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God Bless America!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 28, 2005

For more information contact Carrie Longwood at:

605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com

SD Stockgrowers Appreciate Herseth “No” vote on CAFTA

SDSGA is disappointed in overall outcome, but encouraged by strength of opposition

The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) hopes to impact future trade discussions to provide for fair, rather than free trade pacts. After the extremely thin margins that allowed CAFTA to pass both the Senate and the House of Representatives, the SDSGA is optimistic that the NAFTA model of trade will never be supported in Congress again.

“We’re severely disappointed with the passage of CAFTA through the House of Representatives last night, but there’s a silver lining to every cloud,” says SDSGA President Ken Knuppe, Buffalo Gap, S.D. “ South Dakota ’s Congresswoman Herseth has worked tirelessly to educate her fellow Congressmen about CAFTA’s pitfalls, and for that the cattle industry is grateful. Additionally, the entire body of the House of Representatives showed severe apprehension for the agreement with their 217-215 vote last night. I don’t think either the House or Senate has ever been so close to voting a free trade agreement down.”

Knuppe says the significance of the narrow margin on yesterday’s vote should not be overlooked. “Often, the House majority tends to take the administration’s lead on trade issues, but the vote on CAFTA sent a clear message that they are not blind followers. This is good news for Americans.” Knuppe goes on to say that voters from other states who are dissatisfied with the votes their representatives cast should not only express their disappointment, but also keep those issues in mind during the next election.

“There is a remedy to the flawed mentality some congressional delegates seem to possess - that big business deserves preference over America ’s consumers and producers. We simply need to vote in the right people for the job - the congressional candidates who listen to their constituents, instead of the executive branch of government. The administration twisted a lot of arms to achieve enough votes to pass CAFTA. It is the responsibility of Congress to represent us, the people, not the executive branch of government.”

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