Jenny Schlecht

Content Director at Agweek

Director of ag content for @agweekmagazine. Writing ag news and raising farm kids on a North Dakota farm and feedlot. https://t.co/tsAHR1lomG.

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Articles

Matt Perdue announces run for North Dakota Farmers Union president

1 week ago | agweek.com | Jenny Schlecht

JAMESTOWN, N.D. — A longtime North Dakota Farmers Union employee has announced he will run for president of the organization. Matt Perdue, currently government relations director for NDFU, will resign from his position at the organization June 27, in accordance with the group's bylaws, to run for the role being vacated by current President Mark Watne, who has announced he will not run for reelection at the NDFU convention in December.
John Deere autonomous tillage system gets tryout in North Dakota fields

1 week ago | inforum.com | Jenny Schlecht

GLEN ULLIN, N.D. — It's disconcerting to watch a tractor with no one inside fire up and drive away. Gooseneck Implement employees testing out a new precision agriculture feature from John Deere watched it happen for about a week in southern Morton County fields. "We've added technology on to an existing 9RX John Deere tractor, and it is capable of running autonomously," said Jim Campbell, equipment specialist lead for Gooseneck Implement.
Most North Dakota farmland buyers are farmers, but outside investment isn’t insignificant

2 weeks ago | inforum.com | Jenny Schlecht

While famous investors like Bill Gates or Interior Secretary Scott Bessent owning North Dakota farmland get headlines, Bryon Parman, agricultural finance specialist at North Dakota State University Extension, says it’s not the norm. “By far and away, most purchases are (by) farmers,” he said. “I mean, it’s a huge percentage — cautious to give an actual percentage.
Farming and ranching are gambles, no matter how you look at them

2 weeks ago | agweek.com | Jenny Schlecht

As I was editing stories this week, it piqued my attention that two separate, unrelated articles had sources referring to something in agriculture as a gamble. There is no Vegas Strip running through the northern Plains. But so much of what we do here is a gamble. Seed goes into the ground. We gamble on whether it’ll rain. Or maybe there’ll be wind, blowing the seed from the ground or sheering off plants that just pushed through the soil. Maybe the conditions will be perfect.
Doug Burgum completes disclosures and divestitures for role as Interior Secretary

3 weeks ago | inforum.com | Jenny Schlecht

U.S. Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent is not the only member of the Trump cabinet to report substantial holdings in farmland. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, also the former North Dakota governor, disclosed numerous pieces of farmland in both North Dakota and Minnesota in his Public Financial Disclosure Report. However, Burgum did not say he would divest of all of the properties. Click the image above to view the PDF document.
Despite ethics agreement to sell, U.S. Treasury Secretary's family still appears to own North Dakota farmland

3 weeks ago | inforum.com | Jenny Schlecht

WASHINGTON — When U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent labeled himself a "farmer" while testifying in front of a House committee, it raised some eyebrows. The remark was in response to questions from Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Georgia, about tariffs and the growing price of groceries since the Trump administration took office. Bishop held up news articles about difficulties for farmers in dealing with tariffs.
Changes are on the horizon for North Dakota Farmers Union

3 weeks ago | inforum.com | Jenny Schlecht

JAMESTOWN/PETTIBONE, N.D. — Mark Watne has put on a lot of miles advocating for the priorities of North Dakota Farmers Union members. He flies 175,000 miles per year and drives another 40,000-50,000. While he still plans to travel, his mileage likely will drop in 2026. Watne has announced he will not run for reelection as NDFU president at the organization's state convention in December.
Whether it rains or not, drought fears in the region are never far away

1 month ago | echopress.com | Jenny Schlecht

April showers bring May flowers. And April showers help pastures, hayland and the crops of farmers who actually are able to get in the fields in early spring. But here's another thing: April showers bring calves with respiratory and intestinal problems in May. It doesn't rhyme, but it's pretty true. We've had a lot of rain lately, but you wouldn't know it if you watched the news coming out of our closest city.
Prosecution of Maudes 'should never have happened,' U.S. ag secretary says

1 month ago | agweek.com | Jenny Schlecht

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins says the prosecution of a South Dakota ranch family over alleged improper grazing on public land "should never have happened."The U.S. Department of Justice on April 28 dropped the criminal charges against Caputa, South Dakota, ranchers Charles and Heather Maude, who had been accused of improperly using U.S. Forest Service land on Buffalo Gap National Grasslands . They were indicted in June 2024 for theft.
Low-snow winter and relatively dry spring make for pleasant calving

1 month ago | agweek.com | Jenny Schlecht

WOODWORTH, N.D. — While the relatively snow-free weather has increased concerns about drought conditions in the region, it has helped reduce calving stress. "This year's calving season has been pretty nice," said Monica Fitterer, NDSU Extension ag and natural resources agent for Kidder County. "We didn't have a lot of storms, which was nice."Calving is just past its peak in North Dakota.