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February 25, 2010
For more information contact Margaret Nachtigall at:
605-342-0429 or margaret.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
South Dakota Stockgrowers Association
Enjoys Successful Stock Show
South Dakota Stockgrowers Association would like to express their appreciation to the many individuals who made this year’s Black Hills StockShow a success for their organization.
According to the Stockgrower’s president, Kenny Fox, Belvidere “Scores of folks stopped by the booth to “talk shop” and to pay their annual dues. In addition we gained many new members as people become aware of the work R-CALF and SDSGA are doing. Also many, many individuals bought one or more chances on the R-CALF saddle.”
Fox explained that the saddle is built by Baxter Badure, Belvidere and sponsored by the following South Dakota businesses; Badure Ranch, Belvidere, First Interstate Bank, Belle Fourche, Sturgis, New Underwood, and Wall; Fort Pierre Livestock, Fort Pierre, Herber Ranch, Kadoka, March Trucking, Hot Springs, Premier Equipment, Mobridge, and South Dakota Stockgrowers Association.
He said “the proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets for the R-CALF saddle goes to benefit R-CALF USA and the work they do for the benefit of all ranchers and rural communities. The raffle tickets are for sale from the beginning of the Black Hills StockShow until the drawing for the winner which takes place the first week-end in June at the matched bronc ride in Fort Pierre.”
From the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association – “our hats are off to all who helped make this a great
StockShow.”
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February 5, 2010
For
More Information Contact
Margaret Nachtigall
at:
605-342-0429 or margaret.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD
Stockgrowers Rejoice at NAIS News
Responding to U.S. Secretary
of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s announcement this morning that
USDA will put to rest the present National Animal Identification
System (NAIS), South Dakota Stockgrowers president
Kenny Fox
stated “This is a banner day for producers in
South Dakota
and across the country. We applaud the Secretary of Agriculture
for listening to the voice of the people. At last summer's
listening session in
Rapid City
395 of the 400 present stood in opposition to the NAIS program.
Many of those 395 people were SD Stockgrower members who have
worked for years against NAIS and in support of sensible animal
health programs."
Stockgrower Regional Vice
President
Bill Kluck
, Mud Butte, SD stated “We thank the members of South Dakota
Stockgrowers Association and R-CALF USA for their participation
in the listening sessions throughout the country and for bearing
with us when we were told we could not win.”
According to Stockgrowers
member Nick Trask, Wasta, “Those individuals who thought NAIS
was unreasonable have been vindicated.
To those of us in the livestock business NAIS didn’t
make sense from the beginning, but many said we couldn’t stop
this program – just had to go along. This shows what you can
accomplish when you stand your ground.”
Stockgrower member Rick
VanderWey, Valentine, NE said “It’s gratifying to see the
Federal Government listen to the people who spoke throughout the
country at the listening sessions this past year.
They are hearing the will of the people and this brings
back confidence. This
is the beginning of restoring faith in our government.”
Chris Harvey, Stockgrower
Director from district 12 commented “We know that a fully
implemented voluntary NAIS was not much different than a
mandatory one. Today
the news from the USDA is very encouraging. It is gratifying to
know that our efforts are paying off.
It goes to show that if you engage the opposition with
honesty and integrity you never lose.
Now is not the time to relax.
We still need to be involved to make sure that
independent producers’ interests are protected in this new
approach from the USDA.”
Fox further stated that we
could not have succeeded without the joint efforts of grassroots
producers and organizations throughout this country.
To many livestock producers who so passionately fought
this battle, at times it seemed like David facing Goliath.”
This is an opportunity for all producers to work together with
the State Vet to build on the effective and efficient animal
health programs already in place in
South Dakota
. The SD Stockgrowers Association looks forward to cooperating
in this effort."
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February 1, 2010
For
more information contact
Margaret Nachtigall
at:
605-342-0429
or margaret.sdsga@midconetwork.com
Stockgrowers
Send Request to SD Secretary of Agriculture
On January 21, 2010,At the
request of South Dakota Stockgrowers Association President
Kenny Fox
,
Belvidere
, the following letter was delivered to SD Secretary of
Agriculture,
Bill Even
, SD State Veterinarian Dr Dustin Oedekoven and chairmen of the
Senate and House Ag Committees. Fox stated “South Dakota
Stockgrowers request support of a 12 point plan to update the
nation’s system for the traceability of bovine disease
in the
United States
. This plan included a previously presented 8 point plan
from
R-CALF
USA
.” He stated the organizations who came together with the 12
point plan were American Angus Association, American Farm Bureau
Federation, Dairy Farmers of America, Livestock Marketing
Association, National Cattlemens Beef Association,
R-CALF
USA
, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, and the US Cattlemens
Association.”
Dear
Secretary Even,
The
South Dakota Stockgrowers Association opposes a mandatory
national animal identification system (NAIS) for livestock. Such
a program is unnecessary, expensive, and duplicative of existing
state-run programs. The SD Stockgrowers Association is one of
100 signatories to the
November 18, 2009
letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack regarding NAIS funding and
withdrawal of federal NAIS regulations. That letter notes that
"NAIS is an ill-conceived, burdensome and badly implemented
solution for achieving the national objective of improving
animal disease prevention and control in the
United States
."
While
we are opposed to a mandatory NAIS, we do recognize the need for
improved animal health systems. Thus, the SD Stockgrowers
support
R-CALF
USA
's 8-point alternative course to NAIS.
The
SD Stockgrowers also agree with the findings of the "Report
on Cattle Identification Roundtable Discussion,
Kansas City
,
Missouri
,
November 4-5, 2009
". We particularly agree with that report's finding that
"The first step in improving cattle identification
is the individual identification of adult cattle (breeding age
cattle 18 months or older, excluding those going into terminal
feeding channels) by using the historically established federal
and state cattle disease programs as models, such as the
Brucellosis and Tuberculosis programs as they existed prior to
any NAIS modifications."
In
a
June 12, 2009
letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack, SD State Veterinarian
Oedekoven urged USDA-APHIS to "Keep animal health data at
the state level." Dr. Oedekoven also identified the cattle
breeding herd as the industry sector most in need of improved ID
and traceability.
We
note that USDA's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service declined to forecast publication of a
final rule on National Animal Identification System; Use of 840
Animal Identification Numbers for U.S.-Born Animals Only, in the
agency's semi-annual regulatory agenda published Dec. 7. An
APHIS spokesperson has publicly stated that the rules related to
the NAIS have been placed on hold.
Our
opposition to a mandatory NAIS is absolute.
South Dakota
producers must not be saddled with an unnecessary, expensive,
and duplicative national animal ID system. But, in light of the
above, we believe the best course at this time against a
mandatory NAIS is to focus our efforts on improvements to
existing state-level animal health programs. This will result in
better animal health in
South Dakota
and will help preclude implementation of a mandatory NAIS.
Consequently,
we look forward to working with Dr.
Oedekoven and with
South Dakota
government officials to make certain that
South Dakota
’s existing animal health programs are working in the best
interests of
South Dakota
family ranchers and farmers and to
thereby make a mandatory NAIS completely unnecessary.
Regards,
/s/
Kenny
Fox
, President
SD
Stockgrowers Association
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January
27, 2010
For more information contact Margaret Nachtigall at:
605-342-0429 or margaret.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
South Dakota
Stockgrowers to Host John Munsell
South Dakota Stockgrowers
Association will host John Munsell, Miles City, Montana at their annual
Speaker in the Theater event at the Black Hills Stock Show in
Rapid City
on Monday, February 1.
The event begins at 5:30pm with a
reception in the theater lobby sponsored by Heather Kime Territory
Manager for Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. Munsell will
speak at 6:30 in the Civic Center Theater.
Munsell’s family-owned slaughter
and processing facility was involved in a recall of 270 lbs of E.coli-contaminated
meat in 2002. He said “USDA’s current method of
non-inspection, called Hazard
Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP),
is based in political science and science fiction, guaranteeing ongoing
outbreaks and recurring recalls.”
Munsells
eventually sold the plant in 2005 and John became founder and now
manager of the Foundation for Accountability in Regulatory Enforcement
(FARE).
The
foundation provides support for small meat plants, and provides ideas to
the USDA for common sense changes in meat inspection policies.
Stockgrowers
are proud to be able to bring someone with John Munsell’s expertise
and common sense in the meat industry at a time when meat safety is
front and center.
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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Date: January
25, 2010
Contact: Silvia Christen,
Development Director 605-342-0429
Agritourism
Business Course Offered to SD Ranchers
South Dakota Stockgrowers
Association is inviting ranchers to register for an exciting educational
course entitled, “Agritourism: Your next cash crop?”.
“Agritourism: Your next cash crop?” is a five day course designed to
provide farmers and ranchers with the tools needed to successfully start
their own agritourism operations.
“The goal is for participants to
be ready to start their agritourism businesses at the end of the fifth
class period,” facilitator Jan Jantzen of Emporia, KS said. “We want to help you think through what you have available on your
farm or ranch, and how you can turn that into a successful tourism
destination.”
“This is a result-oriented
workshop, not an academic exercise,” said Jantzen.
The course was developed in Emporia,
KS by the Flint Hills Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D)
Area, Inc. To date, participants in the course have successfully
started over 26 new agritourism businesses. Mr. Jan Jantzen, of
the Flint Hills RC&D facilitates the entire course which will be
taught by South Dakota experts on state regulations and licensing,
insurance and risk management, marketing, and financial planning.
“Stockgrowers is very excited to
be offering this course,” said Silvia Christen, Development Director
for the association. “This course is a great way to help
ranchers in South Dakota explore new economic opportunities, and also a
great way to get some of our urban neighbors out to a ranch and help
them to experience and learn about the realities of agriculture
production and our rural culture.”
The course is set to begin on
Monday, February 8, and will meet every Monday for five consecutive
weeks, ending on March 8. Each class meeting will be hosted at the
South Dakota Stockgrowers office in Rapid City, and costs ninety-five
dollars to enroll. Each additional person from the same family or
business may enroll for only fifty dollars
According to Jantzen, graduates of
the course will have named and described their businesses in detail.
They will have identified specific groups of customers they what to
serve, and they will have created marketing plans designed to reach
them. Graduates will learn how to use layers of liability
protection for their assets; they will know how to price their products
and services, and how to manage their income and expenses.
To learn more about the course, or
to register by February 1, visit www.southdakotastockgrowers.org,
or contact Silvia Christen at 605-342-0429.
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January 14, 2010
For
more information contact
Margaret Nachtigall
at:
605-342-0429 or
margaret.sdsga@midconetwork.com
South Dakota
Stockgrowers Thank Senators
South Dakota Stockgrowers Association is
pleased with work done by South Dakota Senators in support of Country of
Origin Labeling (COOL) which was included in the 2008 Farm Bill.
We thank Senator Johnson who is an original sponsor of COOL and has
championed it from the beginning and we thank Senator Thune for his
ongoing support.
Led by South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson and Wyoming Senator Mike
Enzi, 26 senators including South Dakota Senator John Thune submitted a
letter to United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack and United
States Trade Representative Ron Kirk. The letter made it clear that the
United States
should be granted the same rights to country of origin labeling as 45
other countries that use the country of origin labeling on certain foods
including meats.
Both
Canada
and
Mexico
, who have country of origin labeling laws of their own, have requested
a hearing with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement
Body (DSB) charging the
United States
with unfair trade due to the implementation of (COOL).
The letter stated, in part, “We believe that, in a manner
consistent with General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
obligations, the COOL program as signed into law in the 2008 Farm Bill
is nondiscriminatory in its treatment of imported goods, mandating that
both domestic and imported goods covered under the law be labeled with
country of origin”
Again, our hats are off to our South
Dakota Senators.
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January 11, 2010
From: R-CALF USA
Chief
Enforcer of the Packers and Stockyards Act to Keynote 11th
Annual Convention
R-CALF
USA will hold its 11th annual convention here Jan. 22-23,
2010, at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel, located at I-90 and Lacrosse
St., Exit 59. Keynoting the convention will be J. Dudley Butler,
Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Grain
Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), the agency
charged with the enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 (PSA),
which was established to protect independent cattle producers from the
unfair and deceptive practices of the concentrated meatpacking industry.
“Mr.
Butler’s presentation is particularly timely, as USDA and the U.S.
Department of Justice – for the first time in history – will soon
conduct joint workshops on the state of competition in U.S. agricultural
markets,” said R-CALF USA President/Region
VI Director Max Thornsberry. “In preparation for the workshops,
R-CALF USA submitted comprehensive comments and has called on both
agencies to take immediate, decisive action to enforce the PSA by
prohibiting the meatpackers’ ongoing use of price-depressing, captive
supply cattle.
“As
everyone knows, today’s cattle prices do not reflect the severe
shortage of cattle we have in this country or the price of beef at the
grocery store, and it’s clear that R-CALF is the lead organization in
the fight to solve these inequities,” continued Thornsberry.
“We
only have a few booths left in the trade show area, so any vendors
interested in having the opportunity to speak directly with our members
who make the day-to-day decisions about their operations should contact
me as soon as possible,” said R-CALF USA Membership Services
Coordinator Laurel Masterson. She can be reached at 406-252-2516.
“We
are also offering the opportunity to sponsor events, a great advantage
to those businesses unable to attend the convention, but still wanting
to show their support for R-CALF,” she pointed out. “We’re
expecting a good turnout from members as well. This is one of the few
opportunities they have to devote two full days working with others to
protect the future of the U.S. live cattle industry.”
The
convention opens at 10:00 a.m. local time on Friday, Jan. 22, and at
10:30 a.m., the R-CALF USA Private Property Rights Committee will get
things underway with its fourth annual seminar on issues that affect
landowners and/or individuals who graze cattle on public lands.
The
luncheon speaker for the day will be Brian O’Shaughnessy, chairman of
Revere Copper Products, as
well as a representative of the Coalition for a Prosperous
America (CPA), a group dedicated to reforming harmful U.S. trade
policies for agriculture and manufacturing. The
afternoon wraps up with reports from the group’s Animal
Identification, Checkoff, HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control
points) and Animal Health Committees. The highlight for the evening’s
dinner will be chief PSA enforcer J. Dudley Butler.
On
Saturday, Jan. 23, the day kicks off with a prayer breakfast. The
speaker during the breakfast will be Steven Pratt. The morning continues
with reports from the Marketing and COOL (country-of-origin labeling)
committees. A presentation by R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard is next,
followed by the Membership Committee report.
The
business session, where proposed policy resolutions are brought forward,
will flesh out the rest of the afternoon.
The
convention wraps up with an evening banquet, featuring GB Oliver, III,
and Bill Reynolds, both with the Paragon Foundation. The Paragon
Foundation was created in 1996 to support the advancement of the
fundamental principals articulated by the United States’ founding
fathers in both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S.
Constitution. Following the banquet is an exclusive Membership Showcase
where participants are encouraged to share any talents they have with
the group.
“We’ve
added this new Showcase to provide a relaxing and light-hearted end to
what will be a very serious two-day effort to improve the economic and
political environment for independent cattle producers,” Masterson
said. “It doesn’t matter if the talent is singing, playing an
instrument, ventriloquism, dancing or comedy, we’re looking to show
our members that even organizations as serious as R-CALF USA still have
time for fun and relaxation.”
Room
rates for the event are $89 plus tax per night. Please call 605-343-8550
to make reservations.
In
order for credentialed media to secure complimentary registration and
meals, they should contact R-CALF USA
Communications Coordinator Shae Dodson-Chambers at the phone number or
e-mail address listed above no later than Jan. 14, 2010.
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