senate Bill 2157 for passage after hearing testimony urging a legislative study into creating a farm safety insurance discount program aimed at reducing on‑farm injuries and fatalities.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee holds bill to raise wheat and barley assessments after hearing debate over uses of new funds

Committee gives do-pass recommendation to study farm safety insurance discount program