South Dakota

According to NASS, honey production in the United States dipped 4% last year to 134 million pounds.  Nationwide, there were 2.6 million colonies producing honey in 2024, a 3% increase from 2023.  However, yield per colony averaged 51.7 pounds, down 6% y...

Last week, Idaho senator Mike Crapo, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, joined Senate Majority Leader John Thune and 44 additional Senate colleagues in reintroducing legislation that would permanently repeal the federal estate tax, commonly known as the death tax...

Recently, South Dakota Republican Senator John Thune and New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker introduced the American Beef Labeling Act.  Support for the legislation is starting to role in.   National Farmers Union announced this week its support of the bipartisan legislation, which, if passed would codify mandatory country-of-origin labeling, or MCOOL, for beef sold in the U.S.  Accor...

South Dakota Senator and Senate Majority Leader John Thune and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would reinstate mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef.  The American Beef Labeling Act would require the U.S. Trade ...

Last week, Idaho senator Jim Risch and Wyoming senator John Barrasso introduced the Resiliency for Ranching and Natural Conservation Health (RANCH) Act.  They say the legislation promotes resilient and healthy rangelands and effective grazing management across the West.  The RANCH Ac...

Last week, the Bureau of Land Management announced plans to “enhance” greater sage-grouse conservation on public lands in Oregon and Colorado.  The agency said the approved habitat conservation measures will support western communities and benefit more than 350 other wildlife species.  Opponents of the pr...

As the 119th Congress gets underway, New Senate Majority Leader John Thune laid out his priorities, including a new Farm Bill.  Thune said he understands rural America, growing up in a small South Dakota town.   “The town of Murdo, population today, roughly around 500 people. We didn’t even have...

The American Sheep Industry Association’s Young and Emerging Entrepreneurs are planning an in-person lambing school on November 23 at the Codington County Extension Complex in Watertown, South Dakota.  The one-day lambing school will focus on the preparation and basics of lambing.  The scho...

Tractor Supply Company surprised five high school FFA chapters across the country with the funds needed for students to attend the 97th Annual National FFA Convention and Expo.  The convention will take place later this month in Indianapolis.  It’...

The U.S. winter wheat crop planting passed the halfway mark over the past week to reach 51% complete by Sunday October 6th, one point behind the five-year average.   “One thing we have noticed is that planting has been delayed in a few areas due to dryness," noted USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  "And so ...