America’s Land Auctioneer
Captivate and celebrate the dynamics of rural America, American Agriculture and inspire and teach others how to live a bold and abundant life in rural America. Background: The intrigue, endless opportunities, and romance of rural life in America have never been more on the minds of Americans. The recent pandemic and civil unrest have Americans of all ages earning for a more peaceful, less hectic life. Even billionaire Bill Gates is now the largest crop landowner in America. As many Americans look for peaceful refuge in the rolling hills and wheat fields they are faced with a richness of opportunities. But where do you begin to look? This show will highlight and feature endless opportunities in every state. What is it that is so unique about rural America, the land and what it produces? How can I live that life? The American Land Auctioneer will tell stories and weave into those stories a place for you to dream, live and enjoy the abundance of all that rural America has to offer.
America’s Land Auctioneer
Beefing Up the Industry: Insights from a Key Player
Join us as we dive deep into the current dynamics of the beef industry with Julie Ellingson, the Executive Vice President of the North Dakota Stockman's Association. With high demand for beef juxtaposed with recent drought challenges, we unravel the complexities of this sector that is more vital than ever to local economies and beyond. Julie brings her expert knowledge to discuss the impact of recent legislation, particularly concerning property taxes, and how they affect ranchers. Hear about the innovative strategies the Stockman's Association is employing in response to recent wildfires with their "Out of the Ashes" disaster relief initiative.
We also tackle broader trends influencing consumer choices between beef and its substitutes, offering a glimpse into the future of the beef market. Through enhanced promotional efforts and agricultural education, the beef industry continues to adapt and thrive. This episode is an insightful look into the trials and triumphs that characterize today’s ranching landscape, a must-listen for anyone interested in agriculture's evolving role.
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Good morning and welcome to America's Land Auctioneer. I'm your host this weekend, andy Murnoch, and today I tell you what. We're going to jump right into the show and it's an honor and a privilege for me to introduce one of the nation's leading beef industry experts and we're excited to have her right here in North Dakota. Nation's leading beef industry experts and we're excited to have her right here in North Dakota. Please welcome Julie Ellingson, the Executive Vice President of the North Dakota Stockman's Association and also a key member of Ellingson Angus Ranch. You guys had a tremendous sale here just a few weeks ago at St Anthony, north Dakota. We're going to get right into it, julie, welcome.
Speaker 3:Yeah, well, thanks. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2:We've got a lot of things going on in the North Dakota beef industry, the national beef industry, and I think you know it goes without saying it's probably as exciting of a time as we've seen anywhere, especially for those of us who are deeply embedded into the cattle industry. What are you seeing out there, both on the on the local scale, the national scale? Just so that, what's the state of the industry looking like?
Speaker 3:you know, it's been some exciting times that we have had in the beef industry and fun to be on this side of the leverage point within our industry.
Speaker 3:Of course, cattle producers across the role are enjoying record level prices, prices that we have never seen before, and of course that comes as a product of a couple of different issues. At the national level, there's been widespread drought, and so we have seen widespread liquidation and impacting our supply, and so some of the tightest supplies we have had in modern history certainly fueling that. But I think the most exciting part of the story, though, is that we have been able to maintain unprecedented demand, both domestically and internationally, for our high quality product, and so consumers continue, even at higher price levels, to reach for high quality protein and beef, and we are enjoying that really at all class levels within the livestock industry. An exciting time for us and, again, lots of unknowns within the whole grand scheme of things, especially as we look at geopolitical issues and trade issues and others, but for all practical purposes, we can look forward to more positive years ahead.
Speaker 2:We touched on a little bit right there. I think the big question is longevity. How long can the market last? I know we're talking I mean it really comes down to basic supply and demand economics, right and we're talking about the drought that impacted us probably two and three years ago and we're starting to see that rebounding impact, you know, especially for those of us who are fortunate in North Dakota to have pretty good moisture the last couple of years. But what's that longevity look like? Why are the consumers not necessarily going to the other, cheaper, substitute products?
Speaker 3:Yeah, and you identify, you know again, always unknowns. Again, we have some of the lowest cow herd numbers and there's been a delay in the cow herd expansion, again a little bit longer time frame than the traditional cyclical rebuild. Again, the US cow herd, as of the January 1st inventory numbers, still continue to decline as we start off 2025. However, we are seeing some slow change in that Six of the 10 largest beef cow states in the US did have an increase. North Dakota was one of those. We had been on the decline since 2020. And for the first time since that period, we saw an uptick in our numbers, not a huge uptick, but 10,000 heads. So we will slowly be building towards that.
Speaker 3:You also talked about the drought. Right, that's pretty clear in our mind. 2021 was a devastating, widespread statewide drought here in North Dakota, and another bad one 2017. But we also have to be conscientious of what Mother Nature could be dealing us this year. Right now, as you look at the US Dr drought monitor, 67% of our state is abnormally dry or to the level of extreme drought.
Speaker 3:I know my grandpa used to always say the best time to have a drought is in the winter, and so I agree with that right. Maybe we can surpass some of those storms. But we also know that much of the moisture and precipitation that we enjoy here in the upper Midwest often comes in the form of snow, and so that's something that will certainly be impactful. But we got timely, you know, for the most part timely moisture that supported grass growth and also, you know, helped keep cost of gains low, and so those are also factors that you know play into the big picture. So we'll cross our fingers for that. But again, going back to the demand, that really is a factor of many different efforts, whether it be checkoff-related, promotion, research and education efforts to keep it top of mind and also supportive with policy work to make sure that we have an equitable regulatory framework so we can do our business and make that the most cost effective and remove any overreach or burdensome regulations as much as we can.
Speaker 2:Are we going to see any of the impacts of the poultry industry? And what we've been seeing here in the last few months Is that I don't want to call it a positive impact on the beef industry, but will that maintain the consumer demand as far as selecting beef rather than moving to a substitute product like chicken or pork?
Speaker 3:You know we haven't really seen a shift away from poultry because of the concerns related there, but I think it's an issue that, as the broader livestock industry, that we need to be conscientious of. Of course, we saw some impacts in some dairy herds. There hasn't been the beef impact, but certainly we want to make sure that we have a good handle on the situation and also can assure consumer confidence in US meat products as well as how that would implicate you know beef specifically.
Speaker 2:Also on the slow rebound, as you mentioned the slower rebound, I should say of your cyclical rebuild, of trying to rebuild the nation's herd. You know we looked at the major droughts that impacted southern Colorado and Oklahoma and Kansas and Texas, New Mexico, arizona you know the main states that really drive the cow numbers in the industry. As we start seeing what happened basically in 2014, we're starting to see a lot more bred females hitting record prices. That doesn't seem to be slowing down any in the near future. The cost of, or the barriers to entry or the barriers to rebuild seem to be as challenging as ever, but on the same side, there's as much incentive for maybe the older generation to exit. Is that what we're starting to see? Maybe a slower rebuild than we did in 2014? Exit?
Speaker 3:Is that what we're starting to see? Maybe a slower rebuild than we did in 2014? Yeah, certainly the slower rebuild as you describe. Again, those cycles have gotten to be longer and, of course, it seems like the more volatility that we see within the marketplace, not only with the beef sector, but just agriculture as a whole all of that has implications. As you mentioned, entry into the industry can be somewhat challenging there, with those higher input costs and such, but at the same time, people are capitalizing on some strong market prices in all livestock classes, and so that has helped give a little extra money in the pocket and then, coupled with, hopefully, a reset in our regulatory burdens and the costs associated with that, will create some positive times to help support those that are, you know, entering into the industry, or maybe you know gathering or accepting the baton from an older generation to take over these multi-generation livestock operations here in the state.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Did you attend the NCBA convention here a month ago?
Speaker 3:You know we had from here in North Dakota, but also those that have been tapped at the national level for their leadership. One of our past presidents, actually, Jeff Schaefer, serves as the national chairman of the Ag and Food Policy Committee. A couple of other Stockman's Association members, also recognized at the national level in the Chekhov realm for the research, education and promotion Travis Maddock, a member from the town of Maddock, actually was tapped as the Federation vice chair, a very important position within that realm. And then also Brian Amundson, a Stockman's Association member from Jamestown, one of the 20 members on the Beef Promotion and Operating Committee. So those are just a couple of examples, In addition to the Van Bedoff Dairy, which received a national award for their beef quality assurance efforts, tapped as one of the national dairy honorees and so very proud of the showing there. I had to stay back at the state capitol, but so proud of those that participated in those meetings.
Speaker 2:Are there any main key takeaways from the convention this year that your delegation brought back? Any main topics? What's the major topic of concern with the NCBA?
Speaker 3:Yeah, you know.
Speaker 3:So a lot of what we talked about is the state of the industry, again celebrating the high times that we have right now in the beef sector, and then looking long term of how do we sustain those market prices, how do we make sure that we have products available for consumers at all price points so we have options for them, of those that are able to purchase at the higher level of the scale and all the other levels in between.
Speaker 3:Also looking again at again a new administration at the national level, how we work with that entity and leverage opportunities that that might present. Along with the farm bill. There's a farm bill that still isn't done and of course the livestock sector is included in that in different ways than our cropping sector. But there are some key provisions that we are concerned about related to livestock disaster risk mitigation, voluntary conservation programs and such. And then, of course, as we look ahead to some impending sunset clauses on some important tax provisions things related to the death tax and others that we'll want to be at the table to make sure that we maintain those for the support of small businesses and farms and ranches.
Speaker 2:I think that's kind of a key point right there. A lot of people may not understand that in 2026 is the sunset clause for Trump's initial policy of when he increased the estate tax and there is a possibility that it may sunset at the end of this year.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that and a whole series of others that are utilized as tools for farms and ranches and against other small family businesses that will need to either be extended or expanded or retooled, and certainly an emphasis of our organization and our counterparts across the country to make sure that we have those intact and, again, to support just what we talked about to be able to pass our family operations on to the next generation and to be able to do that in an equitable and affordable fashion.
Speaker 2:Yeah, without a doubt, as they did. It was a 10-year closet they put together in 2016, increased it. At that time it went from like 7 million to 14 million per person, or 11 million per person, rather, and now it's about 14 million per person rather, and now it's about $14 million per person. But that could sunset back, likely with the inflation status going to put it closer to $8 if it does so. A lot of neat things happening across the world, especially with the legislation we're going to talk about, the North Dakota 69th Legislative Assembly. As Julie Ellingson touched on. She's been deep in the thick of things here in the last couple of months as they work with the Senate and the legislature here with North Dakota. Whether you're into buying or selling land or equipment or real estate, trust the team that built on experience and results.
Speaker 2:Pfeiffer's Auction Realty and Land Management. Their farm and ranch auctioneers, land brokers and land managers are the best in the business. Visit Pfeiffer'scom today, because nobody does it better. Welcome back to America's Land Auctioneer. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm your host this fine Saturday morning Andy Murnock, america's Land Auctioneer. Piper's Auction Realty and Land Management your key sponsor. Each and every weekend you can tune in to America's Land Auctioneer on your favorite radio station or anywhere you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2:We are back here for the second segment, still with Julie Ellingson, executive Vice President of the North Dakota Stockman's Association.
Speaker 2:We had a first timeline talking about the state of the beef industry, both on the local and national scale, but again we're deep into the crossover right now for the 69th Assembly for the North Dakota Legislature and, julie, you've been a key component for fighting for North Dakota stockmen, north Dakota agricultural producers in general.
Speaker 2:This is a key assembly, in my opinion. Especially, there was a large tax bill that come across or not a tax bill, but a tax measure that come across in the previous election back in November. That did ultimately fail, but what it did do is it sparked a lot of key talking points with how North Dakotans feel about their property taxes. What are we seeing as far? There's been multiple bills brought up right, and so dozens of bills have been brought up by different people throughout the state or different legislators throughout the state. Most of them are starting to start getting weeded down to. Maybe the more important ones are the ones that are focusing on what the North Dakotans are really looking for. What are you seeing as far as property tax bills that are still on the table as we enter crossover.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think you described it well. Of course Measure 4 had failed. Of course that would have done away with all property taxes based on assessed value, and so we actually had concerns with that measure, the way that it was written and particularly how it could have impacted those in rural areas. And so when working with the legislature on property tax and certainly that is undeniably the overriding issue in the legislature this year as it began there was more than 55 proposals. Some ultimately got withdrawn or consolidated and such, and so, like you had mentioned, now we're kind of moving into the second third of the legislature and so many of those are getting whittled down from the House that I would consider the major property tax vehicles. Now that they pass, they'll volley over to the Senate and those will be, I think, the pieces that we will work from and likely will be melded together in some fashion, not only with some amendments, probably from the Senate, but likely will be volleyed back to the House and then work through a conference committee. What is alive? The three major bills. There's House Bill 1176, endorsed by the governor, representative Nathie's bill. That one focuses primarily on a primary residence credit for residential property. It also has other elements. I'm expanding the homestead credit, have some caps on local government spending, but the primary focus again on primary residents, now valued at $1,450 per residence. There's two others that came across or will come across here. Now to the Senate. One would be Representative Blauser's bill. That one would be a school levy buy down was modified and now valued 10, 10 mils. That one will be extrapolated across all property classes, so agriculture would be included in that one. That one also includes some caps and some other elements, but again the the major piece of it is the school levy buy down. And then a third comes from Speaker Weiss and that one would modify and provide property tax relief for, again for all classes, changing the way that taxable valuation on property is determined, and it also includes a cap. And so those three bills will be amongst those that will come across to and be heard in the first in the Senate Finance and Tax Committee and ultimately I expect that bits and pieces will come together for all three.
Speaker 3:I think it's also important to note there's a couple of other bills. There was one agricultural specific bill that provided specific ag relief and from the Stockman's Association's perspective we're really looking at making sure that there's equity in the relief that ultimately results. Agricultural property, of course, is significant property payer. 42 of North Dakota's 53 counties collect more ag property tax than residential, with 30 of those more than half of those property tax collections. And so we don't create an equitable shift and shift that three-legged stool as we talk about. We think it's important that, however that final package comes together, it includes a recognition of ag.
Speaker 3:Two kind of reform pieces how I would describe them also have passed, one from the House and one from the Senate. One of those looks at just reordering the list of considerations in those ag property moving use to the top of the list. It doesn't reorder or shift the weight but it reemphasizes the importance of that and that's important to those of us that operate on grass so we don't have inequitable shifts. And then another bill I think it's complimentary is the use of modifiers and the importance of that to really customize and fine tune what those parcels really are valued at. And so those are five bills at play. Again the three major components and then the other specific to our industry. And again we'll continue to work that we have an equitable relief plan when it's all said and done. But a lot of conversations been had, but there's a lot of work yet to do as we get through the next two thirds of the session.
Speaker 2:I think when it comes down to looking at you know what are our options for taxes, whether we're whether we're going to try to provide relief or we're going to increase certain taxes, we always want to look at how our neighbors are doing it right and compare and contrast and see what's working and what isn't.
Speaker 2:What drives, you know, people to maybe go to Montana to buy something because there's no sales tax, or maybe they want to move to South Dakota because there's no income tax.
Speaker 2:But North Dakota has really always had the ability to pride themselves on having a balanced tax act. In North Dakota we pay modest sales tax, we pay modest income tax, we pay modest real estate taxes and the whole grand scheme of things. We can get into Montana where or sorry, minnesota, where you'd cross the border from Fargo into Clay County, and all of a sudden we go from having $20 per acre in tax you know, for taxes, property tax and then in Clay County we're at 48 or $50 per acre in property taxes. A lot to do with the schools. So that school buy down, I believe, is probably going to be an important topic. What are the other topics that these guys are talking about when trying to come up with, maybe not just an across the board. We want to relieve these people of this burden, but maybe have a more balanced or balanced plan that you know, or a plan of attack, I should say.
Speaker 3:Yeah, each of those three house measures that have passed that I mentioned also include some local spending caps, again, most of them at like a 3%, with some allowances for some carryover and some exceptions of course by voter approval to exceed those. And so again looking at kind of clamping down on some spending coupled with some of the other relief components. There's been mill levy buy downs and other efforts that the legislature has done over many sessions. But that was been one challenge and you maybe have a reduction in one area but then the valuation increases and so the residents and citizens haven't realized that that full relief like they were expecting, and so they're looking at a real holistic kind of approach. There's lots of ideas. Again, they started out with 50 some and so now have whittled it down, but several of those ideas are also encapsulated in some study bills.
Speaker 3:So this is a complicated topic, as we all know. Otherwise we would have solved all these issues right years and years ago. But they're also looking at some other areas of is there benefits to capping taxable valuations, is there a way to look at square footage, is there ways to reward those that have been in their same home for multiple years, and so lots of other ideas on the table far too much to address in one single session and I think it stands to reason where whatever approach is ultimately chosen likely will be tweaked over time and hopefully is responsive to the needs and what we learn from that. Again, at the end of the day, we were supportive of all of the efforts in the property tax relief and reform effort. I want to make sure that agriculture, a significant property taxpayer, is included in the considerations and we will work to that end and hopefully can succeed in that come what may when the session wraps up.
Speaker 2:Are you guys getting behind any individual bill? Are you looking for maybe a combined effort between multiple bills?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so our testimony has been again supportive of property tax relief, but have always underscored the importance of agriculture in that, and so we haven't picked one favorite bill per se. I think it's. The reality will be that these will be melded together with bits and pieces from multiple ones, and so I will continue to articulate that and be supportive of the efforts of all of them, but I'm gonna make sure that we are included and it's in an equitable fashion.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Thanks again, julie. Please stick around for a couple more segments. Here in America's Land Auctioneer, we want to thank our sponsors each and every week Pifers Auction Realty and Land Management. If you're looking for a professional auction service or expert land manager, pifers Auction Realty and Land Management can deliver proven success across the Midwest With the best farm and ranch auctioneers and brokers in the industry. They'll help you get the top dollar. Visit Piferscom and see why nobody does it better. Welcome back to. America's Land Auctioneer.
Speaker 2:I'm your host this Saturday morning Andy Murnau, piper's Auction, realty and Land Management and, of course, your host for America's Land Auctioneer.
Speaker 2:We're going to continue with our guest, julie Ellingson, executive Vice President of the North Dakota Stockman's Association really a key member when it comes to the legislative sessions each and every year, each and every biennium, of course, in North Dakota, as we fight and continue to fight for all the residents of North Dakota, as well as the agricultural producers across the state. Again, north Dakota Stockman's is really a key component for those of us who are in the agricultural industry and the beef industry, and you know it's important to have these type of organizations and these type of people who are basically going to consistently stay in the grind and figure out what is best for all of their constituents that they represent. Julie, thank you for joining us here. We just got done talking about property tax relief and potential bills that we're seeing across in the 69th Assembly. What other bills are you guys having a key focus on, and are there any other organizations that you guys are partnering with on any of these efforts?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so it's been a busy legislative session. The near record number of bills and resolutions have been introduced, and so we have been monitoring a lot of them. I think we have about 200 of them on our watch list. We talked about a lot of the tax bills, and of course that consumes a lot of time, but there are many other topics, really, from soup to nuts, if you will, that that the Stockman's Association would be involved with. Of course we obviously committees like the Agriculture Committee is a natural fit, and so we spend a lot of time there, and so there's agriculture and livestock related bills that are of interest, but there's also things that maybe sometimes get forgotten, whether they be appropriation bills for agencies that we, that we monitor or work with research and education, veterinary related bills and a whole host of them, and so we find our way into lots of different committees and weighing in again, doing our best to represent livestock producers who are at home taking care of their herds, and our job is to represent them and to be their voice there In the egg space. Lots of different topics A couple, I think, that may be noteworthy for listeners today, and particularly to livestock producers. There's several of them related to specifically to the livestock industry.
Speaker 3:You know, last session there was a major focus on agriculture and livestock development in the state. A whole host of bills related to that and leveraging and utilizing the byproducts and the high quality livestock genetics we have in our state and the conducive climate we have for efficient rates of gain and such. There's kind of a continuation of that effort on several bills. One of them is that the Model Zoning Ordinance Task Force was put into place in the last legislative session. There's a bill then. That's the product of our work.
Speaker 3:The Stockman's Association was one of the statutorily named members that looks at revising and providing opportunities for local political subdivisions to utilize a new tool for setbacks and siting of those facilities. It would be actually an odor footprint tool, patterned after what a couple of other states utilize to give townships and counties an option of utilizing the traditional setbacks or one that is based on the data models, things like the direction of wind and odor mitigation technology and such, to make the decision and help best place those that, along with a sales tax kind of earmark bill that looks at the dollars of sales tax that are contributed towards some of these large livestock projects, would be earmarked for utilization by those political subdivisions, specifically for infrastructure, supporting things like roads and bridges, and help maintain a strong community and a strong infrastructure within those respective areas. I think are two very positive bills that continue that discussion.
Speaker 2:Start last session. Where do those sales taxes come from in that specific bill?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so this is Senate. Bill 2177 is the one I'm referring to, Excuse me. And what that would do is actually looks at the sales tax collected on the development of those projects and it's not a sales tax exemption but it credits those local political subdivisions for the dollars invested by those livestock producers and entities that are for their livestock facilities and are setting those aside for us in a special infrastructure fund, Again to go back to things like roads and other development within their local jurisdiction, supporting responsible livestock development and also helping support the communities that embrace them.
Speaker 2:Certainly Is there a specific organization that would be in charge with overseeing that fund.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I got to remember how that works. It's a combination of the local political subdivisions and the state tax department is where those that information would be submitted to, and then, in a combination between the state and the local tax directors, would be how that one would roll out as it's presented at this time.
Speaker 2:Okay, always a hot topic here, for probably a couple of decades now, is always how is each state, or how is the national, handling the beef checkoff? Beef checkoff has always been a topic of conversation and for those of us who are supporters of that, it's great to see the organizations that are in charge of the checkoff dollars and how they're being spent, and maybe you could number one. Let's touch on a little bit as to how the dollars are spent and what kind of bills were proposed this year. I know there was a couple that were brought up early in the sessions. Both, I believe, have failed, so there won't be any changes this year, at least to North Dakota side. But Maybe explain to our listeners what the Beef Checkoff is actually designed for.
Speaker 3:Sure. So the Beef Checkoff. As you know, when you sell an animal in North Dakota, there's two dollars that are collected at the time of sale. One dollar would be directed from the national at the national level through the Beef Act and Order, and there's also a state dollar that's collected. Those dollars are remitted and ultimately are managed by the North Dakota Beef Commission. Fifty cents, by the federal law, goes to the Cattlemen's Beef Board at the national level. So $1.50 of those $2 then are under the purview and the jurisdiction of the North Dakota Beef Commission, which is an entity separate from the Stockman's Association. That would be a separate organization entirely, but it is made up of beef producers that make those investment decisions. It would be comprised of cattle producers, dairy producers, feeders, livestock auction representatives and at-large members within those entities, and so their job is to take a look at those dollars and leverage them the best that they can for beef education, research and promotion efforts, and so the Stockman's Association has long been a supporter of that. We think that some of that positive demand that we continue to see again amidst some of the highest prices that have been paid ever at retail for our product, is a product and is a result of positive work done in that arena.
Speaker 3:There were a couple of bills, as you mentioned, that were introduced this legislative session, largely related to how members are seated on the Beef Commission. As I mentioned, there's nine members and those individuals are nominated in those respective categories and then ultimately appointed by the governor. It's been a system that's been in place since the 1970s and we think really creates a nice, robust, comprehensive representation of the beef industry, with the various livestock sectors represented, and also provides the mechanism for at-large nominations to be presented. Provides the mechanism for at-large nominations to be presented so individuals who are interested can submit their names individually or have an organizational endorsement, but provides an opportunity for all to participate. The essence of both bills were to change that process, change it to an election with various components, with some of our concerns.
Speaker 3:The Stockman's Association was opposed to both of those bills. We think for one there wasn't a necessity to change a system that has been positive and has worked. There was an undefined cost, but there was also some inherent problems allowing people who are no longer in the beef industry to vote and to serve on the Beef Commission. There was a removal of those designated industry sectors which we think are very important in the conversation and then some other problems related to the bills.
Speaker 3:One of the concerns we had with House Bill 1207 was that an amendment was added that would actually remove the ability, would have removed the ability of North Dakota beef producers to get a refund on their state beef checkoff.
Speaker 3:And while I mentioned the Stockman's Association has always been supportive of checkoff related work. We've also maintained that it's very important that that state refund provision is available. That would be something that's equitable across all agricultural commodity checkoffs in North Dakota and to remove that would remove the ability of people who disagreed either with investment decisions or maybe had a financial hardship, the ability to get those dollars back and it would be different than all of their commodities. And for those reasons we thought that those bills were bad policy, came at undefined costs where those dollars would be better invested in the research and education components that they were intended for and therefore opposed those bills. Both of those did fail in their respective chambers and so those are set aside. We won't be talking about those anymore this session, but it's something that certainly that we feel passionate about and again think in the end the best for the beef industry is what happened by the killing of those two bills.
Speaker 2:And, as you mentioned, there is a refund program. Is that a national refund program? Is that state specific?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so the refund on the beef checkoff is state specific. The federal law does not have the refund provision available, and so the $2 that we talk about in North Dakota the $1 is what would be refundable. Again, the application process you pay the assessment, but there is an ability to get those dollars back. Again, provisions that you have to do in order to make that happen. But we felt strongly when the state checkoff was put in place in 2015,. I believe that that needed to be the same across the board and provide that opportunity. That was a part, a component of the House bill and, to us, a non-starter in the conversation.
Speaker 2:I also think it was important where you mentioned that the beef checkoff, and the Beef Commission specifically, is being overseen by actual beef producers and people who are still in the markets.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's right. I mean I think we can be proud that they're grassroots folks again, that we can call up our friends and neighbors that are representing those respective industry sectors, that we can provide input and advice. Of course those meetings are open and so there's opportunity to participate in that way, as I mentioned before, at the level. So again we're talking about the North Dakota Beef Commission as we talk about these specific bills at the state legislature level, but also there's other tiers of checkoff, oversight and such at the national level and we can be very proud. You know that the Federation Vice Chair is a North Dakota producer, but we have two people now on the beef operating committee and so an opportunity to have her voice and express, you know, what our views are on the investment of those funds.
Speaker 2:You bet. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to be right back after a word from these messages, after this quick break for our final segment of America's Land. Auctioneer Julie, stick around for one more segment, thank you, and.
Speaker 1:I have. So Right there, auctioneer julie, stick around for one more segment. Thank you right there, good bird, just straight by welcome back to america's land auctioneer.
Speaker 2:Ladies and gentlemen, I'm your host, andy murnock amer, america's Land Auctioneer with Piper's Auction Realty and Land Management. We want to thank them for being our key sponsor each and every week. You can listen to America's Land Auctioneer on your favorite radio station and or podcast at anywhere you get your podcasts. When it comes to buying or selling farmland, ranches or equipment, experience matters. Piper's Auction Realtyty and Land Management has the team of industry-leading professionals ready to serve. You See upcoming auctions and listings at our new website, the new platform at wwwpiferscom, because when it comes to getting results, nobody does it better.
Speaker 2:Ladies and gentlemen, again we are still here with Executive Vice President of the North Dakota Stockman's Association, julie Ellingson. Thank you for sticking around for the entire show here today. Julie, it's always a pleasure to visit with you as an industry leader in the beef industry and of course, we want to talk about North Dakota Stockman's Association and a lot of the side efforts that you guys do that maybe doesn't get published. You know there's a lot of things that you guys do behind the scenes and don't always require the attention of the media to do it, but I think it's important that we talk about some of the well, how the North Dakota Stockman's Association Foundation is set up, why you guys are set up the way you are and some of the disaster efforts that you guys have taken charge of in the past few years.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so the Stockman's Association, which we've been talking about throughout the show, had got its start back in 1929. It's a 501c5. Well, more recently, in 2008, members within our organization identified opportunities to do just as you described a little more provide some charitable efforts and to provide opportunities for contributors through a 501c3. And so that's how the North Dakota Stockman's Foundation was born. The organizations work closely together but of course, the foundation's focus is on charitable efforts and one of the pillars and subjectives, as you had talked about, is disaster relief and in the last year, a focal point, of course, were the terrible wildfires that hit much of the state but particularly the northwestern quadrant.
Speaker 3:We developed a program in cooperation with the association and the foundation and incredibly generous donations and support from really around the country, to develop the Out of the Ashes Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund, again earmarked to support wildfire victims in those October 2024 fires, to support them in their recovery and rebuild and, if you will, rekindle some hope after what was pretty devastating. And I'm excited to say that, in fact, yesterday those disaster relief checks were mailed to applicants and those that had been nominated. About $940,000 in direct relief are in the mail today to support those victims. And then that really is again credit to so many who came together to support the effort and to get those dollars in the hands of those who need it the most, and so I'm excited to be able to help present that, and I'm hopeful that it makes a meaningful relief to those families who were so hard hit.
Speaker 2:On that particular program. As somebody who wants to contribute to a specific program that you guys are developing, can we earmark our dollars specifically for the Out of Ashes or any other designated program that you guys are developing? Can we earmark our dollars specifically for the Out of Ashes or any other designated program that you guys are putting together?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so we have some designated funds. Disaster relief, as I mentioned, is one of our major pillars, so we identified the Out of the Ashes one specific to this disaster, but we have an ongoing disaster fund. We have done a variety of disaster relief efforts against some for our in-state and also for some of our cattle ranching neighbors and in perimeter states that have have suffered significant losses, and so disaster relief is always one of the options for our funding opportunities. Some of the others that are real recognizable are our scholarship program. I've got a big mess on my desk, which makes me excited because it's scholarship deadline week, and so piles and piles of scholarship applications are there. Generally we get between 80 and 90 applications. We have 10 collegiate scholarships and advanced degree scholarships to give out, and so that is another area where dollars can be earmarked for and a variety of other things.
Speaker 3:Over the years again, we've been around since 2008, the foundation that is, and so things like providing opportunities for North Dakota beef into our local food pantries has been another one of our popular projects. We've also helped support curriculum to help families transition their operations to the next generation and help them with the somewhat tricky, sometimes generational transfer decisions. Supporting efforts like that and others Again. At the end of the day, the mission of the Stockman's Foundation is to provide hope and opportunity for the beef industry now and in the future, and so all of the things that come together to be supportive and again be that charitable arm as well as providing some charitable tax benefits to donors, is really what the foundation is about. I'm excited to be a part of efforts like the Out of the Ashes or scholarships, Warm your heart and as a way that, like we do in North Dakota, as we help one another in times of need.
Speaker 2:I think that's, you know, obviously very admirable and very noble, and Out of the Ashes is one of many programs that you guys have developed and supported over the last few years. Almost a million dollars in efforts just to North Dakota cattlemen and producers here just in 2024. Obviously, checks went out in 2025. But I think one thing we probably should touch on here is how do you guys decide who gets it. How do you decide how the disbursement is? Is there an application process? Is there an oversight committee? Because the last thing you want to see happen is for my dollars to go to a disaster relief program and then watch somebody who may not needed that disaster relief and when you had a neighbor who possibly did. How do you guys justify where those dollars are being spent?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so we have actually a handful of different disaster relief efforts under our belt over the years. This particular one was unique and because the type of disaster was so broad right, in some cases people lost buildings and fences, livestock, other infrastructure and such. Some of our disasters in the past related solely to drought related or maybe blizzard losses, and so those are probably a little bit more fine tuned. But in each instance we had assembled a small group of producers life again peers to review applications and nominations on those forms that would be familiar with the livestock industry, applications and nominations on those forms that, again would be familiar with the livestock industry. Of course kept that information confidential and sorted through those applications.
Speaker 3:In this particular instance, again, it was a little trickier because of all the varied elements, but essentially looked at the dollars that we had available, quantified what the losses that were again expounded upon in the applications to establish what a loss value was, and then we're able to apply an equitable percentage across those applications and stretch those dollars to those you know, to those applicants and to those most in need, and so very, very proud to say that all of the applicants were eligible and will be receiving some support from the foundation Not an easy task, but we're very proud of the strategic and methodical system that they used, again doing their best to stewarding those dollars. I'm also really proud that 100% of the donations that we collected, along with our own gifts from the Stockman's Association Foundation, went out in the form of relief, and so no administrative costs, 100% of those dollars going out the door and, again, hopefully, that makes a difference to those farm and ranch families who suffered such extreme losses.
Speaker 2:We're getting towards the end of our segment here, Julie. Why don't you let everybody know how they can contribute or how they can be part of your programs?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so the Stockman's Association's website is ndstockmanorg. There's opportunities there to learn about association membership and association programs, and then also on that same website are there opportunities to contribute to the foundation or some of the charitable efforts that we take on, and so check us out. There, of course, new office building North Bismarck, and so I always welcome people to stop in 4520 Ottawa Street in Bismarck or give us a call 223-2522. We love cattle, people and love connecting with them. We take our job serious of representing livestock producers and look forward to interfacing with them in whatever way makes sense.
Speaker 2:North Dakota Stockman's Association, the largest representative of cattle producers across the upper Midwest, especially right here in North Dakota, got a lot of good partners across in our neighboring states for our neighboring listeners here this weekend. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you one and all for listening to America's Land Auctioneer. And of course we want to thank our special guest here this week, julie Ellingson, executive Vice President North Dakota Stockman's Association. Thank, here this week, julie ellingson, executive vice president of the dakota stockman's association. Thank you, julie, for everything that you do and good luck here as you uh wrap up the 69th assembly. Thanks, sandy. All right, that's gonna be a wrap for america's land auction here this weekend, ladies and gentlemen. Uh, feel free to visit piperscom if you're looking for anything for selling land or equipment. Visit your professionals at pipers does it better. We'll see you next week.