Sustaining the Legacy has been the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension farm and ranch estate planning and farm transition program since 2006. Over the years, the program has been hosted as multi-day events and large, single-day conferences, providing 15-minute to three-hour presentations to producers across the state.

Starting in the fall of 2021, SDSU Extension will host two-day Sustaining the Legacy Conferences in five different locations across the state of South Dakota.

“With the drought this season, many producers are not able to leave their operation for a large, multi-day conference,” says Heather Gessner, SDSU Extension Livestock Business Management Field Specialist. “By bringing the conference to them, it will be easier for them to participate and gain the information they need to develop a plan that accomplishes the goals of the family and the operation to ensure a continuation of agricultural production, family values and traditions, and main street businesses and schools.”

The conference is designed for farming and ranching families at all stages of operation transition. Participants will learn about methods to pass on farm and ranch assets and business, as well as methods to provide financial inheritance to non-farming and ranching children. Specific topics include:

• Trusts
• Business structures, LLCs and corporations
• Life insurance
• Wills and probate
• Titling property
• Contracts
• Retirement planning for landowners
• How to access retirement benefits (Medicare, Social Security)
• Elder and end-of-life care planning

Estate planning and farm transition attorneys, in addition to other industry experts, will present the material. Participants will also be given the opportunity to sign up for further estate planning assistance from a certified farm and ranch transition coordinator, financial counseling from an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) and care conversations with a trained gerontologist.

Locations and dates are:

• Rapid City: Oct. 21 and 22, 2021
• Aberdeen: Nov. 15 and 16, 2021
• Pierre: Dec. 9 and 10, 2021
• Mitchell: Jan. 11 and 12, 2022
• Yankton: Feb. 7 and 8, 2022

Each location will be limited to 30 participants. “We are limiting participation at each location to create an interactive learning environment to maximize impact for conference attendees,” says Gessner.

Paint the Town is coming to Gregory, South Dakota on Saturday, October 2nd from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Main St.  It is hosted by the Gregory Dallas Chamber of Commerce. Attendees are encouraged to help spread Art around the Gregory/ Dallas area by entering the sidewalk painting competition or kid’s chalk art competition!

Cattle ranchers and industry professionals are invited to hear the latest cutting-edge information and updates for their businesses at the upcoming Range Beef Cow Symposium (RBCS) Nov. 16-17 at The Monument (formerly the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center) in Rapid City, South Dakota.

“The Range Beef Cow Symposium has been popular through the years with cattle producers and agriculture professionals who support the beef cattle industry because of two major parts: presentations and speakers that are top-notch, and a trade show with commercial displays from many segments of the industry,” says Ken Olson, South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Beef Specialist.

This year’s program will provide science-based information from the following nationally and internationally known speakers:

• Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Agriculture Economist, will examine the influence recent cattle supply chain disruptions have had on the cattle industry.
• Patrick Linnell, CattleFax Analyst, will provide a cattle and beef market outlook.
• Amanda Blair, Professor and SDSU Extension Meat Science Specialist, and Christina Baker, SDSU Extension Meat Science Field Specialist, will discuss cattle management considerations for local, direct marketing of beef.
• Ryan Rhoades, Associate Professor and Colorado State University Extension Beef Specialist, and Hector Menendez, Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Livestock Grazing Specialist, will evaluate the use of a systems approach to feeding cows during feed shortages, such as drought.
• A panel of legislators and cattle producers will discuss the implications of the state ballot initiative process on policy that affects the cattle industry.
• New precision agriculture equipment and tools for the cattle industry will be demonstrated.

In addition, numerous other speakers will present up-to-date information on topics related to cow-calf production and marketing.

The RBCS is organized by the Extension services and animal science departments of SDSU, Colorado State University, the University of Wyoming and the University of Nebraska. The biennial symposium has been recognized nationally for its hands-on education and practical production management information since the first symposium was held in Chadron, Nebraska in 1969. It has been said that ranchers come to the RBCS for their “in-service training.”

One of the most popular aspects of the RBCS are the “Bull Pen Sessions,” where the invited speakers are available for informal question-and-answer sessions each afternoon of the symposium. Many consider the Bull Pen Sessions to be the most-valuable part of the symposium. This is a time for attendees to have considerable discussion with the speakers and an opportunity to ask specific questions.

In addition to the speakers and Bull Pen Sessions, commercial trade show displays representing many segments of the industry are an integral part of the symposium. Exhibitors will be present to discuss their products and services.

A complete listing of the program, registration and hotel information can be found on the SDSU Extension Events page (extension.sdstate.edu/event/range-beef-cow-symposium-2021). Registration prior to Nov. 1 is available for $95 for the first person from an operation and $70 for each additional person. Student registration is $65 per student. Single-day registration passes are available for $55. Late registration prices increase after Nov. 1 and will be available at the door.

To learn more about the entire program, contact Olson at 605-394-2236 or Kenneth.Olson@sdstate.edu or Julie Walker, Professor and SDSU Extension Beef Specialist at 605-688-5458 or Julie.Walker@sdstate.edu.

Governor Kristi Noem and 25 other Republican governors wrote to President Biden, urging him to change his failed border policy. The governors requested a meeting within the next 15 days to address this crisis. You can read the letter here.

“The months-long surge in illegal crossings has instigated an international humanitarian crisis, spurred a spike in international criminal activity, and opened the floodgates to human traffickers and drug smugglers endangering public health and safety in our states,” wrote the governors. “A crisis that began at the southern border now extends beyond to every state and requires immediate action before the situation worsens.”

Governor Noem had previously deployed 48 South Dakota National Guard troops to the southern border for a two-month deployment. This was in response to a request from fellow governors Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona. Governor Noem subsequently announced that South Dakota will be sending an additional 125 members of the National Guard to the border for a 9 to 12-month deployment at the behest of the federal government. That subsequent deployment will be made later this year.

The governors highlighted the efforts by the states to fill the void left by the Biden Administration’s policy mistakes: “While governors are doing what we can, our Constitution requires that the President must faithfully execute the immigration laws passed by Congress. Not only has the federal government created a crisis, it has left our states to deal with challenges that only the federal government has a duty to solve.”

Governor Noem was joined in signing the letter by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Idaho Governor Brad Little, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.

The Winner City Council will hold their regular meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m.  in the Winner City Council Chambers at 325 South Monroe Street.  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 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 unless otherwise noted.

The South Dakota State University College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and the College of Education and Human Sciences announce that the 2021 Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community award celebration is rescheduled for January 28, 2022 at McCrory Gardens in Brookings.

“We are very excited about this opportunity to recognize leaders across our state,” said John Killefer, South Dakota Corn Endowed Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. “We encourage people to nominate deserving individuals. We look forward to seeing you in the spring.”

In light of the decision to reschedule, the nomination deadline for this year is extended through November 1, 2021

“There were a number of factors that contributed to the decision to postpone festivities,” said Angela Loftesness, Assistant to the Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science, who coordinates the program on behalf of the university. “We want all of our honorees and guests to have the best experience possible.”

How to nominate

Official Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community nomination forms with instructions are available online at sdstate.edu/eminent-leaders. Paper copies are available by request. All nominations must be received by November 1, 2021 to be considered for this year. The regular annual deadline is May 1. Completed nominations are accepted year round, and should be emailed to angela.loftesness@sdstate.edu or mailed to ELAFC Nominations; ATTN: Angela Loftesness, SDSU CAFES, Box 2207, Brookings, SD 57007.

In 2022, the event will return to the traditional date in September.

South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension is seeking input from cattle producers across the northern Great Plains to identify management decisions influencing culling decisions in reproductive herds.

“Strategic culling provides benefits to the operation in different terms, such as value-added opportunities or genetic advancements,” says Olivia Amundson, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist. “We hope to gain an understanding of the intended and unintended consequences of decisions made and collect identifiers in relation to paradigms associated with cull cow strategies.”

In addition, Amundson says the team will analyze the results to characterize producer perceptions of culling, to determine what factors influence beef cattle culling decisions to improve operation management, and to examine what decision support tools are needed before making culling choices.

Individuals involved in managing a reproductive beef herd are invited to participate in the short, online survey (questionpro.com/t/ATmsUZoVl3). The survey is voluntary and confidential and will be open from Sept. 15 to Dec. 1.

For more information or questions, contact Amundson at Olivia.Amundson@sdstate.edu or 605-782-3290.

Lakota Lake Road will be getting an upgrade starting today. The Great American Outdoor Act (GAOA) is providing funding for the reconstruction of the road going into the day-use area, the parking area and needed gate repairs.

Lakota Lake Road is currently a single lane road that connects to a popular day-use recreation site and trailhead.

The project will reconstruct the road to two-lanes, fix drainage issues, eliminate ruts, resurface the road and parking, add barriers, and replace non-functional gates.

Lakota Lake Road will be closed (see closure order: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd951753.pdf) beginning September 15, 2021 until the project is complete, which is anticipated to be done by November 15, 2021.

Lakota Lake is located southeast of Keystone SD, on US Highway 16A (Iron Mountain Road) within the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve. It is a small, non-motorized lake and a popular destination for fishing and kayaking. A hitchrail is provided for horses, along with access to Iron Creek Trail #15. Several picnic tables offer a scenic view of the lake.

For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.