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Working to make sure your voice is heard.
Each year, delegates from Farmers Union counties across the state of South Dakota convene at the annual South Dakota Farmers Union State Convention to adopt the organization’s policy program. The policy lays out the ideas, concepts and programs South Dakota Farmers Union believes in or stands against.
We’re a grassroots organization, which means our policies come from the members of the organization. A policy change can be voted on at the county and district level and be brought for consideration before the state delegates at the convention.
The policy program is followed when the organization lobbies on behalf of farmers, ranchers and rural communities in the State Capitol and in Washington, D.C.
The South Dakota legislative session takes place each year between January and March.
Results are in!
2024 results on ballot measures are in – what do they mean to South Dakotans? SDFU Lobbyist Mitch Richter explains:
Amendment E stems from lawmakers and the Governor wanting to change outdated male-only references to the Governor and other officials in the state constitution and statutes. For example, instead of referring to the Governor as “he,” those documents would use the title. Recent years have found the term “gender” to be controversial and voters rejected this constitutional amendment with 57% of the vote leaving the constitution as it is.
Amendment F the only amendment of four to pass would change the state constitution to allow the state to require able-bodied adults to work in order to receive Medicaid. That program helps with medical costs for people with limited income and resources. The federal government would still have to sign off on the change. The amendment passed with 56% of the vote.
Amendment G would place the right to abortion in the South Dakota Constitution and supersede a 2005 state trigger law that took effect when Roe vs. Wade was overturned. Abortion is currently banned in the state. South Dakota is the only state in the past four years to reject an abortion measure. The measure needed 50% plus one to pass and 58% of the voters voted no.
Amendment H would establish “top-two” primaries for governor, Congress and state legislative and county races rather than having parties hold separate primary contests. All candidates would be on a single primary ballot for all voters. The top two vote-getters would advance to the general election. The voters rejected the amendment with 65% of the vote.
Initiated Measure 28 was brought to eliminate the state’s 4.2% sales tax on groceries while allowing municipalities to still collect up to 2%. The wording of the measure using the term “for human consumption” caused the measure to fail. Opponents said the measure could cause a budget crunch by preventing the state from collecting sales tax on “consumable” items such as tobacco, toothpaste and toilet paper. The measure failed with 69% of the voters rejecting the measure.
Initiated Measure 29 was supposed to legalize recreational marijuana. This is the third consecutive election that South Dakota voters were being asked whether to legalize recreational marijuana in the state for people 21 and older. Voters approved medicinal pot in 2020. However, they declined to approve this measure rejecting it with 55% of the vote.
Referred Law 21 was a referral of Senate Bill 201 from the 2024 legislative session. Voters were asked to decide Referred Law 21 and whether to keep or kill a legislative package known as the “Landowner Bill of Rights” intended to protect both the ethanol industry and farmers. Opponents of the measure contend the measure would make it easier to bypass county regulators and take people’s land. Those referring this legislation found favor from the voters with this passing saying the law should not go into effect with 59% of the voters voting in favor of the measure.
Make your voice heard!
It’s a hard time for farmers and ranchers right now, with excessive moisture, delayed harvests, quality issues and depressed markets. Your congressional delegation wants to hear from you.