By Scout Nelson
Senator John Hoeven is working to advance several major priorities that affect North Dakota’s agriculture industry, energy sector, water supply, and rural economy. His efforts include measures designed to support farmers and ranchers, increase energy production, and improve important infrastructure across the state.
At a recent Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce roundtable, Hoeven discussed his work on agriculture, energy and water projects. His efforts include advancing the Farm Bill 2.0, additional agricultural assistance, the Crack the Code 2.0 initiative and funding for the Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply Project.
“In recent months, we’ve made tremendous headway on issues important to our state. Agriculture is a great example. The policies we’ve secured in the Senate’s Farm Bill will help maintain our nation’s network of small, family-based farms, which is critical to our food security. This legislation contains more than 100 bipartisan bills, including provisions I authored that will make a real difference for North Dakota producers, which come in addition to the $12 billion in agriculture assistance we’re working to pass through reconciliation,” said Hoeven.
“We also continue moving forward on my Crack the Code 2.0 initiative, part of our efforts to realize the potential of our abundant coal and oil reserves and make the U.S. truly energy dominant. At the same time, we’ve provided $158 million for ENDAWS, and I’m advancing legislation to ensure we have the federal support needed to bring this project to completion. In these and other ways, we are advancing policies important to our state’s economy across the board.”
The Farm Bill 2.0 includes several provisions important to North Dakota producers. These measures include higher Farm Service Agency loan limits, support for fertilizer storage, soil health and wildlife programs, prairie dog management, mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef and continued funding for grassland conservation partnerships.
The legislation also supports farm ownership loans, a study on dry edible beans, clearer livestock indemnity payments and a crop insurance change for producers affected by the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Project.
Hoeven is also advancing Crack the Code 2.0, which aims to improve oil recovery in the Bakken while extending the operating life of coal-fired power plants. The first phase includes federal, state and private funding for pilot projects using carbon dioxide for enhanced oil recovery.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-fertnig
Categories: North Dakota, Government & Policy