"UNPRECEDENTED" FALL FLOODING

Governor Burgum described the 2019 Fall Flood an "unprecedented situation" while addressing a crowd of over 300 at the Festival Hall in Fessenden on Monday, Oct. 21. The nearly 90-minute town hall meeting drew residents from at least seven counties, including Wells, Foster, Eddy, Benson, Sheridan, Stutsman and Kidder.

The open microphone style meeting had farmers, ranchers, local officials and first responders all standing up to share their challenges and offer suggestions on how to ease the burdens they face after the area saw a record wet September followed by a rare October blizzard that dumped an additional 2-4 inches of moisture on already saturated ground.

Burgum said that although North Dakotans are resilient and know how to handle floods, the timing of this particular flood was extraordinary for producers, with "billions of dollars in inupts" still in the ground and livestock stalled in pastures.

County and township roads were identified as the major priority by nearly all the groups represented. The producers said that they cannot haul equipment or move livestock on washed out roads, first responders noted how they lose precious time rerouting ambulances and fire trucks in emergency situations, and local officials talked about the need to make tough calls about when and how to fix roads, especially given the cost.

Eddy County farmer Jacob Burkhardsmeier pointed out how the school bus routes are affected. He described how he and many other rural residents spend hours using their own equipment to clear a path for not only the buses but also for the teachers and staff to get to school. His wife Whitney is a teacher at New Rockford-Sheyenne.

Burgum recognized that the state is "behind the eight ball" in regards to addressing roads, and said that he heard loud and clear that roads are at the top of the priority list when it comes to disaster assistance.

Kidder County Commissioner David Schultz suggested that the state consider making Legacy Fund money and Prairie Doginfrastructure payments available now to address the situation. Burgum replied that there is a potential for some loans without legislation. The first Prairie Dog infrastructure payments are expected to flow to counties, cities and townships in July 2021, and he added that there is a potential for the Bank of North Dakota to advance the funds to affected areas with a loan program. Any decision on that would come from the State Industrial Commission, which is made up of Governor Doug Burgum, Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring and Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem.

Both crop and livestock losses were clearly outlined by many speakers from the floor. "Anybody that's got cattle is in a world of hurt," noted Wells County producer Jim Neumiller. "It is a daily issue to keep fences and haul hay," added Bowdon area rancher Jon Tebelius. At least 50 other people in attendance acknowledged that they faced a similar situation. Farmers in Stutsman County noted that even at the highest points there they saw 25-30% feedstock loss due to rotting bales.

State Water Commissioner Michael Anderson, as well as local water board officials, got an earful as well. Manfred area farmer Dale Schmitz said water is inundating him from two fronts: the James River and neighbors with drain tile pumps. He said he understood the river overflow, chalking it up to "surface water we can't control." However, he asked that drain tile pumps be shut down until the conditions improve. In response, Gov. Burgum asked for a show of hands regarding how many farmers believe drain tile pumps were raising water levels, and at least 30 people concurred. Larry Skiftun of the Wells County Water Resource Board, who is also a representative for his county on the joint Eddy, Wells and Foster board said that east of Fessenden many farmers were asked to shut their tile pumps down, and that all complied with the request.

Skiftun acknowledged though that there are other non-permitted tile pumps on 79 acres or less for which the water board doesn't have oversight. Since permits are not required, the state does not know where they exist and therefore cannot require that those pumps be shut down. Governor Burgum responded that the state law regarding tile pump permitting was an "opportunity for the legislature to address."

Eddy County farmer Austin Langley took the opportunity to ask that the state "think outside the box" and consider ways to make farming more palatable to the pocketbook, noting the success of the state owned mill and bank.

"We have the highest basis in the country," he declared, noting that the North Dakota Mill and Elevator had $10 million in profit in 2019. He asked that the state consider returning some of the earnings to farmers to help reduce the basis. Langley also asked that perhaps public money could be used for a soybean processing plant.

"Basis is an issue for our state," Burgum replied. He also addressed the comment about soybean processing. "I think a soybean (processing) plant is going to get built without state assistance. The market is there," Burgum said. He added that projects like the soybean processing plant are an opportunity for producers to "control their destiny with more value-added."

Ethan Markestad of Benson County asked about harvest deadlines, noting that further issues were ahead if corn and soybeans were still in the ground come spring. Goehring said he is not in favor of extending harvest deadline dates because farmers may not be eligible for preventive plant next spring if the crop is still standing. He advised that farmers "exhaust every option until that harvest deadline approaches."

Speaking of harvest progress, USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service issued its weekly report on Monday, Oct. 21. For the week of Oct. 14-20, 2019, there were 2.2 days suitable for fieldwork.

Soybean conditions rated 4% very poor, 12% poor, 35% fair, 46% good, and 3 excellent. Only 20% of the soybeans were harvested, well behind 51% last year and 81% for the five-year average.

Spring wheat harvested was 95%, behind 100% both last year and average.

Corn condition rated 2% very poor, 8% poor, 30% fair, 53% good, and 7% excellent. Just 65% of the crop had matured, well behind 98% last year and 93% on average. Only 4% of the corn was harvested, behind 20% last year, and well behind the average of 24%.

Although the condition of the sugar beet crop was positive, with 75% rated excellent and only 11% rated from very poor to fair, only 41% of the beets had been harvested, compared to 74% last year and 91% on average.

The potato and dry edible bean harvests are also behind. An estimated 64% of the potato crop is harvested compared to 89% last year, and 61% of the dry edible beans are harvested, well behind 96% last year.

The soil is saturated too. Topsoil moisture supplies across the state rated 34% adequate and 66% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 42% adequate and 58% surplus.

Monday morning, Gov. Doug Burgum signed an executive order declaring a statewide flood emergency, paving the way for requests for federal assistance to help North Dakotans deal with significant flooding impacts caused by heavy fall rains and a historic October blizzard.

The disaster declaration kicked off a day of meetings with local officials, community members and agricultural producers in Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown and Fessenden. State officials and representatives from the state's Congressional delegation were there to hear firsthand about the potentially devastating impacts of the unusually wet weather and to share information about the state's response, including gathering information for possible requests for a USDA secretarial disaster designation and a presidential disaster declaration.

A USDA secretarial disaster designation would unlock financial assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Plus Program, or WHIP+. Payments from the program take into account a producer's crop insurance coverage and the size of the loss. A presidential disaster declaration would include public assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of damaged road infrastructure.

Eight counties and four cities in North Dakota had issued flood emergency declarations by Monday morning. Emergencies have been declared in the counties of Barnes, Cavalier, Grand Forks, LaMoure, Stutsman, Traill, Walsh and Wells and the cities of Grand Forks, Jamestown, LaMoure and Valley City.

The Eddy County Commission issued an emergency declaration around noon on Monday, adding us to the list.