South Dakota Union Farmer - February 2014

Volume XCVII, NO. 2

Huron, SD

Feb. 2014

South Dakota

Union Farmer A PUBLICATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION Tammy Basel Speaks at NFU Women’s Conference

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Getting to know DuWayne Bosse Terry Sestak Profile

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SDFU Members Attend Legislative Day “Your communities, state and country are run by the people who show up and serve,” said Secretary of Agriculture, Lucas Lentsch when he addressed Farmers Union members, legislators and students during the annual legislative day at the Capitol.

It was standing room only with more than 100 people attending the keynote luncheon where Secretary Lentsch addressed the group.

Farmers Union members from across the state traveled to Pierre where they attended committee meetings, met with legislators and discussed the issues important to South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers.

Among the attendees was Ron Slaba, cow/ calf and sheep producer from Ludlow. For years Slaba has made this trek to Pierre because he experienced firsthand the power a united voice can have to impact legislative See LEGISLATIVE DAY Page 10

U.S. Senators Johnson and Thune Support Farm Bill HURON – As the farm bill awaits President Obama’s signature, South Dakota’s crop and livestock producers are eager for the relief this bipartisan bill, Agriculture Act of 2014, provides, said South Dakota Farmers Union President, Doug Sombke, following its passage in the Senate by a 68-32 vote.

“South Dakota Farmers Union is very appreciative for the support of Senator Johnson and Senator Thune,” Sombke said. “They have been leaders on agriculture issues important to our state and have worked hard to represent South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers in the farm bill.”

Within the farm bill are several programs designed to aid livestock producers including the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) which would cover 75 percent of the market value for excessive livestock losses due to adverse weather, including blizzards. LIP will retroactively apply to 2012 and 2013, allowing livestock producers to receive aid from the October See SENATORS Page 15

$25,000 in Scholarships ‘Insuring a Brighter Tomorrow’ applications available now Find more information on page 4 or visit www.sdfufoundation.org

Union Farmer From the President...

Family Farming: In Webster’s dictionary there are many definitions for family and farming. When you combine the two words, though most people would define family farming as; a group of individuals related to each other either by blood or marriage, practicing agriculture or aquaculture as a major source of income to sustain a living.

I mention this for a couple reasons; 1. Since our legislature is in session, you never know when you may be asked to define family farming. 2. The United Nations has declared 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming.

The question was asked in january 2014 editorial written by Gerd Sonnleitner, the U.N. Ambassador for Family Farming for World Farmer’s Organization Doug Sombke E-Magazine, “What is family farming about?” His answer is this; it’s an overall SDFU President model in which the farming family has full responsibility for decision-making and entrepreneurial risk. Allowing necessary flexibility to respond quickly to changing challenges, reliable political framework conditions are essential to farmers allowing them to fulfill their role to feed and ever growing world population.

He goes on to say, this requirement is exactly what is missing in nearly all countries where hunger is a pressing issue. Gerd points out in his editorial that nearly 900 million people go to bed hungry every night around the world and given the tools available to us in today’s 21st Century that’s an alarming figure. However, the solution to eliminate hunger is simple; boost Family Farming!

Here in the United States, NFU and SDFU have been very involved in the political process advocating for family farming for almost 100 years. Since we, like Gerd Sonnleitner, recognize the need for an involved government to feed, clothe and fuel our great country. Although most people in our country want less government involvement not more.

Over the last three years as we’ve been advocating to get a farm bill passed several people have asked me, how bad does it have to get before people realize how fortunate they are to live in a country were food is affordable, nutritious and abundant?

Folks, the reason food, clothing and fuel are affordable, nutritious and abundant is because SDFU and our brothers and sisters in the NFU family have been telling the family farming story - sharing it loudly and often. Our biggest challenge today is we are losing friends in Congress as well as in the State Legislature.

Not because people don’t like what you do, but because there are less of us doing it! Therefore, strength of representation moves away from rural to urban populations. We need to adapt ways to tell our story and continue a dialog with our city cousins. One answer to this challenge is to understand what consumers want from us. We know we do the best for our business and families. But, what can we do to help our consumers get what they want? Using the cooperation side of our triangle we can help each other.

Finally, it all comes back to the base of our triangle; education. By educating everywhere we are welcome as often as we are allowed through cooperation and legislation we will continue the mission of Farmers Union and, as a result, our state, country and our world will be better than it was passed on to us.

National Farmers Union along with South Dakota Farmers Union and others will recognize the International Year of Family Farming throughout the year. After all, South Dakota Farmers Union is an organization established and governed by family farming members.

God Bless all you do and may you have a Happy Valentines Day!

South Dakota

Union Farmer

A PUBLICATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION South Dakota Union Farmer, ISSN 0745-8797, publishes ten times per calendar year, with issues printed in January, February, March, April, May/June, July, August, Sept/Oct, November, and December. Copies are available for $3.00 per year (included with membership dues), and non-members annual subscription is $7.50. Advertising rate is $6.00/column inch. Periodical postage paid at Mitchell, S.D. POSTMASTER: Address changes to: SDFU, PO Box 1388, Huron, S.D. 57350-1388

Contact SDFU 888.734.8136

605.352.6761

1410 Dakota Avenue South, PO Box 1388, Huron, SD 57350 www.sdfu.org

sdfu@sdfu.org

SDFU State Office Staff

Karla Hofhenke.......ext. 114 Executive Director Huron Luanne Thompson.....ext. 111 Mike Traxinger...........ext. 112 Administrative Assistant Legislative Director Virgil Claremont Bonnie Geyer..............ext. 125 Education Director Huron

Kelsey Schnetzer........ext. 116 Membership Director Wolsey

Rebecca Long.............ext. 115 Communication Specialist Huron

Erin Wilcox................ext. 118 Rural Development Director Huron

SDFU Board of Directors Doug Sombke.........President Groton

Wayne Soren..........Vice Pres.

Lake Preston Terry Sestak...........District I Tabor Jim Wahle..............District II Salem Franklin Olson.....District III Pierpont

Contact NFU

Joel Keierleber.......District IV Colome Dallis Basel..............District V Union Center Lynn Frey...............District VI Lemmon Chad Johnson.......District VII Groton

National Farmers Union 20 F Street NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001

Roger Johnson, President ~ Claudia Svarstad, Vice President Doug Peterson, Secretary ~ Don Teske, Treasurer 202.554.1600 www.nfu.org

Farmers Union Members get

20% OFF

*

their entire purchase at

Double D

Western Wear & Tack 800 21st St., Huron, SD

www.doubledwestern.net Please present this coupon with your purchase * Excludes all boots, men’s jeans and tack

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Feb. 2014

Union Farmer

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Union Farmer

Doing What is Best for the Farmer’s Bottom Line

Tagging along with his dad and uncles to meetings with their commodities broker as a pre-teen introduced DuWayne Bosse, 35, to what would become the Britton farmer’s second passion and career as co-owner of Bolt Marketing LLC. “Those meetings sparked my interest in marketing. I soaked it all in and thought being a commodity broker would be a neat job one day,” he says.

The concept stuck. On his own, Bosse began studying to become a broker while at the same time pursuing a General Agriculture degree from South Dakota State University.

“It was my fallback plan. I saw a need for commodity brokers in South Dakota and knew it was something I could do while farming.”

Shortly after returning home in 2001 to farm with his dad and uncles, Bosse began working as a local broker for a firm out of Minnesota. In 2010 he opened his own firm, Bolt Marketing, LLC, with his farming partner, Jeffrey Mills.

“We decided that this little ‘side business’ was growing quickly, so Jeff got this brokerage license so he could help me with it,” Bosse explains.

From the beginning, Bosse set out to defy norms as a commodities broker.

When he first received his license, experienced brokers told him the average client would only stick around three years; and he shouldn’t let this bother him.

DuWayne Bosse is co-owner of Bolt Marketing LLC and Bosse Stateline Farms near This industry standard didn’t impress Bosse.

Britton. He and his wife, Christina, have two young children.

“To me that sounded like a horrible business plan; I am about developing relationships with my clients that will last a lifetime,” he says, of his focus to teach his clients about the marketing process so that over time they gain confidence in the process and in his recommendations. “It’s worked. The majority of our clients stick with us.”

Thirteen years after he started in the business, his enthusiasm for commodity marketing hasn’t waned.

“It’s intense and I like that about marketing,” he explains. “Technology has changed things quite a bit since I started.”

Having the farmer’s best interests in mind is When Bosse began, corn moved pennies a why Bosse became involved in Farmers Union. day, he called clients’ sales in and a runner would He currently serves as the Vice President for the run literally run the order to the floor. “We used County Councillors Committee. He became to be so proud that it only took 2 minutes,” he involved about 10 years ago after he was invited says, sitting in his office, surrounded by seven to attend an annual meeting and was elected to computer screens, making orders with a keyserve as the County Secretary/Treasurer. Since stroke and communicating with farmers via texts that time, he says he has been impressed time and e-mails more than phone calls. and again, by the way Farmers Union represents Technology has also changed the way Bosse the local needs of farmers. and Mills operate the farm. Thanks to Autosteer, “When I first became involved the national during the growing season, as soon as the marpresident called me up to ask me marketing kets close, Bosse grabs his tablet and heads for questions. A day later I watched him testify in a his tractor cab. committee hearing in D.C. and heard him repeat “Technology lets me feed my farming paswhat I’d said. I realized just how incredibly consion,” he says. nected Farmers Union is to national policy,” said Bosse took over ownership of the farm from Bosse. his dad and uncles about three years after returning home from college. He and Jeff Mills (Jeff is Bosse’s cousin, Kelly (Bosse) Mills’ husband), Top photo: Jeff Mills and DuWayne Bosse partnered and purchased the farm together. Bosse Bottom photo: DuWayne Bosse at Bolt Marketing says when fate threw the two men together and couldn’t have made a better partnership.

“When it comes to running a business, it’s amazing how similar our thought process is. That goes for farming as well as Bolt Marketing LLC,” Bosse says.

“We both get accused of working too hard and we are both always looking for ways to create efficiencies and do what will return the best profits for our farm and our clients’ farming operations.”

When the men took over, they made a point to ensure a thorough valuation was done so that they purchased everything fair and square.

“We even bought the scrap metal in the trees,” Bosse says. Within a few years they partnered to lease Mills’ family farm in Minnesota as well.

“We are so grateful to my dad, uncles and Jeff’s folks for the opportunity they gave us.”

FARMERS UNION IS CONNECTED

www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer

See DUWAYNE BOSSE Page 9

Feb. 2014

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Union Farmer Rural Development News

By Erin Wilcox Rural Development Director

As I write this, old man winter has been showing his brutal face with Artic temperatures, but to the delight of many, spring-like weather emerged chasing everyone’s cabin fever away … even if it is only for a day! South Dakota weather likes to change by the minute.

Over next few months the Rural Development department will be busy.

February starts the sixth year of Jr. REAL. Jr. REAL will be in: Kadoka for the Wall and Kadoka schools on 2/19/14, Flandreau for Flandreau and Coleman-Egan schools on 3/31/14, Howard on 4/2/14, Beresford on 4/9/14 and Faith on 4/30/14. The speakers for the 2014 Jr. REAL will include; Holly Hoffman as the keynote, Malcom Chapman on Leadership, John Beranek on Community Service and me to visit about Credit and Identity issues.

The second session of REAL met Jan. 20 21 in our state’s capital. This event featured an exceptional schedule of speakers including; John Beranek, Joy Smolnisky and Gloria Schaefer.

The group enjoyed meetings with their district representatives in the legislature as well as representatives from South Dakota Public Utilities Commission and South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The Young Producers Group Conference was held Jan. 31 to Feb. 1 in Deadwood at The Lodge during the Stock Show. There was an astounding amount of information and resources shared with the group; the speaker lineup included; Secretary Lucas Lentsch, Dr. Dustin Oedekoven, Ryan Taylor, Malcom Chapman, Duwayne Bosse and David Koupal. There were presenters from NRCS and also FSA to share some imperative information to young producers getting involved in the agriculture industry. This conference also provided good networking opportunity for the Young Producers in attendance.

If you have any questions about any of these programs please contact me at (605) 352.6761 Ext. 118.

South Dakota’s Ethanol Industry Thanks You! A special thank you to all who let your voice be heard and encouraged the EPA to maintain the Renewable Fuels Standard by posting comments during the EPA comment period.

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Women’s Conference Provides Skills, Guidance to Women

Held in beautiful Clearwater Beach, Fla., Jan. 11-14, the NFU Women’s Conference provided participants with tools and information to confidently manage risks in their farm or ranch operations and develop leadership skills. Approximately 50 farm and rural women from around the country gathered for the event that is based on the well-respected Annie’s Project education program.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden was a keynote speaker at the event. A variety of trained instructors taught family farm finances, budgeting and cash flow, cooperatives, marketing, farm transfer and estate planning, business planning, leadership assessment and skills, generational issues, and action planning. Attendees learned about skills for women leading in agriculture and have peer-to-peer networking opportunities.

Annie's Project also helps women find new ways to balance the demands of family, community and professionalism within the agricultural community. The conference was sponsored by Farm Credit, American Farmland Trust, CoBank, FUI Foundation and the NFU Foundation.

Tammy Basel, South Dakota Farmers Union District 5 Legislative Director, a ranch wife from Union Center, SD, spoke on the devastating effects of the Atlas blizzard the struck western South Dakota ranchers last fall.■

NFU College Conference on Cooperatives to be Held in Minneapolis

Students from the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada will gather in Minneapolis Feb. 13-16 to learn how cooperative businesses operate for the benefit of their customers. Students are participating in the NFU College Conference on Cooperatives, sponsored by the CHS Foundation, CoBank, Farmers Union Industries Foundation, National Farmers Union (NFU) Foundation and others. The event will focus on how and why cooperatives succeed in America’s competitive business environment. For more information on how to attend, please visit www.NFU.org/education or contact Maria Miller, NFU director of education, at mmiller@nfudc.org.■

‘Insuring a Brighter Tomorrow’

Scholarship Applications Available For the seventh year in a row, Farmers Union Insurance Agency, in cooperation with the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation, is offering $25,000 in scholarships to eligible high school seniors in South Dakota through the “Insuring a Brighter Tomorrow” scholarship program.

Twenty-five high school seniors from across the state who plan to continue post-secondary education at a college, university, or technical school in the state of South Dakota will each receive $1,000.

The scholarships are funded with support from Farmers Union Insurance agents in South Dakota and the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation.

The application deadline is April 15, 2014. Scholarship recipients will be selected based on the applicant’s academic records, school and community involvement, and financial need. The applicant will also be required to submit a written essay entitled, “How do you hope to impact a Brighter Tomorrow in South Dakota?”

For more information and applications please call Farmers Union Insurance 800-933-2841 or visit www.sdfufoundation.org. ■

Union Farmer

www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer National Farmers Union 112th Convention in Santa Fe: Hope to See You There!

The National Farmers Union 112th Anniversary Convention is approaching quickly. Have you made your arrangements to join NFU in Santa Fe, New Mexico March 8-11.

We have a great agenda planned, including keynote speaker U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack; a 2014 Farm Bill panel with representatives from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives agriculture committees; and a panel on local agriculture, featuring the agriculture commissioners from the three Rocky Mountain states (Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming).

The National Farmers Union Foundation will also hold its annual Evening For Education gala on the evening of Monday, March 10. This event to benefit NFU’s educational efforts will feature testimonials from participants in the programs, a silent auction and a live auction. Do not miss out on the fun! Be sure to get a ticket to the gala when you register for the convention. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Sunday afternoon will feature a great tour of the area and the Taos County Economic Development Center, which features a community commercial kitchen, mobile slaughter unit and other unique endeavors, hosted by Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. Space is limited—tour registration will be first come, first served on site at convention registration. Additional local self-guided tours will be available for convention attendees to tour Santa Fe at their own pace.

We will close the convention with the grassroots policy consideration and adoption process. NFU is proud of its policy adoption process that comes directly from the membership. Be sure your voice is heard by attending the convention!

Details about the convention can be found at www.NFU.org/convention.■

Insight into the 213 and Veterinary Feed Directive What is the Veterinary Feed Directive?

The Food and Drug Administration’s final Guidance 213 and proposed Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rule establishes a three year timeframe for phasing out growth promotion uses of antibiotics important in human medicine and phasing in veterinary oversight of these products. The FDA released drafts of these documents in April 2012 when it published Guidance 209, finalizing its policy to phase-out all growth promotion (sub therapeutic) uses of medically-important antibiotics and phase-in veterinary oversight of these products.

What does this mean?

Final Guidance 213: This guidance outlines the process whereby a sponsor, or company, can withdraw growth claims from the label of products containing medically-important antibiotics. It also describes how a sponsor can apply for a prevention claim, or therapeutic claim, on those same compounds.

The label changes envisioned by this Guidance document will require submission of data to FDA, similar to submitting a new animal drug application.

Data will be reviewed by FDA to determine if a new label claim has been scientifically supported by the data. Label directions for antibiotics used in feed must be followed by veterinarians.

A. These changes, when implemented, may restrict the availability of the number of medicallyimportant compounds labeled for feed efficiency or growth promotion. It is possible all these products will be eliminated if companies who market them voluntarily withdraw these label claims. In addition, all medically important products approved for use in feed under a therapeutic claim (treatment, control or prevention) will require the involvement of a veterinarian.

Q. The draft recommendations by FDA are not binding as the agency is asking drug manufacturers to voluntarily implement the proposed changes. What is your reaction that enforcement should have been more binding?

A. The collaborative, stakeholder approach being used by FDA is the right approach to ensure the changes can be implemented in a way that avoids

Q. How does the AHI anticipate greater veterinary oversight will be implemented on the farm?

A. Most producers/farmers already consult with a veterinarian on animal health issues, including the use of medicines. All producers who wish to administer the antibiotics subject to the FDA action in feed for the therapeutic purposes of treating, controlling or preventing disease will need to consult with a veterinarian and comply with the requirements of the VFD.■

Stop By & Say Hello!

Farmers Union will be in your neighborhood and we want to visit with you! If you’re in the area, please stop by!

Event & Location

The VFD is the mechanism the FDA will use to apply veterinary oversight to a broad range of products used in animal feed. FDA intends to move all medically-important antibiotics out of over-thecounter status to VFD status.

Feb. 11-15 Feb. 19 Feb. 24

Below is a a Q&A put together by the Animal Health Institute Q. What impact will the new guidance documents have on producers, farmers and livestock feeders?

www.sdfu.org

unintended consequences. More sudden bans in Europe resulted in increased animal death and disease.

We believe the collaborative approach, allowing a phase-in time, can avoid these pitfalls. Guidance documents are used by the agency to force action by sponsors. This guidance document will result in the elimination of subtherapeutic uses of medicallyimportant compounds.

South Dakota Livestock Sales of Watertown Sale Barn Coffee @ noon Aberdeen Livestock Sale Barn Coffee @ 11 am

Mar. 14

Lemmon Farm & Home Show

Mar. 21

St. Onge Livestock Sales Sale Barn Coffee @ noon Faith Livestock Commission Company Sale Barn Coffee @ 10 am

Mar. 24

Union Farmer

Watertown Winter Farm Show

Our booth is located on the east side of the south building

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Union Farmer Grassroots Involvement Begins With You!

Farmers Union is able to successfully represent our membership when you, our members, communicate your needs and ideas with each other, your county leadership, as well as state leadership.

We understand that it’s not always convenient to leave your community, farm or ranch to attend state meetings, so we’re making a point in 2014 to travel to your neighborhood. Your Membership Director, Kelsey Schnetzer has organized county meetings to encourage an open dialogue. She and your President, Doug Sombke have scheduled County meetings in your neighborhood where you can catch up with your neighbors, review local issues and visit about your thoughts on state policy.

This may also be a good time to learn about what other counties are doing to increase membership and visit about ways you can become more involved. As a Farmers Union member, there are so many great opportunities to take advantage of!

To learn more, contact Kelsey Schnetzer at kschnetzer@SDFU.org or 605-352-6761 ext. 116.■

Don’t Miss Your County Meeting!

District 7 Counties: Jan. 24 – Noon - Leo’s Café, Redfield District 1 Counties: Jan. 25 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Corral Café, Tyndall District 2 plus Kingsbury County: Feb. 3 – 1 p.m. - Dakota Roadhouse, Woonsocket Brookings, Grant/Deuel, Codington/Hamlin & Clark Counties: Feb. 14 - 1 p.m. - Pizza Ranch, Watertown Marshall, Day & Roberts Counties: Feb. 18 – 1 p.m. - Community Room in Court House, Webster Gregory, Tripp, Todd & Lyman Counties: Feb. 26 - 1 p.m. - Community Room in Court House, Tripp Harding, Perkins, Corson, Haakon & Meade Counties: Feb. 28 - 1 p.m. – Location TBA, Faith

Announcing Titan Machinery/ SD Farmers Union Partnership Titan Machinery is offering to all current South Dakota Farmers Union Members a $500 incentive to be used on select Case IH Equipment. This incentive can be used in conjunction with other offers but must be mentioned at point of interest. Please have your membership card with you for proof of current membership.

Equipment that this incentive can be used on is as follows: • • • • • • • •

Farmall Compact Tractor Farmall Utilites Maxxum Series Farmall 100A Series Self-Propelled Windrowers Balers Mower Conditioners Case IH Scout

We cannot be more excited to have this incredible partnership to offer our members. We hope you are as interested and excited about this incentive as we are! Contact Kelsey Schnetzer, Membership Director with any questions, 605-352-6761 ext. 116 or e-mail kschnetzer@sdfu.org. ■

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Membership News

By Kelsey Schnetzer Membership Director

I hope this article finds everyone warm and safe. January sure flew by quickly, and not just because of the constant gale-force winds throughout the state! I have been busy planning many meetings, sale barn coffees and farm shows across the state.

I enjoy keeping busy and if this month shows what the next year has is store for me, it is going to keep flying by quickly!

Doug Sombke and I are planning county officer meetings across the state.

I look forward to the opportunity these meetings will give to me meet many more members and to plan for the “International Year of the Family Farmer.” When we meet, I’ll be asking you what can we do to get excited about what is coming for the future of South Dakota Farmers Union? We are going to introduce some ideas that we have brainstormed here at the state office, as well as what we can help you with in your counties. We are open to all ideas. I am very excited to get out and meet many of you and hear lots of ideas! If you’re an officer and haven’t received a postcard yet, keep an eye out for it.

We are also working on sale barn coffees across the state. We recently hosted two in Huron with great a turnout - and a great sale as the markets are very strong. In February we have two more planned; one in Watertown Feb. 19 at SD Livestock Sales of Watertown and Feb. 24 in Aberdeen at Aberdeen Livestock. We have also planned two in March; in St. Onge and Faith. If you are available and would like to help serve cookies and coffee, please let me know.

Many of our members took advantage of the free registration to the Women in Blue Jeans Conference held Jan. 16-17. The 11th Annual Uniquely You Conference highlighted South Dakota’s own products. Attendees had a blast with the breakout speakers from a variety of backgrounds, from Canning, Personal Defense, Identity Fraud and the Luncheon Speaker who shared about her life as a wife, daughter, rancher, blogger and soon to be mom. The event brought together a diversity of backgrounds and amazing ideas that should be brought to everyone’s attention in Rural South Dakota - especially those that work in town 8 to 5 then go home to work the remaining day by yard light! It was interesting to hear how some do it and gather inspiration on how to improve ideas and situations. We look forward to attending this event again February 2015.

As always, I’m interested in hearing from YOU! What are you interested in and what lights your fire? If you have an idea or are looking for ideas please contact me right away so we can start planning. My number is 605-352-6761ext.116 or email me at kschnetzer@sdfu.org.

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Union Farmer

Top Issues in the Legislative Session

Legislative News

By Mike Traxinger Legislative Director

SDFU is at the State Capitol representing your voice during the 2014 Legislative Session. The list below includes the top priorities/issues for the year.

One of the hot topics this legislative session is the issue of nonmeandered waters. Senate Bill 169 has been introduced to provide for access and use of public waters on public and private property to protect private property rights. SDFU has been involved throughout this process and continues to seek input from our members on this important issue.

This issue arose from a 2004 SD Supreme Court case, Parks v. Cooper, that stated that the legislature has the obligation to decide how nonmeandered bodies of water are to be beneficially used in the public interest. The legislature has yet to address this issue, however, SB 169 has been introduced as a compromise between private landowner rights and the rights of the public. There are seven fundamentals addressed in SB 169 that are listed below.

The first fundamental would remove ambiguity currently in statute over public access to “meandered” versus “navigable” waters. The bill would clarify that if water rises above the ordinary high water mark of a meandered lake, the public has right to use the waters of the entire lake for recreation. The second is that nonmeandered lakes will be defined to include all lakes except those water bodies containing a meander line and all privately constructed water bodies that inundate only private land. The third is that the public must be able to legally access any lake open to public recreational access to use the waters of that lake for recreation. In other words, no person may trespass on private land to gain access to water open to public recreational access.

The fourth and most controversial provision would provide that the waters of any nonmeandered water body larger than 40 acres will be open to public recreational access. Landowners of lake beds beneath nonmeandered water bodies smaller than 40 acres will be allowed to restrict public access to the waters that overlie the property they own by posting those waters as closed to public access.

The fifth fundamental is that trapping and hunting, other than waterfowl hunting are not allowed on the waters (and ice) of all nonmeandered lakes without permission of the person owning the property under the waters of the nonmeandered lake.

The sixth fundamental would provide a process whereby a property owner can request an allowance to close certain waters of lakes that are open to the public if the property owner can demonstrate a significant detrimental effect on the landowner’s use and enjoyment of his/her property. The seventh fundamental is a sunset provision that repeals the entire Act on June 30, 2019.

Please let me know your thoughts mtraxinger@ sdfu.org or at 605-377-4110.

1. Wheat Checkoff Increase

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House Bill 1081 has been introduced to increase the wheat assessment rate from 1.5 cents per bushel to .4% (4/10 of 1 percent) of the market value per bushel of wheat. At seven dollar wheat, this change would double the amount of money the checkoff currently receives.

SDFU was the only group that opposes this increase. A significant portion of the increase would be allocated to research, however, SDFU rose in opposition because the change would double the checkoff.

The last time the checkoff was increased was in 2005, when it was changed from one cent to one and half cents. Following that increase, the wheat checkoff financials have been in the red five of the last seven years. This begs the question, what are the issues facing the wheat checkoff and why are they not able to balance its budget.

The solution being put forth is to provide them with more money. While SDFU is not opposed to increasing the checkoff, we do not believe that doubling the current checkoff is the right answer at this moment in time.

On Thursday, January 30, the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee passed HB 1081 by a vote of 10-1. The bill passed the House on Tuesday, February 4 by a vote of 65-4.

Please call your State Senators and encourage them to vote against doubling the wheat checkoff.

2. Actual Use House Bill 1006 has been introduced on behalf of the Agricultural Land Assessment Task Force. The bill would assess the taxation of agricultural land, cropland and noncropland, based on actual use, not the land’s highest and best use.

SDFU, along with the SD Stockgrowers Association, SD Cattlemen’s Association, SD Grassland Coalition, and SD Association of Conservation Districts support this bill, however, it is strongly opposed by the South Dakota Corn Growers Association.

On February 4, the bill came before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and was tabled. It was ultimately decided that there were too many questions and that this issue needed one more year to address everyone’s concern.

While SDFU was disappointed by this outcome, there was a commitment from the legislators that a bill on actual use will be introduced in the 2015 legislative session.

3. Animal Cruelty Senate Bill 46 has been introduced on behalf of the Department of Agriculture. SDFU supports SB 46, which was heard on Thursday, February 6 in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

Agriculture and non-agriculture animal interests in South Dakota are united against reprehensible acts of willful, malicious cruelty to animals. SB46 proactively addresses the most severe acts of animal cruelty with a Class 6 felony penalty for such acts. Usual and customary animal agricultural practices and other time-honored animal uses are protected under a combined and expanded exemptions section.

SB46 is supported by agricultural organizations in South Dakota in order to: •

Define animal cruelty separately from animal neglect (Sections 1, 3, and 4). Under existing state law, both cruelty and neglect fall under “inhumane treatment,” which is a Class 1 misdemeanor. SB46 would continue to provide for Neglect, abandonment, and mistreatment of an animal to be charged as a Class 1 Misdemeanor.

•

Create a felony penalty for “intentional, willful, and malicious” acts of cruelty toward animals. (Section 4). There is a difference between acts of malicious cruelty and acts of neglect or mistreatment. SB46 provides definitions that clearly differentiate these acts.

•

Resolve a disparity between “dog fighting,” which is currently a felony, and “animal fighting,” which currently has no penalty assigned for instigating the fight. (Sections 8 through 12). These are combined into one section, “animal fighting” (Section 10).

This bill does not change the authority of the Animal Industry Board in their purview of all livestock issues.

Provisions of current law will remain, authorizing the Animal Industry Board to administer and enforce provisions of 40-1 for cattle, horses, sheep, swine, and other livestock.

Local humane societies, operating by the authority of the local County Commissioners, will continue their

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See TOP ISSUES Page 13

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Union Farmer Getting to know Board Member: Terry Sestak As a grassroots farm/ranch organization, Farmers Union relies heavily on our board members for guidance and insight. So you can get to know this team of leaders, each issue of Union Farmer we will be featuring one of our board members.

Visit www.NFU.org for more information

Most winter days when Wilmot farmer, Jason Frerichs pulls into a cornstalk field to feed his herd, he will see 20 or more pheasants gleaning leftovers.

“It gives me a great feeling to know that through my land practices as a crop and cattle farmer I’m able to help wildlife,” says Frerichs, who also serves as a Senator from District 1 and is the state Senate’s Democratic Leader.

After recent declines in South Dakota’s pheasant population, Frerichs is one of 13 South Dakotans called upon by Governor Daugaard to form the Pheasant Task Force. The task force is focused on developing a plan, and discussing the implementation of landowner incentives, that will help increase pheasant numbers.

“Land is a hot commodity in South Dakota, whether its cropland or pasture. I am a firm believer that the days of having large tracks of land enrolled in CRP are behind us,” Frerichs says. “My goal is to encourage a creative approach to increase habitat, and yet still allow for a working lands approach.”

Frerichs explains that practices like incentivizing farmers to leave buffer strips (leaving rows of unharvested crops in the field) next to creeks and waterways to provide food, nesting and winter cover for birds; is one way the land can be used to serve agriculture as well as habitat development.

Suggestions which come out of the Pheasant Task Force will play a valuable role in South Dakota’s economy, says SDFU President, Doug Sombke.

“Our state relies heavily on two industries – agriculture and tourism – and pheasant hunting is one of the biggest tourism attractions,” Sombke says.

He adds that although thousands of CRP acres throughout the state have been converted to cropland in recent years; habitat loss is not the only reason for recent declines.

“Weather has not been favorable for pheasants; from spring flooding which drowned out many nests to severe ice and snow storms,” says Sombke, who runs a hunting lodge on his Conde farm.

Both Sombke and Frerichs encourage SDFU members to contact members of the Pheasant Task Force that they know and encourage a balanced approach to increasing habitat and pheasant populations throughout South Dakota. The following are state employees or elected officials who serve on the Pheasant Task Force and their e-mail addresses: Jeff Vonk, Jeff.Vonk@state.sd.us; Tony Leif, Tony.

Leif@state.sd.us; Lucas Lentsch, Lucas.Lentsch@ state.sd.us; John Cooper, jcoop11@aol.com; Barry Dunn, Barry.Dunn@sdstate.edu; Mary Duvall, Rep.Duvall@state.sd.us and Jason Frerichs, Sen. Frerichs@state.sd.us. ■

Union Farmer

www.sdfu.org

Q: Tell us about your farming operation?

A: My wife, Eileen, and I raise corn, beans and alfalfa on our farm near Tabor. We also finish feeder cattle.

I’m a fourth-generation farmer. I got my start when a farm near my parents’ place came up for sale in 1980. Prior to that, I’d spent four years working as a mechanic in Sioux Falls and saving up money until the opportunity presented itself.

Before we got into finishing cattle I worked in Yankton as a mechanic and farmed fulltime with my brother, Tom. After Tom passed away, I needed to come back to the farm fulltime.

It’s been a good career for Terry Sestak, District 1 me. I enjoy working outside and making my own business decisions. The farm has also been a nice place to raise a family – Eileen and I have three grown children and three grandchildren.

Q: What are some challenges you’ve faced and how were you able to overcome them?

A: Like most farmers, the biggest challenge is dealing with fluctuating input and commodity prices. Markets are completely out of my control.

However, this challenge also provides a lot of opportunity. Because I do all my own marketing, I’ve learned to look at historical prices and consider all the factors that impact prices when I develop my marketing plan.

From the beginning, it was our goal to pay off our land and make improvements to the farm. We have been able to overcome any financial challenges we’ve faced over the years because my wife and I have always been on the same page. This is very important because we both had to be willing to make sacrifices in order to reach our goals.

Q: You’re in your late 50s, what’s next?

A: Although we are not ready to retire, we will dis-

cuss a transition plan off and on with our children.

Our sons come home and help us on the farm on the weekends – but I think it’s important to have a career off the farm and work for someone else before striking out on your own.

Q: Tell us about your involvement in Farmers Union?

A: We have been members of Farmers Union since we moved to the farm. We like the fact that the organization helps farm and ranch families as well as rural communities succeed. I appreciate the fact that Farmers Union works to have policies in place to help protect the land, the people who live and work on the land and their rural communities.

Q: What have you learned as a board member?

A: Throughout the six years that I’ve served on the board I’ve realized that as an individual I can make a difference, however as a group we can make even more of a difference.

I have been impressed by the respect that Farmers Union has among policy makers and the fact that they ask us for input and guidance, whether it is local, state or all the way to our Nation’s Capital.

For example, there have been many times when representatives from our local watershed district have come to our Farmers Union board members and asked us for input on how they should put watershed districts together.

Q: Any current policy issues you have been watching closely?

A: Of course we need to get a new farm bill in place. And, maintaining the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The RFS is very important, not only to farmers, but also to our national energy security. I have never seen an air craft carrier defend an ethanol plant! ■

EXCITING MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS! • • • •

8

Pheasant Summit Task Force: Developing Solutions for Balanced Land Use

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Feb. 2014

Union Farmer South Dakota Produces more Sunflowers Than Any Other State in the Nation BROOKINGS, S.D. - In 2013 South Dakotans planted 617,000 acres of sunflowers. No other state came close to this number of acres. North Dakota was second, planting just under 500,000 acres of sunflowers in 2013. Sunflowers have been a successful and profitable crop for many South Dakota farmers.

“In 2011 gross sales or receipts for sunflowers in the state totaled $192,000,000,” said Ruth Beck, SDSU Extension Agronomy Field Specialist.

There are two types of sunflowers planted in South Dakota, Beck explained; oilseed types used for birdseed or crushed to make sunflower oil and confection types or those grown for human food markets.

She added that seeds of the two types are easily differentiated. The oilseed type has small black seed and a thin hull or shell that adheres to the kernel. The confection or nonoil seed types have a thicker, larger, hull and a larger seed that is easily separated from the hull. The shells are usually a lighter shade and have some white striping. Typically the confection plants produce seed that has lower oil percentage and test weight.

“Oilseed types are the most popular in South Dakota, being grown on about 86 percent of acres in 2013. They average around 42 percent oil content and are marketed into the oil and the birdseed markets,” Beck said.

Sunflower variety results available on iGrow.org As with any crop, variety selection is a very important part of production.

“Sunflower varieties are hybrids and are therefore purchased each year from commercial seed companies,” she said.

When selecting hybrids, Beck encouraged selection to reflect desirable yields; high oil percentage for oil types, proper maturity, proper seed size for confection types, insect tolerance, and disease resistance. Standability and head position after flowering are also selection criteria.

Sunflower varieties are tested annually in South Dakota by SDSU. Results are posted at the following web address; http://igrow.org/agronomy/ other-crops/sunflower-and-flax-variety-trial-results/.%20 Although sunflowers are classified as intermediate in water use efficiency - yield per inch of water, Beck explained that they are often considered drought tolerant because they have a deep tap root.

“This allows them to extract water from deep in the soil profile and also enables them to use nitrogen and other nutrients that leach below the root zone of shallow-rooted crops,” she said.

Because of this, she added that careful consideration should be given to the type of crop that follows sunflowers, in part, because their ability to scavenge water and nutrients can affect following crops.

Sunflowers are produced primarily in the central and western region of South Dakota under no till crop production systems. No till systems rely heavily on diverse crop rotations, Beck explained.

“Sunflowers should be planted in a diverse rotation in order to minimize issues with disease, weeds and insects. Since sunflowers are native to this area, risks from diseases are magnified by short sequencing of sunflowers in a crop rotation,” she said.

Sunflowers are commonly planted in rows that range from 20 to 36-inches using corn planters. However, they are sometimes seeded in narrower rows using a small grain drill or air seeder.

At the present time, Beck said this seeding method is less than ideal because both depth control and seed singulation capabilities of these seeders is not as good as with row-crop planters.

“Sunflowers are very sensitive to variation in plant spacing and planting depth uniformity. There is no advantage to going narrower than 15-inch spacing,” she said.

She explained further that if the producer was using a population of 27,000 plants/acre, 30 inch rows would place a seed every 7.5 inches; 20-inch rows have a seed spacing of 11.6 inches; 15-inch rows give seed spacing of 15.5 inches. Planting in 10 inch rows gives a seed spacing of over 23 inches within the row. Plant population of 22,000 to 27,000 plants/acre are common for oilseed types. Confection sunflowers are planted at lower plant populations than oilseed sunflowers as they need to attain large seed size.

It is a common IPM practice in South Dakota to plant sunflowers in mid to late June. Beck said this can reduce insect and weed pressure and spread work load for farmers. It may also improve stand uniformity.

“Oil is the last thing that a sunflower plant produces, therefore, late planted fields are dependent on moisture late in the season to improve their oil content,” she said.

For more information on production practices visit the National Sunflower Association website at http://www.sunflowernsa.com/growers/ or http://www.ksre.ksu. edu/bookstore/pubs/ MF2384.pdf.■

DuWayne Bosse: continued from page 3

Today they farm about 4000 acres and raise corn and soybeans. The men have recently begun to implement no-till farming practices and have long-range plans to install controlled tiling.

“We’re headed in the right direction, but as with a lot of things, like no-till, you can’t just flip a switch and get the results you want right away – “We’re headed in the right direction, you need to have patience,” Bosse says. but as with a lot of things, like no-till, Patience is key to Bosse’s philosophy on developing a solid marketing plan. you can’t just flip a switch and get the “I always recommend having a game plan in results you want right away place based on what you think the markets will do – you need to have patience.” the next six to 12 months. Then, don’t worry about the day-to-day changes, be patient let the market come to you,” he says.

Bolt Marketing, LLC recently began offering crop insurance to their customers. And, as their business has continued to grow, Bosse and Mills are in the process of building an office on their farm.

“Farmers appreciate that we also farm, so they can ask us what we are doing on our farm and know that we are looking out for their best interests,” Bosse said.

To learn more about Bolt Marketing LLC visit, www.boltmarketingllc.com. ■

www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer

To donate online go to: www.sdfu.org or mail to: SD Farmers Union, PO Box 1388, Huron SD 57350

Feb. 2014

9

Union Farmer

SDFU Members attend 2014 Legislative Day

continued from page 1

policy. Three years ago he was among a group of Harding County landowners who were involved in oil and gas legislation.

“SDFU came to us and said that because we are Farmers Union members they are available to help represent us in Pierre. Today Farmers Union is taking the lead. We give them input, but they write the bills for us. Their support has been invaluable,” Slaba said.

Slaba adds that like all agriculture producers, his daily focus is on his land and livestock, so being a part of Farmers Union allows him to spend his time at home, because he knows that his interests are being represented in Pierre.

“Although we’re all educated, we’re lay people. When it comes to doing things in Pierre, it’s been nice to have the support of Farmers Union,” Slaba said.

Slaba’s interest in the state legislature has grown over the years and this June, he will be on the ballot for an open House seat in South Dakota District 28B. Throughout Sec. Lentsch’s talk he graciously thanked current legislators who sacrifice time with their families and occupations to serve South Dakota’s interests.

“Anyone here who holds a public office, you’re putting yourself out there, and that takes a toll on your family – thank you,” Lentsch said.

Lentsch went on to encourage all Farmers Union members, whether they hold office or not, to share their story with others.

“I’m just one guy talking about agriculture. What are you doing? We all have a stake in this.

We live in a state where agriculture is our main economic engine,” Lentsch said.

He went on to visit with the group about growing challenges and opportunities within South Dakota’s agriculture industry. Listing the devastation Winter Storm Atlas brought to western South Dakota as a disaster that will take generations to recover from.

“Generations of investment were lost due to a storm,” Lentsch said. “There is a farm bill in Congress right now with a livestock indemnity which could help.”

Lentsch added that through the storm’s devastation, the generosity of South Dakotans was never more prominent.

“You can’t place a value on community,” he said. “The generosity of neighbor helping neighbor was incredible.”

Joining Farmers Union was a group of students from Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown. Their instructor, Brian Olson thought the experience would be a good one for students pursuing agriculture careers.

“This was a great opportunity to learn about the basic functions of how state government works,” Olson said.

Students, Tara Parmely and Chris Schanzenbach agreed.

“I had not been to the Above photo: (R) Senator Shantel Krebs visits Capitol before, so it was a great with (L) Tara Parmely, Lake Area Technical Institure student. learning experience for me to see how everything works and the impact the decisions made in Pierre have on our day-today lives,” said Parmely, an ag (L to R) Back: Wayne Soren, SDFU Vice President; Clate Steven, student; Brian Olson, LATI instructor; Caleb Clark, student; Alex Boekelheide, student; Front: Governor Dennis business student from a farm Daugaard; Tara Parmely, student; Shelby Syverson, student; Kacy Lewis, student; Chris near Miller who eventually Schanzenbach, student; Austin Page, student. hopes to become an agronomist.

Schanzenbach echoed Parmely’s comments and added. “As someone who hopes to return to my family’s farm someday, I could relate to the Farmers Union members and enjoyed sitting and visiting with legislators during lunch. I was impressed to discover that many legislators come from farms and ranches throughout the state.”

The event is held annually by Farmers Union (SDFU) for its members to share their voice at the Capitol in Pierre.■

Collegiate Students at SDFU Legislative Day

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Feb. 2014

Union Farmer

www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer South Dakota Farmers Union 2013 Outstanding Legislative Leader Award Each year SDFU selects one member of the House and one member of the Senate to recognize their leadership from the previous session. The award recipients are determined by SDFU leadership and the legislator’s voting record reflected in the annual SDFU legislative scorecard published in the April edition of the Union Farmer.

In recognition of outstanding support and dedication to family farm agriculture, the 2014 recipients were Representative Dennis Feikert (left) and Senator Larry Rhoden (right). â–

www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer

Feb. 2014

11

Union Farmer Education News

By Bonnie Geyer Education Director

Even though it seems a long way off, spring will be here soon and we are excited for all that brings for your Education Department. We are busy making plans and are really looking forward to all the activities on the agenda.

Congratulations goes out to our 2014 Scholarship recipients: Jackie Dethlefsen of Stickney, daughter of Clyde and Cheryl Dethlefsen; Alyson Hauck of De Smet, daughter of Jason and Bobbi Hauck and Dasia Tolsma of Stickney, daughter of Shannon and Paula Tolsma.

There were a number of qualified applicants and the decision was difficult. Thanks to all those that applied.

I will be taking a group of students to Minneapolis for the College Conference on Cooperatives, Feb. 13-16. This regional conference is funded by the CHS Foundation and gives individuals the opportunity to come together with students from other states to experience firsthand the many different types of cooperatives. They discover what opportunities await them in the cooperative world, whether it is as a potential employee of a cooperative or as a patron of a local cooperative in their communities or both. We appreciate the support of the CHS Foundation and look forward to future participation in projects such as this conference.

I hope that many of you are considering joining us for the National Convention in Santa Fe, NM, March 8-11. Our 2013 Torchbearers will represent South Dakota at the NFU Convention. I look forward to them having this opportunity to experience policy debate on the National level as well as meeting many other Farmers Union members from all over the United States. It is going to be lots of fun, so please join us. You don’t want to miss it!

I want to again remind everyone of the opportunity for individuals interested in a great summer job. People in these positions will travel across the state assisting with our youth camping program.

Applicants must be 19 years of age or older and have completed at least one year of college or have been employed over the last year. This position is ideal for someone who loves to work with people of all ages and wants to have a very fun and rewarding summer. Please give me a call at 1-888734-8136, Ext. 125 for further information and/or an application. Positions will be filled as qualified candidates are found so please apply today.

Education leaders please note that it is time to think about your camp date. Camp dates are set to make time, travel and economic sense but if you have a preference we will do our best to honor those on a first come, first serve basis. Give us a call now!

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Feb. 2014

Youth Learn Legislative Process during 3-Day Trip to Pierre

When you’re 14 years old politics can be confusing. After the Farmers Union Two Year Legislative Award Trip Jan. 21-23 South Dakota’s Legislature is not so foreign for the 14 teens who earned their way.

“I’ve toured the state Capitol before, but this is the first trip where I actually learned how the Senate and Legislature work,” says Tess Heidenreich, 15, who lives on a farm near Faulkton with her family who raise Limousin Cattle.

Like many youth who become involved in Farmers Union Youth Programs, Heidenreich was introduced through district summer camps when she was 11. She became more involved Participants included: Front Row (left to right): Sarah Beals, Huron; because she enjoyed the programming Jessica Backes, Platte; Tess Heidenreich, Faulkton; Maddie Kline, Huand valued the friends she has made ron; Abbey Tschetter, Huron; Haley Bialas, Dimock; Braeden Walton, from across the state.

Mitchell; Reece Schulte, Orient. Back Row (left to right): Wayne Soren, SD Farmers Union Vice President, Lake Preston; Chase VanGorp, “It gives us an extra connection Stickney; Sam Schumacher, Stickney; Cole VanGorp, Stickney; Shaun – the fact that most of us come from Snedeker, Woonsocket; Jordyn Temple, Clark; Lizzy Ulmer, Hosmer and farms or ranches – we can talk farming. Which, even though I come from Bonnie Geyer, SDFU State Education Director, Huron. a small town, not a lot of kids in my class are from farms; so it’s nice to talk to friends who understand it,” Heidenreich says.

Along with teaching youth about how their state’s government works, the Legislative Youth Trip is designed as one of four reward trips youth can earn throughout their high school years, explains Bonnie Geyer, SDFU State Education Director.

“Within the youth program there are five levels of achievement. Students earn their way to each level through community service projects, essays, and participation in Farmers Union events,” Geyer says.

The reward trips coincide with the Farmers Union mission and triangle – Cooperation, Legislation and Education. Their first year youth can attend State Leadership Camp at half price, the second year is the Pierre Legislative trip, the third year is a trip to Minneapolis to learn about Cooperatives, fourth year students can earn a trip to the National Farmers Union Camp in Colorado.

The fifth year is their Torchbearer award, the highest honor bestowed upon youth in Farmers Union, then they earn a trip to the National Farmers Union Convention.

“These trips offer incentive as well as valuable opportunities for students,” Geyer says.

Haley Bialas, 14 and Reece Schulte, 16 would agree. Both teens got involved in Farmers Union Youth Programs through their District Summer Camp and have eagerly increased their participation.

“Farmers Union has given me so many (Left to Right): Haley Bialas, Dimock; Reece Schulte, Orient; opportunities to learn and meet some amazBonnie Geyer, SDFU State Education Director, Huron; Tess ing people,” says Bialas, who lives on a Heidenreich, Faulkton. farm near Dimock.

Schulte, who lives on a family farm near Orient adds. “My involvement in Farmers Union and the leadership skills I’ve gained from the Youth Programs has helped me in other leadership organizations like 4-H and FFA.” The group joined Farmers Union members in the annual Farmers Union Legislative Day activities as well as met with SD Secretary of Agriculture Lucas Lentsch, attended committee hearings, observed floor action in both the House and Senate and met with lobbyists, pages and interns. The group also visited the National Guard Museum, the World War II, Vietnam and Fighting Stallions Memorials, the Discovery Center and toured the Capitol.

To learn more about Farmers Union Youth Programs, contact Geyer at (605) 352-6761 ext. 125.■

Union Farmer

www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer Women in Blue Jeans 2014 Conference Recap

Women from across South Dakota came together for a refreshing time of networking, workshops and learning more about the role of women in South Dakota’s agriculture industry during the Women in Blue Jeans event Jan. 16-17 in Mitchell.

Farmers Union covered the registration fee for the first 30 members who signed up.

Top Legislative Issues continued from page 7

roles to prevent neglect, abandonment, mistreatment or cruelty to dogs, cats, and other household pets. The activities of local humane societies that are currently in place will continue to be limited to species other than cattle, horses, sheep, swine, and other livestock.

The provisions of the bill do not apply to: • • • • • • • • • •

animals under the direct and proper care of a licensed veterinarian persons engaged in standard and accepted agricultural pursuits or animal husbandry practices any usual and customary practice in the production of food, feed, or fiber, including all aspects of the livestock industry; in the boarding, breeding, competition, exhibition, feeding, raising, service work, showing, training, transportation, and use of animals; In the harvesting of animals for food or byproducts; humane killing of an animal; lawful hunting, trapping, fishing, or other activity authorized by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks; Farmers Union members get lawful pest, vermin, predator, and animal damage control, including the disposition of wild animals; reasonable action taken by a person for the destruction or control of an animal known to be dangerous, a threat, or injurious to life, limb, or property; and actions taken by personnel or agents of the board, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Game, Fish and Parks, or the United States Department

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4. Wheat Commission SDFU has worked with legislators on introducing House Bill 1195, a bill that would provide for the election of the Wheat Commissioners. Currently the commissioners are nominated for consideration and appointed by the Governor.

HB 1195 would allow the commission to create five districts from which the five commissioners would be elected every three years. The commissioners would not be able to serve more than four terms, which is the same as current law. The elections would take place in the same manner as the Corn Utilization Council.

Representative Feikert is the prime sponsor of the bill on the House and Senator Frerichs the prime sponsor on the Senate.

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Be sure to contact your legislators and encourage their support of HB 1195.■

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Union Farmer

Feb. 2014

13

Union Farmer

Importance of State Rail Plan to Local Cooperatives & Farmers

In November, the South Dakota Department of Transportation held its first public meetings to discuss the State Rail Plan. The current plan was last updated in 1997.

Throughout South Dakota, rail plays an important role in the infrastructure of our state’s agriculture industry. Local cooperatives are one of many segments greatly impacted by a new rail plan and because of Farmers Union’s support of cooperatives we wanted to learn more about their take on the plan’s development. To do this, we visited with Roger Krueger, Senior Vice President of Grain for South Dakota Wheat Growers and Chad Dylla, General Manager of Prairie Ag Partners, Lake Preston.

Why should Farmers Union members pay attention to the development of a new rail plan?

Dylla answers: This rail plan directly impacts the agriculture industry in South Dakota. As a cooperative, the price we can pay our producers for their grain is directly connected to our market access. And, our market access is directly connected to our rail access.

Krueger answers: Bottom line, this rail plan is important because our farmers and the cooperatives that serve them need a functioning and efficient rail system.

Because our industry transports a relatively dense, bulk commodity – efficiency of transport is paramount. In South Dakota, rail is the most efficient mode of transport.

Because South Dakota is a great distance from population centers, the bulk of our production has to be transported great distances to reach markets. Whether its domestic markets or export markets - which means, our commodities need to reach the coasts of the U.S. and be transported State Rail Plan overseas.

Advisory Committee Rail is also how local cooperatives like us source most of the agronomic inputs we provide to farmers and ranchers.

Carey Bretsch, Civil Design, Inc., Brookings

Jeff Burkett, AMCOL International, Spearfish

What would you like to see come out of this rail plan?

Jerry Cope, Dakota Mill & Grain, Rapid City

Dylla answers: Bottom line, we need more dependable service. It seems that currently the rail lines do not have enough man power and equipment to satisfy the needs of industry. Dependable service has always been a problem, but it seems that it has gotten worse in recent years.

Gary Doering, RRA/SD RR Board, Cavour Matt Konenkamp, Governor’s Office, Pierre Luke Kraft, Truss Pro Inc, Britton

What is the focus of this rail plan?

Toby Morris, Northland Securities, Pierre

Krueger answers: This plan will help direct where the state needs to make investments in rail infrastructure. What I think is an important message to get out is the fact that anywhere in the state investment in rail infrastructure is made – even if it’s on the far opposite corner of the state from where you and your local co-op are located – any investment in rail infrastructure helps all of South Dakota agriculture.

Whether its investment from the state or federal government or partnerships with private stakeholders.

Dave Omdahl, SD Senator of District 11, Sioux Falls Brad Remmich, SD DOT, Pierre Lisa Richardson, SD Corn Growers Assn., Sioux Falls James Schaefer, Representative of District 26B, Kennebec Ralph Schmidt, Sisseton Milbank Railway, Milbank Sarod Dhuru, BNSF South Dakota

Are there any concerns that you see at this time?

Dylla answers: My biggest concern is the fact that Canadian Pacific was recently purchased

by Genesee and Wyoming Inc., and we haven’t worked with them in the past, so I’m hoping that they put South Dakota’s agriculture transportation interests top of mind when they make infrastructure decisions.

George Jeager, Tyndall

Krueger answers: Like any plan, details are key. At this point there have not been many details released.

However, I am confident that the members of the committee and the state recognize the importance of rail to the state’s agriculture industry and economy and will keep agriculture’s best interests in the forefront of their plans.

With this in mind, I encourage Farmers Union members to share their comments or concerns with Bruce Lindholm, S.D. D.O.T. Air, Rail & Transit, Program Manager at, by contacting him Bruce.Lindhold@state.sd.us.

To learn more, visit www.sddot.com.■

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Feb. 2014

Union Farmer

www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer NFU Policy Review Process Begins

NFU commenced its grassroots policy revision process last week with the 2014 policy committee in Washington, D.C. This year’s committee is comprised of Tim Velde (chairman) of Minnesota, Tom Coudron of Missouri, William Downs of Montana, Vern Jantzen of Nebraska, Joel Keierleber of South Dakota, Kim Klose of North Dakota, Aaron Heley Lehman of Iowa, Harvey Schroeder of Oklahoma, and Tom Wingfield of Rocky Mountain. The committee members are all outstanding leaders in their state/regional Farmers Union organizations and were nominated by their respective state’s president to serve on the committee.

“NFU is proud of its grassroots process for policy formation, and the policy committee is vital to carrying out that tradition,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “The committee is tasked with reviewing our current policies and offering changes and additions for the delegates to vote on at our upcoming convention. This policy is what we will advocate for during the course of the next year.”

The committee heard from Brian Baenig, chief of staff, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); Sarah Bittleman, senior agricultural counselor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and Doug McKalip, senior policy advisor for rural affairs, White House Domestic Policy Council, to ensure they have a broad working knowledge of current legislative and regulatory issues as they revise NFU’s organizational policy.

Last week’s meetings were the first part of a two-step process. The second part of the process will take place in March during NFU’s convention. During the convention, any Farmers Union member may propose changes to the policy. The committee then considers those proposals and submits a final copy of the suggested policy to the state delegates at the convention for consideration and adoption. NFU’s 112th Anniversary Convention will take place on March 8 -11, in Santa Fe, N.M. Visit www.nfu.org/convention for more details.■

Senators Support Farm Bill continued from page 1

storm which decimated western South Dakota livestock herds. Additional livestock programs include a continuation of the Livestock Forage Program that compensates producers for grazing losses from drought or fire and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a financial and technical assistance program to assist in the implementation of conservation practices to producers. Sixty percent of all EQIP funding has been dedicated to producers in livestock production.

Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) is yet another protection the farm bill provides to U.S. livestock producers as well as consumers. Ensuring COOL was a part of the 2014 Farm Bill was a top priority for South Dakota Farmers Union.

“Even though no one got everything they wanted from this long drawn out process, this is a positive bill for South Dakota’s farmers, ranchers and consumers,” Sombke said. “SDFU has long advocated for COOL. The farm bill protects COOL and allows the USDA to continue implementation of the current law.”

Other SDFU priorities included in the bill include; fixed reference prices to provide assistance to famers only when truly necessary, a strong crop insurance title that is tied to conservation, and mandatory funding for renewable energy programs.■

NEWS, EVENTS & MORE ONLINE NOW!

WWW.SDFU.ORG

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Union Farmer

South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation Awards Three Scholarships for 2014 Three South Dakota high school seniors will share $1,500 in scholarships awarded by the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation. The 2014 scholarship recipients include: Jackie Dethlefsen, Stickney; Alyson Hauck, De Smet; and Dasia Tolsma, Stickney.

Jackie Dethlefsen has been awarded the $500 Farmers Union Foundation Memorial Scholarship.

Jackie is the daughter of Clyde and Cheryl Dethlefsen from Stickney and a senior at Stickney High School.

She plans to pursue a degree in occupational therapy at University of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls.

The Memorial Scholarship is presented on behalf of the families of the late Emil Loriks, Les Saboe and other Farmers Union members who have donated to the scholarship fund.

Alyson Hauck is the recipient of the $500 Farmers Union Foundation Cooperative Scholarship. The daughter of Jason and Bobbi Hauck from De Smet, Alyson is a senior at De Smet High School. She plans to attend the University of South Dakota. The Cooperative Scholarship is awarded on behalf of Ben and the late Dorothy Radcliffe and the families of the late Clifford Ott, Richard Pastian and Adam Seidel.

Dasia Tolsma will receive the $500 Farmers Union Foundation Leadership Scholarship. She is the daughter of Shannon and Paula Tolsma and is a senior at Stickney High School.

Dasia plans to attend Mitchell Technical Institute. The Leadership Scholarship is presented on behalf of the family of the late Frank Butler.

Farmers Union Foundation scholarships have been awarded annually since 1961. Recipients are selected on the basis of organizational and community involvement, academic achievement, leadership activities and financial need.■

The Rural Lobbyist Get South Dakota Farmers Union’s Legislative update sent right to your inbox each week during the session and bi-weekly throughout the year. Stay informed, get insight into bills that matter to you and your operation and be an informed voter.

Go online now and sign up. Look for the “Sign up to receive updates” box It’s easy and best of all its FREE!

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Union Farmer

Inside Scoop on Farmers Union January 2014 REAL Workshop

Farmers Union Rural Economic and Leadership Development Program (REAL) recently completed its second workshop in Pierre on Jan. 21.

This adult leadership program is open to Farmers Union members across South Dakota with the purpose of improving leadership and communication skills.

“Whether you are interested in serving as a board member, thinking about participating in local or state politics or taking the next step personally or professionally, REAL is designed to help individuals advance their leadership and communication skills,” explains Rural Development Director, Erin Wilcox.

Throughout the year, REAL hosts three two-day sessions. Each with a unique focus, the sessions are packed with top notch presenters and industry experts covering topics ranging from identifying your personal strengths and how to best implement those strengths when working with others to understanding policy development and how to effectively communicate with the media.

“Each session is carefully developed to help participants grow personally and professionally; improve their leadership and communication skills as well as become more involved in their communities,” Wilcox says. “We also see REAL as an opportunity for small businesses in rural communities, who may not have the resources to provide leadership and business development training to their employees.”

REAL is limited to 20 class members. If you are interested in being a part of the 2014-2015 class, contact Wilcox at ewilcox@sdfu.org or call her, 605-3526761 ext. 118.■

Speaker Hightlight: Manipulating the Media During the Jan. REAL session John Beranek, consultant with Intersections Consulting, shared strategies and tips on how to work with media to effectively get your organization’s message out.

Beranek pulled from personal experiences he has gained through years of working with the media and developing the award winning Don’t Tell My Parents PR campaign. Don’t Tell My Parents is a non-profit which provides guidance to parents on how to open up lines of communication with their teen children.

“This is my opportunity to share with others what works when it comes to ‘manipulating’ the media in order that they promote the message you want them to,” he says.

Read on to learn some of Beranek’s go-to media tips: Where to start? Beranek says key to getting your message out effectively is first, know WHO you need to talk to. He says if an event is on a weekend, and you want it to be covered you need to contact the weekend assignment editor. “Editors are busy people.

Just because the weekday editor says they will cover the event, doesn’t mean they remembered to pass this information along to the weekend assignment editor.”

Follow up: Once a news release has been sent out, follow up with a phone call to ensure that the editor has received the release. “I use this phone call to reiterate talking points over the phone. Again, these are busy people, so keep your message short and to the point.”

Shaping the story: Reporters may not know what questions to ask to best get your message out; instead of leaving things to chance, Beranek encourages you to have a half sheet of talking points available to give to TV, radio or newspaper reporters who interview you or show up to cover you event.

Ensure that the following information is on the informational sheet: your contact information in case they have questions, the name of your event as well as a website to learn more about your organization.

“In the case of TV reporters, I always hand this half page of information to the reporter and the person running the camera. I always say that it is very important to make friends with the person running the camera because they have a lot more pull than you think.”

Prepare a visual: Although Beranek says not to tell the media what to shoot for a visual, it is always helpful to have a few visual options available to suggest to them.

To drive the importance of a good visual home, Beranek recalled the time President Bush spoke in front of the ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner.

“A visual statement is powerful – it can be as simple as wearing a Farmers Union button or shirt when you’re visiting with the press to speaking with a banner behind you.”

Sound Bites/Interview Tips: When it comes to visiting with the media Beranek says to be prepared to provide all the information you need to within 2 to 4 minutes or one or two sound bites.

If you’re giving a radio interview, he suggests preparing by listening in to a few previous shows so you can find a topic mentioned earlier in the week to reference in your interview. He also says if you want more radio time, be willing to take questions from listeners.

Be a resource: Based on his experience, Beranek says that if you provide media with a good interview – one that is short and to the point - the media will want to contact you again. When inviting media to attend events, he says to be considerate of their time.

“Often I ask them to arrive an hour and a half into an event. That way the attendees are comfortable, engaged and more likely to be comfortable giving comments to the media.

Another tip he gives is finding ways to connect your organization or cause to what is going on nationally.

“You have to realize that the local reporters are trying to connect with a national story. So if you are able to site a national story and connect it to your organization, you can become the local resource.” ■

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Jr. REAL

February 2014 begins the sixth year of Jr. REAL. Speakers for the 2014 Jr. REAL will be Holly Hoffman as keynote; Malcom Chapman on Leadership; John Beranek on Community Service and Erin Wilcox for Credit and Identity issues. Jr. REAL will be in schools across South Dakota on the following dates: Feb. 19

Kadoka and Wall High Schools in Kadoka

Mar. 31

Flandreau and Coleman-Egan High Schools in Flandreau

April 2

Howard High School in Howard

April 9

Beresford High School in Beresford

April 30

Faith High School in Faith

Union Farmer

www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer

Speaker Highlight: Dollars & Sense of the State Budget

Want to make your tax dollars work for you? You can! Take some ownership over your tax dollars through a clear understanding of how the state’s budget works and ways to effectively communicate with your legislature in regards to tax legislation, explained Joy Smolnisky, during her talk to REAL class members.

As Executive Director of the nonprofit South Dakota Budget and Policy Institute, Smolnisky spends her days promoting responsible and equitable fiscal policy through research and education. It’s her job to understand how South Dakotans’ tax dollars are spent and the legislation that impacts the spending.

If you’ve ever grumbled over paying taxes, you’re not alone. However, if you want to do more than grumble, if you want to impact state spending and budgets, Smolnisky says you first need to understand the process.

“Instead of saying, ‘I don’t like government,’ remember, government is us. If you want to change state spending you can. We have the opportunity to understand how it works and in South Dakota, we have the opportunity to raise our voice and say as individuals that this particular tax structure doesn’t match our value and benefit structure and then be able to site the facts that support how you reached that decision.’”

Budget 101 When explaining how the state budget works, Smolnisky says there is no easy way. Her best try is to compare it to a household budget.

“It is similar to our household budget in the fact that you can’t spend more than you make,” she says. “However, unlike your household budget, the legislature has taxing authority, so if there is a priority or public need that exceeds the budget, the legislature can increase revenue by changing the tax structure.”

She adds that because of the fact that the legislature is made up of citizen legislators, we all can impact their decisions in regards to taxation by providing the legislators with fact-based input.

“Our legislators are not professional legislators. They are citizen legislators. As such they are professionals in other areas of expertise, but not necessarily the 500 bills they have to look at each session. Therefore, on issues that matter to you, you may understand the issue or consequences much better than your legislator.

They need your insight.”

She says the best way to provide insight is with respect and information.

“Bring information with your passion,” she says. “Be able to base what you feel passionate about on verifiable facts; but don’t forget that antidotal experience is also very powerful.”

Take Ownership When it comes to budgetary discussions, there are always two sides to the coin, Smolnisky explains. She encourages Farmers Union members to take ownership of how their tax dollars are spent and take the time to understand how to effectively communicate to the State Legislature how we want the dollars spent.

“If you feel uncomfortable with the tax structure or revenue tool, you have a responsibility to speak out.”

To speak up effectively she says we first must understand the language and timing of the process. A great way to become familiar with this process is to review the Budget Primer at http://bit.ly/1ft4BAS or contact Smolnisky directly at www.sdbpi.org, she is eager to share her message with groups throughout the state.

“South Dakotans can make great decisions, but they need the information first,” she says.■

What Participants have to Say

Stephanie Ford

During the second session of REAL Jan. 20 – 21, class members met in Pierre for two days of exceptional schedule of speakers including; John Beranek, Joy Smolnisky and Gloria Schaefer. The group also had an opportunity to meet with their legislative representatives, as well as representatives from South Dakota Public Utilities Commission and South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Throughout the sessions, REAL class member, Stephanie Ford says she has gained a stronger understanding of her personal strengths and how she can better communicate with the people she works with as the lab manager at Glacial Lakes Energy, an ethanol plant in Mina, that produces ethanol as well as enhanced, high quality livestock feed.

“REAL has helped me better understand myself and how I can better communicate with other personality traits. As a manager this has been invaluable,” says Ford, who also finds the sessions refreshing. “The speakers are inspirational and their topics have helped me grow immensely.”

Emma Schaunaman echoes Ford’s comments, and adds that as someone who is relatively new to the workforce (she graduated from SDSU Dec. 2012) the training she has received through REAL has helped her grow professionally.

“I use what I learned at REAL every day in my work as a loan officer,” says Schaunaman, who works for First State Bank of North Dakota in LaMoure, N.D. Schaunaman’s family farms near Aberdeen and has been involved in Farmers Union for years. It was her dad who encouraged her to sign up for the REAL program.

“He thought it would be a great opportunity to expand my leadership skills and he was right!”

Emma Schaunaman

www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer

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Union Farmer

International Year of Family Farming In celebration of the United Nations declaring 2014 the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF), NFU has been doing some outreach to promote the year. In January, we focused on family farming and the consumer. The following is an excerpt from our blog. You can find all the posts on IYFF here: http:// www.nfu.org/blog/?cat=21.

When National Farmers Union was founded in 1902, most of the population of the United States had a direct Roger Johnson connection to a farmer, if they NFU President were not involved in farming personally. While those of us presently involved in farming, ranching and other agricultural pursuits hold tight to the connection, the reality is that the average American is several generations removed from the source of their food supply. This fact creates a critical need for all of us to continue to spread the message of the importance of family farming to everyone in America and around the world. Read more at www.NFU.org/blog.

Farm Bill Conference Update Farm bill conferees continue to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill in order to produce a final compromise version that can pass both chambers and be signed into law by the President. A disagreement between House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House

Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., on including a stabilization provision in the new dairy program continues to prevent further progress on the bill.

It is expected that leadership will continue behind-the-scenes negotiations, with the possibility of a final conference report to be completed sometime in the third week of January. If this is the case, the full House and Senate could still consider the conference report in the last week of January.

The possibility of a public conference meeting remains. If held, it will likely include discussions about COOL, House bill language blocking implementation of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule, and the Rep. King amendment limiting states’ ability to regulate food and agriculture standards.

Omnibus budget bill passes, government to stay open through September The Fiscal Year 2014 Appropriations bill, also called the omnibus budget bill, passed on bipartisan votes in both the House and Senate this week. The $1.1 trillion legislation will fund the government for the next nine months, pushing any threats of a government shutdown to October.

Overall Agriculture-Related Spending Agriculture spending was left largely unchanged from previous funding levels. Rural development appropriations received an increase in the bill, but funding for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program was reduced. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which saw

Are You Looking For Work Experience?

Check out NFU’s Internship Program When can a part-time job change your life? When it's a Farmers Union paid internship on Capitol Hill! NFU is now accepting applications. Extended internships up to 5 months are available during the fall/winter/ spring sessions. Summer internships last two to three months with an application deadline of Feb. 18, 2014.

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Union Farmer

its responsibilities greatly increased in recent years, saw a boost in its funding, but not to the level the agency requested.

GIPSA The omnibus, as in recent appropriations bills, includes a policy rider that prevents the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) from finalizing several livestock market fairness rules that were proposed by GIPSA in 2010.

However, the rider in the omnibus does not rescind any poultry regulations currently on the books, unlike previous riders. Thus, the omnibus rider remains problematic, but not as bad as previous bills.

COOL The most objectionable part of the omnibus isn’t even in the legislative language, but is included in the report that accompanies the bill. Two paragraphs on Country-of-Origin labeling (COOL) are part of the commentary, citing the alleged high costs of COOL implementation and demanding the USDA rescind COOL until further study and review can be conducted. This language is not binding, but is a backhanded way to have Congress on record in opposition to COOL. USDA is not obligated to honor the request in the report language - an approach that NFU supports.

There have been plenty of instances in which packers, processors and foreign competitors have shown their desperation to derail COOL. Including anti-COOL report language is just the latest scare tactic.■

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Passings

Farmers Union Footnotes

Bob Wentzlaff, age 84, of Yankton, SD, died on January 11, 2014 at the Avera Yankton Care Center.

Memorial Mass was held on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Bob was born on December 10, 1929 at Nicollet, MN to Henry and Leocadia (Berger) Wentzlaff. He married Marivonne Olsen on February 14, 1950 in Nicollet, MN. Throughout his life, Bob enjoyed several service-oriented jobs including work at Gambles Department Store, produce management at grocery stores in Huron, Vermillion, and Yankton, Insurance work through Farmer’s Union, Senior Companion Care in Yankton, and ownership and management of the Wolsey Café.

Bob is survived by his wife, Marivonne, of Yankton; sons, David (Everlyn) Wentzlaff of Maplewood, MN and Brad (Mary) of Grand Island, NE; daughters, Jane (John) Hohm of Freeman, SD; Sue (Steve) Lowe of Apple Valley, MN and Sr. Maribeth Wentzlaff, OSB of Yankton, SD; in addition to 11 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; surviving siblings include: Eunice Ranweiler, St. Cloud, MN; Virginia Chrystal, Brainerd, MN; Geraldine Leonard, Nicollet, MN; Shirley Peterson, Hudson, WI and sister-in-law, Coralyn Fleeger, of Watertown, SD. David Henry Tollefson, age 62, of Woonsocket, died Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, at the Huron Regional Medical Center.

Memorial services were held Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at Restlawn Memory Gardens.

David Henry Tollefson was born on August 14, 1951, to Herbert and Mary (Peta) Tollefson of Woonsocket. He attended St. Joseph Catholic School and then went to work on the family farm.

He married Dorrie Schaller on June 25, 1977. He was a “watermelon man”, a loyal Mason and a bus driver for 33 years for the Wooonsocket School.

He is survived by his daughter, Allegra (Aaron) Fink; and two grandsons, all of Woonsocket; his father, Herbert (Frieda) Tollefson of Menno; a sister, Rosemary (Ron) VanLaecken of Watertown; and two brothers, Lywellyn (Cindy) of Watertown and John (Michele) of Oshkosh, Wis.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary (Peta) Tollefson.

Lester D. Erdahl, age 83, of Huron, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, at the SunQuest Health Care Center. His funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Allen Sager officiating. Burial will be in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m.

Saturday at the Kuhler Funeral Home, with his family present from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday evening.

Lester Duane Erdahl was born on March 2, 1930, to Ole and Myrtle (Bristor) Erdahl in Doland. He graduated from Doland High School.

On Sept. 5, 1953, he married Beverly Edleman in Huron. He worked for the Potter Shoe Company for 48 years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as a Trustee and Deacon. He was a member of the Huron Masonic Lodge, Jaycees and a past president of the Eye Openers Lions Club.

He received the LCIF Award and the Melvin Jones Fellow Award in 2007, and Lion of the Year in 2010. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He and Bev enjoyed taking bus tours, and were able to visit every state but one.

THANK YOU SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION! Dear SDFU, Thank you for the tickets to the Women in Blue Jeans Conference. We really enjoyed the day and had a great time.

Thanks again, Carol Bruekelman, Carla Plamp, Lila Lacher, Chloe Andenas

Dear Doug Sombke, Thank you, SDFU, for all your support and help in making FFA District Officer Training and the Legislative breakfast possible. I really enjoyed the opportunity to speak with the representatives about FFA and agriculture.

Thank you again, Jennifer Mueller

Dear Doug Sombke, Thank you so much for your sponsorship to the Parliamentary Procedure CDE at the 2013 Fall State FFA Leadership Contest. Your time and dedication is greatly appreciated and it takes people like you to keep this contest going.

Thanks again, Sanborn Central & Harrisburg FFA

Dear Erin, Thank you for the opportunity to join the 2014 REAL Team. It was rewarding experience to share a message with them - South Dakota’s greatest assets.

Sincerely, Gloria Schaefer

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Clip & Save Calendar

February 3

10 11 11-15 12-13 14

13-16 17 17 18 19 19 24 26

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District 1 Co. & Kingsbury Co. Meeting 1:00, Woonsocket Clark County Annual Meeting 4:00, Clark Ag Fest, Pierre Watertown Farm Show, Watertown State Board of Directors Meeting, Huron Brookings, Grant/Deuel, Codington/Hamilton, Clark Co. Officers Meeting 1:00, Watertown College Conf. on Coops, Minneapolis Clark County Cracker Barrel 10:30, Clark State Office Closed, President’s Day District IV Meeting 12:00, Winner Jr. Real, Kadoka & Wall Watertown Sale Barn Coffee w/ SDFU Aberdeen Livestock Coffee w/ SDFU Gregory, Tripp, Todd, Lyman Co. Officer Meeting 1:00, Winner Haakon, Meade, Corson, Perkins, Harding Co. Officers Meeting 1:00, Faith

March 8-12 14 18 21 22 24 24-25 28-29 31

NFU Convention-Sante Fe Lemmon Farm & Home Show Plankinton/Mt. Vernon Jr. Real, Plankinton St. Onge Sale Barn Coffee w/SDFU Washington Pavilion Ag Day, Sioux Falls Faith Sale Barn Coffee w/SDFU REAL Session III, Sioux Falls Little “I”, Brookings Jr. Real, Flandreau

April 2 7 9 21

Jr. Real, Howard FFA Quiz Bowl, Brookings Jr. Real, Beresford State Camp Planning Meeting, Huron

May 5-9 Summer Intern Training, Huron 26 State Office Closed, Memorial Day 27-29 District I & II Camp, Swan Lake

June 8-13 23

State Leadership Camp, Storm Mt., Rapid City Tripp County Camp, Colome

July 4 17 25 27-29

State Office Closed, Independence Day Minnehaha County Camp, Hartford Beadle County Camp, Huron District IV,V,VI Camp, Bob Marshall

Visit the Events section at www.sdfu.org for more details on upcoming events.

The South Dakota Union Farmer is published 10 times per calendar year with issues in January, February, March, April, May/June, July, Aug./ Sept., October, November, and December. All information for publication must be submitted by the 15th of the month. You may submit items by mail to the State Office, P.O. Box 1388, Huron, SD 57350 or email items to: sdfu@sdfu.org

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