Ten years ago the crisis was not enough kids. Hell they we’re talking about letting the upper Midwest revert to prairie because of the falling population.
Look up the “Buffalo Commons” idea from the 80’s
The problem wasn't falling population but lack of jobs to keep the kids there. North Dakotans have big families. As the joke goes, what else is there to do on long, cold winter nights?
But I remember the "Buffalo Commons" idea well. We hated it! It was considered a conspiracy of our eastern overlords to depopulate the state. If you Google "Prairie Empire" and "Rural Depopulation" you might even get an article I wrote explaining the politics of conservative states like North Dakota only sending Democrats to Washington to maximize their take of federal pork.
The current oil boom finally ended that. When Comrade Conrad retires at the end of this current congress, there will be no more Democrats in North Dakota's congressional delegation.