Easements on agriculture property are once again a major issue. The editorial boards of the Fargo Forum and Bismarck Tribune took pro conservation easement stances last fall and a recent Farm and Ranch Guide guest column was favorable to easements. Five pieces of legislation dealing with easements were all defeated in the North Dakota legislature this year.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGF) is also getting involved with easements with the CREP program. CREP would pay farmers to plant food plots for wildlife and also to allow hunting on these properties. There appears to be an oversight by the designers of this program, however. The funding for food plots lasts for 15 years but the landowner must sign a 30 year easement with NDGF to be eligible. Doesn't this seem a little fishy?

Farming has certainly shown a negative cash flow for many in the state. I'm sure everyone is doing mental gymnastics trying to squeeze a profit from their operations. It is interesting that conservation groups are showing up with wallets filled with cash for purchasing easements at the same time farmers cannot find a crop to plant that will turn them a profit without government help. Why don't these "philanthropic" groups who claim to support family farms work to do something that will truly help production agriculture? They could give grants to reduce property tax, repair roads or mitigate flood damage, fund research to find disease resistant crops and livestock.

If you allow me to think out loud, I wonder who is lobbying behind the scenes to keep North Dakota farmers from purchasing cheaper Canadian crop protectants or who is working against the Wheat Commission's section 301 complaint alleging unfair pricing of Canadian grain in the U.S.? I would think a wealthy organization that has no ties to production agriculture but has a vested interest in obtaining control over agricultural property through easements could create willing sellers by manipulating the farm economy. I would really like to know if there is a connection here and in other issues related to farm profitability.

Thank you for your efforts in supporting LAND. We are always encouraged by new memberships. I am surprised at the number of people who learn of LAND and say every North Dakota farmer needs to be a member.