Bismarck Farm and Ranch Guide, ND
02-03-07
ND Grain Dealers elect officers/directors
Clyde Krebs, of Glen Ullin, N.D., was re-elected president of the North Dakota
Grain Dealers Association at its convention held Jan. 14-16 at the Holiday Inn in
Fargo, N.D.
Other officers re-elected include Myron Uttermark of Harlow, N.D., first vice
president; and Dan DeRouchey of Berthold, N.D., second vice president.
Roger Wagner, manager of Grafton Farmers Co-op Grain Co., Grafton, N.D., and
Paul Lautenschlager, manager of Beach Coop Grain Co., Beach, N.D., were
elected to the 9-man board.
Todd Vogel, manager of Plains Grain & Agronomy, LLC, Marion, N.D., was reelected to another three-year term. Directors Phil Meyer of Overly, N.D.,, Mike
McNamee of Beulah, N.D., and Jim Kolle of Gwinner, N.D., retired from the
Board.
Program topics included biofuels, rail service, insurance needs and employee
training. Dr. David Swenson of Iowa State University told Grain Dealers some
of the assumptions being made about the benefits of ethanol production are
overly optimistic and that negative offsets must be considered. An example is
excessive job creation predictions.
Officials of the major railroads operating in North Dakota spoke to the group
about past performance and what they expect in 2007.
The Association took a position in favor of the $900,000 in the ND Public Service
commission budget for a railroad rate and service complaint fund.
Almost 1,000 people attended the convention, which included a trade show of
over 80 firms.
The January 2008 convention will again be held in Fargo, N.D.