Sterling, North Dakota farmer Lucas Lang, who serves on the NDFB board, attended the drought meeting with USDA officials in Mandan, North Dakota. “There was a lot of discussion about the haying of the cash crops out there that are drought-stricken.” Farmers and ranchers in attendance also voiced concerns about USDA staffing and the timeliness of processing paperwork. “Just this past year, there was a farmer in Morton County waited nine months for his operating. I know offices are understaffed, but it was brought up that they also need to focus on hiring quality staff, not just the quantity. It helps when they know and understand agriculture.” Listen to the story.
