September 8, 2020

Weather comes with a price tag for farmers and ranchers

Topic: Issues

September 8, 2020: As if too wet or too dry weren't enough, last night some parts of the state got well below freezing, which is pretty early in the season. But farmers and ranchers are resilient.

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Read the transcript:

A little frost on the pumpkin already happened this year. Portions of the state saw below 32 degrees, in fact some portions saw 20 degrees, which is fairly odd for this time of the year. It’s a little bit before the average frost date, but then we must remember, to get an average, you need an early, and a late, which gives you an average date.

This frost reminds me of the many variations of weather that can affect the outcome of a crop. It can affect the production of a very needed food. And how a frost, or not enough rain, or too much rain, or wind, those variations often come with a price tag. A price tag of loss of bushels. A price tag of loss of quality. The price tag of destruction of property and the price tag to the local communities.

As farmers end up with less in their pocket, they spend less in town; therefore, the realization of just how important agriculture is to the great state of North Dakota. We are the backbone – farmers and ranchers – of not only our state, but of our great nation. And as agriculture goes, so do the small communities. Even the larger communities see an impact.

It’s a wonder that farmers and ranchers remain eternal optimists when everything when everything we do can disappear in a matter of minutes or hours based on the different weather conditions.

We at NDFB love the fact, we get to represent the best, the most optimistic, the most productive farmers and ranchers, and that’s the farmers and ranchers of North Dakota.