SDSGA & Guy E. Ham Beef Industry Scholarships
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08/13/2008
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News Releases 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
January 2, 2007
For more information contact
605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
SD
Stockgrowers Invite all to Kadoka Area Meeting
Johnny
Smith to Speak
The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) directors in the Kadoka
community hope everyone will attend an informational meeting on January 8, 2006
at 6:00 pm at Club 27.
“All area producers and interested
individuals are invited and encouraged to attend,” said District
11 Director Mark DeVries,
DeVries says that dinner will be served at 6:00 pm, compliments of the
SDSGA.
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# # # -
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2006
For more information
contact
605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD Stockgrowers
Pleased – Thune on Ag Committee
Rapid City ~ The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) is enthusiastic about Senator Thune’s (R-SD) recent appointment to the Senate Agricultural Committee.
According to SDSGA Past President Ken Knuppe, Buffalo Gap, S.D., the SDSGA enjoys a good working relationship with Senator Thune and his staff. “The Stockgrowers appreciate Senator Thune’s understanding of the wide variety of cattle industry issues that we bring to the table. We are fortunate to be able to sit down with Senator Thune and visit about property rights, animal health, country of origin labeling, captive supply reform and international trade – and he recognizes the importance of each of those issues, plus many more.”
According to Knuppe, Thune has shown outstanding leadership on the prairie dog issue – maintaining communication between the Stockgrowers and federal land agencies in a continued effort to control the prairie dog infestation.
But Thune realizes that cattle market issues are equally important, says Knuppe, and he has been an outspoken advocate for mandatory country of origin labeling and other competition issues needed to improve profitability for cattle ranchers.
Knuppe says that Senator Thune, along with Senator Johnson (D-SD) and Congresswoman Herseth, (D-SD) who serves on the House Ag Committee make a powerful team representing South Dakota’s cattle industry. This unity will be especially important, Knuppe says, as the Stockgrowers work to implement improved ag policy through the 2007 Farm Bill.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2006
For more information
contact
605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD Stockgrowers Urge
Producers to be Wary of USDA’s New Animal ID Plan
Rapid City ~ The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) reminds ranchers to carefully consider USDA’s updated animal id plan, which may be just as unfriendly to independent producers as the previous plan documents.
According to SDSGA Animal ID Committee Chairman
So in essence, Fox says, very little has changed. “USDA still hopes to obtain premise registration from 100% of producers. They still hope to trace the movement of every head of livestock. But now they want the states to mandate the program.”
SDSGA member
According to Vanderway, USDA is focused on registering premises. “The question nobody seems to be able to answer is this: what’s the significance of registering your ranch with a premise registration number? I think when you’re doing that you’re giving them authority over your property. If they already had that authority, this would be a done deal.”
Producers who have registered for premise id numbers can un-register, if they so choose, said Fox. “I’ve talked to several ranchers who registered for premise numbers before they really knew what USDA had planned. Now some of those folks have decided that they don’t want to be registered – they need to contact the S.D. Animal Industry Board to un-register their premise.”
Fox said that the SDSGA is not opposed to animal id. “We support animal id – our organization oversees the state brand inspection program and we strongly encourage everyone to brand their cattle. Brand inspection has been proven throughout history to be a practical and efficient method of tracking cattle. It works and it’s very inexpensive – that’s the kind of animal id program we favor.” He adds that the Stockgrowers do not support a mandatory program of any kind – it is not currently mandatory to brand livestock, even in the brand area. “Brand inspection is mandatory, which provides a paper trail of the whereabouts of cattle, horses and mules. But ranchers are not required to brand their cattle.” However, most ranchers in western S.D. brand their cattle to prove ownership which helps prevent theft, says Fox.
“The
Stockgrowers plan to stay involved in this issue until it is resolved,” says
Fox. “Our members have approved policy that requests that all imported live
cattle shall be permanently marked with a hot iron brand to determine the
country of origin. For the health of the
Fox urges producers to read the USDA plan documents online or to contact the Stockgrowers for a copy.
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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
December 6, 2006
For more information contact
605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
DATE CHANGE:
SD Stockgrowers Legislator/Producer Meetings
The
South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) encourages state legislators as
well as local cattle producers to join them for industry discussions in
preparation for the 2007 legislative session. According to SDSGA Past
President and Lobbyist
A
light meal will be served at each of the four meetings.
The
Stockgrowers ask ranchers and legislators to take note of a new date for the
meeting at Buffalo Lake Resort – December 11, 2006, instead of December 13,
2006. All other meetings will be as previously reported.
Meeting
dates and locations below:
·
NOTE
DATE CHANGE:
December 11 – 6:00 pm,
·
December
12 – Noon, First National Bank, Mitchell (
·
December 12 – 6:00 pm,
·
December
29 - 10:00 am, SDSGA office, Rapid City
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
December 1, 2006
For more information contact
605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD Stockgrowers Meet with new
USDA Undersecretary Knight
Several members of the South Dakota Stockgrowers
Association (SDSGA) Board of Directors visited with newly appointed
Undersecretary for Ag Marketing and Regulatory Services, Bruce Knight, a
According to
SDSGA President
“We enjoyed the chance to get together with a fellow S.D.
cattle producer to discuss industry issues. We told Undersecretary Knight that
the most important issue in cattle country is the drop in the market,” Fox
said. “We reminded him that beef and cattle imports are nearly back to pre-BSE
levels, and that the cattle market reflects that steady increase. Statistics
show that
Fox said they also talked about the importance of fair
trade. “We reminded Undersecretary
Knight that
SDSGA District 8 Director, Bill Kluck, Mud Butte, S.D., mentioned that trust in the USDA has been lost. “USDA’s continued efforts to lower import requirements and allow the importation of beef and cattle that do not meet our standards for health and safety has caused a lot of distrust in cattle country. We don’t feel like USDA is working for the ag production sector anymore. Sometimes it seems like USDA is more focused on helping the large agribusiness companies than the individual producer.”
According to Fox, one way USDA can regain some trust with producers is to implement country of origin labeling in a workable manner. “We were pleased to hear that Undersecretary Knight intends to implement country of origin labeling on schedule. We also appreciated his concern with ensuring that our borders are safeguarded to prevent the entrance of animal disease,” said Fox. “The Stockgrowers agree – and we will continue to advocate for USDA’s policy of disease prevention at the borders.”
The Stockgrowers also explained to Undersecretary Knight that they had been denied any appointees to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, even though the Stockgrowers were one of five organizations who had jointly submitted several qualified names.
Mr. Knight told the Stockgrowers that he hopes for an animal id program that will track group lots of cattle using brand inspection as one method.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2006
For more information
contact
605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD Stockgrowers
Invite all to Legislator/Producer Mixers
The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) encourages state legislators as well as local cattle producers to join them for industry discussions in preparation for the 2007 legislative session. According to SDSGA Past President and Lobbyist Ken Knuppe, Buffalo Gap, S.D., the Stockgrowers enjoy meeting with legislators prior to session, to get acquainted and update them regarding cattle industry issues.
“We certainly encourage all legislators to mark their calendars and plan to attend one of our open house events – they will provide a relaxed atmosphere where we can get to know one another and we’ll do our best to answer any questions they may have about the state’s largest industry – the cattle industry,” said Knuppe. “We hope local ranchers, feeders and farmers will join us as well. These meetings are always a good chance to hear what cattle producers around the state are thinking and to let them know what the Stockgrowers have been up to.”
Knuppe said they will plan to discuss water rights, property rights, property taxes, country of origin labeling, the brand inspection program, prairie dog management and other issues affecting profitability in the cattle business.
A light meal will be served at each of the four meetings.
Meeting dates and locations below:
·
December 12
– Noon, First National Bank, Mitchell (
·
December 12
– 6:00 pm,
·
December 13
– 6:00 pm,
·
December 29 -
10:00 am, SDSGA office, Rapid City
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2006
For more information contact Carrie Stadheim at:
605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD Stockgrowers Talk
Checkoff,
The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) and local
ranchers discussed a number of key issues during their Quarterly Meeting at the
Wrangler Inn, in
According to District 6 Director, Lester Longwood,
The Federal Lands Committee talked about a proposed
government land acquisition that would add about 10,000 acres currently in
private ownership to the Badlands National Park in south of Wall, S.D. Longwood,
who chaired the meeting, says that the committee will accept input from members
before submitting comments reflecting a Stockgrowers’ long-held policy. “The
Stockgowers’ position is that no net gain of government owned or managed
property should occur. If the proposed land purchase goes through, we strongly
urge that an equal amount of government land be sold to ensure that privately
held land is not being reduced.” Longwood
encouraged all members to contact the SDSGA office or Federal Lands Committee
Chairman Mark Tubbs,
Members of the Marketing Committee were pleased that Allen
Walth,
R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard,
According to Nelson, the Stockgrowers will hold their next
Quarterly Meeting along with a Legislative Mixer in
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2006
For more information
contact
605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD Stockgrowers
Encouraged by Dept. of Justice Review of
The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) is pleased to see that, after meeting with the Organization for Competitive Markets, (OCM) the U.S. Department of Justice has issued a “second request” for information to Smithfield Foods, Inc., and Premium Standard Farms, Inc. (PSF) regarding the proposed merger of the two companies. The merger will now be delayed at least until 30 days after both companies “substantially comply” with the request for more information, according to an OCM news release.
SDSGA Marketing Committee Chairman,
Fortune said SDSGA commends OCM for their work on this issue. “We appreciate OCM for stepping in to educate the Dept. of Justice. Clearly OCM is working to improve competition for independent hog producers. The SDSGA hopes to do the same for our members – independent cattle producers.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 2006
For more information contact Carrie Longwood at:
605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
SD
Stockgrowers Welcome Ranchers to Quarterly Meeting in Mobridge
Featured
speaker: Bill Bullard
The
South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) encourages local cattle producers
to make plans to attend the one-day SDSGA November Quarterly Meeting in
According
to SDSGA District 15 Director
There
are more committee meetings folks should plan to attend earlier in the day, says
Fisher. “The Wildlife and Federal Lands Committees are scheduled to meet at
9:00 am, then the Brand and Theft Committee will meet at 10:00 am to discuss
holds that need to be addressed.” According to Fisher, the
Education/Taxation/Legislation Committee will discuss their business at 11:00
am.
Lunch
will be served at noon, followed by Polly Vandervorst’s western poetry, then
the Trade and Marketing committees meet afterward.
Featured
speaker, R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard,
Fisher
points out that all meetings are open to the public and that both members and
non-members of the Stockgrowers are urged to attend. He asks that folks call
Carrie Stadheim at 605-342-0429 if they plan to attend, to help with meal
preparation.
The
SDSGA Board of Directors will meet later that evening.
The Stockgrowers appreciate the following local businesses for their
sponsorship of the meeting: Dacotah
Bank, Farm Credit Services of America, Herreid Livestock Auction Inc.,
McLaughlin Livestock Auction, Inc., Mobridge Livestock Market Inc., Premier
Equipment, Real-Tuff Manufacturing, Schering-Plough Animal Health, Wells Fargo
Bank and Western Rancher.
For
more information, contact Carrie Stadheim at 605-342-0429.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2006
For more information contact Carrie Longwood at:
605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
SD
Stockgrowers Invite All to Area Meeting in Highmore
The South Dakota
Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) hopes local cattle producers will join them to
discuss the latest cattle industry issues during an Area Meeting in
According to SDSGA District
16 Director Marvin Jessen, Holabird, S.D., the meeting will be held at the
Highmore auditorium at 6:30 pm central time. Refreshments will be served by the
Harrold Steakettes. Jessen said that everyone is invited to attend – ranchers,
farmers, lenders, agency representatives – the meeting is not limited to SDSGA
members.
Jessen says
Kenny Fox,
“We hold area meetings
around the state to give both members and non-members the chance to catch up on
the latest happenings in the industry,” said Jessen. “It’s always fun to
catch up with friends, and even better to make a new acquaintance.”
“As ranchers, we all seem
to speak the same language. We are all affected by the swings in the market, the
drought and other issues that seem to be out of our control. But they are not
all out of our control; we’ve learned that if we work together, we have the
ability to make a difference in our industry.”
For more information,
contact Carrie Stadheim at 605-342-0429.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2006
For more information
contact
605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD Stockgrowers
Announce Scholarship Recipients
Rapid City ~ The
The SDSGA scholarship committee chose Etta Balo, Whitewood,
S.D., and Matt Hansen, Vale, S.D., from a large selection of well-qualified
applicants to receive the scholarship. Hansen, a sophomore majoring in Agronomy
hopes to return to the family farm someday. Balo, also a sophomore, carries a
double major in Ag Business and Ag Education and wishes to teach agriculture and
pursue ag business interests with her degree. Both students attend
Students were judged on an essay entitled “Why I want to pursue a career in Agriculture.”
According to the scholarship committee, selection was difficult because of the number of well written essays. They encouraged all applicants to apply again next year.
SDSGA President Rick Fox,
The SDSGA Scholarship is awarded every year to students who have completed at least one year of post high school education and who intend to work in an agricultural field. A silent auction held every year during the convention is the main source of funding for the scholarships. The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association appreciates everyone who has purchased silent auction items throughout the past several years.
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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
October 5, 2006
For more information contact
605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD Stockgrowers Remember a
Legend, Helen Hage
Rapid City ~ Members of the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA)
will be forever grateful to the late Helen Chenoweth Hage for her wisdom and
tenacity in educating landowners of their rights.
“She will forever be our friend and hero,” said SDSGA Executive
Director Carrie Stadheim, Rapid City, S.D. “She had such unusually wonderful
qualities all wrapped into one great package – intelligence, drive,
graciousness, a thick skin and a kind heart. Words cannot describe the greatness
of the woman, or what she did to teach and inspire property owners.”
SDSGA Vice President Larry Nelson,
Nelson said the Stockgrowers will fondly remember both Wayne and Helen
Hage for their lifelong dedication to the preservation of the constitutional
rights established by the nation’s forefathers.
The memorial
service for Helen Chenoweth Hage will be held at 2:00 p.m. MDT, Monday,
October 9, 2006, at
A private funeral will be held at the ranch thereafter.
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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
October 3, 2006
For more information contact
605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD Ranchers Show up in Force to
Support Inspection Fee Increase
The S.D. Brand Board voted 3-2 to approve the proposed ten cent per head brand inspection fee increase after more than 50 ranchers attended the public hearing last week, says South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) Finance Committee Chairman Ken Knuppe.
“It was a very unusual sight – ranchers supporting a fee increase that will directly affect their pocketbooks. It cleared up any doubt that any of the board members might have had about the opinions of the grassroots producers,” Knuppe said. “It was obvious that ranchers across the brand inspection area believe that while ten cents per head is a pretty insignificant expense, it is an important investment in the future of the brand inspection program. Several of the ranchers who testified said they would have supported an even larger increase if needed, just to ensure that the Stockgrowers were able to maintain the quality program they have managed for decades.”
Knuppe says that of the large crowd in attendance, only two
spoke in opposition to the increase which was proposed by the Stockgrowers to
stave off predicted losses to the brand inspection program. “Ranchers
understand that cattle numbers in
According to Knuppe, neighboring states are facing the same
predicament. “
Knuppe said that Brand Board member Tom Conger, Buffalo
Gap, S.D., made the motion to approve the fee increase, and Lyndell Peterson,
“We appreciate the support from the Brand Board members who acknowledge the immediate need for the fee increase,” said Knuppe. “Their actions to help keep brand inspection viable affect the entire cattle industry – now and in the future. The Stockgrowers appreciate those Brand Board members for listening to the S.D. ranchers who have a stake in the issue - those that pay the brand inspection fee and reap the benefits of the inspection program.”
Knuppe says the increase will not be implemented until the end of the year, at the earliest. “The S.D. Legislative Rules Review Committee will have the final up or down vote on the issue in their November meeting. If they approve it, there is a standard thirty-day period before implementation can occur.” The Stockgrowers proposed raising the fee to $.80/head, the legal limit, in June of 2006.
According to Knuppe, the S.D. Brand Board has given the
SDSGA notice of intent to renegotiate the contract. “As always, we intend to
stand firm on our principles and only sign a contract that will allow for a
quality brand inspection program for the benefit of
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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
October 3, 2006
For more information contact
605-342-0429 or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD Stockgrowers Invite Everyone
to Calf
Rapid City ~ The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) encourages everyone to join them, the Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska (ICON) and R-CALF USA for a fundraising calf sale followed by a joint Area Meeting in Valentine, Neb., this Thursday, October 5, 2006.
According to calf donor and SDSGA Region 3 Vice President
Kenny Fox, Belvidere, S.D., the fundraiser will be held at approximately 3:00 pm
Central Time at Valentine Livestock. Fox says that minimum bids of $100 will be
accepted, with $50 going to the contributor’s choice of SDSGA or ICON, and the
remainder of the donation going to
“SDSGA and ICON are key organizations in this region – they help R-CALF with trade and marketing issues, animal id and important litigation. They also work on state issues that affect the cattle industry. This calf sale will be a great way to help out those organizations along with R-CALF,” said Fox.
Fox hopes everyone stays for a joint Area Meeting at the Peppermill at 7:00 pm Central Time. “A ‘dutch treat’ dinner will be available, followed by speakers Jim Hanna, R-CALF Checkoff Committee Chairman and Bill Kluck, SDSGA Animal ID Committee member.”
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STATE
CATTLE ASSOCIATIONS’ JOINT PRESS RELEASE
October
12, 2006
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Independent
Beef Association of
State
Cattle Groups Oppose NCBA Beef Checkoff Task Force Findings
Cattlemen’s
associations in five states announced today their joint opposition to recent
findings by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA)
"Industry Wide Beef Checkoff Task Force".
The
groups are the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota (I-BAND); South
Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA); Colorado Independent Cattlegrower’s
Association (CICA);
The
NCBA Task Force publicly reported its findings on September 8, 2006 in the form
of four recommendations that included adopting a beef checkoff referendum model
similar to that of soybean producers; possibly re-naming the Federation Division
of NCBA to the Beef Checkoff Federation; making the checkoff program more
inclusive by eliminating reference to the charter date of established national
non-profit industry governed organizations; and increasing the mandatory beef
checkoff to $2 per head.
The
following comments can be attributed to the presidents of the five state
cattlemen’s groups:
•
While we agree that a complete review and overhaul of the current mandatory beef
checkoff program is long overdue, a task force structured by the NCBA was not a
credible method to accomplish this. NCBA is the majority contractor for beef
checkoff funds and as such, should never have assumed the role of hosting and
structuring a beef checkoff task force. Voting representation on the NCBA task
force was structured to accomplish a predetermined outcome. None of the
organizations we represent were invited to be part of the task force. The
majority of the task force was comprised of affiliates and committees of NCBA
and other groups closely tied to NCBA. Thus, there was no chance to seriously
consider the issues so crucial to
•
Opening the Beef Act and Order to the amendment process presents the cattle and
beef industries with the opportunity to update a decades-old program with
substantive changes that better fit the needs and desires of the industries
today. This should be a thoughtful and deliberate process that is inclusive,
with all cattle and beef organizations equally represented in order to present
Congress with amendments that are constructed carefully and with vision. Only
through a fair and transparent process will the industry arrive at the methods
by which to reach these and other goals.
•
Long before we ask independent cattle producers to support a 100% increase in
the beef checkoff assessment fee, there are administrative issues that must be
addressed.
•
We vigorously oppose any increase in the beef checkoff assessment at this time.
While we support the checkoff program and appreciate the program’s successes
in building beef demand, we also recognize that while beef demand has grown,
live cattle producers’ share of the retail beef dollar has contracted. This is
a problematic signal about the true successes of the overall program. A
thorough, unbiased analysis of the checkoff program’s economic effectiveness
should be conducted before asking producers to double their input.
•
We feel it would be premature to make any approach to Congress about amending
the Beef Act until a true, honest and inclusive review of the beef checkoff
program is conducted.
~
30 ~
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September
25, 2006
For
more information contact
605-342-0429
or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD
Stockgrowers Appreciate Ag Secretaries’ Support for Marking Imported Cattle
Rapid
City ~ The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) thanks the National
Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) for their recent vote to
remove cattle from the “J List.”
“For
years the SDSGA has supported permanent marking on imported cattle, but because
of paragraph ‘J’ in the 1930 Tariff Act, cattle and a few other items are
exempt from the law which requires that imported products be marked with their
country of origin,” said SDSGA President
Fox
said the SDSGA especially appreciates S.D. Secretary of Agriculture Larry
Gabriel for taking a lead role in the issue. “I understand that Secretary
Gabriel lobbied the other ag secretaries for support of this policy change. We
appreciate him standing up for
Secretary
Gabriel told the Stockgrowers that he was pleased to support removal of beef
cattle from the J List. “To me, it’s a disease issue - making sure that
these animals are permanently identified so that if they do come down with a
disease, we have that traceback ability. If we’d had this done a few years
ago, our industry would have been in a better position when the Canadian BSE cow
was discovered in
Fox
said the SDSGA looks forward to working with Secretary Gabriel to enact this law
change on the national level. “Secretary Gabriel has made a big step toward
our goal, now we must continue working as a team to protect the health of the
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# # # -
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September
21, 2006
For
more information contact Carrie Stadheim at:
605-342-0429
or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD
Stockgrowers Appreciate Thune’s Work on Prairie Dog Management
Rapid
City ~ The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) was ecstatic to learn
in early September that the U.S. Forest seeks to amend their forest management
plan to allow for prairie dog management on the interior of prairie dog towns in
the Buffalo Gap, Oglala, and Fort Pierre National Grasslands.
The
SDSGA has worked vigorously for five years, since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service added the prairie dog to the “warranted but precluded” list, to
convince federal agencies to manage prairie dogs with grass and soil quality in
mind, not just the maximum amount of prairie dogs possible. Senator John Thune
(R-S.D.) has worked alongside the Stockgrowers in this endeavor, according to
SDSGA Federal Lands Committee Chairman Mark Tubbs,
According
to a recent Rapid City Journal
article, the Forest Service said new effort is needed to further manage prairie
dog populations to protect soil, water and vegetation resources, which it said
have been overused by prairie dogs, especially during recent drought.
“We
are thrilled to see some forward movement on this much-talked about issue,”
said Tubbs. “It seems like we’ve gone to meetings and discussed this
forever, and it is encouraging to feel as though we’ve accomplished some
positive changes. We appreciate Senator Thune for sticking with us from square
one, and working with his fellow senators to apply political pressure in the
right places to achieve needed prairie dog control on the devastated federal
lands across
According
to Tubbs, the SDSGA will keep vigilant watch over the rewrite of the plan to
ensure the implementation of the promised prairie dog control on the interior of
prairie dog towns on the above mentioned grasslands.
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# # # -
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September
21, 2006
For
more information contact
605-342-0429
or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD
Stockgrowers Urge Everyone to Attend Brand Board Meeting
Rapid
City ~ The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) encourages everyone to
attend the S.D. Brand Board meeting and testify in regard to the proposed 10
cent brand inspection fee increase on September 27, 2006 at the Joe Foss
Building in Pierre, S.D.
The
meeting will begin at 10:00 am Central Time, with public testimony beginning at
1:00 pm Central time.
According
to SDSGA Brand Committee Chairman and Past President Bill Hutchinson,
“Everyone
can see that cattle numbers are down in Western South Dakota, and expenses are
up – this equates to budgeted loss of over $80,000 for the brand inspection
program,”
The
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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September
18, 2006
For
more information contact Carrie Longwood at:
605-342-0429
or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD
Stockgrowers Annual Convention Successful
Spearfish
~ The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) again hosted one of the best
cattle industry events in the region – the SDSGA Annual Convention, September
14 and 15, 2006, in Spearfish, S.D.
Meeting-goers
had the chance to hear William Perry Pendley, property rights attorney with the
Mountain States Legal Foundation; former Idaho Congresswoman Helen
Chenoweth-Hage; USDA APHIS Veterinarian Dr. John Clifford; S.D. state
veterinarian Dr.
Speakers
representing the pros and cons of Amendment D and Amendment E could also be
heard.
Representatives
from all three of
The
final evening of the convention, September 15, 2006, was dedicated to SDSGA Past
President, the late Vince Crago, Spearfish, S.D. Margaret Crago, Spearfish,
S.D., introduced herself and her family in attendance. Ray Pepin,
Brand
inspectors Bob Crow, Bison; Lee Addison,
SDSGA
Administrative Assistant Mary Smith,
Stadheim
noted that Smith is unusually dedicated to the ranchers she works for, and makes
a point of getting to know each one personally and offering assistance to each
one of them. “You can tell that she truly cares about each member of the
Stockgrowers – this isn’t just a job to her, but a career that she puts her
heart into.”
A
live auction held after the recognition ceremony brought in about $4,300,
according to Stadheim the Stockgrowers donated half of the proceeds to the
Nuisance Abatement Group and will use the remainder to help defray convention
expenses.
According
to Fox, the convention was jam-packed with useful information from speakers and
fun conversations with members of the Stockgrowers.
Fox
said the membership discussed and approved several key policy measures. A
sampling of new Stockgrower policy is below:
- the
SDSGA brand inspection department will permanently end the practice of
sharing private treaty sales information with the S.D. Beef Industry
Council;
- the
current checkoff should be amended to allow for a periodic vote, promotion
of USA and state beef, and the S.D. Beef Industry Council should retain the
entire allocation for use within S.D., rather than sending money on to the
NCBA as has been the practice;
- SDSGA
opposes the reintroduction of any state or federal threatened or endangered
species and/or experimental non-essential populations – plant or animal
– unless the SDSGA members and Board of Directors approve the action.
- USDA
should return to the January, 2006 BSE testing rate;
- the
sale of tax sale certificates by the counties to private individuals be
allowed;
- SDSGA
supports the right of the state of
According
to Fox, several outdated policies were deleted, and a few were amended to
reflect changes in the industry.
Nelson
said he enjoyed the diversity of the speakers, with topics ranging from pasture
insurance to international trade, from property rights to ag economics. “While
each speaker was informative and entertaining, my favorite part of the entire
convention was the last evening, just before we finished up, when our keynote
speaker Helen Chenoweth-Hage addressed the crowd. She was phenomenal,” said
Nelson. “It’s easy to get stuck in a rut where it seems like the future of
agriculture is quite dim, but I think we all left the meeting room, after
listening to Ms. Hage, with a renewed sense of direction and purpose. She
thanked SDSGA for addressing tough issues and standing up for what is right,
even in the face of adversity. She encouraged us to continue down that road and
to maintain our commitment to grassroots producers. She pledged to do the same,
and promised that, as a team, we will make a positive difference.”
The
membership unanimously re-elected Fox and Nelson to serve as President and Vice
President, respectively, for a second and final one year term.
Regional
Vice Presidents
The
SDSGA 2007 and 2008 conventions will be held in
-
# # # -
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September
13, 2006
For
more information contact
605-342-0429
or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD
Stockgrowers Area Meeting in Faith Focused on Brand Inspection Contract
The
South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) hosted an Area Meeting immediately
following the S.D. Brand Board meeting in Faith, S.D. at
About
25 ranchers from the Northwest part of the state stayed after the Brand Board
meeting to discuss with the Stockgrowers the future of the brand inspection
program, said SDSGA Vice President
Nelson
said the ranchers in the crowd favored the continuation of a brand inspection
program managed by the Stockgrowers. “Everyone in the meeting agreed that a
ten cent per head increase is warranted with the documented drop in cattle
numbers combined with rising expenses like fuel and insurance,” Nelson said.
“I hope the Brand Board heeds the comments of those ranchers and implements
the fee increase to help offset some of the predicted losses for this fiscal
year.”
Nelson
says that even if the fee increase is implemented this fall, the Stockgrowers
don’t expect that the brand inspection program will take in enough in
inspection fees to cover their fixed expenses, but without the increase, they
expect the brand inspection program to lose over $80,000. “Hopefully the Brand
Board agrees that the Stockgrowers shouldn’t be expected to subsidize the
brand inspection program to that extent,” he said.
Many
of the approximately 35-40 ranchers who attended the state Brand Board meeting
earlier in the day spoke during the public comment period. “A strong majority
of those folks support a fee increase,” said SDSGA District 1 Director, Linda
Gilbert,
Linda
Gilbert says that ranchers north of Interstate 90 and west of the
Gilbert
said she hopes ranchers from across the brand inspection area will travel to
Nelson
and Gilbert both thanked Scott and Gary Vance, owners of
-
# # # -
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August
28, 2006
For
more information contact
605-342-0429
or carrie.sdsga@midconetwork.com
www.southdakotastockgrowers.org
SD
Stockgrowers Invite all to Annual Convention
The South Dakota
Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) encourages everyone to attend the 2006 Annual
Convention September 14 and 15, 2006, at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in
Spearfish, S.D.
According to SDSGA
President
“We have a superb
lineup of speakers, focused committee meetings and as always, verified
According to Fox, the
first day of the convention will focus on trade and marketing issues like
country of origin labeling and the international trade deficit. R-CALF USA
Checkoff Committee Chairman Jim Hanna, Valentine, Neb., will meet with the
Marketing committee to update folks on the discussions R-CALF has held with
other ag organizations in regard to changing the checkoff program. Dr. Van
Sickle, an ag economist from the
Then, Fox says, the
Trade Committee will hear from Dr. Doug Zalesky, Hesperus,
“We have a fun
evening planned in Deadwood, so even if you miss the day’s committee meetings,
plan to meet us at Cadillac Jack’s for prime rib followed by the evening
speaker, Ray Cunio. Ray is a producer from
SDSGA Animal ID
Committee Chairman Kenny Fox hopes everyone plans to stay for the second day of
the convention to hear USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
veterinarian Dr. John Clifford speak about the NAIS.
“Animal ID is an
issue that people are really concerned about and the convention will be a great
chance to hear ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’ just what USDA has
planned, and to let them know what we think too,” said Kenny Fox. “We
can’t expect USDA to know what’s on our minds; it’s important that we keep
the communication lines open and continue to educate them about our ranching
heritage, lifestyle and the cattle industry in
Kenny Fox said that