2021 Policy Established During 2020 State Convention

Nearly 100 South Dakota family farmers and ranchers gathered virtually for the 2020 South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) Annual Convention December 9.

“Grassroots policy development is no less strong in a virtual environment,” said Doug Sombke, SDFU President and a fourth-generation Conde farmer. “I’m sure like everyone, I missed the 3-D experience. But even though we were unable to meet in person due to the pandemic, member engagement was strong, as our members discussed and voted on policy and special orders to address timely challenges facing our state’s family farmers and ranchers.”

Aberdeen farmer, Kirk Schaunaman agreed. “All things considered, for a virtual convention, I thought it was outstanding. It was really good. Great speakers, and technology-wise, it went smooth,” he said.

2020 is the first and hopefully the only time the more than a century-old organization met virtually. Schaunaman said he appreciated Sombke’s heartfelt message that addressed not only policy, but the very real struggle brought on by the pandemic. “We are in the middle of uncharted territory,” said Schaunaman, who recently lost his 91-year-old mom, Hazel, to COVID-19. “It’s the isolation and separation that makes this so difficult. We need to rally around our friends, neighbors and families and move forward the best we can.”

Sombke was one of four convention speakers. Other speakers included Keynote speaker, former South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle; Hal Clemensen, CHS board member who farms in Spink and Brown Counties and Tom Boyko, General Manager East River Electric Cooperative.

“Even though it was virtual, we still had that education component that is so important to Farmers Union,” said Wayne Soren, SDFU Vice President and a Lake Preston farmer.

Schaunaman added that as one of the state’s largest and oldest farm organizations, SDFU policy remains relevant because, “We are a grassroots organization. I think we are open and transparent from our members to leadership,” Schaunaman said.

2020 policy discussion focused on everything from, truth in labeling of meat products, enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act and not supporting the Governor’s decision to merge the S.D. Department of Agriculture with Department of Environment and Natural Resources to how federal COVID-19 funds should be distributed in rural America and including Inventory Management Soil Enhancement Tool (IMSET) in the next farm bill.

“Because our policy comes from our members, Farmers Union policy is as diverse as the family farmers and ranchers we represent,” Soren explained. “Agriculture is not a one-size-fits-all industry. Our farms and ranches do not all look alike.”

A member since the 1980s, Soren, 64, said that over the years, he knows of many examples when Farmers Union’s policy addressed timely issues facing agriculture and rural communities and it made a difference at the state or national level.

“One of my core beliefs is it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the problem. It may take one to figure out how to solve the problem,” Soren said. “I believe Farmers Union members do a really good job of identifying problems and coming up with solutions that become our policy.”

Once members vote to approve policy during the Annual State Convention, the new policy guides the organization in its efforts throughout the state. And some policy is brought to the National Farmers Union Convention where South Dakota’s delegates advocate to get it into national policy.

“This is what I love about being involved in Farmers Union,” said Hank Wonnenberg, 36, a Dallas farmer. “As members, we all have an opportunity and a platform for us to bring something to the group. And if the group agrees with it, we have a good chance of policy making it to the top where policy makers in Pierre and D.C. hear our voice.”

Wonnenberg was one of seven SDFU members elected to serve as a delegate to the 2021 National Farmers Union Convention which will be held virtually in March. The other delegates are agriculture producers: Bill Chase, Wolsey; Rob Lee, De Smet; Jeff Kippley, Aberdeen; Jenae Hansen, Redfield; Gerri Eide, Gettysburg and Rachel Kippley, Aberdeen.

Delegates also voted to approve re-election of board members: District 1: Mike Miller, Freeman; District 3: Gail Temple, Clark; District 5: Dallis Basel, Union Center and District 7: Chad Johnson, Groton.

2020 Special Orders

Below is a list as well as descriptions of the 2020 Special Orders, approved by delegates.

Truth in Labeling and Promotion of Meat Products

South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) thanks South Dakota Legislators from the 2019 session for passing Senate Bill 68 which supports Truth in Labeling of meat.  SDFU supports the use of the term beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and seafood in a food label to be exclusive for meat harvested from live animals in the traditional manner. SDFU supports the use of USDA and/or State inspection stamps be used on meat. Furthermore, SDFU recommends a clear, identifiable, and entirely separate label for all other alternative proteins. We believe all products should be required to pass the same strict standards of food inspection as meat products that come from animals raised in the traditional manner. SDFU recognizes that alternative proteins are destined to be in international trade deals, therefore should require separate negotiations than meat, such as beef, pork or poultry, as the process of production, packaging, and inspection will be different than that of real meat products. The United States should be a leader for other countries as to how to define how cell cultured products will be inspected and keep standards for trade acceptance for these products separate from beef, pork, or poultry.  The U.S. Meat Export Federations website (www.usmef.org) defines themselves as the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry. It is funded by USDA; the beef, pork, lamb, corn and soybean checkoff programs, as well as its members representing nine industry sectors: beef/veal producing & feeding, pork producing & feeding, lamb producing & feeding, packing & processing, purveying & trading, oilseeds producing, feed-grains producing, farm organizations and supply & service organizations.  SDFU does not support that alternative proteins, plant-based proteins, insects, or cell cultured proteins be allowed to be included in the check-off acts and orders. We request USDA to educate and put to rest misinformation on increased carbon created by livestock production.

Restoring Competition with Fed Cattle Spot Market – 50/14

The fed cattle spot market is a crucial market for the United States live cattle industry. It is where a competitive price is established for all fed cattle. The spot market price on finished cattle provides price discovery for all cattle in the supply chain regardless of age, weight, or gender. The discovered spot market price for finished cattle is also included in cattle sold through formula contracts and most all other alternative marketing agreements.

The volume of fed cattle sold in the spot market has shrunk over the past several years, hitting a national low of less than 22% of fed cattle slaughtered in 2015. In 2019 the number of spot market cattle sold has increased but only by a few percentage points. The United States cattle industry has recognized this shrinking spot market has reduced competition, yet no voluntary or other industry-led correction efforts have made any meaningful improvements.

South Dakota Farmers Union supports congressional legislation such as US Senate Bill 3693 which supports restoring competition within the Fed cattle spot market by requiring beef packers to procure at least 50% of their cattle needs in the competitive spot market and to receive delivery of those cattle within 14 days.

Enforce Packers and Stockyards Act

The Packers and Stockyards Act was adopted in 1921 after a Federal Trade Commission report had found price manipulation, restriction of food flows, and defrauding of consumers and producers of food which caused lack of competition. Similarly, many producers today have suffered from devastating prices for their product, many of which are below the cost of production.

South Dakota Farmers Union asks our congressional representatives to urge the Department of Justice to enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act to its entirety.

Merging of SD Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

South Dakota’s number one industry is Agriculture and the state’s farmers and ranchers are the backbone of this industry. South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers need to be made a priority of the state government and be ensured adequate voice when it comes to resources, policies, and support for production agriculture.

The purpose of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is to protect water and land, while the purpose of the Department of Agriculture is to promote and protect agriculture in South Dakota. These two missions stand independent of one another, while these two agencies serve as a check and balance system for one another. The merging of these two departments will result in fewer seats at the table for our farmers and ranchers.

South Dakota Farmers Unions calls upon the 2021 South Dakota Legislature to reject any plan to merge the South Dakota Department of Agriculture with the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources or any other state agency to ensure that agriculture, farmers, and ranchers remain a priority.

Next farm bill to include Inventory Management Soil Enhancement Tool (IMSET)

SDFU recognizing since the Freedom to Farm Bill was enacted on April 4^th, 1996

The American family farmer has lost Global Market share of agricultural commodities from 73% to today’s level of 37% in the year of 2020. Throughout this same period of time more native grasslands and marginal soils have been utilized to grow crops jeopardizing soil health across the nation. As farmers experienced this loss of market share globally American farmers have increased Americans stockpile of farm commodities forcing even lower farm-gate prices. Not to mention causing environmental harm to soil, air and water quality. No other industry would see this as acceptable to survive let alone to grow into the future.

 SDFU therefore, encourages the U.S Congress, agriculture advocacy groups and check off organizations to support SDFU’s Inventory Management Soil Enhancement Tool (IMSET) concept for inclusion in the next farm bill.

Further definition of IMSET

IMSET is designed as a management tool for farmers to receive a price on his/her grain commodities of beneficial financial results for improving soil health needs of his/her farmland.

Similar to and alongside their annual renewal of revenue crop insurance farmers can voluntarily decide to use IMSET and renew on an annual basis. (Example) For every 1.5% of crop acres they wish to improve soil health they will receive 1.5% increase of the guarantee revenue price coverage for that crop.

Sign up would be as follows; When signing up for crop insurance each farmer voluntarily chooses to sign up to be eligible for IMSET. Similar to choosing revenue crop insurance level for the upcoming crop, sign up for IMSET must be prior to deadline date for crop insurance.

Reporting IMSET acres deadline will be simultaneous to crop insurance and FSA planted acres reporting. IMSET acres reported determines crop revenue price guarantee of each crop they are participating in.

The level of acres allowed in IMSET will be determined by the level of farmer participation. The more participation the lower the percentage level with a cap of no more than 10% per crop per year per farmer.

NRCS will certify cover crops best suited to improve soil health of IMSET acres. NRCS also determines what best practices to use to improve soil health. Including but not limited to haying or grazing of IMSET acres.

Distribution of Pandemic Federal Aid

South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) strongly supports more oversight in the distribution of federal aid monies due to pandemics. During the COVID-19 pandemic federal disaster aid was distributed to unentitled people and entities, both domestic and foreign. SDFU supports, that under no circumstances, should any federal aid be allowed to be paid to foreign peoples or entities. Furthermore, the improved oversight needs to ensure that the funds are distributed to qualified and true farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers.

Support of Beef Checkoff referendum petition

The Beef Checkoff is a government program that has been in existence for 35 years and most producers have not had an opportunity to vote on the program. South Dakota Farmers Union supports the checkoff referendum petition that would provide producers, who fund the Beef Checkoff program, a right to vote on the Beef Checkoff.

South Dakota Farmers Union urges that the program should either:
a. Become voluntary, or
b. sunset unless affirmed by a producer vote every five years to ensure that the producers who fund the program feel satisfied and well represented.

Support of experts in keeping SD Communities safe

South Dakota Farmers Union supports our health care experts, CDC and SD Department of Health in their recommendations to keep South Dakota communities safe. 

Schools across the country and state are facing complex re-opening plans as it relates to the COVID19 Pandemic. South Dakota Farmers Union supports local control as it related to opening plans for South Dakota School, which include virtual and hybrid learning environments. We believe that no schools should lose funding for making the decision to not open schools, close during an uptick in cases, or move to virtual learning. We support decisions of parents, guardians, teachers, and staff to learn and teach in a virtual environment without penalty. 

South Dakota Farmers Union commends the efforts of South Dakota school districts in developing re-opening plans that keep the health and safety of students and staff at the forefront.