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Farm bill, EPA meetings planned for S.D.

Livestock producers are invited to attend area meetings set for Oct. 6-8 to learn more about the Farm Bill’s new livestock risk-management tools and the EPA’s proposed “Waters of the U.S.” rule that will greatly impact agriculture. South Dakota Farm Bureau, South Dakota Stockgrowers Association and the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association are jointly hosting the events in Reva, Faith, New Underwood, Philip, Chamberlain and Winner.

Pasture/Range Forage (PRF) is a relatively new program intended to be the first step in providing crop-insurance-like risk management for grass producers. Silveus Insurance will be on hand to demonstrate their software designed to assist landowners in determining how to make the Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) Pasture/Range Forage program work on their farm or ranch. The Silveus software provides guidance on the best insurance periods for individual operations.

The second topic presented at each meeting will be the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed new rule, “Waters of the U.S.” The rule expands the scope of the Clean Water Act to cover even non-navigable and temporary waters, or dry areas that only have water in them a few times a year. If this rule goes through, ranchers may be forced to apply for EPA permits to do regular activities in these areas, such as fencing and haying. Dale Moore, Executive Director for Public Policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, will give details about the proposed rule and its practical implications. The public has until Oct. 21 to submit comments to the EPA.



A beef meal will be offered free of charge at each event, thanks to the sponsoring ag organizations and Silveus Insurance. Meetings are scheduled as follows:



Monday, Oct. 6

11:30 a.m. – Reva Hall

6:30 p.m. – Faith VFW

Tuesday, Oct. 7

11:30 a.m. – New Underwood Community Center

6:30 p.m. – Philip Legion Hall

Wednesday, Oct. 8

11:30 a.m. – Chamberlain Community Center

6:30 p.m. – Winner 4-H Center

–S.D. Farm Bureau