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Fielding Questions: Pineapple plant fruiting in ND, horseradish care, peat alternative

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Fielding Questions: Pineapple plant fruiting in ND, horseradish care, peat alternative


Q: I’d love to share some of the two pineapples I just harvested today in Mercer County, N.D, – Jessie Krieger.

A: When I hear of pineapple plants producing fruit, I visualize plantations in tropical Hawaii. And so, Jesse, you caught my immediate attention when you said you enjoyed homegrown pineapple in Scranton, N.D. I’ll let Jesse tell the tale.

“The photos are from August 2019 when I harvested my first pineapple fruit, which was about the size of a store-bought one. I started the plant from the top cut off a pineapple we purchased from the grocery store, and it took three years to grow the plant from start to finish.

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A pineapple plant has developed a flower.

Contributed / Jessie Krieger

“During the December before it fruited, I set a couple of ripening apples beside the pot and covered the very large plant loosely with plastic, which supposedly would trigger blossoming with the apple’s ethylene gas. It worked and by mid-January a spike with a tiny pineapple came up.

“The plant stayed in the house until May, and then went into my greenhouse. I fed it with Miracle Gro and by the end of of August, the fruit was fully ripe and very sweet.

“I then broke the top of the pineapple apart and rooted seven little pineapple plants from it. This set has taken the past four years to produce fruit, because the tops were so much smaller than the one I rooted the first time. All of this year’s fruit were a little smaller, but followed pretty much the same timeline – blooming in January after the apple ethylene gas treatment and ripening in the fall.

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“The pineapple plants were repotted twice, going into a larger deck pot the last time. Each plant produces one fruit and several plant suckers at the base. “

Thanks, Jessie, for an inspirational story, and you’ve proven that pineapple tops can be rooted and brought to fruiting, even though the upper Midwest isn’t exactly the Hawaiian tropics.

  • Click to go to the 'Growing Together' podcast

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Q: Is it okay to cut horseradish leaves down to a couple inches this time of year? They are getting pretty unsightly. – Todd B.

A: Horseradish leaves can be cut down in autumn to an inch or two above ground level, but wait until frost has killed the leaves, or the plants appear to be going dormant. The roots of horseradish make their greatest growth in late summer and early fall, and if the leaves look healthy, they continue to feed the roots.

If you’re planning to harvest the horseradish roots this year, delay digging until late October or early November. It can also be dug in early spring.

Q: I’ve been using peat-based potting soil for container gardening for over 30 years. Now I’m learning that peat moss is not a renewable resource, or at least in our lifetimes. What alternatives can you suggest? – Lisa P.

A: Peat has been a staple for most of our gardening lives, but because it takes over a thousand years to form about three feet of peat in a bog, we’ve been using it at a faster rate than it can possibly replenish.

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Luckily there are good alternatives. For amending outdoor soil, compost and other organic materials work beautifully.

For potting soil and seed starting, coconut coir is a wonderful ingredient. It’s already being used in some national brand potting and seed-starting mixes. Compressed bricks of coconut coir can be ordered online and will probably become more readily available at garden centers.

Don Kinzler

Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, is the horticulturist with North Dakota State University Extension for Cass County. Readers can reach him at donald.kinzler@ndsu.edu.





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North Dakota lawmaker introduces bill to invalidate certain out-of-state driver's licenses

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North Dakota lawmaker introduces bill to invalidate certain out-of-state driver's licenses


BISMARCK — Out-of-state visitors to North Dakota may have to remember their passport or other identification beyond their driver’s license to drive through the state under a proposed bill.

House Bill 1501

would make driver’s licenses from states that issue them without requiring proof of citizenship invalid in North Dakota without a secondary form of identification that proves citizenship such as a passport, birth certificate or certificate of naturalization. This means those with a driver’s license from 19 states that do not require proof of citizenship to issue licenses could be charged with driving without a license if pulled over in North Dakota.

The bill is not intended to be a primary offense, according to the bill’s primary sponsor Rep. Keith Kempenich, R- Bowman, meaning law enforcement could only cite someone if they were pulled over for a separate offense.

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Kempenich said the bill is in response to issues brought up in the last presidential race, specifically media attention surrounding claims of immigrants’ actions in Springfield, Ohio. He said driving is a privilege reserved for citizens.

“Other states are basically just flaunting — flaunting the idea that this is a privilege to have this,” Kempenich said. “And some of these states think that this is a good idea to just let whoever, basically get a driver’s license out of a Cracker Jack box.”

Members of the House Transportation Committee raised concerns over the hassle this would cause law-abiding citizens who come from these 19 states. The legislators said it is not common to have a passport or other secondary piece of identification on someone at all times.

“I mean, these are documents you usually have, you know, stored away somewhere safe until you need to produce them,” said Rep. Dan Ruby, R-Minot. “So that’s my only concern, is that — what we would be doing to legitimate populations that are traveling to our state that now are going to be considered guilty until proven innocent.”

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Rep. Daniel Johnson, R-Kathryn, asks a question during a hearing about House Bill 1501, a bill focusing on the use of out-of-state operators’ licenses and nonoperator identification cards for identification and motor vehicle operation, at the North Dakota Capitol on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.

Tanner Ecker / The Bismarck Tribune

Kempenich said the bill is designed to cause complications to start a conversation around other states’ decisions not to require proof of citizenship for driver’s licenses. He said, “it wouldn’t impact any North Dakotan” or any driver from the 31 states that require proof of citizenship to issue driver’s licenses.

There were questions raised about the bill’s constitutionality, with legislators concerned that it may violate the Interstate Commerce Clause. Kempenich said the clause only refers to citizens but recognized that the bill may spark a conversation about how to interpret the clause.

Cody Schuler, a lobbyist with the American Civil Liberties Union, said the bill is constitutionally suspect under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution, which requires states to recognize the legal documents and precedents from other states.

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He also said that enforcement of the bill would be cumbersome, especially along the densely populated parts of the Minnesota border. Under this bill, some Minnesota driver’s licenses would be invalidated.

“This bill is troubling because (it) is blatantly anti-immigrant and does not seem to have any other purpose than to send a clear signal that immigrants are not welcome in North Dakota,” Schuler said in an email to the Tribune.

Ruby said he could not see voting for the bill as it currently stands, but would give Kempenich and the committee time to consider amendments that could make the bill viable.





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Bills would bring new regulations, aid to North Dakota libraries • North Dakota Monitor

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Bills would bring new regulations, aid to North Dakota libraries • North Dakota Monitor


North Dakota lawmakers are revisiting potential regulations about the placement of allegedly questionable library materials, as well as a measure to clarify who may distribute state grants to libraries and how the State Library can provide surplus materials to local libraries.

Senate Bill 2307, which will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee, would require a public or school library to remove “explicit sexual material” or place it in an area of the library that is off limits to anyone younger than 18.

The bill would require North Dakota’s attorney general to investigate any complaint about whether a library had allowed minors access to explicit sexual material, and order the state treasurer and superintendent of public instruction to halt any distribution of state funds to the offending library until the situation is rectified.

Two years ago, the Legislature approved a law requiring libraries to develop policies for removing or relocating “explicit sexual material” and for responding to public complaints about its possible presence. The law, House Bill 1205, required libraries to periodically review their collections to ensure that explicit sexual material is not present in the library’s section for children.

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In March 2024, the state librarian, Mary Soucie, told the Legislature’s interim Juvenile Justice Committee the law prompted five libraries to move some books. Two created a separate young adult collection.

House Bill 1420, which the House approved 92-2 on Jan. 22, clarifies that the State Library Coordinating Council is responsible for disbursing grants. Rep. Eric Murphy, R-Grand Forks, said there have been past issues in the past with council members believing they had authority over distribution of federal grants. 

The 11-member State Library Coordinating Council includes representatives of public and school libraries and members who represent the general public. It meets every three months to distribute state grants. The State Library also receives federal grants that it distributes. Public libraries are funded through local property taxes as well as state and federal grants. State and federal grants are important for helping libraries pay for services, programs and materials.

Senate Bill 2219, which was approved 46-0 in the Senate, makes it easier for the State Library to share materials with libraries throughout the state. Its sponsor, Sen. Sean Cleary, R-Bismarck, said it would help improve the State Library’s working relationship with local libraries. 

When the State Library regularly goes through its collection – the process is called “weeding” – workers assess if any unwanted materials would be valuable to a local library, State Librarian Mary Soucie said. The State Library lets local librarians know which materials are available and distributes them if the libraries are interested, she said. Senate Bill 2219 would allow the State Library to distribute the materials directly to other libraries without informing the state surplus property division, which normally handles disposal of items that state agencies no longer want. 

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The bill also would allow the withholding of state aid to libraries that do not complete and submit their required annual reports. The aid would be withheld the following year.

The North Dakota Newspaper Association hires an intern and mentor each legislative session to supplement coverage for North Dakota newspapers, through a grant from the NDNA Education Foundation.



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Bills seek to add protections for North Dakota renters • North Dakota Monitor

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Bills seek to add protections for North Dakota renters • North Dakota Monitor


Lobbyists for the ACLU and North Dakota Apartment Association clashed over three bills that would provide North Dakota renters with more protections.

Three bills heard by the Senate Industry and Business Committee this week would provide renters protection from snowballing late fees, and empower the Department of Labor and Human Rights to investigate complaints against landlords. The department would also be able to take disciplinary action against a landlord for violations of North Dakota Century Code involving the leasing of property and eviction.

Cody Schuler, advocacy manager for ACLU of North Dakota, said 40% of renters in North Dakota are “cost burdened,” meaning those tenants tend to live paycheck-to-paycheck, spending more than 30% of their income on rent. He testified in support of all three bills.

Cody Schuler, advocacy manager for ACLU of North Dakota, speaks about renter protections during a public hearing on Jan. 29, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

“Individuals who are living on those margins, they live on the cusp of possibly becoming homeless,” Schuler said in an interview. “And when we look at the sheer volume of the cost of homelessness, and how to correct homelessness, it’s so much more financially responsible for everyone involved … to be able to prevent homelessness.”

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Opposing all three bills, Jeremy Petron, lobbyist for the North Dakota Apartment Association, said a lot of the confusion over late fees stems from renters not reading their lease agreements, and landlords not explaining the lease and late fee processes well enough during the lease signing.

“I myself have been in the property management industry for 20 years, and the company that I work for, we communicate with our tenants and let them know … We don’t try to just automatically evict someone for just one late fee,” Petron said. “We’re going to work with them.”

All three bills were introduced by Sen. Ryan Braunberger, D-Fargo.

After the public hearing, Braunberger said he’s concerned that the committee didn’t seem receptive to his three bills.

“I think we need to make sure we’re looking at both sides,” Braunberger said. “We don’t necessarily want to punish good landlords, but we want to make sure we’re protecting good tenants too.”

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Late rent payments and fees

Senate Bill 2235 would prioritize processing the payments of late rent first before late fees are processed, Braunberger said. By processing the late rent amount first, renters wouldn’t accrue as many additional late fees.

Schuler shared a story with lawmakers about a Fargo resident who lost his minimum wage job and needed rental assistance to cover a late payment and fees. The renter thought the full amount had been paid but received a three-day eviction notice after the additional late fees were processed before the late rental payment, leaving an unpaid balance.

“The fact of the matter is, he wouldn’t have even needed this assistance had this law been in place,” Schuler said.

Multiple senators on the committee questioned whether the new payment priority changes would incentivize tenants not paying any late fees.

Jeremy Petron, lobbyist for the North Dakota Apartment Association, speaks during a public hearing on protections for renters during a public hearing on Jan. 29, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Petron said the payment of late rent and fees is spelled out in the rental agreement, so both the renter and the landlord are on the same page.

The late fees could still be recouped by the landlord through an itemized deduction from the tenant’s security deposit after they move out, he said.

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Senate Bill 2236 would cap the amount landlords can charge in late fees at 8% of the rent, Braunberger said.

“This basically will address issues regarding compounded fees,” he said. Landlords wouldn’t be able to keep adding late fees for each day or week that a payment is late unless the total fees are under 8% of the rent for the month.

Another supporter of all three bills, Kaden Felch, a fair housing specialist with the High Plains Fair Housing Center, said late fees can range from $10 to $100 with fees being added until the rent is paid in full.

“Large and accumulating late fees can set renters back for months, leading to eviction or lead to large bills that may stay with them for a long time and prevent renters from finding stable housing in the future,” Felch said. “This cap will just allow more flexibility for North Dakotans who may not have as much expendable income as others.”

Petron said the bill was essentially “price fixing” what landlords can charge for late rent payments.

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“A property owner’s costs associated with operating and maintaining a property aren’t fixed and can fluctuate,” Petron said. 

Investigations of complaints

Senate Bill 2237 would empower the Department of Labor and Human Rights to be able to investigate complaints against landlords and take disciplinary action against a landlord found to be in violation of state law.

Zachary Greenberg, interim commissioner for the Department of Labor and Human Rights, speaks during a public hearing on Jan. 29, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Schuler said North Dakota doesn’t have a clear pathway for a state agency to address landlord-tenant disputes outside of the courtroom. During North Dakota eviction proceedings in 2022, he said landlords retained legal representation in 98% of all eviction cases and tenants were represented by attorneys in only 1% of cases, according to the Legal Services Corp. 

“When we get into this place where 40% of North Dakota renters are considered cost-burdened, it’s unlikely that those individuals would have, or be able to afford, legal counsel,” Schuler said.

Zachary Greenberg, interim commissioner for the Department of Labor and Human Rights, asked lawmakers to recommend a “do not pass” on the bill due to the department’s jurisdictional, legal and administrative concerns.

He added the department doesn’t license or register landlords in the state and disciplinary actions needed to address complaints would focus on the license they don’t issue. He said other industries have their own licensing boards that can issue disciplinary actions against their membership.

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“This bill grants the labor commissioner enforcement powers that do not align with existing regulatory frameworks, raising legal and procedural concerns,” Greenberg said.

He said the investigative burdens on the department would be large and require “substantial new resources.” Greenberg said the department’s estimate of about $750,000 per biennium needed to implement any sort of landlord-tenant program was very conservative.

After the hearing, Schuler said federal fair housing laws don’t address business practices, which is what the three bills are attempting to address.

No action was taken by the committee on the bills after the public hearing.

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