Landowners Association of North Dakota (LAND) -President's Report -

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

By Dennis Miller

One of the most common remarks I hear when visiting with farmers about LAND is "What are you doing, what are you accomplishing?" These are fair questions and should be asked of every organization and public official. Our form of government was founded upon the assumption of an informed and involved electorate.
I want to address this challenge of what LAND has done and is doing. At our January board meeting we listed some of the accomplishments of LAND, which include:

The repeal of "No net loss of wetlands" law
Influenced legislation on 30 year limits on wetland easements, sale of private land to non-profits and the protest vote.
United seven farm groups in a resolution of wetland policy
Participated in the first Property Rights Congress.
Maintained a continual presence in the legislature
Published a monthly newsletter providing education and information for our membership.

LAND has a presence on the State Technical Committee which advises the NRCS on rules and regulations concerning implementation of the farm program. We could see some encouraging results here. LAND is represented on the Ag Coalition and had a presence on the Commission for the Future of Agriculture (COFA) and is involved in Ag In The Classroom. LAND was asked to participate on a recent panel concerning hunting access on private land.

Our monthly newsletter is a great avenue to spread the truth about property rights and correct misinformation. I attended a workshop a while ago on dealing with the media. The presenter was a professional marketer. He stressed the importance of publicly challenging misinformation. He said a lie told in public and not challenged will be accepted as the truth.

I have two examples of public misinformation I would like to challenge. Both are outdated but they demonstrate why we need an avenue to present the truth.

Example 1. Mike McEnroe of the USFWS spoke on the Tony Dean show on April 16, 1997. (Remember the flood occurring at that time) He said, "through the water management efforts of USFWS, two feet of water has been held off Devils Lake.” This is scientifically impossible.

Example 2. In a letter to Governor Schafer dated July 16, 1998, Ducks Unlimited said they surveyed landowners in the prairie pothole region of North Dakota (between the Red River and Missouri River). DU claims "70% of the survey respondents in North Dakota would like to retain the same number or increase wetlands on their land. Similarly, 87% of the respondents said they wanted to keep the same amount or increase their grassland." This is unadulterated bunk.

LAND represents the honest views of landowners. We need LAND as a tool to present the truth in the face of dishonest organizations.

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