BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has commended federal officials for allowing emergency haying and grazing of conservation acres in five North Dakota counties.
“The North Dakota office of the USDA’s Farm Service Agency acted promptly and decisively in dealing with this situation,” Goehring said. “A lot of producers out there will need the additional hay and forage to keep their herds intact.”
BISMARCK – The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) will distribute more than $1 million dollars among 49 counties and one city for noxious weed control during the 2011-13 biennium.
“These funds were appropriated by the 2011 Legislature,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “The department, working with the North Dakota Weed Control Association (NDWCA), has developed two programs – the Landowner Assistance Program (LAP) and the Targeted Assistance Grants (TAG) – to provide a fair and effective means of getting this money to local weed control boards.”
BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says a draft environmental assessment (EA) and draft land protection plan (LPP) for the proposed Dakota Grassland Conservation Area (DGCA) show a marked bias against agriculture and rely on outdated information.
“The statements made against agriculture are troublesome,” Goehring said in a letter to the Division of Refuge Planning of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). “I believe these statements are biased, and the documents fail to recognize agriculture’s many benefits to wildlife.”
BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has approved $54,000 in grants to develop and conduct Agriculture in the Classroom Council programs for the upcoming school year.
“Agriculture in the Classroom programs provide teachers with lesson materials and other tools to help them make agriculture part of everyday learning for their students,” Goehring said. “These programs help young people understand where their food comes from and how to make healthy food choices.”
BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has appointed Mike Martin, Forbes, and Gerald Melvin, Buffalo, to two-year terms on the North Dakota Credit Review Board (CRB).
“Mike and Jerry are highly regarded and experienced farmers,” Goehring said. “Their knowledge and understanding of the problems facing modern producers, especially in regard to finance, will be valuable in the development of the CRB’s policy recommendations. I am very pleased that they have agreed to take on this responsibility.”
BISMARCK – Livestock producers along the Mouse (Souris) and Missouri rivers should consult with their veterinarians about vaccinating their animals for anthrax this summer.
“River floodwaters may contain anthrax spores and can expose spores already present in the soil, increasing the risk of anthrax on pasture and grazing land,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “If your veterinarian says your livestock – cattle, sheep horses and all grazing animals – are at risk and recommends vaccination, please follow that recommendation.”
BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring is cautioning home and business owners, and especially agricultural producers to have all-flood and moisture-damaged buildings inspected and properly treated for mold.
"Homes have priority, but other buildings such as shops, quonsets, barns and wooden granaries also need special care and consideration when they are inspected,” Goehring said. “At least one side of a barrier wall may need to be exposed for inspection for mold, and appropriate anti-fungal agents may need to be applied.”
BISMARCK – The North Dakota Crop Protection Product Harmonization and Registration Board will meet at 10 a.m., Thursday, July 28, in the Sakakawea Room on the ground floor of the State Capitol.
The board will review pesticide research proposals that were partially funded at its April meeting. The board will also evaluate a research funding request from Rich Zollinger of North Dakota State University and a grant request from the North Dakota Grain Growers Association.
BISMARCK – North Dakota’s top animal health officials are appealing for more volunteers to help maintain operations at the emergency pet shelter in Minot.
“Volunteers are needed to walk, feed and care for more than 400 pets,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, who visited the shelter Wednesday. “If you can spare a couple of hours every few days, the shelter will have plenty for you to do. There are times during the day when not just enough people to handle the necessary chores.”
Goehring said volunteers are especially needed at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring urges North Dakota residents to check their storage areas for any unusable pesticides and then bring them to one of the upcoming Project Safe Send collections.
"Project Safe Send is for farmers, ranchers, pesticide dealers and applicators, government agencies and homeowners – anyone who has unusable pesticides,” Goehring said. “Project Safe Send is a safe, simple and non-regulatory program to help you safely and legally get rid of unusable pesticides free of charge.”
