Ferry County Commissioners in Washington State immediately pledged support to the coalition after locating the S.A.F.E. resolution on the Internet.  Several South Dakota County Commissions have endorsed the resolution as well, including Perkins, Jackson, Mellette, Fall River, Meade and 17 other counties represented by the Black Hills Association of County Commissioners and the Randall Reservoir Association of County Commissioners. 

Curt Johnson, South Dakota's Commissioner of School and Public Lands unreservedly pledged the support of his office, saying, "Nothing is more important to this nation than a safe, secure and plentiful food supply."  He went on to say, "We support whatever government action is necessary to secure the items outlined in the resolution."

The S.D. Sheepgrowers Association contacted S.A.F.E. coalition representative Carrie Longwood to share their continued interest in the progress of the coalition.  President Jack Orwick, who attended the initial S.A.F.E. meeting in October said "if our food and ag industries are declared national security industries and protected as such, it will be a huge step forward for local producers and the entire sheep industry."  Board members will decide this week whether or not to pledge their support to the coalition.

South Dakota's Congressman Thune, Senator Johnson and Senator Daschle as well as the "leading bio-terrorism expert" Senator Frist from Tennessee each issued letters to the Office of Homeland Security urging Director Tom Ridge to meet with representatives of the S.A.F.E. Coalition soon.  Each of the representatives was amazed with the ag community's unified front on this serious issue.

The S.A.F.E. Coalition has been in contact with producers from Washington to Montana and Pennsylvania to Arkansas in an effort to allow for nation-wide support and unity for this issue.

Members of the S.A.F.E. Coalition first convened in late October.  Fourteen organizations from Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming were represented.  Each participant in the meeting expressed concern about the safety and security of our nation's food supply.  For more information about the coalition, contact Carrie Longwood, South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, 605-342-0429.

December 10, 2001

Dear Editor,

I would like to update information that was in  Mark De Vries’ letter to Governor Janklow, Larry Gabriel Secretary of Agriculture, and John Cooper Secretary of Game, Fish, and Parks concerning the South Dakota Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Management Plan, pertaining to the number of counties that have passed resolutions dealing with this plan.

As of December 10, 2001, a total of 16 individual counties, as well as the member counties of the Black Hills and the Fort Randall Reservoir Districts of county commissioners, have passed  resolutions requesting the Department of  Agriculture and the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks to grant a 180 day extension of the public comment period and to hold 6 public hearings at West River locations concerning the Prairie Dog Management Plan.

In a letter to the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, dated November 20, 2001, from John Cooper Secretary  Game, Fish, and Parks, it was announced that,  "…we cannot grant a request for a 180 day extension in the public comment period nor do we intend to hold additional formal public hearings specifically involving this issue."  In this same letter, there was an announcement that the official public comment period would be extended by 16 days making the “official” comment deadline December 21, 2001.

I take exception to the action taken by the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks regarding the “official” deadline of the public comment period for the following reasons:

1. A 16 day extension is not adequate for the general public to be informed of the far-reaching ramifications of this plan.

2. This “token” extension was granted before the Department received the resolutions passed by many of the individual counties requesting a 180 day extension and 6 public hearings (9 counties have passed these resolutions subsequent to November 26, 2001).

3. I do not believe the Department is sincere in their desire for the public to be truly informed about this Plan as evidenced by their refusal to schedule formal public hearings.

Sincerely,

Kenny Fox
South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, District 11 Director
Belvidere, SD

December 6, 2001

For more information contact:
Carrie Longwood, Executive Director, South Dakota Stockgrowers Association
605-342-0429 or carriesdsga@mcleodusa.net

What is the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association?  What do they do?  Why would I be interested in joining the Stockgrowers?  How does membership in an association benefit individual cow/calf producers?

If you've been asking yourself these questions, make plans to attend an upcoming area membership meeting of the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association.  The Stockgrowers will convene at the Faith Livestock Commission Company on December 10 at 5:00 p.m., they also plan to hold area meetings in White River on December 15, at Herried Livestock Auction, Inc. on December 17 and at Kadoka on January 4. President Bill Hutchinson, White River and Vice President/ Membership Chairman Ken Knuppe, Buffalo Gap, Executive Director Carrie Longwood as well as local directors and members will provide meeting-goers with an update of the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association's current issues and goals. 

The Stockgrowers are actively working to ensure that South Dakotans' private property rights are protected, that our nation's food supply is safe and viable, and that rancher-friendly language like Country-of-Origin Labeling is included in the Farm Bill.  If you would like input on these and other issues, through the voice one of South Dakota's most influential organizations, stop in to find out what the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association is all about.  The Association is membership-driven, and each member's input is important.

Coffee and snacks will be provided by the Stockgrowers.   Fun, fellowship and good conversation are guaranteed.  Mark your calendar for the area meeting closest to you and plan to bring a friend or neighbor.   Please call Carrie Longwood at 605-342-0429 or Ken Knuppe at 605-833-6665 for more information.

For more information contact:
Carrie Longwood at 605-342-0429 or carriesdsga@mcleodusa.net

Stockgrowers and CattleWomen to Meet for Business and Leadership Training

Make plans to join cattle producers from across the state for the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association quarterly membership meeting in Philip, S.D., December 3 and 4, 2001.  Committees will address current beef cattle industry issues including private landowner rights, animal health, wildlife management and food security.

President Bill Hutchinson invites everyone involved in the cattle industry to participate in the quarterly meeting. "Both members and non-members are welcome to attend the meeting." He said. "The Stockgrowers are dealing with issues that are very real to each and every cattle producer in this state."

Monday morning's events including the Wildlife Management Committee meeting, Membership Committee meeting, the Brand Committee meeting and the CattleWomen's executive board meeting will be held at the Bad River Senior Citizens Center. Everyone will convene for lunch at the Philip Steakhouse to hear Herman Schumacher, a Livestock Marketing Association Director speak.  Tim Nichols, South Dakota State University, will conduct a leadership seminar at the Steakhouse for the Board of Directors immediately following the noon meal and speaker. The CattleWomen will hold their general membership meeting at this time as well.  For those in attendance who won't be involved in the board's leadership seminar, a videotape of Ric Frost's presentation at the annual convention dealing with prairie dogs will be available for viewing.  State FFA officers will present a parliamentary procedures workshop after the afternoon leadership activity.  Following the workshop, the Finance Committee will meet.

Senator Patricia deHueck, Pierre, will address the membership concerning taxation and private property rights following an evening meal at the Steakhouse. Be prepared for a good time when Frank (Sonny) Stangle takes the stage to entertain with his cowboy humor and wit.  Amid the speaker and entertainment, Jackie Stocklin, Senator Daschle's West River Outreach Coordinator will recognize Don and Adeline Hight, Murdo, SD for their outstanding contribution to the Stockgrowers' New York Relief Fund.

The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association Board of Directors will meet on the morning of the fourth to discuss a variety of issues including the upcoming legislative session, membership incentives and future SDSGA events.

For more information contact:
Carrie Longwood at 605-342-0429 or carriesdsga@mcleodusa.net

South Dakota Stockgrowers and Others Request Comment Period Extension, Economic Impact Study of Prairie Dog Plan

Nine South Dakota Stockgrowers Association members met with a group of state officials November 26^th to discuss their requests and concerns dealing with the proposed Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Management Plan released by the Game, Fish and Parks November 5.  South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Larry Gabriel, along with representatives from the SD Department of Game, Fish and Parks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Prairie Dog Working Group participated in the meeting. 

The Stockgrowers presented petitions bearing the signatures of nearly 1,800 people who jointly request a 180-day comment period, six West River public hearings and an economic impact study before the plan is approved for implementation.  Stockgrower representatives also shared resolutions passed by Bennett, Brule, Custer, Fall River, Meade, Perkins, Jackson and Mellette County Commissions as well as the Black Hills District of County Commissioners and the Fort Randall Reservoir District of County Commissioners.  Each of the resolutions makes the same requests as the petition signers. The South Dakota Stockgrowers and several County Commissions further requested that a full inventory of South Dakota’s current prairie dog populations be executed.  Currently there is no accurate count of either acreages or populations of prairie dogs in South Dakota.  The Stockgrowers acknowledge the 16-day extension to the comment period (through December 21) that the Game, Fish and Parks department has allowed, and maintain that even more public comment and an economic impact study are necessary before the plan can be completed. 

Secretary Gabriel said that the state would allow comments indefinitely but that the departments feel an urgency to complete the plan in order to allow the members of the prairie dog working group to be relieved of their duties.

Game, Fish and Parks representative George Vandel and Secretary Gabriel told the group that the plan may be used as a basis for a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Under the CCAA, landowners that choose to maintain prairie dog populations would receive incentive payments and would be responsible for control beyond the boundaries of their land.  The state hopes for conservation monies from the Farm Bill to fund the incentive payment program. 

The Stockgrowers further emphasized the possibility that higher prairie dog populations and densities could contribute to an outbreak of the plague, which is harbored by prairie dog fleas and can be contracted by humans.  Prior to Monday’s meeting, the Stockgrowers shared a letter with South Dakota’s Departments of Agriculture, Health and Game, Fish and Parks from Russell Enscore, who works within the Plague Section of the Center for Disease Control.  In the document, Enscore reported that 33 human cases of the plague have been “positively linked with prairie dogs or their fleas, and four of those were fatal.”

Frost says one preventative step private landowners can take in order to stop the legislature from signing a CCAA is to take the issue to county commissioners.  “If every county in S.D. passes an ordinance to prohibit introduction of the prairie dog and keeping it listed as a range destroying rodent under the control of the Department of Agriculture, you will be on the right track,” he said.

The SDSGA Wildlife Management Committee proposed three resolutions dealing with the black-tailed prairie dog and all were passed by the general membership.  Numerous other resolutions were approved by the membership as well.  They dealt with public lands, animal health, animal identification, marketing and education/taxation/legislation.  The Stockgrowers also passed a resolution to support rodeo as South Dakota’s official sport. 

Ken Knuppe, SDSGA Vice President and Membership Committee Chairman was encouraged by the turnout to this year’s convention.  “A lot of producers have joined our organization in the past several months because they say the SDSGA’s views and ideas are compatible with their own.  Membership in our organization is great,” Knuppe says, “but ACTIVE members are essential, and old and new members alike proved their commitment to the SDSGA by taking an active role in the convention last week.”  He adds, “When individual members get together to take a unified stand, we can achieve the high goals we have set for ourselves and our organization.”

Leo McDonnell, R-Calf USA president echoed Knuppe’s comments when he spoke to convention-goers on Friday evening.  McDonnell encouraged all those in attendance to “stay in contact with your local and state representatives.”  McDonnell said cow/calf producers should be wary of “beef industry officials who report a need for imports to keep up with demand.”  McDonnell presented a slide that showed simultaneous trends of both demand for lean ground beef and the price of slaughter cows in the U.S.  While demand for lean ground beef stayed strong, the price for domestic slaughter cows dropped drastically.  “Where I come from, high demand means increased not decreased returns,” said McDonnell.  “We could hardly get rid of dry cows, but at the same time, we heard reports that imports were necessary to meet the market’s demand for lean ground beef.”

The 2001 Miss Stockgrower pageant followed McDonnell’s presentation on Friday evening.  Outgoing queen Shilo Ward, from Martin, SD, crowned Roxanne Slaba, Harrold, SD, as the new Miss Stockgrower.  Slaba will represent the SDSGA at stock shows, rodeos and industry functions.

Andrew and Daniel Snyder, sons of Ken and Rhonda Snyder, Piedmont, presented an illustrated talk dealing with beef by-products to the audience Friday evening.

For more information about the SDSGA, the convention or any of the speakers, contact Carrie Longwood at 877-529-2333.

For more information contact:
Carrie Longwood at 605-342-0429 or 877-529-2333 or carriesdsga@mcleodusa.net

Brand Inspectors Honored for Years of Dedication

Jim Reed, Belle Fourche, S.D., honored three of South Dakota's full time brand inspectors for their many years of hard work and dedication to "riding for the brand" on September 28, 2001. South Dakota's Chief Brand Inspector presented each of the brand inspectors with a Montana Silver belt buckle during the Friday awards luncheon of the S.D. Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) annual convention held in Spearfish, S.D.

Jim Holloway, Faith, S.D., has been employed longer than any other full-time brand inspector in the state.  He began working for the SDSGA in 1960, and was stationed in Sioux City, Iowa.  Gettysburg, Selby, Mobridge, Sturgis, Rapid City, Belle Fourche, St. Onge, Lemmon and Faith are some of the towns in which Jim has inspected cattle.  Jim continues to work the Faith Livestock sale every Monday.  

Jerry Jensen, a second generation brand inspector hails from Gregory, S.D.  In 1967 Jensen was hired to work at Gregory Livestock and he says, "I've been there ever since." Jensen says he received training from both Dick Sylva and Jack Nelson, who were investigators for the SDSGA at the time.  Besides working at the Gregory sale barn, Jensen helps out at Burke and Winner as well.

Loren Lehmann, Belle Fourche, S.D., joined the brand inspection staff just a year after Jim Holloway was hired.  He said he was hired "on a Monday and the newly built St. Onge auction market was having their first sale on Friday."  Luckily, Lehmann says, "being raised on a ranch and having worked at Sturgis Livestock since the age of 12, I had an idea about brands.   And since it was June, the cattle were slick-haired, so my first inspection wasn't that difficult."

SDSGA President Bill Hutchinson, White River, surprised Jim Reed with a buckle to honor Reed for his many years of dedication to the brand inspection program.

Longwood has worked for several agricultural publications throughout her college career.  Her stories and photographs have appeared in the Hereford America, the SDSU Ag/Bio newsletter, the Hereford World, and the Angus Journal, among others.  She served as the public relations intern for the American Angus Association during the summer of 2000.  She runs a small herd of Hereford cattle on her family’s ranch in northwestern South Dakota.

While in college, Longwood served as the president of the SDSU Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, was a member of the Little International executive committee, promoted SDSU as an Ambassador for the college of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, was a Briggs Scholar and was involved in Christian Campus Ministry.