Bismarck Farm and Ranch Guide
11-20-06
Stockmen's Association unveils legislative priorities
With the elections over and the state legislature soon commencing, the North
Dakota Stockmen's Association (NDSA) is setting priorities to ensure that the
needs of North Dakota cattle producers are addressed in the upcoming
legislative session.
Property taxes have been and continue to be among producers' top concerns,
said NDSA Executive Vice President Wade Moser.
"Property taxes continue to rise and cattle producers, as land owners, feel the
brunt of that," he said. "The Stockmen's Association is committed to finding
meaningful property tax relief and a more equitable system of education funding."
Moser is hopeful that the 2007 North Dakota Legislative Session is the session
that will finally accomplish it.
"We heard more campaign promises about property tax relief than any other
issue," he said. "We're hopeful that state legislators follow through on those
promises."
Securing more spots for North Dakota students at veterinary schools is another
legislative priority for the NDSA. At the organization's recent annual convention in
Fargo, N.D., members directed staff to pursue legislation that would allow for
designated slots for North Dakota veterinary students at Iowa State University
and other vet schools, remove the payback provisions of current vet school
funding programs and reinstate the legislative intent of providing five to 10 slots
through a Kansas State University veterinary student program established during
the last legislative session.
The veterinary profession requires long hours and hard work, which has deterred
some people from pursing the career. Consequently, there is a shortage of largeanimal veterinarians across the country. The NDSA has been working to reverse
that trend in a series of policy resolutions the last several years. The newly
passed resolution continues those efforts.
Beefing up some of the state's livestock laws is another NDSA member priority.
At the convention, they voted to pursue legislation to stiffen the penalties
associated with breaking them. NDSA Chief Brand Inspector Darryl Howard
explained why: "The current penalties for breaking these laws do not reflect the
seriousness of the crimes or the potential financial losses to producers." The
penalties for many of them are so minor, in fact, it is often difficult to convince
state's attorneys to prosecute those in violation, he said.
Two recent cases serve as examples. In one, a man forged another's name on a
livestock bill of sale to claim ownership on another's horse. While the man was
prosecuted and convicted, he was fined a total of $325. The horse was worth
$800. In another case, a man allegedly brought a stolen bull across state lines
and then branded him with his brand. The state's attorney in this case decided
against prosecuting at all, since unlawful branding is only a Class A
misdemeanor.
"We're not out to trip up well-intentioned producers for making honest mistakes,"
Howard said. "However, we do want the laws to reflect the seriousness of the
crimes of those who knowingly and willfully commit them."
The NDSA has set plenty of legislative priorities on the federal level as well,
Moser said. Securing meaningful disaster relief for those who suffered from the
year's extreme drought conditions is no. 1. He's hopeful that that is right around
the corner in Washington, D.C.
"Our goal is to make sure that assistance gets in the hands of those who need it
the most," Moser said. Regulatory bills that could affect the way cattle producers
do business - like the Superfund bills and Horse Slaughter Prevention Act - are
also making the NDSA's top-priority list. "Both of these issues were initiated by
anti-agriculture activists," Moser said, "and could set a dangerous precedent
about how agriculturists are required to manage manure and harvest animals."
The NDSA is urging the state's Congressional delegation to oppose bills that
would designate manure as a hazardous substance and that would make the
slaughter of horses illegal.
Various trade issues and other matters artificially inflating beef industry costs and
deflating beef industry profit potential are also on the NDSA's to-do list, Moser
said. NDSA members and non-members alike can stay abreast of the
organization's progress on state legislative matters by subscribing to the
Legislative Ledger, a weekly newsletter that explains bills of importance to the
beef industry and the NDSA's take on them and includes a weekly hearing
schedule. The Legislative Ledger is free for the asking and is available via mail or
e-mail each Friday during the session. To subscribe, contact NDSA Office
Manager Sherry Schulz at (701) 223-2522. To ask questions or offer input into
the legislative process, members are invited to call NDSA lobbyists Moser or
Julie Ellingson at the same number.