I read with interest Marcy Svenningson's letter to the editor (May 3) and I feel it's time to set the record straight. It's this type of disharmony and backbiting among agriculture groups, which Svenningson promotes and feeds, which causes the policy problems both nationally and in our state for North Dakota producers.
There is plenty of credit to go around regarding disaster assistance. All of the North Dakota farm organizations, North Dakota Grain Growers Association and U.S. Durum Growers Association among them, participated in the effort. Additionally, hats off to Sen. Kent Conrad, Sen. Byron Dorgan, Congressman Earl Pomeroy and Gov. John Hoeven for making disaster assistance become a reality for North Dakota producers.
It is interesting to note that Svenningson touts going to Washington, D.C., to fight for disaster assistance in September 2004. What she fails to mention is that her attendance in Washington, D.C., came after disaster assistance had been passed in the U.S. Senate and was well on its way to passage in the U.S. House. What she also fails to mention is the fact that the U.S. Durum Growers and North Dakota Grain Growers organized an effort in July of 2004 to visit leaders in Washington, D.C., to begin the drumbeat for disaster assistance support.
She also forgets the fact that North Dakota Farmers Union President Robert Carlson telephoned the North Dakota Grain Growers and asked to be a part of a multi-farm organizational effort earlier in September in Washington, D.C., which was organized in part by NDGGA, to aid in the passage of disaster assistance. That request was welcomed and was granted.
Svenningson also forgets that in regards to quality loss provisions of disaster assistance, while the North Dakota Farmers Union sent a letter, the North Dakota Grain Growers and U.S. Durum Growers once again organized an effort consisting of multi-farm organizations to go to Washington, D.C., to meet directly with policy decision makers at USDA and in Congress. Those discussions paid off for North Dakota producers. What was more effective, a letter to the bureaucracy, or face-to-face discussions with the decision-makers involved? You be the judge.
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The fact is there are a host of domestic policy issues facing North Dakota producers today. While Svenningson and her small renegade group of malcontents run around and cause discord, the North Dakota Grain Growers and U.S. Durum Growers are working with USDA to make more producers deserving of disaster aid eligible for the program. While Svenningson and her small group write hate mail, the North Dakota Grain Growers and U.S. Durum Growers are requesting that USDA hold farm bill listening sessions in North Dakota. While Svenningson downplays the work of the North Dakota Grain Growers and U.S. Durum Growers, NDGGA and USDGA put $50,000 towards a rail-rate case against unfair grain shipping rates while the North Dakota Farmers Union puts up $5,000. The facts speak for themselves.
It is high time in North Dakota for farm organizations to band together for the good of agriculture. Bickering and in fighting by farm groups has no place in the agricultural landscape. The issues are too important, and the stakes are too high for North Dakota producers. Certainly there can be disagreement, that's what democracy is all about. I welcome the opportunity to work with Svenningson and all the farm organizations to make North Dakota agriculture more productive. The end of petty bickering can only spell good things for North Dakota.
I hope it's not too late for Svenningson to learn that.
Wogsland, a former state senator, is executive director of the U.S. Durum Growers Association and the North Dakota Grain Growers Association. E-mail danw@ndgga.com
