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He,tkamp statement on
Farm Bill developments
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen-
ator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the
following statement after negotiators
released a compromise version of the
Senate and House Farm Bills. A mem-
ber of the Senate Committee on Agri-
culture, Heitkamp played a key role in
passing a bipartisan Farm Bill through
the Senate.
"After serious negotiations, Re-
publicans and Democrats have forged
a compromise that moves us closer to
getting a long-term Farm Bill signed
into law," said Heitkamp. "I'm confi-
dent that this Farm Bill strikes the
right balance to make sure a strong
safety net will be provided to North
Dakota's diverse agricultural system,
which leads the nation in the produc-
tion of over 13 different commodities.
For too long, our farmers and ranchers
have faced uncertainty because of de-
lays in Washington. We are very close
to the finish line, but we must keep
pressure on members to work tbgether
and get this done so North Dakota
producers can focus on what they do
best: feeding the world."
The compromise Farm Bill in-
cludes many important priorities
Heitkamp worked to include in the
legislation. Specifically, she worked
to"
• Reauthorize livestock disaster
programs - Ranchers who experi-
enced losses due to natural disasters
will be able to recoup portions of their
losses, backdated when the programs
initially expired in October of 2011.
• Provide option for farm-level
coverage in farm program - Western
States with large counties are not well
served by county-level programs, be-
cause serious hardship for producers
can be overlooked when losses are de-
termined on a county-wide basis. For
this reason, it is important that farmers
have the opportunity to choose a farm
level program that more effectively
targets support where needed.
• Support for farmers experiencing
"I'm confident that this Farm Bill strikes
the right balance to make sure a strong
safety net will be provided to North Dakota's
diverse agricultural system, which leads the
nation in the production of over 13 different
commodities."
wet seasons - One of the greatest risks
facing North Dakota growers is wet
conditions that prevent growers from
planting their crops. For the commod-
ity title to function as a risk mitigation
tool that serves the needs of all regions
of the country, it is important that any
update to production history esures
that acres prevented from planting are
counted for participatio n in the farm
program.
• Authorize buyout program for
flooded Devils Lake farmers - Farm-
ers in the Devils Lake Basin have seen
thousands of formerly productive
acres lost due to the expansion of
Devils Lake. The terminal lakes buy-
out program, for expanding lakes,
which is authorized for the first time
by the Farm Bill, will create a federal-
state partnership program that may be
used to compensate farmers for a por-
tion of their losses.
• Prevent the farm program that
does not influencing planting deci-
sions - Coupling planted acres with
target prices may lead to incentives for
growers to make planting decisions
based on. the payouts offered by a
farm program. Nearly all of the North
Dakota commodity groups have
stressed the importance of decoupling
planted acres from the program in
order to avoid planting distortions.
This is due to the fact that North
Dakota manages a delicate balance,
growing at times over 20 different
commodities in the state and leading
the nation in the production of 13 dif-
Senator Heidi Heitkamp
ferent commodities.
• Authorize water retention pro-
gram to address flooding in the Red
River Valley - Senator Heitkamp
fought to make sure targeted support
will be available for multi-state, criti-
cal conservation areas like the Red
River Valley.
• Fund for renewable energy pro-
grams - The Farm Bill makes critical
investments to the renewable fuel in-
dustry at.a time when it needs it most.
North Dakota is home to four ethanol
plar/ts and the largest biodiesel plant
in North America.
• Improve the wetland mitigation
process - The bill creates.a wetland
mitigation bank to help farmers better
manage excess water on their farms
while at the same time providing im-
proved habitats for water fowl. Addi-
tionally, the legislation directs the
Secretary of Agriculture to provide
Congress with recommendations for
how the processes could be improved
to better enable growers to use wet.;v ,i'
land mitigations, a process that is cu
Bighorn sheep were spotted in Dawson County. (Ranger-Review file photo)
Bighorns moving into Dawson County unaided
By Jason Stuart
Ranger-Review Staff Writer
A couple of bighorn sheep were
spotted again earlier this month in
Dawson County, and there are indi-
cations that a small number of the
majestic animals may be attempting
to recolonize the area.
"Historically, there were
bighorns out here," said Montana
Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist
rentlyunderutilized. Melissa Foster, noting that the
• Enhance conservarough, .brg_ken €ouot!y. made for
assistance - A backlog at the U.S. De-
partment of Agriculture (USDA) for
wetland determinations is a source of
frustration for many growers in North
Dakota. The compromise includes a
provision to allow USDA to deter-
mine funding amounts for technical
assistance so that the department can
target resources to where they are
most needed.
Census Bureau estimates 18,000
individuals migrated to in 2013
Bismarck, N.D. - The U.S. Census
Bureau today released estimates that
show approximately 18,000 people
migrated into the state in 2013. This
compares to an estimated net migra-
tion into the state of 12,200 in 2012
and 6,900 in 2011.
"These figures reaffirm that a ma-
jority of the growth in 2013 came
from in-migration," Kevin Iverson,
manager of the Census Office at the
North Dakota Department of Com-
merce said. "The change is most dra-
matic when compared tO data ten
years ago. Between 2000 and 2003
North Dakota had lost approximately
8,400 residences. We were last of the
50 states in terms of growth a decade
ago. After those years of out-migra-
tion, it's great to see that our eco-
nomic growth is drawing individuals
to the state."
The U.S. Census Bureau's infor-
mation takes into consideration com-
ponents of population change such as
births, deaths and migration. North
Dakota had 10,028 births and 5,754
deaths last year.
Census data released last month
showed North Dakota's population
.reached an estimated all-time high of
723,393 residents, an increase of
22,048 from last year's count. Last
year, North Dakota's estimated 2012
population of 699,629 residents ex-
ceeded the state's record Census
count set in 1930.
North Dakota's population has
also been getting younger. Census
data shows that the median age of
North Dakota residents continued to
climb between 2000 and 2008, reach-
ing about 37.3 years of age. Since
2008, the median age of North
Dakota residents has declined to 36.1
years of age.
The full report is available
at: http://www.census.gov/
The North Dakota Department of
Commerce works to improve the
quality of life for North Dakota citi-
zens by leading efforts to attract, re-
tain and expand wealth. Commerce
serves businesses and communities
statewide through committed people
and partners who offer valuable pro-
grams and dynamic services.
OnT.,00Dav Bucs take over top spot
1649: King Charles I of England
was beheaded.
Roundball
Fever
By Bob Waldal
1933: Adolf Hitler was named Chan-
cellor of Germany.
1948." Gandhi was assassinated.
1968: North Vietnamese forces
launched attacks against the South Viet-
namese, beginning the Tet offensive.
BOWMAN ..... The RUNNING
BUCS wasted no time coming out
pressing and running for 27 first
quarter points that virtually decided
the game.
Three Buccaneers were in double
figures with Hailee Farstveet leading
the way with 22 points followed by
Bailey Waldal, 16, and Cid Stedman,
12. Most of the damage was done by
the three seniors by scoring all 27
points in the first quarter.
The Bucs mixed their defenses up
in the first quarier coming up with
numerous steals and capitalized on
Bowman's misques. Opening games
have not been friendly with this
year's Buccaneers as they have been
plagued with slow starts all through-
out the season. The seniors made it a
point that they were going to change
that and they did in good fashion tak-
ing over the top spot in Region 7 with
key wins over Trinity and now Bow-
"We know that there's movement
between North Dakota and the
rough country on the east side of the
Yellowstone River," Foster said.
Another possible source is a herd
of bighorns that was transplanted
from Theodore Roosevelt National
Park to the Missouri Breaks several
years ago. According to Foster, not
all of those transplanted bighorns
stayed put.
Some community members have
advocated for trying to establish a
herd in Makoshika State Park, but
Foster said doing so would still
carry a high risk for contact with do-
mestic sheep because bighorns
would roam out of the park in
search of forage and water.
"Makoshika, by itself, isn't a
large enough area to support a vi-
able sheep herd," Foster said.
Bucs
(Continued on Page 8)
1972: British troops opened fire on
civil rights marchers in Northern Ire-
land, sparking the "Bloody Sunday"
massacre.
prime bighorn habitat.
Bighorns were extirpated from
Dawson County by the early 20th
century, but recently a small number
of bighorns have seemingly started
to move back in.
"The last couple of years, we've
been getting sightings around this
time," Foster said.
She added that FWP is not cer-
tain where the bighorns spotted in
Dawson County disappear to for the
rest of the year, but said it is be-
lieved up to 10-12 individuals may
have moved into the area.
Foster said that the "consensus
is" the bighorns seen in Dawson
County are "descended from sheep
that came out of North Dakota," and
that the sheep sighted here could be
from one of two possible sources.
One source is simply individuals
who have fanned out from North
Dakota.
"We had some of those sheep
that came about halfway home," she
said.
Though a few bighorns appear to
have moved back into Dawson
County, Foster said it is "pretty un-
likely" that their numbers will grow.
The reason, she said, is the 4,100
domestic sheep still grazing in Daw-
son County, and the potential for
contact between the two species.
However, in this case, it's the do-
mestic sheep that pose a threat to the
bighorns, not vice versa.
"If those sheep get into contact
with domestic sheep, pneumonia's a
huge threat," Foster said. "Domes-
tic sheep tend to just be carriers, but
it's terribly deadly for bighorns.
That disease would probably keep
the bighorn population down."
That potential for disease trans-
fer from domestic sheep to bighorns
is a major reason why FWP hasn't
actively worked to re-establish a
bighorn population in the county.
Though Foster doubts a large
bighorn population is currently pos-
sible in Dawson County, she did add
that if there ever was a large herd
here, it would be a "great opportu-
nity."
"If we did have a sustainable
herd and access to those animals,
what an opportunity that would be
for sportsmen in Eastern Montana,"
she said.
In the meantime, Foster encour-
ages anyone spotting bighorns in the
area -- or any other wildlife not typ-
ically seen here, for example moose
or wolves -- to contact her with their
sightings so FWP can better track
their movements.
"It's wonderful when people call
me with those observations," she
said.
Sightings of bighorns and other
atypical wildlife can be reported to
Foster at 796-5766.
Reach Jason Stuart at rrre-
porter@rangerreview.com.
Planning firm hired to assist in process
for Theodore Roosevelt Center at DSU
DICKINSON, N.D. - Dickinson three firms they have worked on six fine the scope and direction for the
State University (DSU) has hired presidential museums and memorial Center. Economic Stewardship, Inc.,
Hilferty & Associates Inc. to assist in sites, will lead the research in projecting
the planning process for the further Hilferty is a unique and accom- future audience numbers, will ana-
development of the Theodore Roo- plished planning and design firm lyze and recommend potential fund-
sevelt Center. DSU and Hilferty will based in Athens, Ohio. Since 1971 ing sources, and will be instrumental
soon be hosting a series of commu- they have brought well over 100 in- in defining an operating budget to
nity forums to discuss the future of terpretive and visitor centers and mu- carry the Center forward. BVH Ar-
the Theodore Roosevelt Center and seums to life, in fields as varied as chitects will explore potential sites
its place in the city and region. This technology, science, natural history, for the Center. Working with Hilferty,
planning effort responds to the North sports, cultural history, and Native they will define the scope and scale
Dakota state legislature's mandate, in American heritage. Each project is of the building and establish a capital
Senate Bills 2018 and 2003, to con- characterized by Hilferty's meticu- budget for construction.
struct a facility for the Theodore lous workmanship, vivid communi- "The planning process, conduct-
Roosevelt Center. cation, and faithfulness to a shared ing interviews, gathering research,
Hilferty & Associates has assem- client-designer vision. Richard Wool- and leading workshops is an exciting
bled a team of experienced profes- lacott, vice president with Hilferty, time in every project," said Woolla-
sionals, including the firms of will be the lead project manager for cott."This is when the story and the
Economic Stewardship, Inc., and the planning process, needs of the Center begin to emerge,
BVH Architects. The three firms In addition to assisting with the and the design for the new facility
have collaborated on the highly ac- community forums, Hilferty will develops. This is such an exciting op-
claimed Flint Hills Discovery Center conduct interviews with interested portunity for Dickinson State Uni-
in Kansas and the Sioux City Public individuals and groups to explore versity, the City of Dickinson, and
Museum in Iowa. Hilferty produced possibilities for the expanded the Theodore Roosevelt Center."
the Master Interpretive Plan for the Theodore Roosevelt Center. These
Smithsonian's National Museum of initial interviews will lead to a Vi- Planning
the American Indian. Among the sion/Mission workshop that will de- (Continued on Page 8)
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