Pesticide Liability Fight: Pesticide makers are pushing “liability shield” laws to block lawsuits from people harmed by products like glyphosate/Roundup, as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule in July 2026 on whether federal law blocks state failure-to-warn claims—Georgia and North Dakota already passed similar laws. Soil & Erosion: After topsoil blew across parts of North Dakota and the region, experts say conventional tillage is making wind erosion worse and point to no-till and reduced tillage as practical ways to protect long-term farmland health. Water Safety in Emerado: North Dakota lifted a “No Use Order” for Emerado after a transmission-line break raised contamination concerns; lab testing found the water safe, though residents may see discoloration as the system clears. State Environmental Funding: EPA awarded North Dakota $684,000 to support pesticide regulation work and feasibility upgrades to Maxbass’s water system. Ag Tech & Ranching: 701x is expanding GPS-enabled cattle tools and ranch management tech aimed at helping beef producers spot health issues and improve on-farm decisions. Dairy Expansion Pushback: Organizers opposing large-scale dairy expansions say they’ll keep fighting even as projects move forward, including efforts tied to requiring stronger environmental review. Highway Planning: NDDOT is seeking public comments on a 2026 STIP amendment that could add a later development phase for the U.S. Highway 52 four-laning project between Minot and Voltaire. Fishing Tech Debate: Forward-facing sonar is boosting anglers’ ability to see fish in real time, but it’s also sparking concerns about how the tech could change the sport and affect fish populations. Dakota Access Settlement: North Dakota is set to recover nearly $38 million from the federal government for costs tied to the 2016-17 Dakota Access Pipeline protests.