A letter seeking signatures from a wide-range of organizations supporting the recently introduced American Beef Labeling Act of 2021 (S.2716) is now being circulated among organizations representing farm, ranch, rural, faith, environmental, farm/food worker, manufacturing, and cattle/farm industry support businesses. R-CALF USA is among the participating groups circulating the letter in an effort to secure swift passage of S.2716.

Senate Bill 2716 would reinstate mandatory country-of-origin labeling (M-COOL) for beef within 12 months of enactment. The bill was introduced on September 13 and is gaining bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) are the bill’s original cosponsors and Senators John Hoeven (R-N.Dak.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.Mex.) joined as cosponsors last week.

“South Dakota cattle producers work tirelessly to produce some of the highest quality beef in the world,” said Thune. “The pandemic has only highlighted their important role in our domestic food supply and the urgent need to strengthen it. To ensure the viability of cattle ranching in this country, the system in which producers operate must be fair and transparent. Unfortunately, the current beef labeling system in this country allows imported beef that is neither born nor raised in the United States, but simply finished here, to be labeled as a product of the USA. This process is unfair to cattle producers and misleading for consumers. As a long-time supporter of M-COOL, I’m proud to see such a strong bipartisan push to ensure consumers know where their beef comes from.”

“Montana ranchers raise the best cattle in the world, and it’s time American families are guaranteed the right to know whether their beef is from Broadus or Brazil,” said Tester. “With health questions being raised about foreign beef, it’s more important than ever that consumers know when they’re buying American beef at the supermarket. This bipartisan legislation will level the playing field for Montana’s family farmers and ranchers and protect the health and safety of American families.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic proved how important it is to have a strong, reliable, local food supply, and consumers deserve to know where their food comes from,” said Luján, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “That is why I am a proud cosponsor of The American Beef Labeling Act, which would support New Mexico farmers and ranchers and allow consumers to know with certainty where their food comes from.”

To demonstrate the widespread support S.2716 enjoys among diverse economic sectors, national groups representing cattle, farm, consumer, labor, and manufacturing penned a supportive M-COOL sign-on letter for other organizations to sign that will be delivered to the U.S. Senate before December. The letter can be read and signed at www.labelourbeef.com.

The sign-on letter itself explains why such a diverse cross-section of the U.S. economy supports M-COOL. It sates S.2716 “would promote a safe and affordable supply of wholesome beef for America’s consumers; a fairer, more competitive market for America’s cattle farmers and ranchers; and quality family-sustaining jobs for meat processing workers.”

The letter further explains that many consumer goods, including many food items, are already subject to mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements and that there is no reason to exclude beef. It also states that “current rules, which allow meatpackers to label as “Product of the USA” beef that is imported and repackaged at a U.S. processing facility, are indefensible.”

The letter concludes: “American consumers deserve the right to choose, American cattle farmers and ranchers deserve the right to compete for the consumers’ favor in their domestic market, and meat processing workers deserve quality jobs.”

South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension will host a reproductive technology program for beef cow/calf producers on Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. CDT at the Watertown Regional Extension Center, located at 1910 W. Kemp Ave. in Watertown.

The program, “Impact of Reproductive Technologies on Herd Success,” will include presentations on reproductive technologies opportunities, calving distribution changes and feedlot performance with reproductive technologies, and the economics for more pounds.

Topics and speakers are:

• 10 a.m. — “Advances in Reproductive Technologies,” George Perry, Associate Research Professor in Beef Cattle Reproductive Physiology, Texas A&M University
• 11 a.m. — “Influence of Reproductive Technologies on Calving Distribution and Post Wean Calf Performance,” Julie Walker, Professor and SDSU Extension Beef Specialist
• Noon — Lunch
• 1 p.m. — “What if? The Potential for More Pounds More Quickly,” Matthew Diersen, Professor and SDSU Extension Risk/Business Management Specialist
• 2 p.m. – Travel to Moes Feedlot

Register by emailing Walker at Julie.Walker@sdstate.edu.

For more information or any questions, contact Walker at 605-688-5458.

Over the next two months, the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Community Vitality team will be bringing South Dakotans together virtually for a community book read. After two widely popular book discussion series with much discussion and debate, the organization will be offering a third statewide book read beginning Nov. 23.

“The Growing Season: How I Built a New Life—and Saved an American Farm,” by Sarah Frey, will be the focus of the November/December book read. The youngest of 21 children, Frey grew up on a struggling farm in southern Illinois. At 15, she started her own fresh produce delivery business out of an old pickup truck. Two years later she took over the family farm and started doing business with the largest grocery retailers in the country.

Frey’s story is one of never giving up, negotiating with some of the biggest businesses in the nation and building a company that serves consumers with fresh, healthy products. Today Frey Farms is the nation’s leading producer of pumpkins, earning Frey the nickname “America’s Pumpkin Queen.”

“This book represents issues that impact every South Dakotan; issues of food and the livelihoods of farmers in the community,” says Leigh Neys, SDSU Extension Community Vitality Field Specialist. “South Dakotans will connect virtually to discuss the book and think about the lessons learned that can be applied in our own communities.”

The book read will be held Tuesday evenings on Nov. 23 and 30 and Dec. 7. The facilitated discussions will be held over Zoom, which is readily available and free to individuals with internet capabilities. The timeframe will be 7:30 p.m. CDT (6:30 p.m. MT), with an hour of interaction. Interested parties should register by Nov. 15 to receive the link to join the discussion.

There is no registration fee; participants only need to purchase the book in advance of the start date. There will be a cap to the number of participants, with a plan to offer another book read in the winter.

To register, visit the SDSU Extension Community Book Read event page (extension.sdstate.edu/event/community-virtual-book-read-0) or contact Neys at Leigh.Neys@sdstate.edu; Peggy Schlechter SDSU Extension Community Vitality Field Specialist at Peggy.Schlecter@sdstate.edu; or Kari O’Neill, SDSU Extension Community Vitality Program Manager at Kari.Oneill@sdstate.edu.

The South Dakota Retailers Association is launching a new cash incentive designed to address the workforce shortage in retail, restaurants, hospitality, grocery, trades, and many other businesses. Individuals from out-of-state who come to work in South Dakota can receive a $1,000 workforce incentive.

This $1,000 cash payment from the Retailers Association would supplement any hiring bonuses or other incentives offered by an individual business.

“We know that workforce is the number one issue facing businesses in South Dakota,” said Retailers Association Executive Director Nathan Sanderson. “As workers around the country look to South Dakota as a new place to call home, we hope this incentive will make our great state even more attractive.”

The $1,000 workforce incentive will be paid directly to an employee hired from out-of-state to work in a Retailers Association member-business. To be eligible, an employee must work at least 30 hours per week for 90 days at a physical location in South Dakota.

“Individuals around the country are looking for attractive places to work and great places to live and raise their families,” Sanderson added. “South Dakota businesses have a variety of great career opportunities, and we hope this incentive helps businesses and workers alike.”

Additional eligibility details are available at www.sdra.org.

The Winner City Council will have their regular meeting tonight at the Winner City Council Chambers located at 325 South Monroe Street at 6:30 p.m.  Please note the Winner City Council meets on the first and third Monday of each month.

The Gregory City Council will hold their regular meeting tomorrow night (Monday, November 1st) at 6:00 p.m. at Gregory City Hall located at 120 West 6th Street.  Please note the Gregory City Council meets on the first and third Monday of each month.

Governor Kristi Noem and First Gentleman Bryon Noem will host the annual trick-or-treat festivities at the Governor’s Residence in Pierre on Sunday, Oct. 31 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. CT.

“We can’t wait to see all the kids in their costumes once again! It may be a bit chilly out, so be sure to dress warmly,” said Governor Kristi Noem.

Noem asks children and parents across South Dakota to observe the following Halloween safety tips:

·         Trick-or-treat during daylight hours or take a flashlight if going out after dark;

·         Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags;

·         Make sure vision is clear when wearing masks or other head garb;

·         Adults should accompany young children; unaccompanied children should trick-or-treat in groups; and

·         Inspect candy before consuming; discard anything suspicious.

The Holiday Preview in Valentine, Nebraska is set for Sunday, November 21st from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Santa will be at Viaero from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The Valentine Chamber will have the Holiday Punch Card promotion as well. Shoppers can pick up their cards at any participating location, and then proceed to each location on the card to get their stamp or mark. They will have all week to get their card filled, and then turn them in at any of those locations for a chance to win $500 in Chamber Bucks. Plans are also in the works to have Christmas carolers scattered around town.

The Gregory Tree Lighting event will take place this year on Tuesday, November 6th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Main Street. It will consist of n evening of Shopping, a visit from  Santa Claus , Customer Appreciation sales around toen, Christmas Promotion starts and Kid’s Chamber Bucks.