Off the Record, On the Issues with John

Advocacy efforts continue supporting credit unions and rural communities.

By John Alexander, DakCU Director of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs
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​DakCU Advocacy Takes Center Stage as Trade Crisis Strains Dakota Producers
The trade crisis gripping America’s heartland has hit especially hard across North and South Dakota, where family farmers and ranchers are fighting to stay afloat amid falling commodity prices, export disruptions, and rising costs. For months, DakCU has been working tirelessly to protect the people and communities most affected ensuring credit unions have the tools and support they need to keep agriculture strong through turbulent times.

This effort took root in September, when DakCU leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., for Hike the Hill. There, we met face-to-face with Senate leaders and Congressional Reps to discuss the growing impact of trade disputes on rural credit and the broader ag economy. The message was clear: farmers and ranchers across the Dakotas are facing mounting pressure as export markets shrink and federal support lags. DakCU’s delegation greatly emphasized the essential role credit unions play in providing stability and financial flexibility, especially as producers struggle to refinance debt and secure operational credit amid uncertainty.

Following those initial meetings, DakCU continued its advocacy through direct engagement with the department of financial institutions and Western Region Directors of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). These ongoing discussions helped shape strategies for regulatory flexibility, ensuring that credit unions serving rural areas can continue offering reliable, member-centered financial services under agricultural hardship.

That persistence paid off. As the federal government shutdown created new hurdles for producers, DakCU’s coordinated work with federal partners helped return Farm Service Agency (FSA) officers to their posts, keeping loan processing, disaster relief applications, and emergency refinancing moving forward when producers needed it most
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Now, as DakCU continues follow-up conversations with congressional offices and federal regulators, our focus remains steady: securing long-term financial stability, ensuring accessible credit for producers, and standing firm for the communities that define the Dakotas.

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