BISMARCK (AP) -- Brian Hefty believes many North Dakota farmers are willing to pay to remedy one of the state's biggest agricultural problems, if the state makes it easier for them to do.
Hefty, a host of a television show that gives tips on farm operations, supported legislation in the North Dakota House Agriculture Committee on Thursday that would streamline how farmers receive permits for drainage tiling. Tiling describes the practice of installing perforated plastic tubing a few feet under the soil to divert water to ditches or ponds. If soil is too saturated, crops die from too little oxygen and farm equipment can get stuck in mud.
Similar bills in the state House and Senate would allow local water boards to handle permit applications, rather than routing them to the state Water Commission. Supporters of the bills say the agency can take months to decide a permit request.
Hefty estimated that poor farm land drainage may cause a $1 billion annual loss to North Dakota's farm economy because of lower crop yields, extra insurance costs and flood damage.
"Most of the costs to improve water management would gladly be absorbed by farmers," Hefty said. "It's not very often when the state Legislature can get together and realize, 'We have a major problem, let's let somebody else pay the bill,' and they'll gladly do it for you."
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Hefty is the host of Ag PhD, a weekly television show that provides advice on farm operations. Among those who also supported the legislation during Thursday's hearing were Brad Thykeson, vice president of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association; Mike Dwyer, executive vice president of the North Dakota Water Users Association; and spokesmen for the North Dakota Farmers Union and the state Farm Bureau.
They said tiling improves crop yields, helps flush salt from the soil, and reduces erosion and flooding. It removes water from the soil more slowly and can help the soil absorb more water during the spring thaw, which can reduce flooding problems, backers say.
