Farmers are having a hard time finding help and that's not the only change the oil boom is bringing to southwestern North Dakota, participants at this year's Taylor Farm Institute at the Immanuel Church in Taylor said Wednesday.
About 70 area farmers and ranchers attended, said Taylor farmer Jim Bloom.
"There was a lot of good information and plenty of knowledgeable people to answer questions on a variety of topics," he said.
One major topic discussed was the impact the oil business has had on agriculture in North Dakota.
"Communication and education are vital in making a decision about the placement of oil wells on private land," said Cole Gustafson, a biofuels economist for North Dakota State University. "There is a lot to think about and it's important to do your homework before the excitement begins and you have companies knocking on your door offering you money."
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Gustafson said some things farmers should keep in mind when deciding whether to allow oil exploration and extraction on their land are:
r How much oil do you have and is it worth extracting?
r How many years are you agreeing to?
r Can you spare the acreage the companies want and still have enough to farm or ranch?
r Are you getting a fair deal? Have you checked with other companies to see if they are interested?
r Have you done your homework on the company you are signing up with? What does the company history look like and what are its goals and values?
r Have you explored all the options or opportunities for other uses of your land such as wind farms, renting, etc?
r What does the increase in traffic and large equipment on your roads mean for you and your neighbors?
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"People forget that it could complicate moving farm machinery," Gustafson said. "How do you navigate a 30-foot combine head out of the way of a semi? Another thing to consider is the difference in the speed of farm machinery vs. the traffic."
r What will the neighbors think?
"Your decision affects the lives of your neighbors, too," Gustafson said. "Besides the concern with traffic, do your neighbors have any other objections or concerns?"
Gustafson concluded his talk by fielding questions.
He said one concern brought up was the trouble farmers and ranchers have had with finding people to help them run their operations.
"I explained in my talk that you don't have to offer top wages, just competitive ones," Gustafson said. "I also suggested that they consider sharing equipment, knowledge and resources with other farmers and ranchers who may just be starting out this year."
Gustafson said another concern brought up by a resident was dust.
"He voiced concern over the settlement of dust from the road traffic and oil activity on nearby fields and how it may affect growth," Gustafson said. "The resident added that it may be a concern both for the farmer and his or her next door neighbor."
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Roxanne Johnson, water quality associate for NDSU, also spoke about oil but in a different light. Her talk was on oil spill protection and the new Environmental Protection Agency regulation that forces farmers to have a written plan of action of what they will do in the event of an oil spill on their property.
"The written plan doesn't need to be turned into anyone," Johnson said. "But it is required and must be kept on site."
She said the plan should include what the farmer will do in the event of a spill, who they will contact, what will be used as secondary containment and what materials will be used to absorb the spill.
"If the farmer has less than 10,000 gallons of oil they can write the plan themselves," Johnson said. "But if they have over that amount they need to have a certified engineer write the plan."
More information about the new federal regulation can be found at www.ndsu.edu/waterquality .
