PAGE, N.D. (KFGO) - A farmer is locked in a dispute with the local grain elevator. Don Garnas is feuding with The Arthur Companies over the loss of part of a corn crop on land next to the elevator that he rents out. Garnas says he believes The Arthur Companies is releasing large amounts of fertilizer from a holding pond. He says he's met with the company in hopes of resolving his concerns, but those talks have stalled.
"It should have never gone this far, I thought it was progressing quite well but apparently it hasn't, I just assume, and I don't know, that it probably, the reason they have suddenly decided it wasn't their fault is because they probably have had some legal advice on it, that concerns me," said Garnas.
Garnas says he's asked the state to investigate the source of the contamination. The pesticide division of the agriculture department confirms that it's looking into the concerns of Garnas, but it won't comment further.
"Until we fix the surface drainage problem, water is going to flow, it is going to flow to that low area, it is going to pond up, its going to kill the crop as long as the crop can't grow and remove those nitrogen, remove any fertilizer added, its going to accumulate," responded Justin Knott, terminal manager for The Arthur Companies' facilities in Page and Pillsbury.
"Salts are going to accumulate, the fertility is going to accumulate, just from what his (Garnas) tenants' are fertilizing on top of the ground, Knott added.
Knott has USDA imagery that shows corn hasn't grown on the land in question in five of seven years.
Garnas is also expressing concern about potential contamination to an underground aquifer.
"I have not heard of any concern brought up other than from Don, our aquifers are very viable, very important natural resource," Knott said, disputing Garnas' contention.
Garnas has farmed around Page since 1959. The Arthur Companies is owned by the family of Gov. Doug Burgum. The governor remains on its board of directors.