Union Farmer July 2021 by South Dakota Farmers Union

Volume CVI, No. 5 Huron, SD JULY 2021

A PUBLICATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION

SERVING SOUTH DAKOTA’S FARM & RANCH FAMILIES SINCE 1915.

Rural Veterinarians Integral to Livestock Producers

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SDFU Supports Rodeo Families

2021 State Leadership Camp

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South Dakota Ag Groups Unite to Discuss Solutions for Cattle Industry

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2021 FUE Couple Announced

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S.D. Farmers Union Celebrates Jerauld County Farm Family

eaders from six South Dakota agriculture groups came together in Pierre June 2 to unite behind solutions to help South Dakota’s cattle industry. The groups who met include South Dakota Livestock Auction Markets Association, South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, South Dakota Farm Bureau, South Dakota Farmers Union, R-CALF and South Dakota Stockgrowers Association.

Cattle Industry Continued on Page 7 Grassroots Policy Begins Here! Attend the 2021 Virtual State Policy Meeting Thursday, July 22, 2021 8 a.m. CT Find log-in information at www.sdfu.org. Learn more on page 5.

South Dakota Farmers Union has served South Dakota farm and ranch families for more than a century. Throughout the year, we share their stories in order to highlight the families who make up our state’s No. 1 industry and help feed the world. This month we highlight the Bartel family, pictured here: Neal and Linda with their son, Josh, daughter-in-law, Natalie, and grandchildren, Taryn, 10, Kenzie, 7, and Emmie, 4.

here’s a story from his youth that fifth-generation Jerauld County farmer Josh Bartel says pretty much sums up farming. “When I was a kid, I had bottle lambs that I named Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Luke died. I sold John for $50 and thought, ‘This is great! When I sell Matthew and Mark, I will get $100.’ Well, I took Matthew and Mark to the auction and the pair sold for $26.My

Bartel Family Continued on Page 2

Union Farmer

Bartel Family

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dad always told me farming is a gamble, but this was when it hit me how much of a gamble it was. Our living depends on the market.” With a clear understanding of what his future would be like if he chose to make farming his career, in 2006, Josh returned with his wife, Natalie, to farm with his dad, Neal, and grandpa, Irving Stolen. “With college, Josh and I both experienced city lifestyle for a while, and neither of us liked it. We did not want to raise kids in town,” explains Natalie, who grew up on a farm 9 miles northwest. Dating since high school, the couple always planned to return to Josh’s family farm. But, they took time out to further their education first. Natalie has a nursing degree from Dakota Wesleyan University and Josh has a general agriculture degree from South Dakota State University. Today, Natalie spends her days helping on the farm, taking care of their three daughters, Taryn, 10, Kenzie, 7, and

Emmie, 4, and she works part-time as a nurse at Avera Weskota Memorial Hospital. Josh and his dad have a backgrounding and finishing cattle operation and raise corn and soybeans on land that has been farmed by descendants of Josh’s mom’s great-grandpa H.B. Reese since 1902. H.B.’s daughter, Emma, married Martin Stolen, who had moved from Norway in about 1910. Martin started farming the land where Neal and Linda live now. “It’s always been my goal to keep the farm alive and grow the farm as much as we can, but with integrity, take care of the land and be a good neighbor,” Josh explains. When it comes to caring for the land, the family rotational grazes and has been implementing no-till farming practices since the mid ’90s. “We have things the generations before us did not have – like soil testing,” Neal says. “When we started soil testing, we started working with an agronomist. With no-till, our organic matter has grown from

1 to 3.9 percent.” And the increased organic matter, coupled with better seed genetics has paid off in yields. “I have seen a lot of change just since I came back in ’06,” Josh says. “That year we averaged about 75 bushels an acre and we thought, ‘what are we going to do with all this corn?’ Today, yields like that are borderline train wreck.’” Answer to prayers Neal became part of the farming operation when he and Linda Stolen married in 1979. The couple met while they were students at SDSU. They finished college in 1982 and taking their twin daughters, Nicki and Angie, with them, they moved to the farm. When they met, Linda knew Neal’s goal was to farm full time. “He always prayed as a kid that he would get to farm,” Linda shares. But Neal’s family’s Beadle County farm was too small for him to return home to after college. “When I was real small, my dad told me that if I wanted to farm full time, either land prices would need to change or I would marry into it. I happened to marry into it,” Neal says.

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The family also has a vast collection of family heirlooms – farm logbooks, photographs and a grandfather clock featuring scenes from the Norwegian village where the family is originally from – all carved out of wooden fruit boxes by a farmhand.

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July 2021

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Union Farmer Neal got his start by working for Linda’s dad, Irving, and uncle, Harold. At the same time, he began building up a hog operation. It was not easy. “After paying for school, I had $2,500 left over so I bought six sows and started farrowing. It was a complete disaster. The sows had parvo lepto (Porcine Parvovirus and Leptospirosis),” Neal says. What kept him going? “You can’t give up after the first year,” Linda explains. After farrowing those original six out, he was able to save 17 pigs. At a neighbor’s farm sale, he bought a 16-crate farrowing Neal and Linda Bartel barn. “I got good bloodlines, and in 10 years I was farrowing 60 sows and finishing them. We were pushing out a lot of hogs. Neal continued to build up the farrow to finish hog operation, marketing 800 hogs a year – all the while working full time for Linda’s dad and uncle. Meanwhile, Linda, who is a nurse, worked off the farm. “Linda’s nursing career allowed our equity to grow twice as fast. We lived on her salary and kept every sow we could to grow the

“They are both frugal. They never took out an operating loan. So, I am the same way. I have always heard them say, ‘you cannot figure on prices being hot.’” With five generations of farming experience rooted in Jerauld County soil and climate, the family is also careful when it comes to marketing and choose not to forward contract. “We don’t like to sell anything that is not grown yet or in the bin yet,” Josh says. “There have been years when we had to windrow corn due to drought,” Natalie explains. As the family visits about their farm today, they reflect on its beginnings with a solid grasp of its history, thanks to a book written by Linda’s great-grandpa, H.B. Reese, and great-uncle, J.B. Reese. When her great-grandfather bought the land 15 miles southwest of Wessington Springs in 1902, he wrote, “If the land had seemed poor to us before, now it seemed only worse. We passed a considerable number of empty houses which indicate that the inhabitants had been forced to abandon the land on which these stood. It was in August and dry so that the prairie was quite seared over. …I bought a quarter section of it thinking it might do for pasture. I paid less than $5 per acre for it, so I felt that I could not lose money anyway.” In addition to the history book, the family also has a vast collection of family heirlooms – farm logbooks, photographs and a grandfather clock featuring scenes from the Norwegian village where the family is originally from – all carved out of wooden fruit boxes by a farmhand. “During the Depression, he worked on the farm for room and board and evidentially thought that was too much, so he carved this clock as a gift to the family,” Josh shares. And because he and Natalie’s children are now the sixth

“It’s always been my goal to keep the farm alive and grow the farm as much as we can, but with integrity, take care of the land and be a good neighbor.” – Josh Bartel operation,” Neal explains. In 1993, when Uncle Harold was ready to retire, Neal began taking over his portion of the farm – buying his cattle on shares and leasing his farm ground. With the ever-expanding hog operation, crops and cattle, Neal was stretched thin. “One day I woke up and thought, ‘this is too much.’” He decided to sell his hog operation. “It shocked me when he told me, ‘we are going to get out of pigs,’” Linda says. “Up till then, for years he had been talking about how we were going to continue building the hog operation up.” Not able to explain his reasoning, Neal says simply, “It was divine intervention. I got out before the hog market crashed. Right after I got out, hogs were selling for 9 cents a pound.” Like his dad, when Josh returned to the farm in 2006, he got his start working on salary. Josh says growing up farming with his dad and grandpa gave him a good foundation and a conservative mindset. www.sdfu.org

Natalie and Josh Bartel with their daughters, Kenzie, 7, Emmie, 4, and Taryn, 10.

generation to grow up on the family farm, they get to not only hear the stories from the past, but create stories of their own on the farm, something Neal and Linda love being a part of. “One of the driving reasons I wanted to retire was wanting to spend more time with my grandkids,” Linda says. In addition to Josh and Natalie’s girls, their daughter Angie brings her two children, Aubrey, 17 and Evan, 14 back to the family farm often. To view more photos and a video of the Bartel family, visit www. sdfu.org. ■ By Lura Roti for SDFU July 2021

Union Farmer Why Send Our Healthcare Dollars to Other States?

by Jim Woster

ike many of you, my wife Penny and I are conservative when it comes to spending. We’ve lived in our home for more than 50 years, and we don’t drive the newest cars. But, when I learned that by not expanding Medicaid, funds allocated to South Dakota are going to help fund health care in other states – it simply did not make sense. South Dakotan’s federal income tax is paying for Medicaid expansion to help those who work but earn too little to pay for insurance, so why aren’t we receiving the benefits? And I know many farm and ranch families who could use help when it comes to paying for healthcare. I’m especially concerned when it comes to mental healthcare. It was just a couple years ago when we were knee deep in mud and enduring horrible prices. There were a whole lot of farm families who were really struggling. And for many, the extreme stress brought on mental health issues. Many of us knew friends and/or family members who battled depression during that time. If only they had been diagnosed. There are treatments and medications that can help. I am afraid many did not seek help because they thought they could not afford it.

Well, here we are, around the first part of July and desperately in need of moisture. The worst thing that can happen on the farm – good prices or bad – is not having anything to sell. I’m concerned about our farmers’ and ranchers’ mental health. Those extra health care dollars could be just what a family needs to seek help. One thing I do hear, is some are

concerned about what will happen if the feds change their mind and cut back. Well, we’ll just do what farmers do all the time – we make adjustments. But right now, I know there are many families and communities who could use these dollars. So, why send them to other states when we have South Dakotans who could use them? ■

Nominate A Volunteer in Your Community for the South Dakota Farmers Union Rural Dakota Pride Award

ominations are now open for the 2021 Rural Dakota Pride awards sponsored by South Dakota Farmers Union to celebrate rural volunteers. “Volunteers are how things get done in rural communities,” says Karla Hofhenke, SDFU Executive Director. “This award is one way our organization celebrates citizens who give of their time and talent to support their communities.” Nominate a volunteer today As the state’s largest agriculture organization, SDFU understands the integral role healthy communities play in supporting our state’s family farmers and ranchers. “South Dakota’s agriculture producers

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and their communities are closely connected. In good economic times, they both prosper. When times are tough due to low commodity prices or extreme weather conditions, they both feel the pain,” says Doug Sombke, SDFU President. “The Rural Dakota Pride honor is

one of many ways SDFU works to show our support for both.” Do you know someone who gives of their time or talent to make your community a better place? Nominate them today by visiting sdfufoundation.org and filling out the online nomination form. Nomination forms can also be requested by contacting Hofhenke at Karla@sdfu.org or calling the South Dakota Farmers Union state office at 605-352-6761. Nomination deadline is July 10. Learn more and meet the 2020 Rural Dakota Pride Honorees by visiting www.sdfufoundation. org. ■ www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer Grassroots Policy Starts Here!

ATTEND 2021 POLICY MEETING

outh Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) will host the organization’s annual Policy Meeting July 22, at 8 a.m. When asked why he plans to participate in the 2021 Policy Meeting, Corson County rancher Jerry Petik references the Joe Diffie song, Third Rock from the Sun. “For every cause, there is an effect. If you want to effect positive change, you have to have a cause and you have to do something to help that cause along,” explains Petik, a member of the 2021 Policy Committee. “I figure we can go to the coffee shop and complain, or I can go to a meeting like this and help develop profound and clear policy for our board to move forward with. What you do or don’t do will have an effect.” Grassroots policy development is the reason SDFU hosts the annual Policy Meeting. During the meeting, members go through the organization’s policy book to ensure the policy is relevant and accurately reflects issues of the day. All additions and changes suggested by members during this meeting are voted on by members during the SDFU Annual Convention held each year in December. “This meeting gives all members the opportunity to sculpt and change policy as we go through this crazy thing called life,” explains Chad Johnson, a Groton farmer and District 7 Board member. Johnson further explains that because the policy is developed by the family farmers and ranchers it serves, when the organization lobbies on its behalf in Pierre or Washington, D.C., leaders know where it comes from. “If you want to know what Farmers Union members are about, just look at our policy book. You will understand what we stand for and you will know our outlook on things,” Johnson says. Only agriculture producers can vote on policy during the Annual Convention. “Because we believe unless you have boots on the ground, you don’t understand what is really going on in farm country. This also prevents outside influences, who don’t have agriculture’s best interests at heart from setting policy,” Johnson says. And because SDFU is the state’s largest agriculture organization and its policy is on behalf of its nearly 20,000 members, those who develop policy at the state and national level tend to listen, explains Doug Sombke, a Conde crop and cattle producer and SDFU President.

www.sdfu.org

Chad Johnson is a Groton farmer and District 7 Board member.

“This is the united voice of family farmers and ranchers. Now, anyone can lobby on their own behalf in Pierre or D.C. – this is America – but we all know it is easy to break one stick, but if you have a bundle of sticks, they are much stronger,” Sombke says. “This is the reason we come together each year to review and build our policy. It is the reason our organization has a strong history. We’ve been doing this for more than a century.” How can you participate? The 2020 Policy Meeting was held via Zoom due to the pandemic. And many producers appreciated the convenience – they could step

away from haying, spraying or other duties for a couple hours and then get right back to work. So, for the 2021 meeting, members will participate via Zoom, but the board and Policy Committee will meet in person. To participate, members can find Zoom or conference call details by visiting www.sdfu. org. All special orders and extensive policy changes need to be submitted to the state office or sdfu@sdfu.org by July 19. Questions? Reach out to Karla Hofhenke, SDFU Executive Director at 605-350-5976 or Karla@SDFU.org. ■

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Union Farmer

Rural Veterinarians Play Integral Role in Livestock Producers’ Operations

ainie Kringen-Scholtz loved Frank. He was a 4-year-old rodeo horse in training she worked with herself. So, the day he broke his leg, she was desperate to get him the help he needed. The first veterinarian she reached out to was not on call that night. The second veterinarian Kringen-Scholtz called was at the farm in less than an hour. Brooke Braskamp’s response impacted Kringen-Scholtz’s philosophy on how she would practice large animal medicine. “She was eight months pregnant and trekked through 3-feet of snow to help me and my horse,” recalls the veterinarian, animal chiropractor and acupuncturist. “She was there right away. She didn’t care that it was zero degrees out. She didn’t care that she had the burden of being eight months pregnant, she was there to help me, and I just wanted to be able to do that for people too.” Today, Braskamp is Kringen-Scholtz’s boss. And like her, KringenScholtz is willing to be on call so that anytime of the day or night her clients need her, she is there for them and their animals. Access to a veterinarian is crucial for South Dakota’s more than 14,000 livestock operations, explains registered Simmental producer Clay Duxbury. “Our bottom line is already so tight, so that every live calf matters,” says the registered Simmental producer. A few years back, a mysterious illness began plaguing Duxbury’s cattle – giving the calves’ fevers and scours. “It was a virus actually, none of the antibiotics treated it,” Duxbury says. After trying everything he could think of and losing a few calves, the Miller cattleman reached out to his veterinarian, Eric Knock. Knock observed the cattle herd, collected samples and ran tests. Turns out, Duxbury’s soil was infected with a virus. Once Knock diagnosed the culprit, he was able to prescribe a treatment that worked for the calves as well as preventative measures like adding a feed supplement to his cows’ diet 90 days before calving. “We’ve been doing that for six years now and it has completely changed the scope of our herd health,” Duxbury says. Outcomes like this are among the reasons Knock became a veterinarian. “Being able to hopefully make a difference. You know, take a situation, like the cow that wasn’t able to have a calf, and help change the outcome of that situation and make it better,” Knock says. One of six veterinarians who make up Prairie View Veterinary Rural veterinarian Eric Knock works with Prairie View Clinic, Knock and Veterinary Clinic.

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Lainie Kringen-Scholtz is a veterinarian and animal chiropractor.

the team serve livestock and pet owners living near the rural communities of Redfield, Miller, Highmore and Wessington Springs. Knock says he enjoys the diversity of his work. “It’s not a 9-to-5 deal at all,” Knock says. “A lot of times we take a chute and go out to the producer’s operation, and we will process however many cattle we need to that are in that group whether that’s pregnancy testing, semen testing bulls, heifers, vaccinating or processing, whatever that involves. But then there’s also times we will be in the clinic working on small animals, surgeries, doing spays and neuters. You throw in the calving calls and those obviously aren’t planned, and so that adds a little bit of variety.” Growing up on a crop and cattle farm near Willow Lake, S.D., Knock decided to become a veterinarian when it became obvious that his family’s farm was not large enough for him to return home to. Today, in addition to his work as a veterinarian, he and his wife, Roxanne, have a cattle herd of their own neighboring her family’s Tulare farm. The Knock farm is also home to a menagerie of 4-H show animals and pets their children enjoy taking care of. With four young kids: Rylee, 12, RaeAnna, 10, Rielle, 6, and Roy, 4, the long days can sometimes be a challenge, but Knock says the work is rewarding. “When I look back at the end of the day, there’s a lot of tangible, physical things our team was able to accomplish to help make situations better for our clients,” Knock says, explaining that even though he and the team of six veterinarians he works with treat animals, it is their owners they enjoy working with the most. “They are our neighbors. They are the people we go to church with and our kids go to the same www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer schools and are in 4-H together. My veterinary work is a way I can help the community as a whole and I find this rewarding.” Duxbury says he not only depends on Knock when there’s a health emergency or routine procedures like vaccinations and pregnancy checks – but he also relies on Knock for advice on preventative measures to increase herd health and limit illness. “Improved nutrition and supportive care methods improves overall herd health and saves me a great deal of money.” “We really try to be a partner in their livestock operation,” Knock explains. “So, we do quite a bit of consultation work with livestock producers. Talking about genetics and grazing management and all kinds of different things to help prevent issues from happening.” There is a need for rural veterinarians like Knock and Kringen-Scholtz. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) website, “For many years, some rural

communities have suffered from inadequate access to livestock and public health veterinarians.” One reason for the shortage is income. According to a 2018 study, published by the AVMA, veterinarians whose practices focus primarily on livestock earn the least. This disparity did not dissuade KringenScholtz from pursuing her dream of becoming a rural vet. “At the end of the day, it’s really about the people. What I like about working the agriculture and livestock community is the people. They are good people. They are the people who will help you out of a snowbank when your truck is stuck. They are people who you can call if you ever need anything. They are fun to be around.” In fact, her clients were the reason she took additional classes to become certified in animal chiropractic and acupuncture. “I wanted to provide a service here in South Dakota that many would otherwise have to travel a long distance to receive,” she explains.

Most of her chiropractic clients are show animals, like those belonging to fourthgeneration cattle producer Cody Williams. “Show animals are like athletes. And if their muscles are a little sore or they are injured, they do not perform as well,” explains Williams, who raises registered Polled Herefords. He shares a story of a time when a show heifer probably injured herself slipping on ice by the feedbunk. “We were really nervous that we were not going to get to show her the rest of the winter. So, we had Lainie come out. She was able to work on her and get things set back where they should be. We went from not being able to show her to being able to show her within the month.” Another time, Williams had a bull that somehow injured himself bad enough, Williams thought he’d have to take him to the sale barn. After a chiropractic treatment, the bull healed well enough he was able to

Veterinarians

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Cattle Industry Continued from Page 1 After discussing challenges facing the state’s cattle producers, leaders from these groups all agreed there is great need for: 1. Improved price transparency on cash and contract fed cattle 2. Better food security 3. Education of consumers and politicians on the challenges facing

www.sdfu.org

South Dakota cattle producers and the state’s beef industry as a whole South Dakota’s cattle industry contributes $5.8 billion to the state’s economy, according to a 2019 South Dakota Agriculture Economic Contribution Study. Leaders will meet again to further define these solutions. ■

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Union Farmer

CFDC Salutes Orrie Swayze and his Vision for Higher Ethanol

ollowing a memorial service held last week for long-time ethanol supporter and pioneer Orrie Swayze, his legacy of promoting higher blends of ethanol to protect public health and support American agriculture was praised by friends, family and colleagues. Swayze spent more than four decades promoting the use of homegrown ethanol both as a hedge against reliance on imported oil and later as a tool to protect public health. An early supporter of South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), he was tireless in his efforts to advance American agriculture. As the RFS matured and ethanol captured 10 percent of the gasoline market, Swayze looked beyond those limits and led the fight for E30 which is currently recognized as the optimum blend level to reduce the toxic compounds in gasoline. He argued E30 provides clean, economic octane and has been successfully demonstrated and tested through the Glacial Lakes Energy E30 challenge as well as state fleet use in Nebraska. In a new interview with Ag Week, Daschle shared how he is working with several groups

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to convince the Biden administration to transition the U.S. gasoline pool from its current 10 percent ethanol blend to nationwide E30 over the next 10 years. Daschle chairs the High Octane Low Carbon Alliance (HOLCA), which is focused on the opportunity presented by the revision of fuel economy standards that will require increased mileage and lower carbon – a challenge they argue ethanol can meet. Daschle said he sees new opportunity in a new administration to advance Swayze’s hopes

and dreams for ethanol, telling Ag Week, “If you want to help agriculture, if you want to help the country, if you want to deal with the environment, if you want to recognize the inevitable around EVs (electric vehicles) then high-octane, low carbon fuels is the only solution. It has to be the regulatory solution because in large measure that is the realistic lay of the land in Washington today.” Daschle sees E30 and the concept of highoctane, low carbon as a “segue to the EV world we know is coming,” he says. “For the foreseeable future, and I would say several decades yet to come – the internal combustion engine is still going to play a role and will be part of the transportation landscape,” he says. “We see E30 and highoctane, low carbon fuel as a segue fuel, a segue to EVs. The more we can adapt, as early as possible, to the recognition of the need for segue fuels, eliminating aromatics, greenhouse gases, ultrafine particles, the more we can meet the administration’s objectives and aspirations for dealing with the environmental and health questions we’re now facing.” Many ethanol industry supporters credit Swayze for his early recognition of ethanol’s ability to replace aromatics and the toxic compounds in gasoline, which Daschle noted. “We know that fine particulate matter and aromatics are just as bad for us as lead was in the 1980s. We have to recognize that there is a real health threat to minority communities in particular that we think ethanol can address effectively if we make this ‘segue’ fuel the reality as soon as possible,” he says. The health issues are so compelling, according to Daschle, that the policy priority that drives ethanol may have to move away from the RFS with a greater focus on health. “We’ve got to phase out aromatics. And there is no substitute for aromatics that is able to address health and environment as much as E30.” CFDC member Jim Seurer of Glacial Lakes Energy in South Dakota said, “Orrie Swayze was a tireless, fearless supporter and he will be missed. But we are determined to fulfill his dream and work to position ethanol as the clean fuel the country needs right now. We support the work of the High Octane Low Carbon Alliance and the revision of our fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards to include higher blends like E30.” For Further Information on the SAFE Rule, or the High Octane Low Carbon Alliance, contact Doug Durante at cfdcinc@aol.com. ■ www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer 2021 Camp... Together Again

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Union Farmer

2021 Camp Speaker Teaches Teens About Handling Stress

r. Thomas Flamboe, Mental Strength Conditioning Coach from Black Hills State University, presented on the topic of healthy stress and how you can put it to work for you, instead of against you. “No Frettin’ the Stressing” was his message to this year’s South Dakota Farmers Union State Camp. Flamboe fully acknowledges the stressors of this past year multiplied by the stress of simply being a student and teenager. He cites social stress, academic stress, world events and significant life changes. “Students are under a large amount of stress and so many are perfectionists, and if things don’t go perfectly, they can kind of collapse,” says Flamboe. “I like to get some good discussion going and challenge their ‘giving up’ ideas by giving them healthier

ones.” Flamboe discussed coping techniques like breathing, meditation, exercise, art and music. While the topic may seem a heavy one, Flamboe kept the presentation upbeat, fun and informative. “We don’t talk about stress with our kids enough,” says Haigh-Blume. “Teens especially are starting to realize how many things they have on a deadline: scholarship deadlines, college deadlines and graduation tasks. We emphasize how they can stay on top of it all and stay healthy.” “In many cases, when people are stressed, they feel helpless and have a ‘there’s nothing I can do’ feeling. They end up spending $10 on a 10-cent problem,” says Flamboe. ”It’s really about how you talk to yourself and lessen the effects of stress.”

Dr. Thomas Flamboe has worked with families and children since 1970. His background is special education/education; speech and language disorders; counseling and counseling psychology. He has presented to many parent groups and school kids from kindergarten to high school as well as college students. He has presented at numerous teacher in-services, school boards, professional organizations and businesses. He has been a consultant and adviser to police and sheriff departments and has been a trained hostage/ crisis negotiator. He has also been trained in critical incident stress management. He is currently volunteering his time at Black Hills State University as a “Mental Strength and Conditioning Coach” in the Athletics Department. ■ by Toby Kane

State Camp Chooses New Youth Leaders

his last year, we all learned new ways of staying connected. High school students were hit especially hard, as many missed milestones and school activities. Students were forced to adapt to new ways of learning, communicating and staying social. This year’s South Dakota Farmers Union State Camp brought back some of the old ways of doing things, plus added a few new experiences. “My first year at state camp was a fun experience. I didn’t know anyone when I got there, but I made a lot of friends,” says Gettysburg eighth-grade student Bobbi Eide. “The experience definitely couldn’t be recreated virtually. I’m glad it was in person.” Cadence Konechne, an eighth-grade student from Kimball, adds, “It was nice to meet new people. I learned a lot about cooperatives and how they actually work. I also learned a lot about diversity and enjoyed meeting the new Junior Advisory Council.” The campers elected the Junior and Senior Advisory Council (JACs) and welcomed them in with a JAC induction ceremony. The ceremony did not take place last year due to COVID, so it’s a welcome return to a longstanding tradition for the campers. “I think it’s important to make it a special evening for our new leaders,” says Education Director Rachel Haigh-Blume. “It recognizes the work they’ve put in to earn the title of leader and inspires younger campers to do the same.” The JACs act as mentors and leaders for campers and help with key decisions and planning throughout the year. Meet this year’s elected JACs:

Alyssa Fordham Parents: Michael and Tina Fordham Groton, S.D. (District 7) Alyssa is looking forward to coming back to camp as a JAC to help plan and implement the team’s ideas. She believes the camping program allows campers from all over the state to come together and make great friends in a welcoming environment. Camp has taught her

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Levi Nightingale, Victoria Haverman, Allyssa Fordham, Connor Hutcheson, Casey Tolsma and Rachel Gerlach.

many skills that impact her thinking and life, including the cooperative business model and how it impacts people locally. Alyssa participates in one-act plays, oral interpretation, Groton Leos Club and Destination Imagination. Rachel Gerlach Parents: LaRon and Roxann Gerlach Stickney, S.D. (District 2) Rachel is excited to join the JAC team and meet the new campers. Her ideas and ability to get along with teammates make her a wonderful addition. Rachel feels SDFU camp has allowed her to gain confidence in who she is and not let others judge her for it. She enjoys the dances, games, campfires and making new friends. Rachel participates in FCCLA,

JAC Continued on Page 15

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Farm & Ranch Families of South Dakota

outh Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) calls on South Dakota farm and ranch families to participate in the 2021 growing season photo contest, Farm & Ranch Families of South Dakota. Running May 1 to Dec. 1 all who enter become eligible to win $250. To enter, simply visit www.sdfu. org and click on the News & Events tab. ■

Union Farmer

Hadlee Holt

Jese Meyer

Heidi Healy

Jennifer Huggett Kathryn Paulson

Beth Sayler Stephanie Hubbard Meisel

Emily

Jamie Watembach Stephanie Hubbard Meisel Katie Heine Jamie Watembach Stephanie Hubbard Meisel

Jenna Humble

Brook Higgins Stephanie Hubbard Meisel Jamie Watembach Stephanie Hubbard Meisel

Laura Huether

Danya Buseman Judy Leighton

Stephanie Hubbard Meisel

Matthew Harnisch Morgan Heidinger

Morgan Heidinger

Laura Huether

Stephanie Hubbard Meisel

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July 2021

Union Farmer Around the State with Farmers Union

South Dakota Farmers Union members and staff are making a difference in rural communities across South Dakota.

County Camp

Rural CPR Trainings

South Dakota High School Rodeo Finals

Gracie Dimmit

July 2021

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Around the State with Farmers Union

Union Farmer

Farm Safety Trailer

Alcester Safety Day

Chester School Safety Days

Piedmont Shade Hill

Faulkton School Safety Days

Ft. Pierre Safety on the Farm

Clark School Safety Days

www.sdfu.org

July 2021

Union Farmer

Dallas Farm Couple Selected to Participate in 2021 Farmers Union Enterprise Couples Leadership Program

allas crop and cattle producers Hank and Melissa Wonnenberg were selected to participate in the 2021 Farmers Union Enterprise Couples Leadership Program. “Ever since we learned about the program a few years ago, we were hoping we’d have the opportunity to participate,” says Hank, who also works off the farm as a banker. Hank explains that the reasons the couple was eager to participate in the year-long leadership development program are many. “We’ve been involved in South Dakota Farmers Union now for a while, and we are interested to learn more about the national organization, understand how other states’ Farmers Union organizations do things, learn about agriculture outside South Dakota and have the opportunity to network with other young producers.” This program provides all those opportunities and more, explains Doug Sombke, SDFU President and FUE President. “This program is designed to empower agriculture leaders and it includes producers from five states,” Sombke says. “It provides the family farmers and ranchers who participate with leadership and advocacy training through workshops, training and tours in the five participating states as well as D.C.” Along with South Dakota, farm couples from the states of North Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin and Minnesota are also involved. Sponsored by Farmers Union Enterprises, the organization which oversees Farmers Union Industries, throughout the year, the couples involved meet up for several sessions. The sessions begin with a summer family session where the participants and their families will meet for the first time. Couples will also meet up during one of the participating state’s annual conventions, attend the 2022 National Farmers Union Convention and participate in the National Farmers Union Washington, D.C., Fly-In. “Farmers Union is good about providing members with opportunities that help us grow,” Melissa says. “When Hank and I joined Farmers Union, we were looking for a way to be involved outside our community because we both volunteer a lot in our community.” Actively engaged in South Dakota Farmers Union, Hank and Melissa have advocated on behalf of the organization’s grassroots policy in D.C. and in January 2020, Hank participated in World Trade Organization (WTO) Global Forum on Food and Agriculture held in Berlin,

July 2021

Dallas farmers Hank and Melissa Wonnenberg were selected to participate in the 2021 Farmers Union Enterprise Couples Leadership Program. The couple is pictured here at the Brandenburg Gate in Germany. In 2020 Hank represented U.S. farmers as a participant in World Trade Organization (WTO) Global Forum on Food and Agriculture held in Berlin, Germany, during International Green Week, the world’s largest agriculture and food exhibition.

Germany, during International Green Week, the world’s largest agriculture and food exhibition. “It was quite the eye-opening experience because I was there with farmers from around the world. So, it gave me a global perspective of agriculture – how we are different, but yet share many of the same challenges,” Hank says. “We think this experience will be similar in the fact that we will learn about what agriculture outside of South Dakota looks like.” More about Hank and Melissa Hank and Melissa raise crops and cattle on Hank’s family’s farm near Dallas. Although their financials are separate, the family shares labor with Hank’s mom and dad, Steve and Joan, and his brother and sister-in-law, Andy and Aliza. Since the beginning, they have focused on raising high performing genetics which exhibit strong maternal, as well as paternal, traits. The family sells breeding stock during their annual private treaty sale. Hank adds that their herd is also known for a gentle disposition. “I think working around dairy cows all the time, us kids learned how to work cattle from a very young age – people are always impressed with how we move our stock cows,” he says. Like Hank, Melissa also has a second job, but it’s one she can do from their farmhouse. She works part time, providing online English

tutoring to Chinese students. And she is a fulltime mom to their daughters, Elizabeth, 9, and Lydia, 8. Their girls are active in softball and 4-H, so Hank and Melissa volunteer as coaches and club leaders. They are also advocates for agriculture education and Melissa helps organize the local Farmers Union day camp. “Volunteers are the way you have activities that keep your community going,” explains Melissa. “If people aren’t volunteering it is tough to keep a small community going. And the same goes for Farmers Union, if we don’t have volunteers, it is tough to get things accomplished at the state and national level, so we get the help we need for our farms.” To learn more about the Wonnenberg farm family, visit www.sdfu.org and click on the S.D. Farm & Ranch Families link under the About Us tab. South Dakota Farmers Union will select one more farm or ranch couple to participate. We will introduce them to you in the next Union Farmer. More about Farmers Union Industries Farmers Union Industries is made up of several businesses – the dividends of which go to help fund Farmers Union organizations in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana and Wisconsin as well as Farmers Union Enterprise programs and National Farmers Union. ■ www.sdfu.org

JAC Continued from Page 10

Union Farmer

National Honors Society, basketball, volleyball, track, choir and band. Victoria Havermann Parents: Patrick and Cheryl Havermann Elk Point, S.D. (District 1) Victoria is excited to bring her thoughtfulness, listening skills and understanding to the planning team. She values leadership and being a role model and is excited to lead the next generation of Farmers Union campers. Her favorite memories are meeting new people. Camp has helped her become more confident and grateful for what she has. Victoria participates in cheerleading, color guard, choir and 4-H. Connor Hutcheson Parents: Luke and Jenny Hutcheson Canistota, S.D. (District 2) Connor is excited to bring his communication skills to the team and his ability to start up conversations with anyone. His problem-solving skills will be an asset and he enjoys seeing ideas come to life. His favorite part of being a JAC is getting to know people better and building relationships that last. He has learned about cooperatives and how they function and hopes to continue to incorporate games and learning into the next camp season. Connor participates in FBLA, cross country, basketball, track, National Honors Society and other volunteer opportunities in his hometown. Levi Nightingale Parents: Craig and Sandy Nightingale White Lake, S.D. (District 2) Levi is excited for the opportunity to return and see his friends and welcome new campers. His ability to work with others and create new and inventive plans will be a great addition to the JAC team. Camp has helped him become independent and self-reliant, as well as teach him about cooperation and communication. He enjoys camp and believes he wouldn’t be who he is today without the past five years of attending camp. Levi participates in football, wrestling, track, band and choir. Casey Tolsma Parents: Shannon and Paula Tolsma Stickney, S.D. (District 2) Casey is looking forward to helping new campers have fun at camp and getting them involved. Camp has taught her how to respect others, as well as build social skills and confidence. She finds camp to be a positive atmosphere filled with caring and friendly people who get to experience great adventures like tour days, lock-ins, campfires, hikes, dances, skits and other memories together. Casey participates in basketball, volleyball, track, FCCLA and 4-H. ■ by Toby Kane www.sdfu.org

July 2021

Union Farmer Rob Larew National Farmers Union President

ver the last year or two, the meat sector has had no shortage of problems. COVID-19 outbreaks, natural disasters and cyberattacks have forced plants to shut down, backing up the entire meat supply chain and creating huge headaches for ranchers and consumers. On top of that, corporations in essentially every major meat category have been embroiled in antitrust lawsuits for overcharging consumers or underpaying ranchers. Throughout it all, National Farmers Union has been fighting for stronger antitrust enforcement, better protections for farmers and more resilient food processing infrastructure – and it seems that the administration and Congress is hearing our concerns. In this month’s Washington Corner, learn more about legislative efforts to restore competition, transparency and fairness to livestock markets. USDA TO INTRODUCE STRONGER PROTECTIONS FROM CORPORATE ABUSE Following multiple allegations and indictments of price fixing and other anticompetitive practices in the livestock sector, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicated its intention to propose a series of rules that would offer family famers and contract poultry growers greater agency and recourse in their relationships with corporations. The rules would amend regulations related to the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 which are meant “to assure fair competition and fair trade practices . . . and to protect members of the livestock, meat and poultry industries from unfair, deceptive, unjustly discriminatory and monopolistic practices,” but lack the teeth to achieve those objectives. For instance, corporations are prohibited from giving “undue or unreasonable preferences and advantages” to one farmer over another, but what that means is not clearly defined. Additionally, according to legal interpretations of the act, growers must prove that harm was done to the entire industry in order to sue for abusive practices. The rules would seek to rectify both issues by clarifying the meaning of “undue or unreasonable preferences and advantages” and by eliminating the requirement of competitive injury to allege a violation of the Packers and Stockyards Act. The third rule would restructure the “tournament system” of payment, which pits contract growers against one another and results in some being paid poverty wages. Since it was founded nearly 120 years ago, National Farmers Union (NFU) has advocated mechanisms that prevent anticompetitive practices among corporations as well as stronger protections for farmers from those practices. In a statement, the organization highlighted the need for reform and welcomed USDA’s announcement, calling it a “strong step in the right direction.” After the rules are proposed, NFU will provide additional feedback

July 2021

to USDA. USDA AIMS TO STRENGTHEN FOOD SYSTEM In the wake of multiple food supply chain disruptions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to spend more than $4 billion to build resilience to future crises. The new initiative targets each step in the food system, including production, processing, aggregation and distribution, and markets/ consumers. Among other goals, the agency says that the investment will “strengthen the food system, create new market opportunities, tackle the climate crisis, help communities that have been left behind and support good-paying jobs throughout the supply chain.” Specific details about how that will be achieved are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks and months; however, USDA did indicate that it will “address the shortage of small meat processing facilities” and “increase transparency and competition. . . in the livestock markets and the meat processing sector,” both of which are priorities for NFU. As such, NFU President Rob Larew told reporters that he is “encouraged” by the USDA’s efforts to prevent shocks to the food supply chain and urged the agency to “follow up with greater protections for farmers and regulatory reforms that prevent anticompetitive behavior.” COALITION URGES FARM LABOR REFORM In a letter sent to Senate leadership, the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) urged immediate legislative action to reform the American farm labor system. The coalition, which represents nearly 300 agricultural groups, described the shortage of legal, qualified workers as one of farmers’ “greatest challenges,” adding that without immediate solutions, the problem “will force many farmers to consider whether they can continue in laborintensive agriculture.” Farm workers are similarly underserved by the current system, which fails to offer job security or a clear path to long-term legal residency. As a member of AWC and a longtime advocate of a “flexible, efficient and compassionate agricultural worker visa program,” NFU was among the letters’ signatories. In a statement, Larew urged Congress to “restructure the farm labor system so that it works for both employers and employees” by “streamlining the application process, allowing year-round use of the H-2A program, stabilizing wages and offering rights and protections to workers.” CATTLE GROUPS TEAM UP TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN MARKETPLACE After convening in Phoenix, Ariz., a diverse

coalition of groups representing cattle producers announced their commitment to working together to achieve “a fair and transparent cattle marketing system.” During the meeting, the organizations – National Farmers Union, American Farm Bureau Federation, R-CALF USA, the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association and the Livestock Marketing Association – discussed a wide variety of issues, including packer concentration, price transparency and discovery, packer oversight, Packers and Stockyards Act enforcement, level of captive supply and packer capacity. There is ample evidence that lawmakers are interested in tackling many of these issues. In an effort to improve transparency in the market, Sens. John Tester and Chuck Grassley in March introduced the “50-14 bill,” which would require larger meat processing facilities to purchase at least 50 percent of their weekly cattle on the open market. Along those same lines, Sens. Deb Fischer and Rob Wyden introduced the Cattle Market Transparency Act of 2021, which would improve price discovery and give producers more access to market information. It doesn’t appear that concern about the issue has waned since then. Following the meeting, Sens. Mike Rounds and Tina Smith penned an open letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, highlighting the lack of competition in the cattle industry and urging him to “enforce or examine our antitrust laws to restore fairness to the marketplace. $4 BILLION INVESTMENT WILL BOLSTER NUTRITION SAFETY NET As part of its ongoing efforts to address food insecurity, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will invest $1 billion in the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Of that funding, $900 million will be dedicated to purchasing food for food banks, $400 million of which will come from local, regional and socially disadvantaged producers. The final $100 million will be used to strengthen food chain infrastructure to help food banks expand their reach into rural, remote and low-income areas. To uphold its position that access to safe and nutritious food is a basic human right, NFU advocates strong federal nutrition programs that place an emphasis on fresh and local foods. Because the administration’s approach closely aligns with NFU’s priorities, Larew welcomed the announcement. “By strengthening the nutrition safety net, the Biden administration’s initiative will help mitigate our hunger crisis,” says Larew, “while also offering farmers more options for distributing the food they grow. Both of these results will take us a few steps further on the path to pandemic recovery and to a food system that serves farmers and eaters alike.” ■ Current as of June 15, 2021

www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer

From the President....

Signatures Needed… Can You Help? Doug Sombke, SDFU President

o date, more than 16 organizations have united behind Medicaid expansion. South Dakota Farmers Union joins Avera Health, AARP, American Cancer Association, Monument Health, Sanford Health, South Dakota State Medical Association, South Dakota Educators Association, and others in a united effort to bring home $90 million in federal funds to help care for South Dakotans who do not have health insurance. Now, you may be asking, why did members of a family farm and ranch organization develop and vote on policy dealing with healthcare? The answer can be found during our policy discussions – or side conversations for that matter. As self-employed individuals, unless a spouse works off the farm or ranch, and receives health insurance through their work, insurance costs are a HUGE burden for our farm and ranch families. It’s not unusual for farm and ranch families to pay $2,000 a month or more for health insurance. I know this is not news to you because many of you live this reality. So, it’s understandable that many South Dakotans simply can’t afford healthcare coverage – and this puts a large strain on our communities and county governments. Because when individuals can’t pay for healthcare, it’s the community who is left picking up the bill. As the site South Dakotans Decide Healthcare states: “Expanding Medicaid will bring hundreds of millions of our tax dollars back home to South Dakota every year. That money will go back into our local economy, keep families out of medical bankruptcy, help keep rural hospitals and clinics open, and benefit our small

businesses. The less money families have to spend on medical debt, the more they can spend supporting our small businesses and that benefits all of us.” Medicaid expansion is provided through federal funds we already contribute to through our federal income tax. This is probably the reason in the last 10 years, 38 states expanded Medicaid coverage. For more than 10 years, we’ve left more than $900 million for other states to use to keep their rural hospitals and nursing homes open, pay their healthcare workers, treat their citizens without health insurance. Think of what those dollars could have done to help our rural nursing homes, clinics and working South Dakotans who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid today, but not enough to pay for health insurance. Now, those federal dollars do cost the state $20 million. But it does not take a calculator to know that when $20 million is subtracted from $90 million, there is still a significant profit left. And study after study shows that states who have expanded Medicaid save more than $20 million. How can you help? To get Medicaid expansion on the ballot, more than 26,000 signatures are needed. If you would like to help by collecting signatures, contact Karla Hofhenke, SDFU Executive Director, Karla@ SDFU.org or 605-350-5976. Want to learn more? Visit https://southdakotansdecide. org/. Sincerely,

Doug Sombke, President South Dakota Farmers Union

Congressional Leaders Contact information: Rep. Dusty Johnson 202-225-2801 / 855-225-2801 reid.rasmussen@mail.house.gov

www.sdfu.org

Sen. Mike Rounds 202-224-5842 / 844-875-5268 logan_penfield@rounds.senate.gov

Sen. John Thune 202-224-2321 / 866-850-3855 ryan_donnelly@thune.senate.gov

A PUBLICATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION

South Dakota Union Farmer, ISSN 0745-8797, publishes 9 times per calendar year, with issues printed in January/February, March/April, May/June, July, August, September, October, November and December. Periodical postage paid at Madison, S.D. Karla Hofhenke, Publisher Lura Roti, Editor ~ Wendy Sweeter, Copy Editor Diane Martinson, Layout & Design

All information for publication must be submitted by the 15th of the month. You may submit items to address below or email items to: sdfu@sdfu.org POSTMASTER: Address changes to: SDFU, PO Box 1388, Huron, S.D. 57350-1388

Contact SDFU • 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 Executive Director Huron

Kelli Peterson...............ext. 116 Administrative Assistant Huron

Rachel Haigh-Blume.... ext. 125 Education Director Tulare

Doug Bruckner..............ext. 118 Controller Wessington Springs

Rocky Forman..............ext. 117 Member Services Coordinator Huron

Luke Reindl................... ext. 122 Comm. & Policy Specialist Wessington Springs

SDFU Board of Directors Doug Sombke.........President Groton Wayne Soren.. Vice President Lake Preston Mike Miller................ District I Freeman Scott Kolousek......... District II Wessington Springs Gail Temple............. District III Clark

Contact NFU

David Reis................District IV Oacoma Dallis Basel...............District V Union Center Oren Lesmeister......District VI Parade Chad Johnson........District VII Groton

National Farmers Union 20 F Street NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001

Rob Larew, President ~ Patty Edelburg, Vice President Darin Von Ruden, Secretary ~ Doug Sombke, Treasurer 202.554.1600 www.nfu.org

July 2021

Union Farmer To serve you best, Farmers Union Insurance shares advice and information with this Union Farmer article.. Remember, if you have any questions or concerns regarding insurance, you can always reach out to your local agent. To learn more, visit fuiagency.com.

Ranchers are Taking Advantage of Improvements to Livestock Risk Protection Insurance

he LRP program has a policy increase of 1,000 percent compared to the 2020 crop year. A 1,000 percent increase in participation in one year shows just how useful and helpful this product is for the livestock producers out there. Recent changes, which include additional subsidy increases, later due dates on billing and increased head limits really made this program flexible and much more demanding to cattle producers. Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) was created to protect ranchers against declining market prices. Producers may select from several different coverage levels and periods of insurance that correspond with the time their market weight livestock is usually sold. They can choose contract length (varying from 13 to 52 weeks), expected weights, coverage levels and number of livestock they want to insure. “We are always looking for ways

Veterinarians Continued from Page 7 continue working. It’s results like these that make rural veterinarians integral to a livestock operation’s success. “They look out for us producers and want us to thrive,” Williams says. “Veterinarians probably don’t get the thanks they deserve for the long nights and long hours on call and the things they miss out on because they are out here on our farms and ranches. So, whenever I can, I thank my veterinarian because there are a lot of times when they get the grumpy client because things are not going right on the farm – otherwise we would not have called them – and we are stressed.” ■ By Lura Roti for SDFU

July 2021

to improve the insurance program and coverage for our producers,” says RMA Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy. “We strongly feel that these updates will benefit producers and their dairy and livestock operations in the years to come.” LRP is available for cattle, sheep and hogs and can be purchased throughout the year. LRP’s ending values, coverage prices, rates and premiums may be viewed on the RMA website. Changes for 2021: 1. Increase premium subsidy making it more affordable to the producer. 2. Increasing the number of insurable Cattle to 6,000 head per endorsement/12,000 head annually, and Swine to 40,000 head per endorsement/150,000 head annually. 3. Modify the livestock ownership requirement window to be up

to 60 days from the end of the coverage period. 4. Increase coverage length up to 52 weeks for swine. 5. Coverage for unborn calves to be insured before birth. 6. Deferring premium billing due date to the end of the endorsement to better match other policies. LRP can be a great way to help put a floor dollar guarantee on low prices or the market bottoming out. It can also work as a good alternative to playing the futures markets as this premium is set and the costs do not fluctuate like fees, margins or margin calls. You can talk to your local Farmers Union Insurance crop agent to learn more about how LRP can protect your investments against declining market prices and see if it is something that works for you and your livestock operating needs. n

Advice for Aspiring Veterinarians Follow your dreams: “There are two different mindsets in the veterinary community – half of the vets say, ‘follow your dream and become a vet.’ The other half will say, ‘become a human medical doctor instead because the money is much better.’ My advice is, ‘if you can handle the financial burden of the education, follow your dream and become a vet.’” Lainie Kringen-Scholtz, Veterinarian, animal chiropractor and acupuncturist Twin Lakes Animal Clinic You don’t need to grow up with cattle to treat cattle: “It is helpful to have grown up with livestock, but if you don’t have an agriculture background, I tell new vets not to be frustrated, but recognize that you have a lot to learn. I encourage them to be very intentional about learning those things and gaining the understanding.” Eric Knock, Veterinarian, Prairie View Veterinary Clinic www.sdfu.org

Thank You

Departings

Thank you for your support of the Billie Sutton Leadership program. As a participant and having met everyone, the program is top notch! Thank you for your contribution and support of the program! Krecia Leddy

Genevieve D. Hofhenke, age 90, of Huron, passed away on Monday, June 21, 2021 at Avantara-Huron in Huron, S.D. Gen married Willis Hofhenke on April 15, 1951 in Big Stone City, S.D. The couple lived in Milbank until 1964 when they moved to Huron. Raising her family was very important to Gen. After her children were in school, she worked as a cook at Our Home, Inc. and Center for Independence. Gen had a heart of gold and never passed judgement on anyone. She loved her family – children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Cooking for her family was also important to her. She made the best lasagna and enjoyed canning. She is survived by her six children, Francis (Geraldine) Hofhenke of Big Stone City, S.D., Diane (Dennis) Johnson of Enderlin, N.D., Becky Bryant of Ethan, Doug (Karla) Hofhenke of Huron, Kerry Hofhenke of Huron, and DeDe Hofhenke of Huron; 12 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; three sisters, Verna (Arlin) Angerhofer of Big Stone City, S.D., Clarice (Ray) Krippner of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Alice (Lynn) Walter of Hitchcock; two sisters-in-law, Joyce Hofhenke of Milbank and Jackie Beiring of Champlin, Minn.; brother-in-law, David (Glenda) Hofhenke; and Gen’s very special friend, Wanda Bogh.

*** Thank you so much for supporting the Billie Sutton Leadership Institute. I appreciate it very much. Jessica Meyers

ORDER YOUR OWN COPY OF THE FARMERS UNION CENTENNIAL COOKBOOK Cookbooks are $10 plus tax and shipping. Contact Kelli Peterson 605-352-6761, ext 116, to place your order today!

COOK’S CORNER

Apple Butter

Gail Temple, Clark, S.D., Lifetime Member

5 qt. apples, peeled and cut fine 3 tsp. cinnamon ¼ tsp. salt 4 c. sugar ¼ tsp. ground cloves Put in crockpot on high until bubbly then turn to low and cook for 10 hours. Cool slightly then put into Ziploc bags and freeze. www.sdfu.org

Union Farmer 4 Ways to Connect With Us! SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION mail to: sdfu@sdfu.org

Like us for updates, photos, news, and so much more. https://www.facebook.com/ South-Dakota-Farmers-Union277721538812/

View videos at the South Dakota Farmers Union Channel. https://www.youtube.com/ user/sdfarmersunion

SDFU CLIP AND SAVE CALENDAR July 1 5 7 7-9 8 12 12 13 14 14 15 15 19 20 21 20-22 22 21-23 23 26-28 27-29 30-31

(SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Day Co. Camp, Webster Office closed – 4th of July Aurora Co. Camp, Stickney District 1 & 2 Camp, Madison Marshall Co. Camp, Britton Jerauld/Buffalo Co. Camp, Wessington Springs Spink Co. Camp, Frankfort Brown Co. Camp, Aberdeen Minnehaha Co. Camp, Hartford Farm Safety Trailer, Hartford Davison Co. Camp, Mitchell Farm Safety Trailer, Mitchell Hanson Co. Camp, Alesandria McCook Co. Camp, Salem Haakon/Jackson Co. Camp, Philip SDFU Board Meetings Policy Committee Meeting, Virtual District 4-6 Camp, Storm Mountain, Rapid City Summer Spotlight Ice Cream Social, Huron Three Year Trip FUE Board Meeting Young Producers, Chamberlain

August 7 District 1 Annual Mtg, Lions Park, Armour September 4 Farmers Union Day State Fair 6 Office closed – Labor Day 28-29 FUE Board Meeting

July 2021

P r o t e c t i n g W h a t ’s I m p o r t a n t i n L i f e

Simply Different | fumic.com J.R. Johnson ............ 725-3003 Cameron Lux ............ 229-3945 BISON Alan Voller ................ 244-7431 BISON Karen Voller .............. 244-7431 BRITTON Tom Farber ............... 448-5150 BROOKINGS Gary Ray .................. 692-6735 BROOKINGS Beth Reams ............. 690-3018 BROOKINGS Heidi Fields .............. 881-2830 BUFFALO Jenn Wickstrom ........ 375-3311 CLARK Lon Reidburn ........... 532-3299 DOLAND Mark Rozell .............. 635-6511 FAULKTON Dawn Melius............. 598-6570 ABERDEEN

GROTON

ABERDEEN

HURON

AUTO

HOME

FA R M

J.R. Johnson ............ 397-8155 Blaine Anderson ....... 352-2130 Brendon Hansen ...... 263-2121 Brian Hansen ........... 263-3342 Donna Enders........... 837-2144 Carrie Derschan........ 374-3462 Kevin Albrecht .......... 941-0650 Brendon Hansen ...... 387-5555 Ryan Leischner......... 996-9651 Ce Faulkner .............. 737-0463 Andrew Mefferd ........ 224-4123 Kasey Keller.............. 343-4213

IRENE IRENE KADOKA LEMMON MARION MENNO MITCHELL PIEDMONT PIERRE RAPID CITY

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ANNUITY

Dan Lewis................. 342-3585 Jeff Nord .................. 338-5302 SIOUX FALLS Stacy Mongar ........... 338-5302 SISSETON Erica Steiner ............. 698-7316 SPEARFISH Scott Sabers ............. 642-8870 STURGIS Scott Sabers ............. 347-4507 WATERTOWN Todd Nichols ............ 886-9683 WEBSTER Debbie Baumgarn .... 345-2640 WEBSTER Larry Baumgarn........ 345-2640 WINNER Jeremy Clay .............. 842-1556 YANKTON James Murphy.......... 664-2121 RAPID CITY

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