News Releases

SDFU Supports Rep. Johnson’s Work for Truth in Labeling

In a letter sent May 13, South Dakota Representative Dusty Johnson urges the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to find a meaningful solution to allow accurate labeling of U.S. beef. South Dakota Farmers Union applauds Representative Johnson for his work for truth in labeling. “Thank you. Your support […]

Farmers Unions Partner with National Breast Cancer Foundation to Spread Awareness with Pink Manure Spreader

As many know, cancer doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care how much your family, or your farm depends on you. For generations, Farmers Union has lent a hand to various causes through legislation, education, and philanthropy. Now it’s our turn to take on breast cancer. In collaboration with National Breast Cancer Foundation, Farmers Union is excited […]

SDFU Signs Letter Calling out EPA for Failure to Protect Americans

The South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) joined a broad group of ten energy and agriculture organizations in calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to condemn statements by its own Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) that dismissed the findings of a recent study by Harvard University linking air pollution to higher fatalities from […]

Farmers and Their Bankers Are Frustrated by Lack of Information Surrounding COVID-19 Relief Package

If any farmer can navigate disaster relief paperwork, you’d think it would be Craig Schaunaman. Why? Because the Aberdeen crop and cattle farmer is a former Farm Service Agency (FSA) Director for the state of South Dakota. But instead, like many other South Dakota producers and bankers, the fourth-generation farmer isn’t able to get clear […]

60 Minutes Visits with Doug Sombke

S.D. Farmers Union Applauds S.D. Attorney General for Supporting Cattle Producers

On behalf of the state’s cattle producers, S.D. Farmers Union President, Doug Sombke, thanks S.D. Attorney General, Jason Ravnsborg for joining with other states in signing a letter urging U.S. Attorney General William Barr to move forward on a federal investigation into national price fixing by meat packers. “We appreciate our Attorney General exhibiting leadership […]

Farmers Union Enterprises Donates 150,000 Pounds of Pork Ribs to Five States

Farmers Union Enterprises teamed up with South Dakota Farmers Union to donate 30,000 pounds of pork ribs to Feeding South Dakota. “Because of COVID-19, many families have seen their grocery budget shrink. We saw a way to help not only feed families, but keep our employees working,” explains Doug Sombke, President of Farmers Union Enterprises […]

COVID-19 Further Stresses South Dakota’s Ethanol Industry

This February, Glacial Lakes Energy’s balance sheet showed positive cash flow. Then COVID-19 brought morning commutes to a screeching halt as workers across the country were told to shelter in place. “Ethanol was not in a good situation before. But then COVID came along and changed everything,” explains Jim Seurer, the ethanol cooperative’s CEO. “In […]