Delegates to Shape Farm Policy in Bismarck, Nov. 21–22
On the cusp of winter, when the Missouri River steams in the morning chill and the State Capitol dome catches first light, local Farm Bureau members are getting their binders in order. North Dakota Farm Bureau (NDFB) delegates from the Bismarck area will gather Nov. 21–22 in the capital city to debate and vote on policy priorities that guide how the organization advocates for farmers and ranchers in the year ahead.
Organizers say the two-day meeting is where members hammer out positions on everything from water and wildlife to taxes and transportation. Portions of the program typically include committee work, floor debate, and final votes on proposed amendments to the NDFB policy book, according to NDFB’s events and governance materials NDFB. Members can find registration details and the agenda on the NDFB events page.
How Farm Bureau Policy Gets Made
NDFB describes itself as the “leading advocate for agriculture” in the state, representing farm and ranch families across North Dakota through county Farm Bureaus and a statewide board NDFB. The group’s priorities inform testimony at the North Dakota Legislature, engagement with state agencies, and positions on federal rules that affect day-to-day operations on the farm and ranch.
The Farm Bureau policy process is intentionally bottom-up. As the American Farm Bureau Federation explains, “policy development is a grassroots process,” with ideas originating at the county level and moving through committees before delegates vote at state meetings AFBF. In past years, North Dakota delegates have worked on areas such as private property rights, water and drainage policy, livestock health and development, transportation rules for agricultural haulers, and conservation programs—topics that surface repeatedly in a state where agriculture is a leading economic engine, according to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture NDDA.
What the Decisions Mean for Bismarck Producers
For Burleigh County producers who sell calves at Kist Livestock, ship wheat by rail, or run a direct-market operation at the BisMarket, these votes can have concrete consequences. Adopted policy guides NDFB’s stance on bills introduced at the Capitol, rulemakings at state agencies, and how the organization responds to federal moves that ripple through local balance sheets.
In Bismarck and Mandan, that can touch issues as varied as assessments on ag land, access to the Missouri River for irrigation and livestock water, wildlife depredation near the river bottoms, or trucking rules that determine whether a rancher can haul hay during a storm emergency. It also shapes how NDFB engages with education partners like Bismarck State College and the University of Mary on workforce pipelines and ag literacy, and with regional business groups like the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber EDC on supply chain and market development.
Producers have emphasized in recent seasons that volatility in input costs, drought and flood swings along the Missouri, and market access remain top-of-mind. While each operation is different, the common thread is predictability—clear rules, reliable infrastructure, and policies that reduce friction between the barn and the buyer, a theme echoed in recent Extension outreach and industry briefings NDSU Extension.
The Issues on the Table
While the formal docket is set by member submissions, several themes are likely to surface again this fall based on ongoing state and national discussions:
Market access and infrastructure: Rail service reliability, meat processing capacity, and rural road funding often headline member concerns. Any adopted positions could feed into NDFB testimony when legislators debate capital projects in Bismarck in 2025 North Dakota Legislative Assembly.
Water, wildlife, and land use: With farms and ranches along the Missouri River corridor, policy around drainage, flood mitigation, riparian access, and wildlife management typically draws close scrutiny. Members routinely weigh how to balance conservation with working-land realities, consistent with long-running Farm Bureau positions.
Regulation and permits: From livestock siting to pesticide use, members commonly seek “regulatory certainty”—clear, consistent rules that avoid surprises at planting, harvest, or calving. That includes monitoring federal definitions of waters and wetlands and how they are implemented in North Dakota.
Technology and workforce: Precision ag, data tools, and on-ranch connectivity are no longer edge cases in Burleigh County. Expect discussion of broadband, workforce development, and training partnerships, with research and Extension noting that variable-rate and data-driven practices can improve efficiency when paired with solid agronomy NDSU Extension—Precision Agriculture.
North Dakota continues to lead the nation in several crops, including spring wheat and canola, according to USDA’s state profiles, which means policy that affects inputs, logistics, and risk management has outsized impact here USDA NASS—North Dakota. Delegates’ positions become talking points when statewide partners—from the Chamber EDC to commodity groups—make the case for investment and regulatory clarity.
What Could Change After the Vote
By week’s end, NDFB is expected to publish updated policy guidance for 2025 and set its advocacy plan for the coming legislative session in Bismarck. Those planks often translate into bill concepts, amendments, or support/oppose lists that county leaders carry into committee hearings at the State Capitol. For producers, that means a clearer line of sight into where the state’s largest general farm organization will put its weight in the months ahead.
For action steps, registered members can review the agenda, confirm meeting times, and submit any late procedural questions through the NDFB events page or their county Farm Bureau contact NDFB Events. Community stakeholders—retailers, lenders, conservation partners—often follow these outcomes as early signals of where collaboration or tension may emerge in the next policy cycle.
“Policy development is a grassroots process.” — American Farm Bureau Federation AFBF
What to Watch
Final policy votes are slated for Friday, Nov. 22, with NDFB expected to post outcomes shortly after on its website. Look for a public-facing summary and updates to the policy book.
The North Dakota Legislature convenes in early 2025; expect NDFB to cite these positions in committee hearings at the Capitol. Watch the NDFB and Legislative Assembly sites for hearing schedules and testimony.
