What changed • Who it affects • Why it matters
Statewide Business Pulse
▲ Moving: North Dakota corn and soybeans are developing faster than normal, public-project bidding remains active, and federal reports due this morning will provide a new read on worker productivity and labor costs.
▬ Stable: National layoffs remain relatively low, but employers continue operating in a slower hiring environment. Today’s unemployment-claims report will show whether that pattern held through the week ending August 1.
▼ Down / Under Pressure: North Dakota soybean condition is uneven despite faster crop development. Only 44% was rated good or excellent as of August 2, while 12% was rated poor or very poor.
Watch: Monday’s property-tax statement meeting, tomorrow’s NDDOT bid opening and national employment report, implementation of North Dakota’s kratom prohibition, and preparations for the September 2 special legislative session.
Today’s Signals
1. Agriculture: Crops are developing quickly, but soybean condition remains mixed
What changed:
USDA’s August 3 Crop Progress report showed North Dakota corn development ahead of its normal pace. As of August 2, 83% of corn had reached silking, compared with the five-year average of 71%. Soybeans were also moving faster: 59% were setting pods, compared with the five-year average of 50%.
Crop condition tells a more cautious story. North Dakota soybeans were rated 42% good and 2% excellent, while 44% were rated fair and 12% poor or very poor.
Who it affects:
Farmers, crop insurers, agricultural lenders, grain elevators, agronomists, farm-supply businesses, equipment dealers, truckers and processors.
Why it matters:
Fast development can help crops reach maturity before an early frost, but progress alone doesn’t guarantee yield. The large share rated fair means late-season weather will still influence production, storage needs, insurance claims and local spending by farm customers.
Businesses serving agriculture should compare statewide numbers with conditions in their own customer territory before making fall inventory, staffing or transportation plans.
Source links:
https://release.nass.usda.gov/reports/prog3126.pdf
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Crop_Progress_%26_Condition/2026/
2. Property Taxes: Legislative group will examine how tax information reaches property owners
What changed:
The Property Tax Statement Subcommittee of North Dakota’s Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee meets Monday, August 10, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the State Capitol. The committee’s work centers on property-tax statements and how taxpayers receive and understand information about assessments, levies and relief.
Who it affects:
Commercial-property owners, farmers and ranchers, landlords, home-based businesses, local governments, assessors, accountants and businesses considering property purchases or expansion.
Why it matters:
Property-tax discussions often focus on the final bill, but the statement itself affects whether owners can understand which taxing authorities changed their levies and why their payment increased or decreased.
Businesses should watch for recommendations involving statement design, notice requirements, administrative costs or new responsibilities for counties and local taxing districts. Those recommendations could become legislation during the 2027 session.
Source links:
https://ndlegis.gov/events/2026/08/10/tax-reform-and-relief-advisory-committee-property-tax-statement-subcommittee
3. Labor Costs: New productivity report arrives this morning
What changed:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to release its preliminary second-quarter Productivity and Costs report at 7:30 a.m. Central today. The report measures how much output businesses produce for each hour worked and how labor costs changed relative to that output. Weekly unemployment claims are also due this morning.
Who it affects:
Employers in every sector, particularly manufacturers, contractors, retailers, professional-service firms and businesses reviewing wages, prices or technology investments.
Why it matters:
Wage increases are easier to absorb when each work hour produces more. When labor costs rise faster than productivity, businesses generally must accept smaller margins, increase prices, reorganize work or invest in equipment and technology.
Owners should look past the national headline and calculate where their own employee time is being lost—rework, scheduling gaps, manual entry, equipment downtime, unnecessary approvals or poorly organized handoffs.
Source links:
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/prod2.toc.htm
https://www.dol.gov/ui/data.pdf
4. Public Contracting: NDDOT opens construction bids Friday morning
What changed:
The North Dakota Department of Transportation will hold a construction-project bid opening at 9:30 a.m. Friday, August 7. Project plans, proposals, notices and plan-holder information are available through NDDOT’s bid system.
Who it affects:
Prime contractors, subcontractors, trucking companies, material suppliers, traffic-control firms, equipment providers and businesses offering specialized services to construction teams.
Why it matters:
The final day before a bid opening still matters for suppliers and subcontractors. Plan-holder lists can identify prime contractors preparing bids, allowing smaller firms to make direct contact before project teams and pricing are finalized.
This work extends beyond road builders. Public projects purchase aggregates, fuel, signage, fencing, electrical work, erosion control, hauling, equipment rental and other products and services.
Source links:
https://www.dot.nd.gov/construction-and-planning/construction-and-contractor-resources/bid-information
https://www.dot.nd.gov/dot/eplans/
https://www.dot.nd.gov/news-and-events
5. Regulation / Legislature: Retail ban is now in effect; legislative work comes next
What changed:
North Dakota’s prohibition on kratom and related products took effect at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Executive Order 2026-04 also calls lawmakers into special session beginning September 2 to consider permanent legislation and enforcement authority.
Who it affects:
Smoke shops, convenience stores, supplement retailers, wholesalers, distributors, employees responsible for inventory controls and businesses that follow state regulatory policy.
Why it matters:
Affected retailers should now be able to show that products were removed, employees were informed and supplier-return or disposal decisions were documented.
The broader issue remains the special session. Its announced purpose is narrow, but businesses shouldn’t assume that every amendment, enforcement provision or related proposal will be known well in advance. Bill language and committee notices deserve attention as September approaches.
https://www.governor.nd.gov/executive-orders
Risk / Opportunity
Risk:
Rapid crop development could hide weaker field conditions, while rising labor costs without matching productivity gains would add pressure to business margins. Property-tax and special-session discussions could also create policy changes that owners miss if they wait until legislation is final.
Opportunity:
Businesses have time to act before several decisions are complete. Agricultural suppliers can adjust fall plans using current field conditions. Contractors and vendors can contact NDDOT bidders before Friday’s opening. Property owners can follow Monday’s tax discussion before recommendations turn into bill drafts. Employers can use today’s productivity report as a prompt to examine where paid time is being wasted inside their own operations.