2017 Policy Update

 S.D. Farmers Union members prepared for a busy year ahead at the 102nd annual state convention. Up for discussion were 10 special orders of business that will guide Farmers Union grassroots policy and legislative efforts in 2018. Continue reading to find a description and explanation for each special order.Special Order #1: TradeTime and time again the Trump Administration has threatened to entirely scrap and rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), damaging our trade relations with Mexico and Canada.This special order of business accepts that NAFTA is not completely prefect, but urges our congressional delegation to approve NAFTA and other trade pacts with additions to labor, environment and currency manipulation.Apart from NAFTA, this special order of business also encourages the appointment and confirmation of undersecretaries in departments important to American agriculture and the restoration of mandatory Country of Origin Labeling.Special Order #2: Ethics in State Government The presence of corruption in state government is no secret in South Dakota. With the repeal of Initiated Measure 22, South Dakota voters were left to continue the debate on what should be done about South Dakota government ethics.This special order of business was developed to support an open government in our state capitol. It shows support for anticorruption efforts and works to maintain voter power and impact.Special Order #3: Non-Meandered Waters This year non-meandered waters were up for discussion in the legislature with the passage of House Bill 1001 during a special session in June. The bill is set to sunset in June 2018 and will then be evaluated to see how it represents the interest of landowners and sportsmen alike.This special order supports legislation requiring water management to be developed and exercised to restore land use opportunities, as is feasible to pre-1993 established land use. The special order also works to represent landowner rights to deny public use of privately owned land. Special Order #4: E30SDFU will continue its long held passion for E-30 into 2018. Similar to previous years, ethanol was high on the list of conversation topics at this year’s convention.This special order of business recognizes the strong dependency our South Dakota economy has on corn markets. A transition to E-30 use at the state and national level would mean great things for South Dakota, boosting our own ethanol production and further enriching our economy, all while keeping in mind the great value E-30 use provides consumers.This special order of business will direct South Dakota government’s policies and statements to support South Dakota’s and our national gasoline pool’s transition to E-30.Special Order #5: E30 Promotion Earlier this year a public service ad campaign was developed to position E-30 as “the right thing to do.” S.D. Farmers Union published this ad on their own social media platforms as well as encouraged members to put it in local rural publications.This special order acknowledges the responsibility we have to promote E-30. It encourages other state Farmers Unions to challenge their membership to publish the public service ad campaign in their local publications. Special Order #6: Elevator BondingFarmers are put at the mercy of the grain elevator when bonding their grain. This year many South Dakota farmers took a hard blow, losing millions due to elevators fraudulent book keeping and inability to make payments on purchased grain.This special order supports a grain pool protection fund, similar to that of North Dakota’s and the revision of the bonding of elevators process.Members agreed more elevator oversight must be given to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The PUC must also conduct financial review of elevators sooner and more often. Also in agreement was that warehouse receipts should act as proof of ownership and that farmers should be allowed to access bond with stored grain.Special Order #7: Farmers Crop Insurance Product ResolutionThe American farm economy has returned to economic challenges similar to those faced in years past and USDA funding for farm bill programs continue to fall short in meeting farmer’s needs in a timely manner.This special order endorses the Inventory Management Soil Enhancement Tool (IMSET). IMSET operates as a mechanism farmers can voluntarily use annually to enhance individual farmers pricing inventory and their lands marginal soil. IMSET will lower farmer’s dependency on government subsidy programs such as ARC and PLC.IMSET will also lower the national debt as farmers are more reliant on their own management abilities.Special Order #8: SDSU Precision Agriculture FacilityThe special order focused on South Dakota State University’s proposed Precision Agriculture facility. The $55 million project that would build a new Precision Ag Classroom and Laboratory building along with renovations to Berg Ag Hall was recently approved by the South Dakota Board of Regents. Before construction of the facility begins, SDSU must receive approval from the state legislature.Currently, $31.5 million would come from state funds. Private donations will account for $10 million of the budget. Another $7.5 million will be provided by SDSU and the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council will contribute $6 million.Through the special order, members directed SDFU to support SDSU’s intent to build a Precision Agriculture facility during the 2018 legislative session.Special Order #9: Seed Additions to StatuteSeed sellers have run into issue collecting on payment for seed. There have been instances of seed sellers not being able to put a lien on seed because the specific seed is not listed in statute 38-17-3.This special order emphasizes that the statute needs updating to include all seed for agriculture purposes.Special Order #10: E30 ChallengeMembers voted to pass a special order of business that echoed the undeniable rights Americans have to the benefits associated with E-30 use and to protect their families from gasoline’s harmful emissions. Every day, people are exposed to emissions from gasoline identical to those found in cigarette smoke, resulting in chronic health conditions for children and adults.The special order invited all Americans to take the E-30 challenge and save on fuel costs while simultaneously stimulating rural economies and protecting the public from harmful toxins.To learn more about S. D. Farmers Union policy, visit: /legislation/policy-program