Drones and Dollars - The Modern Battlefield of North Dakota Livestock
Steve Hallstrom
Special to The Farmer
The eastern part of North Dakota may be still shrugging off the effects of last week’s foot of snow, but the horizon in Western North Dakota looks markedly different. Here, the ground is clearing, and the focus is shifting from surviving the winter to actually defending the very foundation of ranching.
For Bridgette Readel, the Ag Director at AM1090 The Flag radio station, the contrast between the regions is stark. But while the western part of the state may have dodged the heaviest snow, producers here are facing a different kind of storm - the rise of high-tech activism and the crippling costs of rebuilding a national cattle herd that has shrunk to historic lows.
“In Western North Dakota we’re doing pretty well, and are currently spreading some fertilizer. We’re waiting for things to warm up a tish as well, but it won’t be very long before things are moving very quickly for everyone.
As ranchers in McKenzie County prepare for the season, they are being warned of a new neighbor: the surveillance drone. Readel highlighted the aggressive tactics of Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), a California-based organization that has expanded its reach into the Midwest, utilizing technology to disrupt traditional animal agriculture.
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