News Releases
Categories:Farmers Union Members Celebrate Medicaid Expansion
Following the Nov. 8 vote, South Dakota Farmers Union members join with the majority of South Dakotans in celebrating the passage of Amendment D. “Medicaid expansion keeps our tax dollars in South Dakota and it will help farm and ranch families access healthcare,” said Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union. “Our rural communities […]
Read MoreCattle Producer and Advocate Credits Time in Army with More than College Degree
By Lura Roti Gregory rancher Brett Kenzy is many things. He is a husband, a father, a business partner with his brother, George, in their family’s fourth-generation crop and cattle operation, a South Dakota Farmers Union member and the national president of R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America). Kenzy is also a veteran. […]
Read MoreCapturing a Larger Share in a Shrinking Pool: The Ethanol Survival Guide
By Jim Seurer, CEO, Glacial Lakes Energy & Doug Sombke, South Dakota Farmers Union The ethanol and entire biofuel industry is pacing the floor like an expecting parent waiting for the baby to be born as the new EPA “set” rule is going to be unveiled soon establishing renewable volumes for the next three years. […]
Read MoreSix Farm & Ranch Youth Win Breeding Stock Through Farmers Union Herd Builder Program
By Lura Roti for South Dakota Farmers Union Pre-veterinary student Madison Hofer is eager to apply the skills she’s learning in classes at South Dakota State University (SDSU) to the breeding ewe she just won from South Dakota Farmers Union. “This is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to raise my own sheep,” explained […]
Read MoreCooperative Takes Proactive Approach to Recruiting Young Board Members
By Lura Roti for South Dakota Farmers Union Getting young farmers to serve on the board of directors was a challenge facing Central Farmers Cooperative. To overcome it, the full-service agriculture co-op decided to take a proactive approach. “We felt it was important to get some younger people involved, so we started an apprenticeship program […]
Read MoreSouth Dakota Farmers Union President Says Grassroots Policy Supports Wetlands Compliance & Appeals Reform Act
Policy put in place by members of South Dakota’s largest agriculture organization, South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU), supports the NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act introduced by Senator Mike Rounds the week of September 19, 2022. “Our policy supports a landowner’s ability to make decisions for the land they own,” explained Doug Sombke, SDFU […]
Read MoreSouth Dakota Cattle Producers Meet with Dept. of Justice Anti-Trust Division
Cattle producers shared personal stories of anticompetitive practices and the Department of Justice listened. “Eyes were wide open and notepads came out,” explained a South Dakota cattle producer. “The Assistant Attorney General stayed way longer than scheduled and the staff continued to ask questions.” “They were totally shocked,” added Oren Lesmeister, a Parade rancher and […]
Read MoreSouth Dakota Family Farmers & Ranchers Advocate Meet with Secretary of Agriculture & Policy Makers During D.C. Fly-In
By Lura Roti for South Dakota Farmers Union Family farmers and ranchers making time to travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with Congressional leaders and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials does make a difference, said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack. “Thank you to National Farmers Union. In many respects NFU has been the […]
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