Volume XCVII, NO. 1
Huron, SD
Jan. 2014
South Dakota
Union Farmer A PUBLICATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION
Ellingson Member Profile Honored Page 3 Page 14
Leader Insights Pages 8 & 9
Farm Bill Conference Committee Inches toward the Finish Line The farm bill conference committee, tasked with working out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the legislation, has missed its year-end deadline but continues to work toward a final report and floor passage in January. Agriculture Committee leaders and their staff continued to meet on the farm bill until leaving town before the end of the year. Reports from the Hill say that several titles of the farm bill have been negotiated, including conservation programs, credit, research and horticulture. Other parts of the bill that are considered relatively non-controversial will likely be discussed in a similar way. On the other hand, public battles are being fought on more hot-button topics. Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) is the hottest topic in the farm bill in recent weeks. As NFU and allies warned, the study language on COOL in the House Farm Bill is a Trojan horse. Instead of calling for further research into how COOL will comply with World Trade Organization obligations, COOL opponents are using the provision to interject the idea of repealing or weakening the COOL statute. NFU and our allies are fighting back to defend COOL. It is now more important than ever that all Farmers Union members tell their Senators and Representatives why consumers have the right to know about the origins of their food. Negotiations over commodity programs are also a big issue among the farm bill conferees. NFU largely favors the House’s version of the farm safety net, which includes fixed target prices to provide protection from long-term price collapse, although efforts to strike a deal are underway. The level of cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) remains the biggest piece of the puzzle. Once a compromise number is found – between the $4 billion cut in the Senate and the $40 billion in the House – the passage of a final bill becomes plausible and other issues like COOL and commodity programs may be quickly resolved. Because of this uncertain timeline, it’s important for NFU to keep the pressure on to support our farm bill priorities. ■
Be Part of the United Voice for Agriculture during the 2014 Legislative Session Independence, as many self-employed farmers and ranchers will attest, is a cherished benefit to working in production agriculture. However, when it comes to making your voice heard on issues and policy which impact you, there is great benefit to being part of South Dakota Farmers Union during the 2014 Legislative Session. “There is power in numbers,” explains Doug Sombke, SDFU President. “Farmers Union is a well respected lobbying organization in Pierre. It’s our role to advocate for the policy that impacts our membership. We focus on issues that directly impact rural communities, farmers and ranchers throughout our state.” The 2014 Legislative Session is when SDFU takes its policy and voice to Pierre - the policy that members vote on each year during the Farmers Union Annual Meeting. “Our policy is grassroots and founded in our members. I’m here, serving fulltime to represent our members and what SDFU stands for as an organization. I’m part of the Farmers Union team who works to ensure the success and See UNITED VOICE 2014 Page 4