FAIRVIEW, Mont. (KUMV) – The spring planting season is underway for many producers, including Adam Cayko, who farms a few miles east of Fairview.

“Everything is good so far. A healthy family, we’re able to keep planting, and keep farming. That’s all I can ask for,” said Cayko.

The former sugar beet farmer has had to try new crops following the closure of the Sidney Sugars plant last year. He’s planting corn, spring wheat and soybeans again, as well as adding canola for the first time.

“I know a few other guys that have some irrigated fields who had [canola] last year. They were happy with it, and they were going to be planting more acres of it this year, so I think that’s one of the things that made us jump to this. It’s also a crop we can combine early on,” said Cayko.

The biggest change Cayko says, is dealing with market prices instead of the contracted prices that came with beet growing.

“It’s up to you when you want to sell them, so that’s going to be the biggest learning curve going forward, but we got one year under our belt, and it went pretty well. We’re hoping to gain on that knowledge and keep moving forward,” said Cayko.

As is the case in western North Dakota and eastern Montana, moisture has been pretty hit or miss so far this year. Cayko says once these seeds are in the ground, he’s hoping to see some precipitation.

Cayko says he’s hoping to finish planting ahead of some expected rain showers this week.

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FARGO — North Dakota is the most dangerous state in the nation for workers.

This is according to an examination of OSHA data from 2020-2022 conducted by personal injury lawyers

Triumph Law, P.C.

For every 100,000 hours worked in North Dakota, there are 2.772 deaths, injuries or illnesses, according to their report.

In North Dakota, workers logged 564,000,000 hours in the course of those two years and there were a reported 15,638 work-related deaths, injuries or illnesses.

The number of

fatal work injuries

in North Dakota totaled 37 in 2022, which was up by three deaths from the year before, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

There were 13 workers killed on the job in 2023, according to a release from the

North Dakota AFL-CIO.

North Dakota is closely followed in the rankings by Montana and Washinton with 2.624 and 2.619, respectively.

“It is fascinating to see such a wide range of states in the top ten,” Robert Carichoff, personal injury lawyer at Triumph Law, P.C. said in the release. “Hopefully, this research will encourage employers in these states to ensure all of the correct safety measures are in place. This will not only benefit the employees, but will also prevent loss of revenue to the company through lost working days if employees were to be injured. Equally, employees must ensure they are following procedures and using provided safety equipment.”

Neighbor South Dakota ranked ninth and was found to have 2.156 incidents per 100,000 hours.

Utah, meanwhile, is the safest state in the nation, according to the report, with 0.464 incidents.

“While some states are more dangerous for workers than others, there are risks for workers in any location,” Carichoff said. “Therefore it is crucial for employers and employees in all states to consider the safety of their working environment.”

Last year, Atticus, a law firm which tracks the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data and focuses on workplace safety,

labeled North Dakota as the most dangerous state to work in.

Minnesota came in as the eighth most dangerous, according to data from Atticus.

Minnesota saw a total

of 81 fatal work injuries in 2022, up one from 80 in 2021, according to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, which coincided with the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ number.

Ceremonies were held throughout North Dakota last week to mark Workers Memorial Day and remember all the workers who have died on the job, been injured or gotten sick, according to the ND AFL-CIO.

“The events featured labor leaders from the firefighters union, industrial unions, teachers unions, and building trades unions,” the ND AFL-CIO release said. “All spoke on the need to hold on to our job safety rights, and the need for workers to have the right to organize in their workplaces to win safer working conditions and a better life.”

“Companies put profits over safety. Too many employers and workers never see OSHA and penalties still are too low to be a deterrent. Workers are not adequately protected from retaliation when speaking out against unsafe working conditions,” the release stated.

“It’s time for action to protect workers from life-threatening job hazards that have plagued our workplaces, from workplace violence that is not just ‘part of the job,’ from heat illness as we enter warmer weather and so many more,” Landis Larson, North Dakota AFL-CIO President said. “All working people deserve safe and family-sustaining jobs, and we’re not going to stop fighting until that promise becomes a reality.”

Forum reporter C.S. Hagen contributed to this reporter.

Local government reporter working the night shift 👻. I cover Fargo city government, Cass County government and undercovered populations in the area.

FARGO (KVRR) — 4 Luv of Dog Rescue held their second annual Art Show and Fundraiser Sunday.

The fundraiser was held in partnership with mixed media artist Les Sholes.

Sholes says that he started partnering with 4 Luv of Dog Rescue because he is a big dog lover himself.

He said that he is excited to get to do this fundraiser again, and that he hopes it will become an annual event.

“Well, it’s something I’ve always been, you know, interested in as far as making money for the dogs. I’ve always been a big dog lover myself and so we contacted 4 Luv of Dogs and they said yeah, we’d love to do it. So this is our second annual and we’re feeling pretty good about it.”

30% of all art sales from the event will go to the rescue.