USDA recertifies North
Dakota Mediation Service
BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says the U.S. Department of Agriculture has recertified the North Dakota Mediation Service (NDMS) through Sept. 30, 2015.
“USDA’s Farm Service Agency has informed me that the mediation service meets all federal statutory and regulatory requirements and will continue to receive federal funds for the coming year,” Goehring said. “This certification means North Dakota farmers and ranchers can call on NDMS to provide them with an affordable means of resolving disputes and often avoiding costly litigation.”
NDMS handled more than 60 cases this past year. The cases included credit issues, landowner disputes and conflicts arising from energy development.
“I am proud of the work the service has accomplished on behalf of farmers, ranchers and landowners over the past 30 years,” Goehring said. “Producers know they can depend on NDMS for fair and impartial mediation service, and that their information will be kept confidential.”
A program of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, NDMS (formerly the North Dakota Agricultural Mediation Service), was established in 1984 to help financially distressed farmers and ranchers through assistance with credit and financial matters and resolving disputes.
The 2011 Legislature expanded the agency’s responsibilities to include dispute resolution of property issues related to energy development and landowner disputes with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department related to damage caused by deer on winter livestock feed supplies.
North Dakota Mediation Service policies are established by the North Dakota Credit Review Board.
Now is Time to Protect
Sewer Vents from Freezing
Last winter was long and cold. That was the perfect weather to cause frozen sewer vent pipes on many houses.
“Now, while the weather is nice and there is no snow on the roof, is the time to insulate or extend sewer vent pipes so they do not get covered with snow or freeze shut this winter,” North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural engineer Tom Scherer says.
Sewer vent pipes are on the roof of homes and other buildings. The diameter of the vent pipe varies from 1 1/2 to 6 inches. Typically, the short, smaller diameter vent pipes (less than 4 inches) can freeze shut. Sewer vent pipes on the north side of the roof also may be more prone to frost plugging than those on the south side of the roof.
House plumbing systems include sewer pipes, vent pipes and water traps. A house may have one or many sewer vent pipes. All are important and necessary for a properly functioning house sewer system.
Sewer pipes have to be vented to allow air into the pipe for proper flow. The sewer pipe and vent pipes are connected so wastewater flows downward and sewer gases rise. During extended periods of very cold weather, sewer gas containing water vapor will condense, then freeze to form a frost layer in the exposed uninsulated end of the vent pipe. This frost layer can seal the pipe partially or fully, forming a plug. Hard, drifted snow also can plug the end of the vent pipes.
If the end of the vent pipe is plugged, proper draining will be hampered and air will be pulled into the piping, which will drain the traps of water fixtures. This allows sewer gas into the house. The gas, primarily composed of methane and carbon monoxide, will have an obvious “sewer” smell; however, some harmful gases are odorless.
“The first indication of trouble may be the toilet gurgling or not flushing properly as water is pulled from the traps to replace existing water and air flow,” Scherer says. “Sewer gas may cause people to become sick with symptoms such as headache, nausea and/or dizziness.”
Frozen sewer vents have been a problem in many newer homes because the plastic pipes in those homes do not conduct heat from inside the house as well as the cast iron vent pipes in older homes. Also, attics in newer homes are very well insulated and do not have heat in this area, so the vent pipe is colder farther into the house. In addition, many newer homes have two, three or even four bathrooms, plus dishwashers and whirlpool baths, all of which increase the water vapor in the sewer system.
Many products are on the market to help solve this problem. A common method is to attach an insulated sleeve over the outside end of the vent pipe. These sleeves not only insulate the vent pipe but also extend it higher into the air. The intent is to keep the water vapor and gases above the freezing point until they exit the end of the vent pipe. Many hardware and home supply stores carry pre-made insulated units that you can attach to the vent pipe easily.
“Even though the weather is nice and there is no snow on the roof to contend with, be careful.” Scherer cautions. “If you don’t feel safe climbing onto the roof, find someone who will, and use proper ladders and other protection.”
Attaching the insulated sleeve to the sewer vent pipe is not difficult, and some are made to slip on without tools. However, for these to work properly, you must know the diameter of the vent before you purchase the insulating sleeve. This will require getting on the roof to measure the vents first.
Even sewer vent pipes with insulated sleeves have been known to freeze shut, which may be due to exposed bare pipe in the attic, according to Scherer. If you can get access to the attic from inside the house, wrap a batting of fiberglass insulation around the vent pipe in the attic. Another option is to wrap heat tape around the exposed sewer vent pipe in the attic and then insulate over the tape.
Heat tape is a long cord with a heating element and a thermostat to sense when the pipe is exposed to freezing temperatures. The thermostat on the tape should not be insulated because it is meant to measure the ambient air temperature of the space where the tape is being used. Leave it plugged in all winter, but check that it is working before each fall.
“Remember, an ounce of prevention now will help prevent sewer vent problems this winter,” Scherer says.
NDSU Agribusiness and
Applied Economics Department
China’s rapid economic growth and changing population demographics have affected the world’s most populous country. Driven by income growth, urbanization and a transition to a market economy, the Chinese diet has shifted from staples to meat. Since the 1980s, Chinese grain consumption has decreased by 50 percent while meat consumption has increased by nearly 75 percent in urban areas and by more than 130 percent in rural areas.
This increased meat demand has resulted in significant increases in meat production in China. China continues to lead the world in pork production but also has increased the production of other meats and aquatic products. Much of this increased production has been based upon increased production of soybeans and corn but also on imported soybeans and other feedstuffs.
The demand for meat varies considerably by age, with seniors demanding much less meat than younger populations. China’s one-child policy has skewed its population demographics such that it has a rapidly aging population. As the middle-aged population moves closer to retirement, the younger population will shrink, resulting in relatively more seniors in the future.
Chinese seniors tend to eat a more healthful diet which includes more vegetables and less meat. In addition, because many parents and grandparents live with their children, they tend to influence the family’s eating habits, resulting in less meat consumed at home. Thus, the aging population may have a significant effect on the demand for meat and, hence, the demand for livestock feed, including grain and soybeans in the future.
Recent studies suggest that total average per capita meat consumption in China could grow from about 60 kilograms in 2010 to nearly 100 kg per person per year by 2030. Accounting for the aging population would reduce the projection by up to 5 percent per year.
How will this dramatic increase in meat consumption be met? Chinese meat production likely will expand to meet this demand but will put increasing pressure on feedstuffs and protein supplies. China’s meat imports, particularly high-quality imports destined for the hotel/restaurant trade will likely increase to meet a growing income driven demand.
However, given China’s limited arable land base and irrigation water supplies, it is likely that unless productivity increases dramatically, imports of soybeans and feedstuffs will increase significantly to feed a growing livestock inventory. While the level of China’s imports is debatable, there is likely an opportunity for increased exports of U.S soybeans and feedstuffs.
North Dakota is well-situated to at least partially meet some of this demand with its expanded corn and soybean production base via northwestern ports. However, shipping congestion may limit opportunities, at least in the short run, making gulf exports more viable.
Nevertheless, China’s growing demand for meat will create opportunities in the world marketplace. However, China’s population demographic changes in the next several decades likely will reduce the overall demand for meat.