Releases

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Forward Together is the theme for the 103rd Annual South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) Convention, Nov. 20-21, 2020 at the Holiday Inn Rushmore Plaza and Rapid City Civic Center, Rapid City, S.D. Registration for the event is now open and available at www.sdfbf.org.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall provides information on the upcoming US Presidential election.

County Farm Bureau members in several northeastern South Dakota communities are joining together to Feed the Farmer, Oct. 12-15.

As part of Farm Safety Week, Sept. 20-26, South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) is urging voters to oppose Constitutional Amendment A in November. Amendment A would legalize recreational marijuana, make it available in stores and allow it to be used in places where families gather.

Farm and ranch families who have consistently owned their land for a century or more were honored at the 2020 South Dakota State Fair, receiving a Century, Quasquicentennial or Sesquicentennial Farm and Ranch award from South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA).

The cancellation of Dakotafest at the Schlaffman Farm near Mitchell, S.D. is not stopping Dakotafest organizers from providing educational forums on the days Dakotafest would have been held. South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) will be leading a number of the virtual forums Aug. 18-20, 2020.

We’re excited to announce that Mike Pearson, from Zaner Group, will be joining us for our next webinar on August 6th at 7:30 p.m. CT. Mike will be giving us some market updates and his insight into what we can expect moving into fall.

Dakotafest producers will be honoring hard-working female farmers and ranchers at a virtual ceremony on Aug. 20. Five nominees will be chosen, and a winner will be announced during a special Women in Ag event that will be held virtually on Aug. 20.

Last week many of you had the opportunity to join us for a phone call President Donald Trump had with Farm Bureau national, state, county leaders and staff during the virtual AFBF board meeting and Council of Presidents.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) will begin an eight-part webinar series that will focus on the cattle and beef industries and the food supply chain. The webinar is made possible by a partnership between SDFB and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).

Farmers, ranchers, and ag related industries have until June 30, 2020 to take advantage of the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for economic impacts due to COVID-19.

South Dakota Farm Bureau will be hosting a member only Zoom video conference with the Small Business Administration TONIGHT at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Join South Dakota Farm Bureau for a member only Zoom video conference with the Small Business Administration on Monday, June 15, 2020.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) is urging the EPA to ensure dicamba remains available to producers this growing season for over-the-top applications to soybeans following a recent court decision that cancelled the registration of three dicamba labels.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) members will have the opportunity to participate in a member only Webex call with Sen. Mike Rounds TONIGHT at 7:30 p.m. CDT.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) awarded seven scholarships to high school seniors and college students whose parents or guardians are current members of South Dakota Farm Bureau, and have been for at least two years.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) members will have the opportunity to participate in a member only Webex call with Sen. Mike Rounds on Monday, June 8, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. CDT.

A battle over a farmer’s right to use and care for his own land is one step closer to being resolved. A determination by the director of USDA’s National Appeals Division admonishes the Natural Resources Conservation Service for failing to obey its own rules, favoring a farmer who battled NRCS for more than a decade. The decision is a welcome signal that concerns from across the countryside about NRCS conservation compliance are being heard.

South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers need a reliable, dependable workforce to help make sure they can continue to put food on the kitchen table. At times, farm work is seasonal or temporary and requires a specific skill. With rural populations declining, our farmers and ranchers are finding it more difficult to find workers to fill these temporary jobs.

Farmers, ranchers and ag related industries with 500 or fewer employees can begin applying for the Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and forgivable EIDL loan advances.

Kate Miller, a third-generation cow/calf producer and tenured beef sales representative will speak tonight on a Zoom video conference call for South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) members TONIGHT.

“Crop Marketing in Uncertain Times - Market Outlook and Education Webinar” was held last week by INTL FCStone, a national member benefit partner of South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB).

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) congratulates Blair Brothers Angus Ranch of Sturgis, S.D., as they were recently announced as winners of the Leopold Conservation award, which honors private landowners for their conservation efforts.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) continues a series of exclusive SDFB member only Zoom video conference calls on Wednesday with an update on the "State of the Livestock Industry".

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) are again partnering to recognize South Dakota farms and ranches that have been in the same family for 100 years and more. The Century Farm celebration will take place at the South Dakota State Fair in Huron on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020.

Farmers and Ranchers are eligible to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The program provides relief and stimulus to eligible businesses including farmers and ranchers, nonprofit organizations, and independent contractors.

Sen. John Thune will be our guest on a special South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) member-only Zoom call Wed. April 22 at 7 p.m. CDT.

Beginning today, South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) is featuring a three-part conversation with South Dakota State Veterinarian Dr. Dusty Oedekoven.

SDFB members are now able to go through member benefit partner, Farm Bureau Bank, to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), even if they are not currently a customer of Farm Bureau Bank.

SDFB member benefit partner INTL FCStone, will be presenting a free market outlook and crop marketing educational webinar for SDFB members on April 21, 2020 at 11 a.m. CDT.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) members will have the opportunity to participate in a member only ZOOM call with Sen. John Thune on Wed. April 22 at 7 p.m. CDT.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) has established a page on the SDFB website at www.sdfbf.org to serve as a one-stop resource for timely information and updates on the COVID-19 situation and the impact to South Dakota farmers and ranchers.

The majority of South Dakota dairies have been able to deliver milk to processors and have not been forced to dispose of milk. However, should emergency disposal of milk become necessary, below are some considerations to know, according to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA).

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is now offering a program to help small businesses pay employees for an eight-week period. Farmers, ranchers and agriculturally based small businesses are eligible to participate in this program.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) understands producers are facing uncertainty and volatility in the current markets. SDFB wants to make sure our members have access to important marketing information for both crops and livestock.

I wanted to provide a few updates on some developments that have taken place in the past couple of weeks. The passage last evening of the CARES Act by the Senate represents more than a week of unprecedented bipartisan work for the American people. Although it included a lot of partisan fighting, it is an important step to jump starting our economy nation-wide during this difficult time.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) is carefully following the commodity markets, in particular the beef cattle market, and monitoring reactions to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The main business of the 2020 legislative session concluded Thursday evening, March 12th. Legislators will return to Pierre on March 30 to consider vetoes from the Governor. The Governor has already sent two veto messages to the House of Representatives

The movie “SILO” will bring awareness to grain entrapment safety on March 10, 2020, in Webster, thanks to support from community organizations.

The South Dakota Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Team (WLT) will participate in Ag Day on Saturday, March 28, 2020 in Sioux Falls at the Washington Pavilion from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) has expanded its state board of directors by two new appointed positions, creating a 13-member board. Joining the board are Mark Salvador of Sioux Falls S.D., representing agri-business members; and Jennifer Hurlbert of Raymond, S.D., representing student members.

South Dakota Farm Bureau is encouraging citizens to attend upcoming Township meetings the first Tuesday in March to take part in the conversation regarding challenges facing communities where local roads, bridges and infrastructure were damaged by weather events in 2019.

South Dakota Farm Bureau county leaders from across the state joined members of the SDFB board of directors and staff at the state capitol in Pierre for a full day of committee meetings, discussions with Gov. Kristi Noem, Sec. of Agriculture Kim Vanneman and other elected officials.

Please give one final reach out to your Senator to encourage them to voice support for SB 157. It will be voted on today on the Senate Floor.

After more than two hours of debate, including testimony from Gov. Noem and SDFB President VanderWal, the Senate State Affairs committee narrowly passed SB 157 6-3. Senators raised several important questions about the process of livestock zoning in South Dakota.

March 15, 2020 is the deadline to apply for the 2020 South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) Scholarship. Awards are given to students whose parents or guardians are current members of SDFB and have been members for at least two years.

SDFB urges your action to contact your legislator in support of SB 157, a bill proposed by Governor Noem to clarify the livestock zoning process.

Take advantage of a free webinar on February 17, 2020 at 10 a.m. that will provide helpful information as you prepare for enrolling an entire Farm Service Agency (FSA) farm in Agricultural Risk Coverage at the individual level (ARC-IC) or choose between ARC at the county level (ARC-CO) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) for each program crop.

We just finished the 101st annual American Farm Bureau Convention in Austin, Texas. It was a great event again and the most important part is that our policy is in place again for the coming year.

Delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation's (AFBF) 2020 Annual Convention re-elected Scott VanderWal of Volga as Vice President of AFBF for another two-year term.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) members from across the state will gather at the State Capitol in Pierre, S.D. on Feb. 11, 2020 for SDFB Day at the Capitol.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) President Scott VanderWal of Volga, S.D., applauds the historic signing of the Phase One China Trade Agreement earlier today.

South Dakota Farm Bureau is honored that SDFB President Scott VanderWal of Volga, S.D., will join the President of the United States for the historic signing of the Phase One China Trade Agreement today.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) will be part of the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo (BHSS) taking place at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center and Central States Fairgrounds Jan. 31 – Feb. 9, 2020 in Rapid City.

It is hard to believe we are in the final days of 2019. It has been a long difficult year for many of us, and unfortunately, we will be feeling the hangover from 2019 well into 2020.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) held their 102nd Annual Convention in Sioux Falls, Nov. 22-23, 2019. Agricultural policy discussions, election of board leadership and special awards were part of the two-day event.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) is accepting scholarship applications from high school seniors pursuing secondary education, as well as current college and technical school students.

Long before becoming a familiar face in our homes on KELO TV, Brian Karstens and his brother Christopher Karstens were two farm boys from Iowa. Today, both play critical roles in forecasting our weather. SDFB is excited to have Brian from KELO TV and his brother Christopher, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center with us on Saturday morning for a discussion on their background and a look at our recent weather trends.

South Dakota Farm Bureau will be collecting gently used or new winter coats at the SDFB Annual Convention, Nov. 22 & 23 in Sioux Falls. All coats will be donated to individuals in need following convention.

Leadership. Precision. Performance. is the theme of SDFB’s 102nd Annual Convention Nov. 22-23, 2019 in Sioux Falls, S.D. In addition to important policy decisions, a terrific line-up of thought-leader speakers are on tap!

I am sure this finds a lot of us in the same frustrating situation trying to work around the weather to get our harvest in. Between the mud, wet crops and even snow in some parts of the state, it is sometimes difficult to keep a positive attitude. We have been through hard times before, and we will get through this as well. I encourage you to keep talking to people and realize you are not alone.

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) is considering an increase in the feed tonnage fee from $0.02/ton to $0.10/ton. The SDDA believes the fee increase is necessary to continue running the Animal Feed and Remedy Program. The purpose of this program is to protect producers, the agriculture industry, and consumers from mislabeled or adulterated feed and remedy products.

Make plans to join South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) for their Annual Convention Nov. 22-23, 2019 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls, S.D. “Leadership. Precision. Performance.” is the theme for the 102nd event.

A recent circuit court opinion is bringing light to concerns about a lack of due process for farmers and ranchers in the arbitrary enforcement of Swampbuster guidelines by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The American Farm Bureau Federation is calling on United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Sec. Sonny Perdue to take action to heed the court’s reprimand and fix the agency’s broken appeals process.

Farm and ranch families who have owned their land for a century or more were honored at the 2019 South Dakota State Fair, receiving a Century, Quasquicentennial or Sesquicentennial Farm and Ranch award from South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) and South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA).

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) will donate another $600 to area food pantries thanks to its partnership with the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits for the 2019 football season.

Learn, Grow and Lead is the theme of the first ever Midwest Collegiate Farm Bureau Conference taking place Oct. 11-13, 2019 at South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) has entered an exciting partnership with the South Dakota State University Jacks for the 2019 Football Season that will benefit local food pantries throughout South Dakota. The first series of donations will benefit communities that have experienced difficulties due to recent storms.

A day of farm and ranch tours followed by a panel discussion are all part of a Sustainability on the Farm and Ranch event on Sept. 14, 2019, centered at Watertown, S.D. South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committee is hosting the event.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) is reaching out to the state’s agricultural business community through a program called the Agri-Partner Connection. This new offering provides agri-business professionals throughout the state with unique networking, learning and relationship building opportunities.

Flyboy Donuts, a chance to win a John Deere Gator and forums on industrial hemp, tariffs and trade are a few things South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) will be bringing to Dakotafest Aug. 20-22.

A second agriculture Wetland Mitigation Bank has released credits for purchase through the South Dakota Ag Wetland Exchange (SDAWE). South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) is the sponsor of the SDAWE, which provides ag wetland bank credits for sale to landowners to offset impacts from past or planned wetland conversions.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) applauds the recent decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to move up the date producers can hay, graze and chop cover crops grown on prevent plant acres this year to Sept. 1 rather than the original date of Nov. 1.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) has been taking a number of questions related to prevented planting. We have included a few resources that may you may find helpful.

South Dakota Farm Bureau was asked by South Dakota State University to distribute an academic survey on the political economy of South Dakota to our members for their input.

A day of farm and ranch tours followed by a timely topic panel discussion are all part of a Land, Livestock and Life bus tour event on June 29, 2019, centered at Wall, S.D. South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) and the SDFB Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committee are hosting the event.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) is pleased to announce seven winners of the 2019 SDFB Scholarship.

The South Dakota Ag Wetland Exchange will be featured at the National Mitigation & Ecosystem Banking Conference (NMEBC) later this week in Minneapolis, Minn. The conference brings together members of the environmental community to advance and protect the environment in a financially sustainable way.

Due to setbacks caused by a wet spring, USDA is pushing back the deadline for producers to certify 2018 crop production for payments through the Market Facilitation Program (MFP).

South Dakota Farm Bureau commends Johnson Farms of Frankfort, S.D., for being selected as the winner of the 2019 South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) officials recently returned from a trip to Washington, D.C. where they engaged with elected leaders, congressional staff members, and officials on priority issues important to the ag community in South Dakota.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) recently announced the availability of credits in the Minnesota River Geographic Service Area (GSA), which were developed through SDFB’s administration of a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) are again partnering to recognize South Dakota farms and ranches that have been in the same family for 100 years and more. The Century Farm celebration will take place at the South Dakota State Fair in Huron, August 29, 2019.

The South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) Women’s Leadership Team (WLT) will showcase agriculture to over 3,000 children March 22 & 23 in Sioux Falls at the Washington Pavilion.

On the recent South Dakota Farm Bureau Town & Country radio show a discussion took place by several guests who are using their skills and talents in agriculture to help families in poverty stricken areas across the globe.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) members from across the state recently took part in SDFB Day at the South Dakota Capitol on Feb. 12, 2019.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) is accepting scholarship applications from high school seniors pursuing secondary education, as well as current college and technical school students. Scholarships will be awarded to students whose parents or guardians are current members of SDFB, and have been members for at least two years.

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) will have a strong presence at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo (BHSS) taking place at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center and Central States Fairgrounds Jan. 25 - Feb. 3, 2019 in Rapid City.

The first agriculture Wetland Mitigation Bank (WMB) credits have been released under the South Dakota Ag Wetland Exchange.

Young people involved in agriculture are invited to attend the South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Farm and Ranch Conference, February 1-2, 2019 at The Lodge in Deadwood, S.D. The theme for the conference is “Sustainability in Today’s Environment”.

Katy VanderWal of Brookings, S.D., will represent South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) at the national Discussion Meet contest that will take place during the AFBF Annual Convention, Jan. 11-16, 2019 in New Orleans, LA.

South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal praised the announcement by South Dakota Governor-elect Kristi Noem on the selection of Kim Vanneman of Ideal, S.D. as the next Secretary of Agriculture.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Army have released a pre-publication version of the new clean water rule and will be taking comments on a proposed new clean water rule for 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register. They are also planning to hold a public listening session in Kansas City, Kansas.

“Springtime at Grandpa & Grandma’s Farm” and “Seed, Sun & Soil” are two Accurate Ag books recently unveiled by the South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) Women’s Leadership Team (WLT) at the SDFB Annual Convention in Rapid City, S.D.

Jeffery Gatzke, of Hitchcock, S.D. was elected vice president of South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) during the SDFB 101st Convention held recently in Rapid City, S.D.

Yesterday, President Trump announced that gasoline mixed with 15 percent ethanol, E-15, will be sold year-round. Previously, sales of E-15 were banned in most states annually between June 1 and September 15, which includes the country’s busiest driving months.

Observing trade negotiations is not for those weak in spirit. For months, South Dakota farmers waited patiently for signs of progress from the Trump Administration on a new trade deal with Canada and Mexico. Admittedly, the talks to revise the North American Free Trade Agreement, in the shadow of a dismal farm economy, tested our wills.

Members of the South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) committee recently attended a National Affairs trip to Washington D.C. Sept. 29 through Oct. 3, 2018.

Celebrate the role of farmers in the Sioux Falls economy at the inaugural National Farmer's Day at the Stockyards Ag Experience Barn, 301 E. Falls Park Dr. in Sioux Falls on Friday, October 12 from 4-7 p.m.

Prepare for the November election by taking part in a free webinar about Constitutional Amendment W.

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