Transforming South Dakota’s Agricultural Legacy and Building a Strong Future
South Dakota’s family-owned and family-operated farms and ranches are the backbone of our state. They provide food, jobs, and stability to rural communities, and they represent a way of life passed down through generations. Our priority is to ensure these farms can survive — and thrive — in a rapidly changing agricultural landscape.
1. Changing Global Market
The world around agriculture is changing. Global markets are shifting, competition is increasing, and farming is becoming more consolidated. Family farmers are often forced to operate under systems designed for large corporations, leaving them with fewer options and higher risks. South Dakota must take a proactive approach that supports family farms, strengthens rural communities, and prepares agriculture for the future.
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Today’s commodity markets are oversupplied, placing long-term pressure on prices and profitability. Increased global competition and changing trade relationships have made it harder for South Dakota farmers to rely on traditional export markets. Relying on Brazil and China is no longer an option. These challenges require leadership that understands global realities and works to protect South Dakota agriculture at both the state and federal levels.
2. Supporting Family Farms
Family farms face unique challenges that larger operations do not. Increasing regulatory requirements, rising input costs, and limited access to resources can make it difficult for smaller operations to compete. When policies fail to account for scale, they unintentionally favor large corporate farms and accelerate consolidation. South Dakota should focus on removing unnecessary barriers, supporting innovation, and ensuring family-owned and family-operated farms have a fair opportunity to succeed.
3. Innovation, Sustainability, and Rural Opportunity
South Dakota has a strong foundation of agricultural knowledge built over generations. By combining that experience with research, innovation, and new ideas from our universities and ag institutions, we can help farmers adopt sustainable practices, diversify operations, and build resilience for the future.
Strong agriculture also means strong communities. Too many children come to school hungry, even in rural areas. By supporting local agriculture and encouraging innovative food systems, South Dakota can help connect farmers with local needs and strengthen food security across the state.
4. Has ethanol run its course...
A changing world demands a new dialog on the benefits of Ethanol production. If the auto industry keeps moving to hybrid/electric vehicles, then ethanol soon becomes obsolete. (**Look up "America was wrong about Ethanol on Youtube) It is appropriate to grow those commodities to feed the cattle and hogs, but we can’t necessarily continue to support the ethanol business and then reject the CO2 pipeline? It is time to pick a lane. It is important to transform into a more sustainable business model. Kids come to school hungry and we have the ability to potentially fill that need.
5. Reduce Regulatory Burdens
Reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens that disproportionately impact small operations, advocate for federal policies that work for South Dakota farmers and ranchers. Over-regulation favors the corporate farms because they can afford to follow the regulations, while smaller operations simply don't have the manpower or resources to comply. The farmers' life-cycle is dominated by corporate America and when that happens you either have to play by their rules or change your business model