South Dakota Union Farmer - July 2013 by South Dakota Farmers Union

Volume XCVI, NO. 6

Huron, SD

July 2013

South Dakota

Union Farmer A PUBLICATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION Golfers hit the links for 11th annual ‘Dakota Prairie Open’

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State Campers Gather in the Black Hills

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Welcome to the 2013 SDHSRA State Finals

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U.S. House votes down farm bill, future uncertain For the second time, the United States House of Representatives has failed to pass a long-term farm bill. In a 195-234 vote, the House struck down the measure that had previously passed the House Agriculture Committee with bipartisan support. In 2012, the year the 2008 farm bill was set to expire, the U.S. Senate passed a farm bill. The House Agriculture Committee passed its version, but the House leadership failed to even bring the legislation to a full vote on the House floor. This year, it got the floor vote, but failed to garner enough support for passage. The disappointment among agricultural groups was swift. “It’s a sad day in rural America,” said SDFU President Doug Sombke upon hearing the news of the failed farm bill. “The House of Representatives, the people’s house, has failed to pass one of the most important pieces of legislation for our rural communities, the farm bill.” National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson also expressed his disappointment. “With the failure to pass a farm bill, the House has let down rural America,” Johnson said. “We are

deeply disappointed that the House voted against the best interests of family farmers and rural America.” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture had some harsh words for members of the House that voted against the farm bill. “There ought to be outrage,” Vilsack said. “Figure it out. Work with the other side. It can be done. It needs to be done. The time for excuses is over. The finger pointing began early after the vote was cast as well. Republicans, who hold a majority in the House, blamed the 172 Democrats who voted against the bill because of steep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), better known as food stamps. Democrats pointed to the 62 Republicans who wanted deeper cuts to food assistance than the $20 billion included in the bill. Republican leaders haven’t announced what

their next move will be when it comes to the farm bill. It remains in limbo. Both the Senate and House versions of the farm bill streamlined conservation programs, eliminated direct payments and expanded federal crop insurance support and both cut SNAP funding, although the Senate’s $4 billion cut in food stamp funding was far less than the $20 billion in cuts proposed in the House legislation. Last year, after the 2008 farm bill was allowed to expire, a deal was brokered as part of the “fiscal cliff” debate to extend the 2008 farm bill until Sept. 30, 2013. With that date fast approaching, it’s difficult to know what might be done between now and then. In a speech at the National Rural Assembly, Vilsack called for rural America to stand up and fight for a farm bill.

Grain transaction experts discuss laws in S.D. and N.D. In the community where Anderson Seed Company’s insolvency last year cost some farmers tens of thousands of dollars, grain transaction experts from South Dakota and North Dakota explained current laws and rules governing grain sales and compared the state’s laws while discussing how South Dakota could better protect farmers who sell grain in the state.

Minnesota-based Anderson Seed Company’s facility in Redfield went broke in February 2012 and ended up costing producers an estimated $2.6 million in unpaid grain. The meeting in Redfield Monday, June 17, at the American Legion hall was hosted by South Dakota Farmers Union. The family farm organization invited South Dakota Public Utilities Commission vice chairman Chris Nelson, PUC grain warehouse division director Jim Mehlhaff and North Dakota Public Service Commission Licensing Division director Sue Richter to discuss with farmers and those in the agriculture industry the current situation involving grain buyers and warehouses. “In Anderson (Seed Company), we learned some things,” Nelson said. “And what we learned was that

we had some areas of our statute that weren’t what they needed to be. There were some tools that the PUC needed to find problems like Anderson much, much sooner than what we were able to.” The PUC brought a bill to the Legislature during the 2013 session to help the regulatory commission be better equipped to deal with grain buyers who might be in financial trouble. House Bill 1017, which passed easily with bipartisan support, gave what Commissioner Nelson called several ‘new tools’ to handle grain transactions. It gave the PUC authority to get more current financial information from grain buyers. Before the new law was passed, the company would have to give the PUC its last audited financial statement.

See GRAIN BUYER MEETING Page 11

Union Farmer From the President...

Webster’s definition of dysfunctional: Impaired or abnormal functioning or unhealthy interpersonal behavior or interaction within a group. It was first used as a noun almost 100 years ago in 1916. Interesting that Congress at that time was divided as the nation was trying to stay out of the Great War. Although Republicans gained a plurality, the Democrats narrowly maintained control of the House with a minor party support, forming an alliance with the Doug Sombke remaining third party SDFU President progressives and socialists. That would prove to be the last time to date a coalition would hold power in the House. It’s interesting how history tends to repeat itself every 100 years or so, with a few minor adjustments. This time around it’s the Republicans’ turn to lead a dysfunctional House. Senate Majority Leader Reid announced recently that the U.S. Senate will not take up an extension of the 2008 farm bill since they have already passed their version of the legislation not once, but twice. While the U.S. House failed to pass a new farm bill, the left the future of feeding our nation undetermined. It’s amazing to me that while Farmers Union has been drawing attention to this issue for several months, the nation’s media doesn’t find the story interesting until it fails. As we come to another national birthday celebration on the 4th of July, it’s a sad day when the nation of liberty and justice for all is seen by its citizens as a land of self-centered, selfrighteous, my way or the highway, dysfunctional elected officials. Failure to pass a new farm bill in the U.S. House of Representatives demonstrates just how bad poli-

tics are in Washington, D.C. This is the first time the House has failed to pass a farm bill since the legislation was developed in 1932. It’s time all farm groups, rural organizations, hunger organizations and religious stand together to demonstrate our outrage for lack of action by Congress. It’s time our elected leaders act like adults and pass a comprehensive food bill to ensure all Americans have access to wholesome, affordable and nutritious food. It’s shameful to imagine in this day and age a country as blessed as ours cannot agree how to feed our children, elderly, disabled and unfortunate jobless Americans. Not to mention assuring all Americans that our nation supports growing our own food rather than relying on other countries to supply it for us. It’s time for real action and it’s time Congress hears from everyone. Everyone knows food is essential to life itself; that’s why our nations elected leaders need to act on passing a bipartisan farm bill now! Food should never be taken for granted, yet Congress is doing just that by their lack of action on passing a new five-year farm bill. Some organizations see a failed farm bill as a victory. They see it as a step toward getting what they want which is to divide the growing side of the bill from the distribution side of the bill. Folks, it’s a food bill! No matter how you slice it, it’s a food bill. Dividing the bill would only cause more dysfunction in Congress while raising the cost of feeding our country. I’m left to only wonder what Americans will say about this dysfunctional Congress 100 years from now. I believe America can and will do better. Please call Congress today and tomorrow and every day until they act like adults, not pouting children. Enjoy our nation’s birthday and God bless all you do!

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 Secretary Treasurer Huron

Bonnie Geyer...........ext. 125 Education Director Huron

Chris Studer.............ext. 122 Communications/Marketing Huron

Angela Tarasoff......ext. 111 Membership Specialist Huron

Mike Traxinger........ext. 112 Legislative Director Claremont

Leslie Rupiper........ext. 115 Foundation Exec. Director Sioux Falls

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

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July 2013

Union Farmer

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Education News By Bonnie Geyer Education Director

We had a great time at the 2013 Farmers Union State Leadership Camp at Storm Mountain in Rapid City, June 2-7! You can all be very proud of the difference this program makes in these young people’s lives. During this week you see young, shy adults turn into great leaders and positive influences for their peers. What an irreplaceable and outstanding contribution to rural America! We will continue to encourage these young people as they come through our program and will look to all of you for your support as well! Congratulations go to the new 2013-2014 Junior Advisory Council members that were elected by their peers at this year’s State Camp: Jackie Dethlefsen, Stickney; Brooke Enright, Union Center; Tucker Greene, Plankinton; Dayton Trujillo, DeSmet; Chris Nemec, Holabird; and Aidan Beck, Huron. You can read more about them in the story to the right. This is a group of young leaders that I look forward to working with to make the 2014 State Camp a success! Mark June 8-13 on your calendars for the 2014 State Camp! Also congratulations to the 2013 Recipient of the Bob Janish Friendship Award, Elizabeth Reddy from Aberdeen. This award was established in 1980 in memory of former state camper and JAC member Bob Janish, who was killed in an automobile accident just prior to camp that year. Each year this award is to be given to a state camper who exemplifies the most friendship toward the other campers throughout the week. County day camps are off to a great start! We have seen a great attendance at all the camps so far and are very excited about your commitment to teaching our young people about Farmers Union, financial literacy, cooperative business and spirit of cooperation. Congratulations to all those counties who have remained constant in their goal to offer their area youth this valuable opportunity! A big thank you goes out to my summer staff, Emma Smith, Hannah Lily, Kortny Sterrett and Nicole Seible. Their dedication and hard work cannot go without special recognition. They are committed to making sure all the camps are a success. I am very proud and feel very lucky to have the opportunity to work with these talented and outstanding young leaders. Thank you all for your support of the Farmers Union Education Program. I am so proud of the successes we have had and we applaud you for your assistance. God bless you for your support!

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Union Farmer

JACs elected at emotional ceremony Six young people chosen by their peers at State Camp to lead

It’s an incredible honor that nearly every young person that attends State Camp strives for. To be chosen by your peers to serve on the Farmers Union Junior Advisory Council (JAC) is a rare opportunity for six youth to step out and become leaders. On the last evening of South Dakota Farmers Union’s annual State Camp held at Storm Mountain Center in the Black Hills, campers gather for the ‘Spiral Ceremony,’ a time where youth can reflect on the week that has gone by, and for the The 2013-2014 Junior Advisory Council. From left are Chris Nemec, Dayton older campers, the years they’ve spent building lifelong friendships. Trujillo, Aidan Beck, Tucker Greene, Brooke Enright and Jackie Dethlefsen. They sit in a spiral, with candles lit, leadership skills. But it all comes down to the last with the older campers, the current year’s JACS, telling the younger campers about their time at State evening after the votes are counted when the curCamp over the years. It’s an emotional time because rent year’s JACs pick out their successors from the crowd. they begin to realize the week, and for some the This year’s JACs are Tucker Greene of Plankinyears, of State Camp have come to a close. ton; Dayton Trujillo of De Smet; Jackie Dethlefsen The culmination of the Spiral Ceremony is the of Stickney; Chris Nemec of Holabird; Brooke selection of the new JAC members. Just six individuals are chosen by the other campers to lead next Enright of Union Center; and Aidan Beck of Huron. The six JACs will help plan and facilitate the year’s state camp. It’s a stressful time for everyone who runs for the 2014 State Camp as well as help South Dakota Farmers Union throughout the year at different prestigious council. They put ads in the cooperative events including Farmers Union Day at the South camp newspaper telling other campers why they Dakota State Fair. should vote for them. They spend the week getting to know all of the campers to show them their

2013-2014 Junior Advisory Council Brooke Enright

- Union Center, SD - Meade County - District V - Daughter of Travis & Jone Enright - Senior at Faith High School

Dayton Trujillo - De Smet, SD - Kingsbury County - District III - Son of Kathy Trujillo - Senior at De Smet HS

Tucker Greene

Chris Nemec

- Plankinton, SD - Aurora County - District II - Son of Carl and Lisa Greene - Attends Mitchell Technical Institute

Jackie Dethlefsen

- Stickney, SD - Aurora County - District II - Daughter of Clyde and Cheryl Dethlefsen - Senior at Stickney HS

Union Farmer

- Holabird, SD - Hyde County - District VII - Son of Victor and Dee Nemec - Senior at Highmore HS

Aidan Beck

- Huron, SD - Beadle County - District VII - Son of Bret and Julie Beck - Attends University of S.D.

July 2013

Union Farmer Meet the legislative interns Greetings! I am one of the two new legislative interns for the summer here at South Dakota Farmers Union. I come from the small, West River farming and ranching community of Winner. I am a graduate of Winner High School and currently attend the University of South Dakota, majoring in political science and minoring in business administration. When I first became aware of this internship during finals week, I thought, “What a great opportunity!” However, I was unsure of what I wanted to do this summer, so I quickly forgot about the internship, and I went about my merry way. Then, there was this voice that urged me to apply. I applied with the help of my advisor and USD internship coordinator, Mary Pat Bierle. I interviewed for the job, and then the legislative director, Mike Traxinger, called me back and to my delight, he offered me one of the two internship spots! I did Clay Hoffman not hesitate to accept the offer! I am really enjoying my internship with Farmers Union. The best part of this internship is that everyone I work with is kind and friendly. Furthermore, I have learned so much, both about politics and agriculture in just the three weeks since I’ve began. I have a new found appreciation for agriculture since beginning my internship. It is common sense that agriculture is a huge factor in South Dakota whether economically, politically, or culturally. However until this internship, I did not realize the impact agriculture had on the state and how much SDFU does to help shape policy. According to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, the ag industry contributes an estimated $20.9 billion to the state’s economy. That is astronomical! The ag industry is one of the contributing factors to South Dakota’s low unemployment rate. It is the number one industry in the state, and therefore imperative that future policy makers know how vital agriculture is to our state. Legislative director Mike Traxinger and company at Farmers Union do an excellent job of communicating that message through their legislative advocacy, education programs, and rural development/leadership seminars. It truly is an honor to work for an organization that has been the voice for small farmers in South Dakota since 1915. I hail from a rural community, so it is encouraging to see SDFU vigorously support the sustainability of the rural way of life and ensure the longevity of small, family farms in this state. I would like to thank South Dakota Farmers Union for this opportunity! I appreciate it very much. I hope everyone has a great summer!

July 2013

Being involved in South Dakota agriculture has always been part of my life. Growing up in South Dakota always being around cattle and farming has meant a lot to me and my success in life. I grew up in the Huron area. My family owns and operates a farm in Beadle County and I graduated from Huron High School. I will enter my senior year at South Dakota State University this fall, majoring in agriculture systems technology. Understanding the hard work and dedication it takes to be a successful farmer in South Dakota has got me to where I am today, interning for a great organization and the voice for famers across the state, South Dakota Farmers Union. Farmers Union is an organization that is going to listen to its members thoughts, ideas and comments and take those to the state Legislature. It is clear that one farmer cannot walk into the Legislature and make much a difference; Logan Kopfmann it takes a group. This is where South Dakota Farmers Union steps in to represent its 10,000 members and voice the members’ thoughts and concerns as a large and powerful voice in the state Legislature. In my short time here at South Dakota Farmers Union, I have already gained so much great knowledge and information about South Dakota politics and South Dakota agriculture that it is going to benefit me the rest of my life. South Dakota Farmers Union has introduced me to topics that I did not even know were concerns in South Dakota. I have been involved in three areas in my time here: watershed management, agriculture land assessment and following the farm bill. A topic that has really caught my eye as of late is the agriculture land assessment debate that is currently going on. Being a family landowner it is very beneficial for me to understand the concepts of agriculture land assessment and how it affects the property taxes that all landowners pay and also why and how that land is being assessed by the counties and state. Overall I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of South Dakota Farmers Union and the great experience they have given me. I am looking forward to attending future meetings and activities to broaden my knowledge even further. I am greatly appreciative of the internship opportunity I was given by South Dakota Farmers Union and want to thank everyone involved in the organization. I’m looking forward to an incredible summer of learning and I’m so thankful for this opportunity.

Union Farmer

www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer

By NFU President Roger Johnson

Country-of-Origin Labeling

On May 23, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a final rule governing Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) to meet compliance requirements set forth by a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling. USDA’s final rule will require labels for certain foods, particularly muscle cuts of meat, to include the countries in which the animal was born, raised and slaughtered. Legal analysis has found that this will satisfy WTO’s requirements and meet the compliance deadline of May 23, 2013. We applaud the administration for deciding to take a proactive approach to bringing COOL into compliance by providing more information on the origins of our food, instead of simply watering down the process. NFU has been a long-time supporter of COOL and we will continue to vigorously support it. Consumers want and have the right to know where their food was produced. COOL was passed as a part of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and amended by the 2008 Farm Bill, went effect in 2008, with regulations being put forward in 2009. After COOL was implemented, Canada and Mexico filed a complaint against the United States’ law. A WTO ruling in June 2012 agreed in part with the complaint, stating that the way in which the law was implemented discriminated against imported meat products, but that the law itself was in compliance with the United States’ trade obligations. In order to comply with the WTO’s ruling, USDA’s final rule modifies COOL regulations to require American retailers to label certain foods with the country (or countries) in which the animals are born, raised, or slaughtered, and information about which production step occurs in which country. Previous COOL regulations did not require information about each specific production step. NFU fully supports the USDA’s modifications as a way to provide more accurate information to consumers while fully complying with WTO’s requirements. For more information on COOL, please visit www.NFU.org/policy-nfu/cool.

NFU All-States Leadership Camp. The invitationonly event brings together Farmers Union members, ages 17 to 20, who have distinguished themselves as leaders in their communities. Campers explore their personal leadership skills; identify issues important to their generation; and discuss their role in affecting positive change throughout rural America. The camp features cooperative activities, inspirational speakers, hiking, a campfire, and several outings to local amusement parks and theatres. The camp will culminate with the election of the 2014 National Youth Advisory Council (NYAC). NYAC members represent thousands of Farmers Union youth across the country, and spend the year honing their leadership skills; planning the next year’s Leadership Camp; and working at the annual NFU Convention. Please visit www.NFUAllStates.org for more information.

Staff Changes

We are pleased to welcome Samantha “Sam” Paschal to the NFU team as our summer intern. Sam is currently a student at Purdue University in the College of Agriculture where she is in the Dean’s Scholars Program and serves as one of 20 National Collegiate Agriculture Ambassadors. Additionally, she is a member of the Indiana Association of Agricultural Educators (IAAE), Purdue Chapter and also serves on the Purdue Agricultural Council.

NFU Policy Online

NFU’s 2013 policy book is available online. Please visit www.nfu.org/policy-nfu/current-nfupolicy to view this year’s document. The 2013 policy was enacted by delegates during NFU’s 111th anniversary convention in Springfield, Mass., and serves as a guide for the organization’s advocacy work over the next year.

Become an NFU FFAN

Earlier this year, NFU unveiled its Family Farmer Advocacy Network (FFAN). FFAN is a group of grassroots advocates who will lead Farmers Union members in grassroots activities across the country. We’d love to have you become a FFAN. To join our network and become a FFAN, please fill out the form at www.SurveyMonkey.com/s/96XG2RM. NFU staff will contact FFAN members occasionally with requests to contact lawmakers about specific legislative proposals to educate them about how the legislation will affect family farmers and ranchers.

2014 Convention

We are already working on the 2014 NFU Convention to be held in Santa Fe, N.M. Please mark your calendar and join us in “Spicing Up Family Agriculture” March 8 to 11, 2014. More information can always be found at www.nfu.org/convention.

All-States Leadership Camp

Young adults from across the country spent a week in Bailey, Colo., June 23 to 28, at the 77th

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Union Farmer

July 2013

Union Farmer Legislative News By Mike Traxinger Legislative Director

Even though the state Legislature adjourned over 90 days ago, it feels as though we’re already gearing up for the next legislative session in 2014. As I have previously mentioned, the Legislature currently has two standing task forces that focus on agricultural issues: the Agricultural Land Assessment Implementation and Oversight Advisory Task Force, the Regional Watershed Advisory Task Force. Lawmakers have since added an Education Funding Formula Study. All three have been meeting regularly and will continue to do so with the hopes of introducing legislation ahead of next year. Two of the three, the Agricultural Land Implementation and Oversight Advisory Task Force and the Education Funding Formula Study have placed a lot of emphasis on the general education levy assessed on the three major classifications of property in South Dakota: agriculture, commercial/other, and owner-occupied. The conversation has focused on the fact that the general levy decreased for agricultural land this last year, the first time since the formula was established. This discussion has already created an amount of buzz in the media, including the recent Argus Leader article titled “Bargain on S.D. Farm Land.” As we all know, farmland in South Dakota is far from a bargain with current land values skyrocketing over the past few years. We continue to see record land prices in each of our respective counties and while these prices create a host of issues affecting our industry, there is also the perception that our state’s farmers and ranchers are are healthy and wealthy. But for those that do not work directly in agriculture, they do not see the other factors at play. They don’t realize the amount of input costs, the other taxes that are assessed on agriculture, and the overall net income taken home at the end of the day versus those in the other industries in the state. Just because the levy went down, does not mean agricultural producers, our state’s family farmers and ranchers, are paying fewer taxes towards the general education levy. The truth of the matter is, South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers did not receive a tax cut this year. Just because the levy goes down, doesn’t mean your tax bill does. As land prices increase, even a lower levy means a farmer is writing a bigger check for their property taxes. At SDFU, we place a strong policy on the importance of education in our state. We also believe that decisions should be made on facts and not jump to conclusions when making important decisions about tax policy in South Dakota.

July 2013

SDFU hosts watershed meetings South Dakota Farmers Union hosted a series of meetings in June to discuss water management laws and practices in the state. The meetings featured discussion on a number of topics dealing with water management issues that many areas of the state have been dealing with for several years, from water drainage permitting to how disputes are handled between landowners. “Many areas, especially in northeastern South Dakota, have been dealing with too A number of people attended the Brown County water meeting held in Aberdeen much moisture over the past June 19. four to five years,” SDFU issues on their land,” said Traxinger. Legislative Director Mike Traxinger said. “A lot of Farmers Union is completing a survey of landlandowners feel our state’s laws regarding water owners at a series of meetings across the state over management aren’t adequate.” the next two weeks to gather information about how Meetings were held in Rosholt, Aberdeen, Clark, they want the state’s water laws to operate. Webster, De Smet and Britton throughout the month “Should there be a standardized water drainage of June. permitting process? Should there be a mandatory The Legislature in 2012 created a Regional Wamediation program to settle water drainage distershed Task Force, made up of a mix of lawmakers putes between landowners? Are regional watershed and citizens who have a background in agriculture districts part of the solution? Those are some of the or water issues, to look into the state’s water manquestions we’re asking and the answers are imporagement laws and is taking public input to look for tant to the future of our water laws in South Dapossible legislative solutions. The task force met kota,” Traxinger said. twice in 2012 and once so far in 2013. It will meet The Regional Watershed Task Force will disagain July 1 in Aberdeen. cuss drafting legislation on cleaning up current “The goal of our meetings was the engage watershed district law, establishing a uniform and landowners and agricultural producers ahead of the statewide drainage permit application, tracking and task force’s next meeting and to gather producers’ reporting of drainage activities, providing technical ideas on how to best move forward and make sure assistance, and authorizing an informal resolution our water laws help landowners deal with drainage process for disputes.

Obama vows to fight climate change National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson applauded President Barack Obama’s remarks at Georgetown University June 25, outlining the administration’s comprehensive plan to addresses climate change. President Obama detailed plans for an all-ofthe-above approach to develop homegrown renewable energy and implement responsible steps to cut carbon pollution to leave a cleaner, more stable environment for future generations. “NFU commends President Obama in taking a proactive approach in addressing ways to combat the effects of climate change,” said Johnson. “Mitigating and adapting to climate change has long been a significant concern to NFU’s membership and will be a defining trend that shapes the world.” Objectives for the President’s comprehensive plan includes preventing the worst effects of climate change by reducing our carbon pollution, ramping up renewable energy production, preparing the

Union Farmer

U.S. for the impacts of unavoidable climate change, and leading the rest of the world around combating changing climate. “Farmers are going to be one of the first groups to suffer as extreme weather phenomena multiply with dire results for our capacity to feed our population,” Johnson added. “We cannot afford to waste more time. America needs to act now to ensure a sustainable future for agriculture both here and around the world.” NFU adopted policy that favors a market based approach to addressing climate change that includes a mandatory cap on non-farm sources of carbon pollution and provides positive incentives for agriculture to participate in a solution to climate change. “The agriculture sector holds tremendous potential to sequester carbon,” Johnson noted. “Given the proper incentives, America’s farmers and ranchers can play a significant role in mitigating the effects of climate change.”

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Union Farmer

Golfers hit the links at Huron to benefit the SDFU Foundation On a gorgeous June day, over 50 golfers hit the links at Broadland Creek National Golf Course in Huron for the 11th annual ‘Dakota Prairie Open’ golf tournament to benefit the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation. The tournament was held June 19 at Huron, with a number of four-person teams hitting the course for a good cause. “We had beautiful weather, even though it was a little windy on the course in the afternoon,” said Leslie Rupiper Morrow, executive director of the South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation. “I was so appreciative of all of the teams that came out to support the many youth and adult education programs of the South Dakota Farmers Union. Players had a chance to win some great prizes throughout the tournament. There was a $25,000 hole-in-one chance on hole 17, but unfortunately no one shot an ace. Other pin prizes included a new set of Nike irons, a brand new putter and many other prizes. The grand prize at this year’s event was a trip for four to The Prairie Club in Valentine, Neb. Thanks to a sponsorship from Travelers Motor Club, one lucky team that shot the best score of the day would walk away with the grand prize. Brendon Hansen’s team took home the top prize this year, shooting 13 under par as a team in the scramble tournment. The team was made up Hansen, a Farmers Union Insurance agent, Brett Nielsen, Jared Olson and Ben Olsen. “It was just a fantastic day, and I’m grateful that we had nice weather and a great group of golfers who were willing to spend some time to benefit the foundation. I really can’t thank everyone enough,” Rupiper Morrow said. Next year’s Dakota Prairie Open in scheduled for June 18 at Spring Creek Golf Course in Harrisburg.

The “Zubaz” team of (from left) Doug Kazmerzak, Wayne Soren and Jason Soren donned their ‘80s-style garb along with SDSU Zubaz hats!

12th annual

Dakota Prairie Open Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Champions

From left, Brett Nielsen, Brendon Hansen, Jared Olson and Ben Olsen.

Second Place

From left, Chris Long, Jameson Clarke, Tom Clarke and Todd Foster.

Third Place

From left, Joey Alddinger, Chad Yde, Chris Studer and Kerry Jacobson.

The education ladies came out to golf, including (from left) District VII Education Director Barb Vetter of Cresbard, Beadle County Education Director Jessica Hotchkiss of Huron, District III Education Director Heather Kuecker of Ramona, District II Education Director Denise Mushitz of Geddes and State Education Director Bonnie Geyer of Huron.

Spring Creek Golf Course - Harrisburg

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Union Farmer

Foundation News By Leslie Rupiper Morrow SDFU Foundation Executive Director

Greetings from the Farmers Union Foundation. Summer is officially here, and it’s finally starting to feel like it. The weather was great for the 11th annual Dakota Prairie Open golf tournament, held June 19 at Broadland Creek National Golf Course in Huron. Nearly 50 people attended the tourney, which benefitted Farmers Union education programs for youth and adults. Many thanks to our sponsors for the day – especially Travelers Motor Club – which donated a trip for four to the impressive Prairie Club golf resort in Valentine, Neb. Farmers Union Insurance agent Brendon Hansen and his team went home with the Grand Prize. Salem’s Robert Matthaei (on Jim Wahle’s team) won a Kindle Fire in the Mulligan drawing and Estelline’s Tom Clarke (Team Farmall) went home with a new TaylorMade golf bag. I’d like to send out a big thank you to all who participated in this year’s event, and I hope to see you at next year’s tournament. It will be held June 18 at Spring Creek Golf Course in Harrisburg. Judging is wrapping up in a Foundation first. Thanks to another generous donation from Traveler’s Motor Club, the Farmers Union Foundation is giving away a $2,500 scholarship to a South Dakota graduate student pursuing an advanced degree in an agriculture-related field. News about the scholarship opportunity was sent to area colleges and universities and we were very pleased with the response from interested applicants. The judging panel is nearly finished sifting through transcripts and other required elements for the application, and a winner will be notified soon. This generous scholarship will be offered each year with the support of Travelers Motor Club. Again, many thanks to Gene Hammond who made this opportunity available. His support of ag-related education helps ensure stronger rural communities and a stronger South Dakota. Summer is a great time to be thinking about those members of your community who go above and beyond while seeking nothing in return. We want to recognize those folks with the Rural Dakota Pride Award. Contact me at lrupiper@sdfu. org or at (605) 940-9070 if you’d like a nomination form. The award is given out at the State Fair and honors those who are quick to share their time, talent or treasure when needed most. Whether it’s serving on community or church board, volunteering for FFA or 4-H, or if they just have a profound impact on their community by giving their time and talents, I look forward to hearing about those who are making such a difference in rural communities. Happy summer!

July 2013

Union Farmer

Campers learn life lessons at Storm Mountain If you’re a teenager, or can remember that far back, you know how difficult it can be to go to a place where there will be kids your age that you don’t really know all that well. A place where you think you’ll be judged or made fun of, or nobody will like you. A lot of campers probably felt like that before they went to South Dakota Farmers Union State Camp. But those feelings quickly subside once campers get to Storm Mountain Center in the Black Hills because Farmers Union camp is different. Farmers Union camp is a safe place, free of judgment and ridicule. A place where lifelong memories and friends are made where people accept you for who you are, not what brand of jeans you’re wearing. Another group of young people headed to the Black Hills June 2-7 for the 2013 State Camp at Storm Mountain. Almost 100 kids were here again this year from all corners of the state. They come together to learn and grow while making friendships that will last a lifetime. “This year’s camp was another huge success,” said Former camper, JAC, SAC and NYAC member Angie Koch of Bonnie Geyer, state Plankinton gave the keynote adeducation direcdress at the State Camp banquet. tor. “We had good weather, good kids, and nobody got seriously hurt. That’s what I call a good week.” The week features so many activities like hiking, sports and bonfires. There is also a tour day where youth go on tours in the Rapid City area and to a waterpark. Throughout the week, young people run their own cooperatives. There’s the co-op store, newspaper, insurance company, and even a co-op coffee shop. Campers put real money into the credit union

Campers gather at the flag pole before meals to sing, bless their food, and discuss the plan for the rest of the day.

at the start of camp to buy things from the co-op store and they get a checkbook. “These are real life scenarios that they’re living out during the week of camp,” Geyer said. “The kids that go to State Camp will be better prepared when they go to college and have to balance their bank accounts.” They are all on boards of directors of their variOne of the dress-up nights was an athletic ous coopertheme, so campers dressed in their favoratives, take ite jerseys and had a costume contest. out loans, pay bills, and run a real business. Well, as real as you can get at a youth camp. But there’s real money changing hands, and at the end of camp, the boards always vote to use their profits to help fund next

year’s camp. On the last evening of camp, there’s a talent show, followed by the emotional Spiral Ceremony where the campers sit in a spiral and light candles while the current year’s Junior Advisory Council members talk about their experiences through the years Elizabeth Reddy of Mansfield, at State Camp and Ohio, was the recipient of this all of the memories year’s Bob Janish Memorial they have. Friendship Award. It was estabAt the end of the lished in memory of former state Spiral Ceremony, camper and JAC member Bob Janish who was killed in a car the next year’s crash before state camp in the Junior Advisory 1980s. The award is given to the Council members are selected. They’re state camper who exemplifies the most friendship toward other voted on earlier by campers throughout the week. all campers, and the six that were elected find out that night. You can read more about the six JACs on page 3.

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5-20% Off Merchandise! 10% Off Gift Cards! The current and future JACs walk arm in arm after the Spiral Ceremony just after the new JACs found out they had been chosen. From left, Chris Nemec, Taylor Melius, Aidan Beck, Jared Kloucek, Dayton Trujillo, Nathan Nugteren, Tucker Greene, Bailey Zwahr, Brook Enright, Myles Bialas, Jackie Dethlefsen and Maria Nightingale.

July 2013

Union Farmer

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Hundreds turn out for SDHSRA opening night meal For the fourth straight year, South Dakota Farmers Union hosted an opening night dinner for all of the South Dakota High School Rodeo Association finalists at Belle Fourche. The rodeo opened Thursday, June 20, and Farmers Union sponsored the meal at the Lions Shelter near the gate at the rodeo grounds. “We’re so thrilled to be able to treat these hard working athletes as they get set to compete in the high school state finals,” said SDFU President Doug Sombke. “It’s a great time to reach out, congratulate the participants and their families, and treat them to a meal to kick off the rodeo weekend.” Over 350 people, participants and their family members, were treated to a meal of beef sandwiches, potato caserole and baked beans. “We had an incredible turnout again this year,” Sombke said. “We’re committed to making this an event that participants and their families can look forward to each year and it’s a great outreach opportunity for our organization.” Each rodeo participant walked away with a free tote bag with a South Dakota Farmers Union logo imprinted on it. The South Dakota High School Rodeo Association state finals ran through Sunday, June 23.

Hundreds of people turned out for the free meal courtesy of South Dakota Farmers Union at the Lions Shelter at Belle Fourche’s rodeo grounds.

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Oil and gas exploration topic of Lemmon workshop Perkins County Farmers Union and the Lemcompanies that haven’t acted in good faith in mon Dakota Herald newspaper sponsored an oil and dealing with landowners, a judge could award the natural gas rights workshop at Lemmon June 11. landowner treble damaages (triple the amount asked Speakers included District VI Farmers Union for). “That’s a big hammer when you’re looking at Legislative Director Ron Slaba, Rapid City attorney an oil company saying, ‘This ground is my ground, David Ganje, an expert on oil and and I know you have the right to gas leases, and Brent Braanan, drill through it, but you’re going managing partner of Aurora Ento do it the way I want you to do ergy Solutions LLC, a company it. We’re going to sit down and that signs lease agreements with get this done in a decent way.’” landowners for oil companies. House Bill 1006 dealt with Slaba, a Harding County severed mineral rights and mirrancher and landowner, gave an rored North Dakota’s law dealupdate on a number of pieces of ing with reclamation of mineral legislation that were considered rights by a surface owner if the by the state Legislature in the true owner of the mineral rights 2013 session and gave a history cannot be found or doesn’t of how some of the legislation claim them after proper notificawas crafted. tion. Slaba said the governor’s ofOther bills fice was made aware of problems dealt with in South Dakota over a year ago bond requirethat were happening with oil ments for oil Ron Slaba companies and landowners. companies “They brought four people out and fracking. of the governor’s office and five House or six landowners got together and we gave them a Bill 1005 didn’t pass, but Slaba tour of our oil field and when we got done they said, said he expects it may come back ‘You’ve got a mess out here, we need to clean it up.’ in the next session. Fracking is So with that they immediately began to put together going on in North Dakota, but an oil and gas study.” when this measure was defeated, Legislators took a tour of the area as part of a the government said there was no summer study to look into oil and gas issues. Out of Bakken formation oil in South the summer study came a number of bills, many of Dakota. But that’s changed. which were passed in the 2013 session. “Now that they’ve revised House Bill 1001 passed the that and there Legislature easily. It requires is the Bakken formation under oil companies to give a sevenSouth Dakota,” Slaba said. “This day prior written notice for any may come back in the next legissurveying done on the land. It lative session, I do believe it will. also requires a 30-day notice I don’t see any reason not to pass before surface can be moved. it, unless we’re going to comHouse Bill 1002 came from pletely outlaw fracking in South the oil companies and developDakota. We need this if we’re ers, Slaba said. going to allow fracking.” “The oil companies wanted David Ganje, who deals with us to have some way to set up oil and gas leases for landowners, a trust so that if they can’t find explained what surface owners the mineral rights owner, the need to know when dealing with money gets put into the trust, an oil or gas company. so some day if they find them, “I’ve said this before, and I’ll the money will be theirs and say it again, an oil and gas lease companies won’t have to spend is not a lease,” Ganje said. “It has time and money searching for nothing to do with leasing law ... David Ganje them.” there’s an established body of law House Bill 1003 set up a mefor leasing, that established body diation process that oil and gas companies can use of law does not apply to oil and gas leases.” to settle disputes with landowners. An oil and gas lease is a complicated commercial “This is the biggest thing we got accomplished,” option contract for production of materials, Ganje Slaba said. “We got it so the Department of Ag can said. do your mediation for you.” “The first thing you want to do is identify the House Bill 1004 set up a system in which oil method of extraction,” he said. There are several

July 2013

Union Farmer

different ways of drilling, including vertically, horizontally and fracking. Another important negotiable term Ganje recommends is requiring companies to remove equipment after they’re done producing minerals on the land. Ganje said lease laws have a sunset. That’s why oil and gas agreements aren’t leases, there are no time limits. “There are operational oil and gas leases in this country that are over 100 years old, these things last forever,” Ganje said. “These things must be carefully negotiated. These things affect the grandchildren, the great-grandchildren they affect a lot of things and must be considered very, very carefully.” Many oil and gas companies will offer landowners a large check right away, but Ganje warns landowners not to just be enticed by money right away. “That upfront money is there and then it’s gone. That’s one F-150 pickup truck, that upfront money, but that agreement last forever,” Ganje said. “And you want to think beyond that upfront money.” Braanan, who works as a land broker, and Brent Braanan oversees the North Dakota Oil and Gas Research Program, discussed a number of issues North Dakota is dealing with in oil and gas production. “There are 31 oil producing formations in North Dakota, and we hear about two: the Bakken and the Three Forks,” he said. “Just this last year, the Bakken became the number one oil producer in North Dakota, it surpassed the Madison formation.” What’s been driving everything is the price of oil, Braanan said. “There has been a well driven in all but one county in North Dakota, at least been explored.” “There are 172 (oil) producers in North Dakota,” he said. “We have this herd-like mentality,” Braanan said. “You find that a lot in North Dakota, where is everyone else looking?” His company will negotiate surface use agreements and researches mineral and surface rights owners. Braanan said some of the oil formations do stretch into South Dakota, and there has been interest in the state. It’s just a matter of oil prices, and companies willing to take a risk and drill in a place that hasn’t had a lot of production.

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GRAIN BUYER MEETING: Judge’s ruling changes the game Continued from Page 1

something maybe wasn’t right there,’ but nobody bothered to “In the case of Anderson, that statement was nine call us. Obviously we all undermonths old by the time we got it,” Nelson said. stand how it went down in the Another piece of the new law would allow the end, and it wasn’t pretty.” PUC to more easily receive information from a Just recently, another issue grain buyer that was headquartered outside of South came up for the PUC regardDakota, which wasn’t the case with Minnesotaing grain buyer laws when an based Anderson Seed. The new law also requires Orient-area producer, Ray Marcompanies that buy grain to report to the PUC if tinmaas, requested a payment they believe they might be falling into financial from the Anderson Seed Comtrouble. pany bond. He lost $47,000 “I call it the self-reporting provision,” Nelson after he delivered grain to said. If they don’t report their financial trouble and Anderson but was never paid, a farmer loses money, it’s a felony. “We think that’s going to be a crucial part of this legislation,” Nelson and asked for some of the bond proceeds. The PUC denied his said. request because he purchased House Bill 1017 also allowed for what Comthe grain on a voluntary credit Over 25 people attended the meeting Monday, June 17, at the Redfield American missioner Nelson called a ‘right-sizing’ of bond sale contract, which was in Legion hall to discuss grain buyer and warehouse laws. levels that grain warehouses or buyers are required essence a verbal agreement to purchase as a sort of insurance policy that would and very different in others. One of the biggest difpay off farmers if the company went insolvent. Nel- to delay payment to a later date. The PUC denied Martinmaas payment, because they thought those ferences in North Dakota is the state’s credit sale son admits that the bond levels weren’t increased contracts weren’t eligible for bond payments. But indemnity fund. Created in 2003, it is a fund set substantially. Bond levels the contract was never up that would protect farmers who sold to a grain are based on the amount signed by Martinmaas, buyer on a credit sale that goes insolvent. of grain a company buys. and a judge ruled that “In North Dakota, you’re going to be covered by In the case of Anderson the contract needed to be one of two sources. If you’re a cash claimant, you’ll Seed, under the new law signed by Martinmaas be covered by the bond. If you’re a credit sale contheir bond would’ve to be valid. The South tract claimant, then you’re going to be covered by increased from $100,000 Dakota Grain and Feed our credit sale indemnity fund,” Richter said. to $150,000. Association requested a Any grain that was sold in North Dakota after “That’s not a subwaiver of the rule, but the law was passed was subject to a two-tenths of stantial increase in the PUC unanimously one percent collection, with the proceeds going into dollar amount, but still denied it. the indemnity fund. It has since been capped at $6 a 50-percent increase,” “We still think it’s immillion with a minimum of $3 million. After some Nelson said. portant that the farmer to pending indemnity claims are paid, the fund will It’s up to producers, have approximately $4.5 million, so there are no Nelson says, along with South Dakota PUC Vice Chairman Chris Nelson explains have the ability to sign a how legislation passed in 2013 will help the PUC better contract, have the ability collections being taken right now. If it drops below regulators, to watch out regulate grain transactions. to see the contract and $3 million, they will begin collecting from grain for companies who might object to it, and all those sales again. not be paying farmers. things we thought were the law. We think it’s still North Dakota’s indemnity fund allows farmers to And if there’s a problem, they need to contact the important for the farmer to have collect 80 percent of the value of PUC. that interaction,” Nelson said. unpaid credit sale contracts, but “If you’re a producer and you are having even a Because of the judge’s rulnot more than $280,000. whiff of difficulty getting paid for your grain, call ing, now all voluntary credit South Dakota Farmers Union Jim Mehlhaff, because he’s the guy who can send sales must be signed by both the continues to collect information inspectors that day or the next day to figure out farmer and the grain buyer. That from producers about the future what’s really going on there,” Nelson said. wasn’t common practice before. of South Dakota’s grain purHe explained the case of the Gregory Farmers Nelson said the PUC’s staff has chasing laws and is planning a Elevator, which knew it was getting into financial now been directed to propose similar meeting in Chamberlain trouble, and contacted the PUC. The commission new rules to clear up situations July 17 which will include South staff inspected the cooperative’s financials, and in like the one Ray Martinmaas Dakota grain regulators and a the end they were able to find a buyer for the elevawas in. That rule making process representative from Iowa who tor and farmers were paid in full. has started, and will be open to will explain that state’s laws. “It really emphasizes the importance of producpublic comment this summer. If you have any thoughts, ers across this state being wary and willing to make The Legislature’s rule’s commitideas or concerns about the a phone call to get us involved early in the process PUC’s grain transaction rules instead of late,” Nelson said. “In the Anderson Seed tee will have the final say on any rule the PUC recommends. and laws and ways to better case, there was a load of sunflowers dumped the Sue Richter, director of the North Dakota Sue Richter, North Dakota’s protect producers, contact SDFU end of August. The first telephone call we got that licensing division director within Public Service Commission’s licensing Legislative Director Mike Traxthere might be a problem going on over there was division, discusses the laws in her state the Public Service Commission, inger at 605-377-4110 or email the middle of January. So this thing had been going governing grain transactions and how said that the two state’s laws on for four and a half months and as we’ve talked to him at mtraxinger@sdfu.org. they differ from laws in South Dakota. people since then, people have said, ‘Yeah, we think were similar in some respects,

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Union Farmer

July 2013

Union Farmer Staff move into new state office building South Dakota Farmers Union state office staff moved into the new office building in Huron during the first week in June. Construction on the building began last fall after the official groundbreaking in October. Much of the exterior work was done early in 2013, and by the end of May most of the work inside had been done. “Every member of South Dakota Farmers Union should be proud of this new building,” said SDFU President Doug Sombke. “This new space is a modern facility that will help us serve our members even better as we work to build future leaders and enhance the agriculture industry in South Dakota.” The 8,400 square foot building features 17 offices, a work room, board room, meeting rooms and a pair of reception areas. There is a basement with storage room. The building is split into two sections with South Dakota Farmers Union’s membership staff on one side and the state office staff of Farmers Union Insurance Agency. The new state office building was built right next to the old office on Dakota Avenue in Huron. The old building will be torn down in the coming weeks.

A concrete parking lot has been poured in the front of the building where there will be visitor parking. There will also be parking space where the old office building currently stands. The 8,400 square foot building is a one level space with a basement underneath. It features a geothermal system and many other modern amenities that will be more energy efficient.

The reception area at the front door.

The work and paper room is located in the center of the building.

This is the new South Dakota Farmers Union board room located at the front of the building.

July 2013

Union Farmer

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Union Farmer

Barnyard to Boatyard: S.D. farm families to visit Louisiana on a conservation exchange trip in July Six South Dakota farm families will travel to Louisiana on July 11 to participate in the first Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) Barnyard to Boatyard Exchange. In a unified effort to seek solutions to conserve America’s great native prairies and coastal waters, the TRCP will launch its first exchange program this summer between South Dakota farmers and ranchers and Louisiana Gulf fishermen. In the TRCP “Barnyard to Boatyard Conservation Exchange,” South Dakota farm and ranch families will travel to Cocodrie, La., in July for a threeday educational outing to learn about the trials and triumphs of managing businesses reliant on healthy Louisiana Delta and Gulf of Mexico ecosystems, complete with a fishing trip along Louisiana’s Cajun bayous. Subsequently, Louisiana fishermen engaged in commercial fishing, tourism and recreational fishing from the Louisiana Delta region will travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., in August to participate in an intensive, three-day briefing on the innovations and realities

of grain and livestock farming and ranching, capped off by a trip to the Sioux Empire Fair. In partnership with the South Dakota Farmers Union, the TRCP invited six South Dakota farming and ranching families to travel to Louisiana for the program. Those participants include: • Walt Bones, former South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture and a Parker area farmer and a partner in Turner County Dairy. • Joey Hanson, agronomist and certified crop advisory and small family farmer near Elk Point, SD. • Shantel Krebs, South Dakota State Senator from Renner, SD; Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a partner in the Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch. • Dawn & Patrick Scheier of Scheier Farms near Salem, SD, who with Dawn’s brother farm a total of 3,000 acres in corn and beans. • Mike Traxinger, legislative director for the South Dakota Farmers Union, who farms and ranches with his dad on a 2,000+ acre operation near Houghton, SD.

• Ryan & Kerri Wagner, who with Ryan’s dad, manage a 4,000 acre family grain operation near Roslyn, SD, with corn, beans and spring wheat. In the Louisiana leg of the Exchange, the TRCP will lead a three-day educational program July 1114 at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium in Cocodrie. Economic topics will include an overview of the fishing guide industry, shrimp fishing, oyster operations, gulf-based energy, and the ocean freight and shipping businesses. Conservation topics will cover hypoxia or the “Dead Zone,” diversions and marsh building, saline water, economic and development impacts and municipal water concerns. The South Dakota program, Aug. 8-11, created in conjunction with the South Dakota Farmers Union, will focus on grain and livestock production. Production topics will include best practices for row-crop production, federal and state conservation programs, drain tiling, nutrient management, federal crop insurance incentives, municipal water issues, and economic impacts.

Lawmakers encouraged by hemp amendment passage Although the farm bill failed in the U.S. House, some lawmakers were encouraged that lawmakers in the House accepted an amendment that would have made industrial hemp farming legal. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat, was one of the three leaders who proposed the Amendment along with representatives from Colorado and

Kentucky. The measure would’ve only applied in states like Oregon where industrial hemp is already legal. But federal law supersedes state rules on hemp. Even thought it’s legal in Oregon, farmers still face the risk that federal agents could raid their property. The Washington Post wrote that the amendment’s

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passage was “the most significant sign of progress on the federal level that hemp advocates have ever seen.” Industrial hemp is used for paper, clothing, rope and can be converted into renewable biofuels. National Farmers Union delegates passed a policy measure at its convention in 2010 urging Congress and the Obama administration to direct the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to differentiate between non-drug industrial hemp and marijuana and allow states to regulate hemp farming without requiring a DEA permit. Eighteen other states have passed pro-hemp legislation along with Oregon.

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sdfu@sdfu.org July 2013

Union Farmer

Celebrating 33 years with Farmers Union

At the State Camp banquet at Storm Mountain Center, this year’s summer interns presented State Education Director Bonnie Geyer a card signed by all of the campers to commemorate Geyer’s 33 years at SDFU. From left are summer staffers Kortny Sterrett and Hannah Lily, Bonnie Geyer, and summer staffers Emma Smith and Nicole Seible.

Family in need of help after Pautre Fire A fire that destroyed nearly 11,000 acres of grasslands in northwestern South Dakota in April took a toll on a number of farmers and ranchers in the area. The Pautre Fire, as it’s been called, was started after the U.S. Forest Service had planned to burn 130 acres of dead crested wheatgrass. But the fire broke containment areas and spread throughout federal and private grasslands because of dry and windy conditions. One family that was hit especially hard was Eric and Laurie Casper. They own about 1,200

acres near Lemmon and Laurie says they lost about 95% of their grassland to the flames. “We had only about 13 acres that survived,” she said. The Caspers are looking for some hired help over the next couple of months to run a tractor and help them cut hay. They live about 18 miles southwest of Lemmon. If you or anyone you know is interested in helping out the Caspers as they recover, please call Laurie at 605-860-1410.

Raven Industries and Google to help rural areas of the world Sioux Falls-based Raven Industries Inc.is involved in a pilot project with Google designed to provide high-speed wireless Internet accessibility to rural, remote and underserved areas of the world. Google plans to use Raven-designed and developed high-tech balloons as part of its new project for balloon-powered Internet access, Project Loon. Raven Aerostar has been working for several months in close collaboration with Google on the design and development of this technology innovation. While the program is still in its early stages, a successful trial began this week in New Zealand involving 30 balloons provided by Raven Aerostar providing Internet connectivity to an area covering nearly 10,000 square kilometers. “Raven Aerostar is our balloon design partner and manufacturer of our envelopes,” said Mike Cassidy, Project Lead, Google[x]. “They bring to the project decades of expertise in high altitude balloon engineering as well as the latest breakthroughs in super pressure balloon engineering. They also helped us design the flight control system. This system controls the balloon and helps bring it down safely.” The balloons are designed to be 60 feet tall and fly at an altitude of 66,000 feet. The teams designed sophisticated technology that can control the path of the balloons as they move through the sky. This technology moves the balloons up and down in the stratosphere so they can sail on the wind traveling in the right speed and direction. This, along with software developed by Google for managing a fleet of balloons, is a significant step in turning balloons into a viable platform for providing Internet access to rural and remote areas.

Supreme Court refuses to hear challenge to E15 rules The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review a case that claimed that federal regulators allowed a midlevel ethanol fuel blend onto the market without proper testing. The court’s decision assures a place at the pump for E15, a mix composed of 15 percent ethanol compared with the standard 10 percent - and 85 percent petroleum by leaving intact a 2009 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruling that E15 is safe to use in cars made in 2001 or later. Three trade groups - the Grocery Manufacturers Association, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the American Fuel and Petrochemicals Manufacturers - had petitioned the Supreme Court to consider whether the EPA did enough testing before permitting sales of E15. A lower court said in August 2012 that those groups lacked standing to challenge the EPA decision. The biofuel industry praised the decision, characterizing it as the nail in the coffin for attacks against E15 by the oil industry and food groups. In Iowa, legislators last month approved a bill to protect retailers’ ability to sell E15 and other blends.

July 2013

Union Farmer

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Farmers Union Footnotes Summer Camp Calendary 2013 JULY 2013

AUGUST 2013

1 Hyde County Camp Highmore 7-10 District III & VII Camp Lake Richmond, Aberdeen 8 Lincoln County Camp Tea 9 Turner County Camp Irene 10 Union County Camp Beresford 11 Yankton County Camp Yankton 12 Clay County Camp Vermillion 15 Beadle County Camp SDFU State Office, Huron 17 Aurora County Camp Stickney 17 Moody County Camp Flandreau 18 Davison County Camp Mitchell 18 Minnehaha County Camp Hartford 19 Hutchinson County Camp Menno 22 Spink County Camp Frankfort 23 McCook County Camp Salem 24 Codington/Hamlin County Camp Watertown 25 Bon Homme County Camp Tyndall 25 Day County Camp Webster 26 Grant County Camp Milbank 26 Miner County Camp Howard 29 Lyman County Camp Presho 30 Hughes/Sully/Stanley County Camp Onida 31 Hanson County Camp Alexandria 30-Aug 1 District IV, V & VI Camp Camp Bob Marshall, Custer

1 Hand County Camp Miller 2 Jerauld County Camp Wessington Springs 8 Harding County Camp Buffalo 9 Perkins County Camp Bison 13 Deuel/Grant County Camp Clear Lake

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More camp dates are added every day. If you don’t see your local camp on this list, don’t worry. Once the date is set it will be posted on our website under the education page at: www. sdfu.org.

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www.SDFU.org Births

Congratulations to Jenny and Luke Lester of Rapid City on the birth of a daughter, Hannah Aleah, June 13, 2013. She weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. and was 19.5 inches. This is the Lester’s thrid child. Grandparents are Farmers Union Insurance Agency Regional Manager Wayne Bartscher and Suzy Adams. Congratulations to SDFU Membership Specialist Angela Tarasoff and Shane Ball on the birth of their son, Kellan Cain, born June 6, 2013, weighing 6 lbs. 11 oz., and was 20.5 inches long Congratulations to Kayla and Kelly Konechne on the birth of their daughter, Olivia Jean, June 17, 2013, weighing 7 lbs 13 oz and was 20.75 inches long. She joins an older brother and sister. Grandparents are SDFU Secretary/Treasurer Karla Hofhenke and her husband Doug.

Clip & Save Calendar See the left side of the page for youth camps

July 2013 1-2 Water Task Force Mtg, Aberdeen 4 State Office Closed 7-10 Dist. III & VII Camp (Lake Rich.) 11-14 Conservation Exchange, La. 16-17 SDFU board Mtg., Huron 17 Value-Added Dev. Center Mtg 17 Grain Buyer Mtg, Chamberlain 25 Ag Land Task Force Mtg, Pierre 29-31 3-Year Award Trip, Mpls. 30-Aug. 1 Dist. IV, V & VI Camp (Custer)

August 2013

3-11 Sioux Empire Fair, Sioux Falls 8-11 Conservation Exchange 4-7 Assoc. of Co-ops Educators Conf. 12-18 Brown County Fair, Aberdeen 14 Animal Husbandry Mtg, Aberdeen 19-25 Central States Fair, Rapid City 20-22 Dakotafest, Mitchell 20 SDFU Quiz Bowl Finals, Mitchell 26-27 ACE ethanol conference, Des Moines 29-Sept. 2 S.D. State Fair, Huron 31 Farmers Union Day, State Fair

September 2013 2 9-11 14

State Office Closed, Labor Day NFU Fly-In, Washington, DC SDSU Beef Bowl, Brookings

October 2013 3-4 9-11 14

Rural Women in Ag, Keystone NFU Fly-In, Washington, DC State Office Closed, Native Am. Day

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

NEWS, EVENTS & MORE ONLINE WWW.SDFU.ORG

The South Dakota Union Farmer is published 10 times per calendar year with issues in January, February, March, April, May/ June, July, August 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: cstuder@sdfu.org

Union Farmer

July 2013