National 12 Broadcaster Press March 15, 2016 www.broadcasteronline.com Week March 13 ~ 19 House Gets a Second Look National Farmers Union College at Feedlot Zoning Changes Conference On Cooperatives Introduces Students To Purpose & Diversity Of Co-Ops By Bob Mercer State Capitol Bureau PIERRE – The state House of Representatives on Monday will consider again whether to approve changes in the process used by counties for deciding livestock feedlot permits. Supporters of the legislation claim it’s necessary to stop round after round of appeals on the same application. Opponents argue it’s an attempt to limit action against a permit application. So far the bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. G. Mark Mickelson, is winning on a matter that has split South Dakota agriculture organizations. But Mickelson, R-Sioux Falls, has also made several rounds of concessions to keep the legislation moving forward. His latest was dropping a proposed $250 bond for a person to file an appeal. The House initially approved the legislation, HB 1140, on a 51-18 vote Feb. 16. He came back with amendments at a Senate committee hearing Feb. 29. The full Senate voted 20-14 Wednesday. To help ease its passage, Sen. Larry Tidemann distributed a nine-point summary to fellow members. The changes would define the grounds for appeals and would set a standard that a person seeking to appeal has to show he or she would be aggrieved, according to Tidemann, R-Brookings. If multiple appeals were filed on the same permit, the legislation calls for them to be consolidated into one action, Sen. Bernie Hunhoff, D-Yankton, tried to gut Mickelson’s bill and make just two small changes. “It’s going to stifle opportunities,” Hunhoff argued about Mickelson’s version. “The system is working in most counties, almost all counties.” Hunhoff lost on a voice vote that nonetheless indicated he had support from senators in both parties. That led Senate Democratic leader Billie Sutton of Burke to call for the legislation to be rejected altogether. “I think we need to be very careful in how we proceed on this matter,” Sutton said. The House will take up the legislation as one of its first acts Monday. The decision will be whether to agree with the Senate version or open negotiations in a House-Senate conference committee. During the Senate hearing, Mickelson said he became interested in the situation because so much feed and so many livestock are shipped out of South Dakota. South Dakota’s economy could benefit if more livestock were fed here with what’s grown here, he said. Mickelson said that’s why he worked to change the state law last year so county boards can now make permit decisions with a simple majority rather than a twothirds majority. He said his intention this year is to allow the process to move more quickly to a decision, by eliminating some of the minor technical reasons for appeals and putting the valid appeals on the same permit into a single proceeding. Eliminating the $250 bond for an appeal and straightening out a typographical mistake satisfied the concerns Senate Republican leader Corey Brown of Gettysburg said he previously had. “It looks to me like an attempt to streamline that process,” Brown said. Among the groups opposing the legislation are Dakota Rural Action and South Dakota Farmers Union. Supporting it are the South Dakota Association of County Commissioners, the South Dakota Municipal League, the state Department of Agriculture, the South Dakota Farm Bureau, the agricultural cooperatives association and the cattlemen’s, pork producers and soybean organizations. Young Producers Experience National Leadership Conference HURON – Six young ag producers from South Dakota had the opportunity to attend the Young Farmers & Ranchers national conference held Feb. 12-15 in Kansas City, Missouri. This American Farm Bureau Federation event focused on leadership and personal development opportunities for young farmers and ranchers ages 18 to 35. Chad and Kathy Hanrahan of Milesville, Nick and Bekah Ihnen of Tulare, and Kelsi LaMont and Travis Grave of Willow Lake attended from South Dakota. Highlights of the conference included hearing from Miss America Betty Cantrell, a farm girl from Georgia who is using her platform to promote healthy food choices and teach kids where their food comes from, and Jason Brown, former NFL football player who left the league to start a farm in his native North Carolina. "Nick and I greatly enjoyed our time at the national YF&R conference," commented Bekah Ihnen. "I think our favorite part of the conference was the tours, being able to take a look at different crops and farm operations. We really appreciate being given this opportunity through Farm Bureau." "It was great to meet some other state YF&R chairs and lots of new people. We got to bring home information that we can use in our own operations, our County Farm Bureaus and our state YF&R committee," added Chad Hanrahan. Chad and Kathy serve as co-chairs of the SDFB Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee this year. In addition to the keynote speakers, breakout sessions were offered on a wide variety of useful topics, including: farm succession planning, working across generations, tackling tough agricultural topics with consumers, record keeping for precision-ag data, using social media to connect with the offfarm public, and more. Kelsi LaMont added, "By far the greatest part of the conference was the chance to network with other ranchers our age. It's nice to know we're not alone in facing challenges and to make lifelong friends who share the same values and interests. The travel experience and educational information were also much appreciated." SDFB President Scott VanderWal, who was elected last month as Vice President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, was also a featured speaker at the conference, alongside new AFBF President Zippy Duvall of Georgia. , n PRAIRIE CORDGRASS From Page 9 When Lake Area Technical Institute Agriculture Business student, Alexa Olson, thinks about cooperatives, she immediately pictures the grain elevator in her hometown. Until recently. Today, the image in her mind is much more diverse. Olson just returned from the National Farmers Union College Conference on Cooperatives held Feb.19-21, 2016, in Minneapolis. "During the conference we visited a grocery store that was a cooperative. I was impressed by the fact that cooperatives are much more than grain and agriculture focused," she said. Her classmate, Jeffrey York, agrees. "Before this trip I never thought of a sporting goods store or grocery store as cooperatives. It really opened my mind to how the cooperative business model can be used to meet various needs," says York, an Agriculture Business and Commodity Merchandising student. "This trip made what we learn in class applicable." Opening students' minds to the diversity of cooperatives operating throughout the U.S. is one reason John Brennan, Agriculture Instructor at Lake Area Technical Institute, makes the trip to Minneapolis with his students each year. "We receive a lot of information on cooperatives that you don't get anywhere else. We get to see cooperatives that make you think outside the box and understand that the cooperative model can be a fit for a multitude of businesses," Brennan explains. More than 20 Lake Area Tech students attended the conference held in Minneapolis. They were sponsored by South Dakota Farmers Union. "Getting young people excited about cooperatives and providing them with insights on how they work is important to the future of cooperatives," says Doug Sombke, SDFU President. "Cooperative and cooperative education is part of what we do as a grassroots organization ¬ it's the reason Farmers Union was established more than a century ago." Isaac Gosseling, an Agriculture Production student and third generation farmer, says Lucas Lentsch To Depart As Secretary Of Agriculture doesn’t damage the grass. “They have the potential to be used as biological controllers,” Johnson said. Next, the researchers PIERRE – South need to determine what can be done to enhance Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Lucas these parasitic wasp Lentsch announced populations and what population levels will be today his plans to depart the Department of needed to prevent seed damage. Avoiding the use Agriculture (SDDA) near of pesticides will reduce the end of March 2016 for an opportunity in the input costs, which is important for a crop that private sector. Lentsch, originally has a lower profit margin, from Marshall County, he pointed out. has served as secretary In addition, researchers must address since April 2013. Prior to the issue of monoculture his appointment, Lentsch had served as SDDA’s versus mixed grass communities, according director of agricultural development. to Johnson. “Can we put big blue stem in one “Over the past five area, prairie cordgrass in years, I have thoroughly enjoyed serving South one and switchgrass in Dakota’s farmers, another to produce, on average, a good amount ranchers and our diverse ag industries,” of biomass—and how does that affect the insect Lentsch said. “The opportunity to work communities?” He expects that complex, alongside dedicated public servants as mixed communities well as collaborative will be more stable stakeholders has ecologically and have fewer pest problems. That made the experience an opportunity of a may then help increase lifetime. production of native grasses for use in biofuel I am looking forward to taking on a challenging production. leadership role in the ag sector as well as being more engaged in our family cattle operation.” Gov. Dennis Daugaard praised Lentsch for his service. “Lucas has been an outstanding leader in the ag community, and I appreciate his hard work,” Gov. Daugaard said. “He has been instrumental in reorganizing the department to be more reflective of the dynamic Jensen Auto Body MPCI & Crop Hail 33 years of crop insurance experience 35 years of crop insurance experience. Dave Hoxeng 44867 303rd St. • Volin, SD 57072 We are an Equal Opportunity Employer Elk Point, SD SERVICES AVAILABLE • Custom Strip Till • GPS Soil Sampling • Soil Fertility Planning • Crop Scouting • Variable Rate Fertility Call to discuss Spring Strip Till options Yankton JOEY HANSON Call Scott, Loren, or Jan •Assess your spring needs •Place your seed orders •Discuss grain marketing AG SERVICE 605-665-3691 • 1-800-456-5528 We paint them all! 301 W. Main, Vermillion 605-624-2481 THE STRIP TILL ADVANTAGE For Your Crop Insurance Needs Office: 605-267-2767 Cell: 605-661-1136 • 1-855-969-2767 agriculture industry it serves. Lucas is an effective advocate for agriculture, and I wish him, Laura and family well in their future endeavors.” The Governor and his leadership team will begin immediately to identify potential candidates to serve as the next secretary of Agriculture. Cars, Trucks, Tractors & More Hoxeng Crop Insurance LLC Main Office: 114 Mulberry St. Yankton, SD Grain Storage Facility located 1 Mile N. of Mark’s Machinery that after attending the conference he is motivated to become more involved in his local cooperative. "My family has belonged to the local cooperative for generations. Serving on the board of directors of my cooperative when I return to the farm has crossed my mind a few times ¬ after this trip, it's something I hope to do in the future," Gosseling says. "Cooperatives are a good way to have your voice heard." In addition to touring a sporting goods and grocery store cooperative, the college students learned about challenges facing the industry from current cooperative leaders, farmers and members. Participants also visited several area cooperatives, including the nation's largest agricultural cooperative, CHS Inc., and the Mill City Museum, a riverfront museum built into the ruins of what was once the world's largest flour mill. To learn more about how S.D. Farmers Union provides cooperative education to youth and the general public, visitwww.sdfu.org. n Courtesy S.D. 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