Former NDFU President Marks Growth, Urges Antitrust and Processing Boost

Mark Watne, past president of the North Dakota Farmers Union, publicly reflected January 2 on a 12-year tenure that saw substantial organizational growth and a range of initiatives intended to strengthen farmers and rural communities. Watne said he did not seek reelection to make way for new leadership and that he plans to retire unless new opportunities arise. Under his leadership the union’s membership increased from about 40,000 to 70,000.

Watne highlighted concrete achievements that have local resonance in Stutsman County and across North Dakota. He cited contributions to recent federal farm bills that included disaster and other program improvements, expanded education programs for producers, and a series of value-added projects that produced new restaurants and processing facilities. The organization also published five children’s books about farming and established the James River Farmers Union Camp at Jamestown Reservoir, a youth program that brings many young people to the area annually.

Those accomplishments are set against persistent economic pressures facing producers. Watne identified low commodity prices, high input costs and market consolidation as ongoing challenges. He singled out concentrated market power among meat packers, shippers and input suppliers, and cited trade and tariff disruptions as sources of instability for farm incomes. In response, he advocated for stronger antitrust enforcement and for expanding domestic value-added processing in sectors such as biofuels, renewable fuels, ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel as pathways to better farm returns.

The local implications are tangible. Expanded processing and value-added facilities create potential demand for crops grown in Stutsman County and can provide local employment beyond farming. The James River camp and education programs foster youth engagement and skills development, helping sustain the agricultural workforce and civic participation in rural communities. Growth in NDFU membership also increases the organization’s capacity to influence policy at the state and federal levels, which can shape farm programs that affect household incomes, land use and local tax bases.

Policy changes Watne advocates would require coordinated action by federal regulators and investment in rural infrastructure to make domestic processing viable. Strengthened antitrust enforcement could alter competitive dynamics in meatpacking and input supply, potentially lowering costs for producers. For residents of Stutsman County, those outcomes could translate into more stable farm revenues and greater local economic activity if implemented.

As the NDFU transitions to new leadership, the organization’s recent record of outreach, education and local projects sets a benchmark for how farm groups can combine advocacy and community development to address systemic challenges facing producers.