Broadcaster Press 5 May 24, 2016 www.broadcasteronline.com Jerry Schmitz Joins Hungry For Truth Initiative By Shauna Marlette shauna.marlette@plaintalk.net Local farmer Jerry Schmitz has a long association with the South Dakota Soybean Association; recently he added another group to his resume, supporter of the Hungry For Truth Initiative. His reason, to inform people about the food they are eating. “A mother recently shared with me that she didn’t know which kinds of foods were safe or unsafe for her family,” said Schmitz. “She sees warnings about certain kinds of foods, and new information about the latest health trends comes at her almost daily. As a farmer and a father, I want parents to know that when they purchase food at their local grocery store, no matter what method is used to raise food whether it is organic, natural, or conventional, they can be confident they’re making safe and healthy food choices for their families.” He said in the past, people didn’t used to be that concerned about where their food was coming from; however, a study recently completed showed that 60 percent of those contacted were concerned about the food they were purchasing and serving to their families. “In the past people had a connection with the farm, they either lived on a farm or they knew someone on the farm and understood where the products were coming from,” he said. “Now the great majority of people are two to three generations off the farm. People drive by and see things going on and don’t know why. They have a lot of questions. As farmers, we have dropped the ball educating people about what we are doing and why. We need to change that so everyone is comfortable with what we are doing and what they are eating.” Schmitz raises corn and soybeans, and manages conservation reserve land for wildlife and water quality. He and his wife have farmed land owned by their families in the Vermillion/Elk Point area for more than 35 years. Their continuous farming ancestry can be traced all the way back to Germany. Preserving the land to pass on to his children’s generation is important and is one of the reasons he wants to spread the word about how sustainability and technology are priorities for South Dakota farmers. That’s why he was excited to join Hungry for Truth, an initiative established by the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council (SDSRPC) that connects South Dakotans to the farmers who grow their food. “We have set up a website where people can go and get answers to their questions,” Schmitz said. “We tell about what we do from the methods of farming be it organic, conventional or GMO. We talk about the safety of food and how the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies ensure that the practices and methods used on the farm are safe. We want consumers to know once food reaches grocery story it is safe. When they have questions we want to talk about those things.” While Schmitz says the concerns raised by consumers are maybe a little higher in urban areas, the concerns exist in rural areas, as well. “The Initiative is focused to toward South Dakota consumers and farmers, but anyone can ask a question,” he stressed. “The website started in February of 2015 and it has been growing.” He noted the questions raised have been very broad based. “We are asked why pesticides are used and what are you doing to use them safely,” he said. “We are asked what are GMOs. One question I have personally gotten a number of times is from moms with kids asking what can I do, because can’t afford to purchase organic foods all the time.” Overtime Rule Will Hurt South Dakota’s Workforce and Employers By Senator Mike Rounds today. Not only is this bad for business, it also makes it more difficult for new and mid-level workers, many of whom live paycheck-topaycheck, to support their families and advance their career. By forcing small businesses, restaurants, retailers, colleges and universities to comply with yet another costly new mandate, the administration is hindering economic growth and stifling innovation. The best way to strengthen the middle class is to boost our economy by lowering the tax burden, removing costly regulatory mandates and increasing workplace flexibility. Unfortunately, this new overtime rule will have the opposite effect. Earlier this year, I cosponsored the Protecting Workplace Advancement and Opportunity Act, which would require DOL to pursue a balanced and responsible approach when updating federal overtime rules. Under this legislation, DOL would be required to perform a deeper analysis of the impact changes to overtime regulations will have on businesses, nonprofits, local economies, healthcare providers and colleges. Senator Lamar Alexander, Chairman of the Senate Health, Educa- The Obama administration recently issued a new regulation—one of the 195 new regulations issued so far in 2016—to more than double the salary threshold under which employees can qualify for overtime pay of time and a half. Like so many of the administration’s regulations, the new overtime rule is a one-sizefits-all mandate that doesn’t take into account individual needs and regional differences. In fact, it will actually end up hurting the citizens it is meant to help: employees and the job creators who hire them. Currently, employees making $23,660 or less per year automatically qualify for overtime after 40 hours per week. The new rule He said people need to understand that issued by the Department all food in the grocery store is safe. of Labor (DOL) would raise “Organic is just one method of growing,” that threshold to $47,476, Schmitz said. “Conventional farmers provide effective Dec. 1, 2016. Labor safe food, as do tiller farmers – the difference costs will go up, and many is in the definition.” hard-working, mid-and-entryHe noted that all forms of farming use level employees will feel the pesticides, however organic food is limited to squeeze. Employers will be specific ones. forced to either pay these “The pesticides are typically more organic new labor costs or reclassify in nature, but not always, they can have salaried employees as hourly a chemical nature,” he said. “Traditional workers and limit their farming can use any product that has been hours. Additionally, employapproved by the agencies. While there is a ees who will be converted wider selection for traditional farmers the from salaried to hourly will goal of either is to make sure we maintain lose the flexibility they have crop health – the healthier the crop the heathier the food.” He stressed the goal of the Initiative is to allow consumers to become comfortable with the food they are purchasing, rather than wondering what to buy when at the shelf. “I want people to be comfortable whatBROOKINGS – South Dakota's weather ever choice they make,” he said. this summer could be a bit of a climate roller Schmitz also stressed that one big miscoaster according to outlooks issued by the conception that is being addressed is the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administrabelief that the majority of farms in the state tion's (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center May are now corporate farms. 19, 2016. “More than 90 percent of farmers are The outlook shows the early summer still operating family farms,” he said. “Farms months to be wetter and possibly cooler in today are larger. Part of reason for that is the southwest part of the state. two generations ago grandpa had a farm "These conditions usually fit together in and each son had a farm. Now grandpa has farm and each generation is part of the farm the warm season," explained Dennis Todey, State Climatologist/Associate Professor. "If sharing equipment, which is much more efficient. They are larger but it is still a family conditions are wetter, South Dakota is rarely warmer than average for any length of time operating it.” in the summer." He said when asked, “Why don’t you Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension Climate farm like you used to do?” that he stressed farmers did the best with the equipment they Field Specialist added that the current, fairly wet soil conditions in areas of South Dakota had. “My father, when I was young, would plow and the Plains are likely to help maintain temperatures cooler into the early summer. the field and cultivate every field at least "In South Dakota, cooler and wetter condithree times, it was getting rid of weeds, but tions are more likely to impact the early at the same time was robbing soil of water summer with warmer and drier than average and creating erosion because the dirt was conditions later," she said. being stirred around,” he said. “Since 1982, In the Black Hills and the northeast corfarmers have cut soil erosion by more than 50 percent. I can’t tell you the last time I have ner of South Dakota, these wetter conditions plowed, or cultivated. I am no till, where my are good news. Both areas are reflected on the U.S. Drought Monitor map as being abfather plowed everything.” Schmitz said if anyone is concerned about normally dry (D0) in the most recent map. "For producers in the northeast, the the Initiative just take a look at its logo and conditions should line up well as the current what it stands for. dryness will allow for quicker progress on “The kitchen table is the background of planting into the slightly dry soils," Edwards the Hungry For Truth logo,” he said. “Our said. "The rain after planting should help decisions are still made sitting around the kitchen table. It’s a welcoming thing. People early crop progress." Although rain in the Black Hills will have typically relate to the family events like Thanksgiving and Christmas as the family sit- little agricultural impact, Edwards said the ting around the table. We want to feel like we additional rainfall will help limit potential wildland fire issues for the short-term. are having an open discussion because this Today's climate outlooks from NOAA is is a two way interaction. We are listening, not lecturing.” You can find out more about Schmitz and his farm at the Hungry for Truth website, Hungryfortruthsd.com. Today's NOAA Climate Outlook Calls for Cooler Than Average June fairly consistent in showing warmer than average conditions to cover the region by late summer, as well as some drier than average conditions in parts of the state. "The current El Niño continues to weaken and fade and a La Niña is likely to take hold," she said. This transition, Edwards explained, is expected to be fairly quick, but the atmospheric patterns do not change overnight. "They take many weeks to transition between the different phases. How late in the growing season this occurs will determine what impacts we experience and where those impacts occur," she said. Depending on transition timing, the impacts could vary. A late transition (mid-late August) would have limited impact except for soybean areas, unless conditions turn severely dry and warm quickly. However, Edwards said a late transition looks to be the most likely case at this point. "The additional heat during the growing season may not be a major issue and possibly help with some crops that were planted late," Edwards said. "Some dry conditions seem likely to have some impact towards the end of the growing season." If dry conditions set up late in the growing season, Edwards said this could be a benefit to corn and soybean growers. "It could mean grain could dry down in the field before harvest, reducing their costs of mechanical grain drying in the fall," she said. "While not reducing yield too much." The fall outlook currently maintains the warmer than average conditions into harvest. Dakota Senior Meals Call Today! Served at The Main Street Center & Town Square, “Meals on Wheels” Please call before 9:00am to schedule or cancel a meal at 624-7868. Menus listed below are May 25 - May 31. Menus are subject to change without notice. All menus are served with whole grain bread and 1% milk unless otherwise noted. Wednesday – Liver and Onions, Company Potatoes, Parslied Carrots, Fruit Cocktail Thursday – Meatloaf, Boiled Potato, Broccoli, Pudding with Apricots Friday – Chili, Cinnamon Roll, Baby Carrots, Yogurt, Orange Monday – Memorial Day! No Meals – Call for a meal to be delivered on Friday, May 27th Tuesday – Ham Loaf, Diced Parsley Potatoes, Cooked Cabbage, Apricots We’re all ears. Your opinion is something we always want to hear. Questions? Call, write us or contact Comments? us via e-mail and let us Story Ideas? know how we are doing. Quality Color Printing • • • • • • • • • Business Cards Brochures Letterhead Posters Flyers Calendars Greeting Cards Announcements Invitations Prompt Turnaround tion, Labor and Pensions Committee, has pledged to file a Resolution of Disapproval to stop this new rule, which I wholeheartedly support. Since the rule was first proposed in 2014, DOL received nearly 300,000 comments, many of which came from employees, business owners and local government officials, who tried to explain that the rule would stifle growth. Still, the DOL pushed forward with the rule, disregarding the input from those it says it is trying to help. Additionally, the administration failed to take into account regional differences when finalizing this new mandate. What’s good for South Dakota may differ greatly from what’s good for California and New York. This is especially true when you’re talking about cost of living and family budgets. Employees deserve fair pay for an honest day’s work, but forcing employers to comply with this rule is irresponsible. It threatens businesses, employees, state and local governments and the economy as a whole. If the president wants to truly help the middle class – he should start by withdrawing this misguided rule. Communicate in color with our high-quality and highly affordable, four-color printing servicies. Whether it’s a business presentation or a personal project, our friendly, helpful staff gets your job done quickly and easily. 201 W. Cherry St., Vermillion 605-624-4429 201 W. Cherry •Vermillion, SD 57069 605-624-4429 • classifieds@plaintalk.net Free Lunch at Jolley School May 31st July 29th Open to anyone 18 or Younger Weekdays 11:00am - 1:00pm For more information call 677-7000 This institution is an equal opportunity provider VERMILLION SUMMER LUNCH MENU The Summer Food Program at Jolley will be serving lunch Monday through Friday from May 31st to July 29th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. This meal is FREE to anyone 18 or younger. For more information call 677-7000. Menu listed below is for May 31. Menus are subject to change without notice. Tuesday – Golden Macaroni and Cheese, Steamed Broccoli Consider it... Sold! Classifieds