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South Dakota Stockgrowers host informational meeting in Kadoka

South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) hosted an evening supper and information meeting at Club 27 in Kadoka, SD, Tuesday Nov. 16.

President Kenny Fox conducted the meeting which followed a delicious hot beef sandwich. The first speaker of the evening was Becky Littau, Winner, SD, with South Dakota Cattlewomen.

Becky talked about some of the issues the Cattlewomen are working on, including the threat that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) poses for livestock owners. As Membership Chairman for the SD Cattlewomen, she issued an invitation to women in the audience and wives, mothers, daughters and sisters of the rest of the attendees, to join the Cattlewomen which is an auxiliary to the SD Stockgrowers.



Fox lead a discussion regarding the USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) decision to import cattle and hogs, and beef and pork products, from Santa Catarina, a state in Brazil which has been declared free of foot and mouth disease (FMD) and several swine diseases. Fox said “One single state in the country, which adjoins an Argentine country known to carry FMD, should not be allowed to export to the United States which has not seen a case of FMD since 1929.”

Johnny Smith, Ft. Pierre, SD, livestock auction barn partner and Board Member for R-CALF USA, was on hand to talk about the proposed new rule for the Packers & Stockyards Act. Smith explained how a jury decision was overturned by a judge who ruled that the plaintiff had not proven injury to competition to the entire industry. He explained how important it is to have rules written which will clarify the Packers and Stockyards Act and make it enforceable as it was originally intended in 1921, the year it was enacted.



SDSGA Development Director Silvia Christen commented that she “received a couple new membership applications with promise of more to come.”

Fox said “Stockgrowers wish to thank Club 27 and the following sponsors for a very enjoyable, informative meeting: Discount Fuel, Donna Enders-Farmer’s Union Insurance, Midwest Cooperative, Moses Building Center and Philip Motors.”

Stockgrowers also wish to thank the following folks for donating to the Washington, D.C. travel fund which will help four SDSGA members represent our industry and our state at the final DOJ/USDA workshop on Dec. 8, 2010: Allen Badure, Belvidere started off by offering a check and a challenge – others followed. Chuck and Donna Enders, Kadoka; Ft. Pierre Livestock, Ft. Pierre; Jim and Gay Murphy, Reliance; Martin and Vera Nelson, Philip; Charles and Shirley O’Connor, Philip; Dale and Nancy Peterson, Kadoka; Jerry and Stephanie Sharp, Long Valley; U. Lazy U. Angus Ranch, Belvidere.