South Dakota

North Dakota’s state veterinarian said the state’s first reported case of anthrax this year is a reminder to livestock producers to take action to protect their animals from disease.  The case included beef cattle from Adams County, North Dakota, and was confirmed by the South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory.   “Produc...

After the summer the Northwest has experienced, it should come as no surprise that pasture conditions in the area don’t look great to start the month of October.  USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey noted some of the driest lands are in the Great Plains, and out here in the West.   “Leadi...

Cattle producers from across the west plan to hold a rally next week to show their opposition to a new government mandate.  An electronic ID ear tag on adult cattle shipped over state lines is unnecessary and too costly for cattle producers, that according to rally organizers.  This up...

South Dakota-based animal health vaccine manufacturer Medgene says it has received approval from the Department of Agriculture to commence testing a vaccine for H5N1 in cattle.   "This is great news for us, for the CVB (USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics) and more importantly, the dairy industry,” says Medgene Chief Operating Officer Tom Halbur. “Our tech...

We may have just wrapped up the 2024 winter wheat harvest, but it’s already time to look ahead to 2025, as planting has begun across the country.  USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey looked at planting numbers from last week.   “Showing 2% of the intended acreage planted on that date," Rippey noted.  "Right now par with the ...

A coalition of attorneys general is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to implement a new rule that would create uniform labeling requirements on pesticide products across the country. By streamlining the process and preempting misbranding in states like California, the rule would lift the burdens currently placed on farmers across the country...

A new law in South Dakota makes it harder to file nuisance complaints or lawsuits against an agricultural operation.  South Dakota Searchlight said it will also limit the amount of monetary awards.  After legislators approved the bill earlier this winter, Governor Kristi Noem signed it at a Mitchell, South Dakota, implement dealership last week.  She said agricult...

Representatives Chellie Pingree of Maine and Jim Baird of Indiana, along with Senators John Thune of South Dakota and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, plan to reintroduce legislation to support small meat and poultry processors.  Supporters of the Strengthening Local Processing Act say the legislation will diversify and make U.S. m...

A bipartisan group of Senators recently introduced legislation to merge USDA broadband programs.  New Mexico Democrat Ben Ray Luján and South Dakota Republican John Thune reintroduced the Rural Internet Improvement Act.  The legislation would streamline and bolster USDA Rural Development broadband programs and ensure their funding is targeted to rural areas that need it the most.     "Our bip

According to NASS, winter wheat seedings across the Northwest are up slightly from last year.  Oregon farmers planted 790,000 acres of winter wheat for the 2023, an 8% increase from this time last year.  Idaho growers seeded 770,000 acres, unchanged from 2022, but 8% above the 2021 crop.  Washington’s wint...