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Difficult time for many ND farmers

This is a very difficult time for many farmers in North Dakota who are faced with the problem of trying to get their crops harvested in fields flooded or saturated with water, and if they can harvest, to get those crops to the elevators over muddy or flooded roads.

On Monday Gov. Doug Burgum, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and other state officials made a trip across the state to see areas impacted by extremely wet conditions.

On Monday, Burgum also signed an executive order declaring a statewide flood emergency. Burgum’s office reported his executive order will pave the way for requests for federal assistance to help North Dakotans deal with the extensive flood impacts caused by heavy fall rains and a historic October blizzard.

The loss of crops is devastating not only to farm families but to communities where these families do business, whether it’s a bank, a farm equipment dealership or other. No one is ever really prepared for a disaster such as this.

Think about it. North Dakota farm families provide food for the world, and without their crops there’s less food for everyone globally. Remember, the Midwest is the “bread basket of the world.”

Federal programs certainly will help farmers but do not completely make up for income that might have come from bringing in crops and selling them at the local elevator. Those are the rewards of a season of growing crops, harvesting them and putting money in the bank.

Gov. Burgum, when he declared the statewide flood emergency, said the state also is working on other measures to help those affected by these wet conditions.

Some say farming is a gamble, but this year with the devastation due to the extremely wet weather, it has become a bigger gamble.

We hope state and federal governments will support these farm families to help them make it through this extremely tough time. This is a time to be very understanding regarding the hardships these families are going through.

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