The agricultural landscape near Downer, Minn., pictured on June 5, 2016, en route to North Dakota's Hector International Airport. According to the USFWS Minnesota has lost 80% of its Prairie Pothole landscape to agricultural land.

A truck carrying roughly 80,000 pounds of corn is weighed upon entry to the Dakota Spirt AgEnergy ethanol plant in Jamestown, N.D., on June 6, 2016. The biorefinery produces 65 million gallons of ethanol a year from 23 million bushels of corn, 80 percent of which is supplied by in-state farmers.

A truck carrying roughly 80,000 pounds of corn is weighed upon entry to the Dakota Spirt AgEnergy ethanol plant in Jamestown, N.D., on June 6, 2016. The biorefinery produces 65 million gallons of ethanol a year from 23 million bushels of corn, 80 percent of which is supplied by in-state farmers.

Farmer and rancher, Jeff Enger, with the North Dakota Corn Growers Association is pictured in front of trucks delivering corn to the Dakota Spirt AgEnergy ethanol plant in Jamestown, N.D., on June 6, 2016. Jeff is one of the many local farmers who supply corn to the plant for ethanol production.

A truck leaves the Dakota Spirt AgEnergy ethanol plant in Jamestown, N.D., on June 6, 2016, after dumping its corn load of roughly 80,000 pounds. The biorefinery produces 65 million gallons of ethanol a year from 23 million bushels of corn, 80 percent of which is supplied by in-state farmers.

A scene from the Dakota Spirt AgEnergy ethanol plant in Jamestown, N.D., on June 6, 2016. The biorefinery produces 65 million gallons of ethanol a year from 23 million bushels of corn, 80 percent of which is supplied by in-state farmers.

Distillers grains, a byproduct of ethanol production, are pictured at the Dakota Spirt AgEnergy ethanol plant in Jamestown, N.D., on June 6, 2016. The biorefinery produces roughly 190,000 tons of distillers grains each year, enough to feed 300,000 cattle.

E85, an ethanol fuel blend of 85% denatured ethanol and 15% gasoline, is pictured for sale at a gas station in Glyndon, Minnesota, on June 11, 2016. Under the Renewable Fuel Standard, 60% less oil is currently imported in the U.S., and 214 ethanol plants nationwide have provided 14,000 jobs creating a big prospect for advanced biofuels.

A view of the Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge near Kenmore, N.D. as seen from the lookout tower on June 8, 2016. The refuge, which contains a 5,577 acre Wilderness Area, contains roughly 7,500 oil wells, with 800 on wetland easements, and 100 on grassland easements operated by 87 different production companies.

Fox pelts hang on a wall inside the Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge headquarters near Kenmore, N.D., as seen on June 8, 2016. The refuge, which contains a 5,577 acre Wilderness Area, was established in 1975 to best represent the northern mixed grass prairie environment and it is open for recreational activities such as hunting, wildlife viewing and hiking.

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear and her husband, Frankie Lee, stand in front of rail cars carrying Bakken crude oil in New Town, N.D., on June 7, 2016. The share safety concerns for the local town as roughly 24 unit trains, comprised of one-hundred tanker cars pass through the small town each month after filling up at the nearby Dakota Plains Pioneer Rail Terminal.

Oil tanker cars are pictured behind a children's playground in New Town, N.D., on June 7, 2016. Over 24 unit trains comprised of 100 rail cars travel through the town each month.

Jay Doan drives a schoolbus used to shuttle visitors around the Black Leg Ranch near Sterling, N.D., as seen on June 6, 2016. Aside from raising Angus cattle Jerry Doan, a fourth generation rancher, has diversified from the typical lifestyle to offer hunting, lodging and an event space for weddings, all run by his two sons and daughter.

Angus cattle are pictured on the Black Leg Ranch near Sterling, N.D., on June 6, 2016. Aside from raising Angus cattle Jerry Doan, a fourth generation rancher, has diversified from the typical lifestyle to offer hunting, lodging and an event space for weddings, all run by his two sons and daughter.

Shanda Morgan holds her daughter Shayda as her son Kyle looks over the landscape of the Black Leg Ranch near Sterling, N.D., on June 6, 2016. Shanda runs wedding operations at the ranch which has successfully diversified from the typical lifestyle, providing hunting and lodging opportunities as well as raising Angus cattle.

Jay Fuhrer, with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, performs soil tests at the Black Leg Ranch near Sterling, N.D., on June 6, 2016, showing the benefits of providing a diversity of cover crops along with rotational livestock grazing.

Jay Doan stands in a newly renovated barn used for weddings and events at the Black Leg Ranch near Sterling, N.D., on June 6, 2016. Aside from raising Angus cattle Jerry Doan, a fourth generation rancher, has diversified from the typical lifestyle to offer hunting, lodging and an event space for weddings, all run by his two sons and daughter.

The sun sets over the Black Leg Ranch near Sterling, N.D., on June 6, 2016. Aside from raising Angus cattle Jerry Doan, a fourth generation rancher, has diversified from the typical lifestyle to offer hunting, lodging and an event space for weddings, all run by his two sons and daughter.

Jerry Doan, a fourth generation rancher, pictured on June 7, 2016, runs the Black Leg Ranch near Sterling, N.D. Aside from raising Angus cattle, he has diversified from the typical lifestyle to offer hunting, lodging and an event space for weddings, all run by his two sons and daughter.

A heater treater is pictured at an EOG Resources well pad near Kenmare, N.D., on June 8, 2016. The unit separates the produced water from the gas and oil, and in North Dakota this water is much saltier than sea water.

A produced water tank is pictured at an EOG Resources well pad near Kenmare, N.D., on June 8, 2016. Over 1,500 barrels of produced water spilled from this site in 2013, and the company employed scoop and haul methods along with pumping to remove the water which is much saltier than sea water and considered an environmental hazard.

Manager of the Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, Kory Richardson, points to the area of a brine spill at an EOG Resources well pad near Kenmare, N.D., on June 8, 2016. Over 1,500 barrels of produced water spilled from this site in 2013, and the company employed scoop and haul methods along with pumping to remove the water which is much saltier than sea water and considered an environmental hazard.

Fencing protects monitoring equipment from cattle at the site of a brine spill an EOG Resources well pad near Kenmare, N.D., as seen on June 8, 2016. A large produced water spill occurred here in 2013 and a scoop and haul method was used to remove the brine which infiltrated 40 feet into the soil.

A solar panel controls monitoring equipment at an EOG Resources location near Kenmare, N.D., as seen on June 8, 2016. Over 1,500 barrels of produced water spilled from this site in 2013, and the company employed scoop and haul methods along with pumping to remove the water which is much saltier than sea water and considered an environmental hazard.

Dustin Anderson, an environmental scientist with Oasis Petroleum, holds a groundwater recovery pole used to draw out saltwater from a brine spill site in Burke County, N.D., on June 8, 2016. 1,500 barrels of produced water was released from an underground pipeline system in May 2015 and an electrokinetic treatment process is being employed to remove the saltwater, which is many time saltier than seawater.

Dr. Frank Rohwer, president and chief scientist at Delta Waterfowl, records the spot of a flushed nest during checks on a wetland easement area near Devils Lake, N.D., on June 10, 2016. A chain is dragged between two ATV's to flush ducks from the nests, thereby identifying the spot so they can be marked for research and data collection to better understand how to protect the habitat for waterfowl.

Dr. Frank Rohwer, president and chief scientist at Delta Waterfowl, carries a hammer and stake to mark nests during checks on a wetland easement area near Devils Lake, N.D., on June 10, 2016. A chain is dragged between two ATV's to flush ducks from the nests, thereby identifying the spot so they can be marked for research and data collection to better understand how to protect the habitat for waterfowl.

A brine spill remediation site is pictured in Burke County, N.D. on June, 8, 2016, where approximately 1,500 barrels of produced water was released from an underground pipeline system in May 2015. An electrokinetic treatment process is employed for an average of two years to remove the saltwater, which is many time saltier than seawater.

A blue-winged teal nest is pictured during nest checks on a wetland easement area near Devils Lake, N.D., on June 10, 2016. Checks are spread out every 7 to 10 days so as to not cause abandonment, and the excrement is wiped off to allow the eggs a greater chance of survival from the threat of predators such as foxes, raccoons and skunks.

Potholes dominate the landscape near a brine spill site at an Oasis Petroleum location in Burke County, N.D. as seen on June, 8, 2016. Approximately 1,500 barrels of produced water was released from an underground pipeline system in May 2015 and an electrokinetic treatment process is being employed to remove the saltwater, which is many time saltier than seawater.

A fawn is pictured lying in the long grass during nest checks on a wetland easement area near Devils Lake, N.D., on June 10, 2016. Unable to keep up with the mother in the event of a threat, fawns are left in a safe place until the mother returns to feed them later in the day.

Owner of the Woodland Resort, Kyle Blanchfield, speaks about the hydrology of Devils Lake, N.D., on June 9, 2016. Agricultural conversion of land in the 3,800 square mile basin has increased water levels of the lake, which in turn has flooded roughly 220 square miles of prime farmland.

Flooded farmland is pictured near Devils Lake, N.D., on June 10, 2016. Agricultural conversion of land in the 3,800 square mile basin has increased water levels of the lake, which in turn has flooded roughly 220 square miles of prime farmland.

A fisherman heads out in the morning light from the Woodland Resort on Devils Lake, N.D., on June 10, 2016. The lake is a popular place for recreation and water sports including prime fishing for yellow perch, walleye and northern pike which provides an annual revenue stream of $45 million.

Flooded farmland is pictured near Devils Lake, N.D., on June 10, 2016. Agricultural conversion of land in the 3,800 square mile basin has increased water levels of the lake, which in turn has flooded roughly 220 square miles of prime farmland.

The Dakota Plains Pioneer Terminal in New Town, N.D., as seen on June 8, 2016 has two active gathering pipelines and transfer stations to receive crude oil from 10 trucks simultaneously.

Pumpjacks lift crude oil and produced water from a fracture at a Marathon Oil Company location over the Bakken Formation near New Town, N.D., on June 7, 2016. The USGS estimates that the oil rich region contains a mean undiscovered volume of 3.65 billion barrels of oil.

A hauler carrying petroleum crude oil is pictured near New Town, N.D., on June 8, 2016. Crude oil is transported by truck to distribution centers such as the Dakota Plains Pioneer Terminal where it is loaded on to tank cars for transportation via rail.

Oil train tank cars are pictured at the Dakota Plains Pioneer Terminal in New Town, N.D., on June 8, 2016. The facility has two 8,500 loop tracks that are able to accommodate 120 car unit trains.

The Dakota Plains frac sand terminal as seen here in New Town, N.D., on June 8, 2016, was constructed under an agreement with the UNIMIN Corporation to provide sand from their mine in Tunnel City, Wisc. Sand is a crucial part of the hydraulic fracking process, and 3-5 million pounds is used to create a single fracture.

The Dakota Plains Pioneer Terminal in New Town, N.D., as seen on June 8, 2016 has two active gathering pipelines and transfer stations to receive crude oil from 10 trucks simultaneously with a storage capacity of 180,000 barrels of crude oil.

Camper vans lie abandoned near New Town, N.D., on June 8, 2016. Since the fall in the price of oil, workers homes have been abandoned.

A crude hauler is pictured next to drilling equipment as a school bus fuels up in New Town, N.D., on June 8, 2016.

Soil health specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Jay Fuhrer, shows samples loaded with carbon and earthworms on the Oswald ranch near Wing, N.D., on June 7, 2016. By mimicking nature and taking a holistic approach to ranching, the Oswald's have seen better beef production as a result of increased soil health stemming from rotational grazing and no-till cropping systems which in turn have led to an extended grazing season and a more productive environment for wildlife. (Photo by: Alex Milan Tracy)

Storm clouds roll over agricultural land surrounding Browning's Honey Company in Jamestown, N.D. on June 11, 2016.

Honey bees are pictured on a frame during an inspection of a hive at Browning's Honey Company in Jamestown, N.D., on June 11, 2016. Each hive houses one colony with roughly 60,000 worker bees, who are all girls, that live between 6-8 weeks and travel 3-5 miles to find food.

Darrell E. Oswald is pictured on the Oswald ranch near Wing, N.D., on June 7, 2016. By mimicking nature and taking a holistic approach to ranching, the Oswald's have seen better beef production as a result of increased soil health stemming from rotational grazing and no-till cropping systems which in turn have led to an extended grazing season and a more productive environment for wildlife. (Photo by: Alex Milan Tracy)

Cows are pictured on the Oswald ranch near Wing, N.D., on June 7, 2016. By mimicking nature and taking a holistic approach to ranching, the Oswald's have seen better beef production as a result of increased soil health stemming from rotational grazing and no-till cropping systems which in turn have led to an extended grazing season and a more productive environment for wildlife. (Photo by: Alex Milan Tracy)

Zac Browning, owner of Browning's Homey Company in Jamestown, N.D., examines a hive on June 11, 2016. His bees are moved to California by truck to pollinate in January and are returned to North Dakota for the summer honey flow.

Audrey Oswald, the fifth generation of the Oswald family ranchers, is pictured on the ranch near Wing, N.D., on June 7, 2016. By mimicking nature and taking a holistic approach to ranching, the Oswald's have seen better beef production as a result of increased soil health stemming from rotational grazing and no-till cropping systems which in turn have led to an extended grazing season and a more productive environment for wildlife. (Photo by: Alex Milan Tracy)