Boots on the Ground – South Dakota Farmers & Ranchers in D.C. to Advocate for Ag Policy

Many South Dakota farmers and ranchers took time away from their crops and livestock to advocate for agriculture policy during the 2024 National Farmers Union D.C. Fly-In September 9-11.

“Our family farmers and ranchers need strong up to date agriculture policy to support the important work we do each day on our farms and ranches,” said Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union and a fourth-generation Brown County crop and cattle farmer. “Not many policymakers grew up on farms or ranches, so it is important that they meet with the farmers and ranchers who do the work and hear our stories so that they understand why fair and transparent markets are important to us.”

As a grassroots policy organization, South Dakota Farmers Union is also the state’s largest agriculture organization. And during the Fly-In more than 30 of its more than 18,000 members will advocate for a Farm Bill that will include a competition title to:

• Increase price discovery and transparency in cattle markets
• Require mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef
• Promote local, regional, & value-added market opportunities and livestock processing
• Strengthen enforcement of the Packers & Stockyards Act
• Address climate change
• Improve soil health

“The Farm Bill guides so many programs that our family farmers and ranchers depend on and it is outdated – we need policymakers to pass a Farm Bill that represents our current needs,” Sombke said.

Meeting with USDA & Policymakers

Throughout the three-day Fly-In family farmers and ranchers meet with U.S. Department of Agriculture officials. They also have one-on-one meetings with policymakers.

“This is our opportunity to share our story, so that policymakers hopefully understand how the decisions they make in D.C. impact our lives and livelihoods here in South Dakota,” explained Aberdeen farmer Jeff Kippley.

Kippley serves as National Farmers Union Vice President and is the Vice President of South Dakota Farmers Union. He and his wife, Rachel operate a cattle and crop farm near Aberdeen. And together with his dad, John, and sister, Michelle, Kippley operates a tax service.

“In the work that I do for our tax business, I see the numbers from a lot of family farms,” Kippley explained. “And it’s not just our family farm that needs off-farm income to stay afloat financially, it is the majority of family farms.”

During the Fly-In, 41-year-old Clear Lake farmer, Jerad Goens said market uncertainty is the reason he will be asking Congressional leaders to pass a Farm Bill.

“Risk management programs within the Farm Bill provide some security, and like most young producers, we don’t have a lot of capital, so we need these safety nets to help us manage weather extremes or market uncertainty,” Goens said.

Goens and his wife, Amanda raise three young children on their farm. Amanda said she is eager to share their family’s farm story with policymakers. “If they hear our stories and realize we are real people, it will help them understand how the decisions they make impact us in real ways. I am hoping the conversations we have this week encourage them to pass a Farm Bill.” 

Members attending 2024 National Farmers Union Fly-In

Doug Sombke, President, SDFU; Wayne Soren, Lake Preston; Karla Hofhenke, Executive Director, SDFU; Dustin Schmidt; White River; Rob Lee, De Smet; Rocky Forman, Member Services, SDFU; Jeff Kippley, SDFU Vice President, NFU Vice President, Aberdeen; Chaz Blotsky, Winner; Oren and Tracy Lesmeister, Parade; Scott Kolousek, Wessington Springs; Gail and Brad Temple, Clark; Kirk Schaunaman, Aberdeen; Zane and Angela Reis, Reliance; Cole and Carleyn Petersen, Eagle Butte;; David Reis, Reliance; Larry and Kathy Birgen, Beresford; Jerad and Amanda Goens, Clear Lake; David Smith, Legislative & Farm Specialist, SDFU; Shelby Landmark, Communications Specialist, SDFU; Samantha and Ryan Urban, Kimball; Jason and Kaeloni Latham, Camp Crook and Aeriel Eitreim, Sioux Falls.