AGP Executive Report

Diesel Relief for Farmers: Gov. Kelly Armstrong declared a fuel emergency and expanded use of lower-tax red-dyed diesel on public highways for licensed ag vehicles, aiming to cut harvest hauling costs by about 19 cents per gallon through Nov. 30. Oil & Fuel Watch: New reporting tracks U.S. crude production holding above 13.9M barrels/day and rising inventories, while GasBuddy price checks show pockets of cheaper gas and diesel across North Dakota counties. Data Centers in the Spotlight: A Cass County data center proposal would use up to 540 megawatts at peak—nearly double a Fargo-area project—while residents and officials elsewhere keep debating power, water, and community impacts. Ag Water Fight: Rural landowners and the Dakota Resource Council are taking a Wahpeton-area water sale to court over a proposed 12,500-head dairy, arguing they weren’t allowed to fully challenge the approval. Health & Workforce: HHS awarded $1.3M+ to ND universities for rural health policy, Head Start, and FDA research; separately, UND and other schools keep pushing training and skilled trades pathways. Veterans Services: VA granted nearly $700,000 to expand veteran suicide prevention and mental health access statewide.

Wetlands & farmland rules: The Interior Department agreed to overhaul wetland easement enforcement in North Dakota, letting farmers redraw old maps and manage excess field water without penalty as long as duck habitat stays protected. Data centers & local control: North Dakota officials are trying to catch up with a fast-moving data center boom tied to AI, with counties using moratoriums and new ordinances as communities ask what costs and benefits look like. Grain shipping costs: Railroads’ fuel surcharges have more than doubled, and farmers may feel it through lower crop prices as harvest nears. Consumer protection: North Dakota AG Alan Wilson urged eligible consumers to file claims tied to multistate settlements over inflated generic drug prices. Agriculture & water dispute: A Wahpeton-area group and the Dakota Resource Council sued over a state-approved water sale for a large dairy, arguing it threatens the city’s only aquifer. Retail & jobs: Chuck E. Cheese announced its Adventure World indoor playground concept is coming to West Fargo. Sports & community: NDSU and Wyoming will launch an annual “Battle of the Basins” trophy game. Rural life: A family petting zoo in North Dakota is marking 35 years, traveling to events including Berry Acres Pumpkin Patch.

Energy & Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reports show scattered low points across North Dakota—premium hit $4.74/gal in Dickey County and $4.74/gal in Ransom County (week ending Sept. 19), while diesel lows included $5.74/gal in Morton County. Water & Agriculture: A Wahpeton-area landowner group and Dakota Resource Council sued the ND Department of Water Resources over a 500,000-gallon-per-day water sale tied to a large dairy project, arguing it threatens the Wahpeton Buried Valley Aquifer. Wetlands Rules for ND Farmland: The Interior Department agreed to overhaul wetland easement enforcement, letting farmers redraw pre-1976 maps and manage excess field water under a “no net loss” standard. Biofuels & Crops: EPA renewable volume obligations are boosting bio-based diesel demand, lifting soybean oil value and supporting new soy crush plans that include North Dakota. Local Construction: Valley City’s Eighth Ave. SW mill and overlay starts Sept. 30, with lane closures and expected completion by Oct. 7. Housing & Real Estate: Out-of-state owners control a large share of Campbell County rentals, with Gillette’s biggest complexes largely held by companies filed outside Wyoming. Business/Community: Chuck E. Cheese’s Adventure World expansion includes West Fargo, North Dakota, among 2026 openings. Sports (Local Economy Angle): NDSU and Wyoming launched “Battle of the Basins,” a traveling trophy sponsored by the North Dakota Petroleum Council.

Construction & Workforce: Butler Machinery opened its first Cat Compact and Butler Cat Rentals location in Bismarck, aiming to make compact equipment sales and rentals easier for contractors, landscapers, farmers and rural property owners. Flood Planning: The North Dakota DOT will hold a public-input meeting Oct. 1 in Grand Forks on the Northern Red River Flood Study, with comments accepted online until Oct. 15. Higher Ed & STEM: UND’s STEM Complex is moving ahead; a beam signing is set for Oct. 2 as crews continue structural steel, concrete decks, and utility connections. Energy & Agriculture Costs: Railroads raised grain shipping costs, and farmers may feel it through lower crop prices as diesel costs and fuel surcharges ripple through the supply chain. Ag & Community Pressure: A farming crisis story highlights rising stress for farmers and ranchers amid drought and high fuel costs, with resources including stress assistance networks. Local Business & Food: A Fargo restaurant spotlights North Dakota beef from a local ranch, tying consumer demand for homegrown quality to direct-to-consumer opportunities. Border Operations: Manitoba’s permanent daylight saving time change could affect North Dakota border towns’ travel and delivery schedules. Education Spotlight: Grand Forks Public Schools inducted six into its Teachers Hall of Fame.

Fuel Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports show midgrade gas hitting $4.99 in Oliver County and diesel dipping to $6.18 in Hettinger County for the week ending Sept. 19, while North Dakota averages for midgrade and diesel both rose week-over-week. Ag & Rural Stress: A farming crisis is pushing more strain onto producers, with rural men in farming facing much higher suicide risk; resources like mediation and stress assistance are highlighted. Livestock Policy: Sen. John Hoeven lays out Farm Bill 2.0 moves for prairie dog limits, and updates to Livestock Indemnity Program and drought-related ELAP transportation coverage. Wetlands & Property Rights: Farmers and landowners in Valley City press federal officials over wetland easement frustrations and regulatory creep tied to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. School Bus Costs: High diesel prices are forcing North Dakota districts and others to consolidate routes and cut trips to keep buses running. Work Visas: USCIS reports 1,466 H-2B worker approvals tied to North Dakota worksites in fiscal 2026 through June 30. Energy Infrastructure: Fargo-Moorhead Diversion officials say a Highway 81 road failure won’t stop project operations as repairs continue.

Fuel Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports regular gas hitting $4.09/gal in McLean County for the week ending Sept. 19, with North Dakota’s statewide average up to $4.18/gal; diesel is also firm, with Benson County’s low at $6.09/gal and North Dakota’s diesel average at $6.13/gal. Energy Policy & Refining: Sen. Kevin Cramer again pushed the case for more U.S. refining capacity, arguing production without enough refining leaves prices exposed to global disruptions. Flood Control & Infrastructure: Fargo-Moorhead Diversion officials say a Highway 81 road failure won’t stop project operations, with repairs aimed to reopen before winter. Livestock & Farm Bill: Sen. John Hoeven outlined Farm Bill 2.0 moves for livestock producers, including updates to the Livestock Indemnity Program and drought-related ELAP transportation coverage. USDA Staffing Pressure: A viewpoint warns USDA is cutting on-the-ground staff in North Dakota, leaving farmers facing longer waits and program delays. Road Safety Enforcement: ND’s “Speeding Slows You Down” campaign issued 5,409 citations statewide, including 4,917 speeding tickets. Local Power Costs: Jamestown City Council weighs a $120,000 Otter Tail Power franchise fee as it finalizes its budget.

USDA staffing squeeze: A new report says USDA is cutting on-the-ground farm-country staff in North Dakota, leaving longer waits and more program delays for farmers and ranchers. Fuel watch: GasBuddy price checks show diesel and gasoline staying volatile, with multiple counties reporting week-ending Sept. 19 lows (including diesel at $6.09 in Benson County and regular at $4.09 in Dickey and Morton counties). Public safety enforcement: North Dakota’s “Speeding Slows You Down” campaign ran July 1–Aug. 9 and generated 5,409 citations, with speeding/aggressive driving tied to 29% of last year’s fatal crashes. Local power costs: Jamestown City Council is weighing a $120,000 franchise fee for Otter Tail Power to offset pole and utility charges. Workforce & immigration: North Dakota employers in the “Other Services (except Public Administration)” category filed 3 H-1B petitions in 2025, all approved. Nonprofit funding mix: Fargo-area nonprofits reported extremely high government-grant share of revenue in 2024, while other cities saw different mixes. Aviation & ag policy: Sen. John Hoeven highlighted aviation education and legislative action tied to North Dakota priorities.

Fuel Watch: Diesel hit $5.89/gal at one station in Ransom County (week ending Sept. 19), while Morton County’s lowest regular gas was $4.09/gal; statewide averages moved up (regular $4.18, diesel about $6.13). Ag Inputs Pressure: North Dakota producers are feeling record-high diesel costs as they juggle hauling and fieldwork, with limited flexibility to absorb higher fuel bills. Forage Planning: NDSU urges late-season alfalfa management—“no cut September”—to protect winter survival and stand persistence after dry conditions and hay shortages. Energy & Oil: A new operator, Phoenix Energy, is ramping up fast in the Bakken, expanding from its first wells to a multi-rig program targeting rapid production growth. Leadership in Milling: Cathy Dub settled into her new CEO/president role at the North Dakota Mill and Elevator, emphasizing team culture and the mill’s mission. Workforce Policy: Gov. Armstrong is consolidating workforce-related programs under a new structure and naming Katie Ralston Howe as the state’s first workforce commissioner. Education & Training: Napoleon ag educator Brian Schneider was named 2027 North Dakota Teacher of the Year, highlighting CTE’s role in agriculture and FFA. Trade & Grain: Taiwanese flour millers toured North Dakota’s wheat quality and handling system, underscoring continued demand for U.S. hard wheat.

Mortgage & housing affordability: Mortgage rates climbed above 7% for the first time in two years, squeezing North Dakota buyers even as the state’s Housing Finance Agency pushes first-time programs and down-payment help. Ag input pressure: Diesel prices are near record levels, and farmers say there’s little flexibility during peak hauling and field work—just pay the bill or adjust loads. Workforce policy: Gov. Kelly Armstrong moved to unify North Dakota’s workforce programs under a new cabinet-level workforce commissioner, naming Katie Ralston Howe to coordinate the patchwork. Education & training: Napoleon ag education teacher Brian Schneider was named North Dakota’s 2027 Teacher of the Year, highlighting the state’s push to build strong career and technical education pipelines. Crops & markets: Northern Plains soybean basis strengthened as delayed harvest and drought-reduced supplies tightened bids, with crush plants competing into early 2027. Energy & transportation costs: Gas and diesel price reports across counties show wide local variation, reinforcing how fuel volatility is hitting trucking and farm logistics. Local business growth: A new Capital City Car Wash is planned for North Bismarck after a land purchase, signaling continued retail/service expansion. Consumer protection: North Dakota AG actions continue in the background as settlements and oversight efforts target predatory lending and other consumer harms.

Workforce Crunch: Job Service ND says 38 of 53 counties have job shortages, with healthcare the biggest gap—by 2034 the state expects about 3,700 more healthcare practitioners and 2,600 support workers. Ag Labor & H-2A: North Dakota farms are leaning harder on H-2A visas as demand rises; requests climbed from 2,444 workers in FY2021 to 4,966 in FY2025. Electric Rates: AARP North Dakota has intervened in Montana-Dakota Utilities’ rate case, arguing a proposed 14.5% hike would hit residential customers hardest, with an interim increase already approved. Consumer & Health Policy: ND AG Drew Wrigley says kratom rules for the new under-21 restrictions will take about six months; until then, sales are banned under the new law. Energy Costs & Diesel Politics: Sen. John Hoeven says Trump advisers are analyzing a potential short-term diesel export ban during harvest season as prices pressure farm and trucking costs. Public Safety: Jamestown’s police staffing plan recommends adding 6 patrol officers and 1 records clerk over two fiscal years. Education & Training: Minot State University plans to expand health science programs, including a new simulation center. Local Economy: Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library names Robbie Lauf interim CEO after Edward O’Keefe’s departure.

Leadership & Tourism: The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora named Robbie Lauf interim CEO, effective Sept. 19, as it launches a national search for a permanent chief executive after Edward F. O’Keefe’s Sept. 18 departure. Energy & Agriculture Costs: Bloomberg reports Trump advisers are analyzing a possible short-term U.S. diesel export ban, with Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) saying the study could inform action during harvest season as diesel prices pressure farm and freight budgets. Fuel Prices Watch: GasBuddy price checks for the week ending Sept. 19 show scattered low points across ND counties (regular as low as $3.95 in Richland; diesel as low as $5.89 in Walsh; premium as low as $4.09 in Walsh; E85 as low as $2.39 in Richland). Water & Risk: The U.S. Drought Monitor moved Cass and Clay counties fully into extreme drought (D3), while 87.5% of ND is in drought statewide. Workforce & Education: NDSU reported its first overall enrollment drop in three years (down 2.9% to 11,609), and Napoleon ag educator Brian Schneider was named ND Teacher of the Year. Construction Pipeline: A Demo Day at SWCTE in Dickinson brought local contractors and heavy equipment to students, aiming to spark interest in the trades. Nonprofit Finance: New IRS Form 990 revenue rankings highlighted top earners in several ND cities (including Fargo’s Offutt Family Foundation and Kindred’s Kindred Youth Baseball). Consumer Protection: ND AG Drew Wrigley said his office concluded its F5 Project consumer protection investigation, filing an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance after allegations of self-dealing and misuse of funds.

Diesel Pressure on Ag: Diesel hit record highs, with GasBuddy reporting Grand Forks County’s lowest weekly price at $5.89 and a county average of $6.23—another cost squeeze for North Dakota farmers, ranchers, and truckers. Durum Market Watch: USDA pegged the 2026 durum crop at 66 million bushels (down 23%); tighter supplies are helping durum regain ground versus hard red spring wheat. Flood Protection Funding: Minot is asking lawmakers for nearly $679M to finish the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project as costs climb toward $1.7B. Data Center Water & Fiber: Aberdeen sold over 1M gallons of water to an Applied Digital campus near Ellendale; meanwhile, Ziply completed a fiber ring in Quincy, Washington—another sign of the buildout that’s reshaping regional infrastructure demand. AG & Governance: North Dakota AG Drew Wrigley reached a compliance deal with the F5 Project after findings of illegal self-dealing loans and conflicts tied to real estate transactions. Workforce Push: Gov. Kelly Armstrong aligned workforce programs under a new agency structure and named Katie Ralston Howe as the state’s first workforce commissioner. Training & Safety: NDSCS cut the ribbon on a new agriculture center and lab in Wahpeton, boosting precision-ag hands-on learning.

Workforce & Economic Development: Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced a new Department of Workforce Development to unify North Dakota’s workforce programs under one roof, naming Katie Ralston Howe as the state’s first workforce commissioner. Consumer & Legal: ND Attorney General Drew Wrigley says consumers who bought certain generic drugs between May 2009 and Dec. 2019 may claim a share of a $96.5M multistate settlement over alleged generic price-fixing. Nonprofit Accountability: Wrigley reached a compliance agreement with Fargo’s F5 Project after allegations of illegal self-dealing, including unauthorized zero-interest loans and related conflict-of-interest concerns. Public Safety: North Dakota HHS reports nearly three-quarters of checked child car seats had at least one misuse in 2025, urging families to get help during Child Passenger Safety Week. Local Transportation & Costs: Independent truckers in Minot say diesel price spikes are crushing margins as fuel costs rise faster than rates. Energy & Environment: EPA moves to repeal power-plant greenhouse gas limits, a shift that could affect utility planning and costs. Water Access & Invasives: ND Game and Fish urges hunters to prevent aquatic nuisance species spread by cleaning gear and removing plant fragments and water.

Street Racing Crackdown: A Fargo-Moorhead editorial urges police and event organizers to rein in reckless street racing after two deadly crashes tied to “car clubs,” including a chase averaging 143 mph that killed a 49-year-old. Farm Costs & Policy: The Fed’s rate hike is expected to raise farmers’ operating-loan costs, while USDA opened 2026 ARC/PLC enrollment, adding 30 million acres to the safety net (with a Dec. 11 election deadline). Prairie Potholes & Property Rights: Interior will expand its Prairie Pothole Wetland easement review with added input from North Dakota farmers and ranchers, focusing on older easements with acreage disputes. Ag Tech on the Ground: NDSU Extension breaks down precision agriculture tools like blockage monitors and flow sensors, plus ammoniation as a hedge when roughage quality is tight. Energy & Infrastructure: The Industrial Commission approved $611,862 in Renewable Energy Program matching grants, and construction milestones continue for the new North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown. Canola Innovation: BASF and Bunge announced processing for BASF’s InVigor Gold canola, targeting commercialization in 2027. Rural Services: A rural veterinary shortage story highlights clinics closing and longer waits as demand rises faster than staffing.

Ag Policy & Elections: Democrat Vern Thompson says North Dakota farmers are under “serious stress” from trade deals and weather, and argues the agriculture commissioner’s office needs more outreach beyond a website as the Ag Commissioner race heats up. Renewable Energy Funding: The North Dakota Industrial Commission approved $611,862 in Renewable Energy Program matching grants, including $260,020 for woody biomass energy/manufacturing and $351,842 for a direct ethanol fuel cell project. Canola Innovation: BASF and Bunge announced Bunge will process BASF’s InVigor Gold canola, a Brassica juncea hybrid aimed at hotter, drier conditions, with commercialization ramping toward a 2027 U.S. launch in ND and nearby states. Forage Cost Relief: NDSU Extension recommends ammoniation for low-quality roughages when better hay is pricey, citing improved intake and digestibility plus nitrogen boosts for livestock diets. Infrastructure & Power: South Dakota regulators are weighing major transmission-line plans totaling about 160 miles and $2B+—a reminder of the broader regional grid buildout affecting ND energy planning. Community & Land Use: Harmony Township in northwest ND is considering a two-year data center moratorium after residents cite noise, property values, water use, traffic, and wildlife concerns. Pork Antitrust Settlement: Eight major pork producers agreed to a $117M class action settlement over alleged price-fixing; North Dakota consumers may be eligible if they bought covered products during 2014–2018 and file by Oct. 29, 2026. Road Work: Sorlie Bridge between Grand Forks and East Grand Forks is down to one lane for about three weeks for DOT maintenance.

Grid & Utility Hiring: Lake Country Power appointed Lee Gustafson and Steve Mattson as engineers, with Mattson leading metering/SCADA and software support for the co-op’s AMI and communications. Energy & Tribal Power: More North Dakota tribes are moving into solar, while Standing Rock is pushing a major wind farm plan with 54 turbines. Military Infrastructure: North Dakota DOT received $1.3M to extend a left-turn lane on U.S. Highway 83 for Minot Air Force Base access and safety. Oil & Fuel Pressure: North Dakota oil production rose to 35.85M barrels in July, but higher crude is keeping pump prices elevated; AAA reports gas climbing nationally as crude stays near $100. Diesel Impacts Trucking: In Minot, diesel is topping $6 a gallon, squeezing trucking margins and rippling into grocery and other costs. Agriculture Policy & Property Rights: Sen. Kevin Cramer says he’s blocking Trump nominees over a wetlands rule he argues shifts drain-tile setbacks and undermines private property rights. Weather Data Funding: NDAWN is seeking funds from the Red River Watershed Management Board to expand its network of 200+ weather stations across the region. Insurance Costs: North Dakota residential property insurance is projected to jump 26% by 2028, driven by higher labor/material costs and storm damage. Workforce Training: A new rural firefighting program pairs virtual instruction with hands-on drills to prepare students for volunteer and career pathways.