Category Archives: News

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SDSU Extension Applauds 2020 South Dakota Master Pork Producers

Four South Dakota pork production systems were recently recognized for their outstanding contributions to the state’s swine industry. The 2020 South Dakota Master Pork Producer winners were announced Jan. 13 during the 52nd annual South Dakota Pork Congress in Sioux Falls.
Tim Wipf, Iroquois
Tim Wipf is team lead for the Collins Colony swine operation located near Iroquois. The 1,250-sow farrow-to-feeder operation was designed and built by Clarence Wipf and production is all contained in one 150 feet by 650 feet concrete building. Since one of Collins Colony’s main enterprises is prefab concrete, it was a logical way to build the barns. With a concrete building and lots of stainless steel, Tim says the building was built with the family’s kids and grandkids in mind.
Tim took over leadership of the operation in 2019 after Clarence passed away. Collins Colony also leases three finishing barns to raise their pigs to market weight, and then markets them through Smithfield Foods in Sioux Falls. There are 408 geothermal wells that are used to cool and heat the building, providing an excellent environment for both pigs and people. The colony uses PIC genetics and averages 29.5 pigs/sow/year. Their grow-finish performance is 2.03 average daily gain, 2.70 feed efficiency and only a 2.2% mortality. Collins Colony manufactures its own feed and utilizes Tri-Tech-Agricare Nutrition as nutritional consultants and Dr. Martin Mohr for herd health issues.
Photo credit: SDSU Extension
This year’s SDSU Beef Day will highlight the latest research in cattle health, feedlot, meat science and food safety, along with an update on beef Extension programs.
Loren and Adrian Waldner, Britton
Brothers Loren and Adrian Waldner are in charge of Westwood Colony’s swine operation. Located near Britton, the 1,150-sow farrow-to-finish operation utilizes Topigs/Norsvin genetics all on one site. They use internal multiplication to provide breeding stock while also maintaining biosecurity and rely on Dr. Evan Koep from Pipestone Veterinary Services for herd health advice.
The Waldners’ operation averages 31.5 pigs/sow/year, with weaning at 21 days of age. After weaning, the pigs spend seven weeks in the nursery before being moved to finishing rooms that use food courts and wet/dry feeders. In each room, through the use of scales in the food courts, they are able to feed three different diets to better match the nutritional program to the size of pigs. From weaning to market weight, the pigs on average gain 1.76 pounds/day, have a 2.51 feed efficiency and a 4.5% mortality. The Waldners sell their pigs to Smithfield Foods at an average weight of 276 pounds. Westwood Colony manufactures their own feed and uses Team Nutrition as nutritional consultants.
Photo credit: SDSU Extension
Brothers Loren and Adrian Waldner are in charge of Westwood Colony’s swine operation. Located near Britton, the 1,150-sow farrow-to-finish operation utilizes Topigs/Norsvin genetics all on one site.
Martin and Krista Prouty, Bryant
Martin and Krista Prouty recently celebrated their third wedding anniversary and the second anniversary of their 4,400 head wean-to-finish facility one-half mile north of their home near Bryant. Martin managed Dolph Creek Pork, a 3,300 head site, for five-and-a-half years, acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to build and manage his own barns on land that has been in the family for more than 125 years. The full-curtain, naturally ventilated barns are joined in the middle with a common entrance, office space and permanent covered loadout. Pigs are housed in mixed sex pens that are partially slatted over shallow manure pits which are scraped daily and connected to the gravity fed manure tank. Smithfield Foods provides technical support and educational opportunities.
Prouty Farms Pork finishes hogs competitively within the Smithfield system with pigs that gain 1.92 pounds/day, have a 2.66 feed efficiency and 2.38 % mortality. Martin are Krista are both involved in the community and actively promote pork production.
Photo credit: SDSU Extension
This year’s SDSU Beef Day will highlight the latest research in cattle health, feedlot, meat science and food safety, along with an update on beef Extension programs.
Nicole Frutiger, Dalton
Nicole Frutiger manages Thunder Ridge, a filtered 5,700 head sow farm near Dalton. The gestation barn, housing 4,500 stalled sows, and the farrowing facility, housing 1,200 sows, are temperature controlled with evaporative cooling cells in the summer. Sows are bred using post-cervical artificial insemination and produce on average 33 pigs/sow/year. Piglets are weaned at 25 days of age for the Pipestone shareholders from a total of 23 farrowing rooms containing 52 pens each and producing 3,300 weaned pigs per week. Thunder Ridge brings 250 replacement gilts into the six-room gilt development unit every four weeks.
Frutiger credits the work of Dr. Emily McDowell, Pipestone Veterinary Services and the crew of 15 workers at the farm for the success of Thunder Ridge. Previously, she managed Salem 2 from startup to a top producer through her focus on team and individual development and education. Frutiger readily shares her passion for and knowledge of the swine industry with friends, family and the community.
Photo credit: SDSU Extension
Nicole Frutiger, manager of Thunder Ridge, a 5,700 head sow farm near Dalton.
Each year through the South Dakota Master Pork Producers program, allied partners and SDSU Extension recognize outstanding pork producers in South Dakota, as well as help young people who may be interested in a future in pork production.
SDSU Professor and Extension Swine Specialist Bob Thaler says this year’s Master Pork Producers exemplify the hard work South Dakota family farms are doing each day to feed families across the state and beyond.
“From their impressive pork production statistics and commitment to the We Care principles, to their contribution to their community and the state’s swine industry, these are outstanding South Dakota pork producers and we applaud them for their dedication,” says Thaler.
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25th Annual Platte Area Chamber Walleye Fishing Tournament

The 25th Annual Platte Area Chamber Walleye Fishing Tournament will be on April 30th and may 1st. Registration will open February 1st at midnight. The Rules & Calcutta meeting will be Friday, April 30th, at the Platte community building. Doors will open for social hour and registration at 5:00 pm. All participants are required to attend the rules meeting. The entry fee is $250 per 2-person team or $300 per 3-person team.

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Governor Noem Thanks President Trump for Pardons of South Dakotans

Governor Kristi Noem thanked President Donald J. Trump yesterday for three pardons issued to South Dakotans. President Trump issued pardons to John Nystrom; Gregory, Deborah, and Martin Jorgensen (posthumously); and Jessica “Jessi” Frease.

“I am tremendously thankful to President Trump for his support of these three pardons,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “The Trump administration has done an excellent job balancing justice with forgiveness, and tonight’s pardons will provide these individuals with a second chance to continue as productive members of our South Dakota community.”

Governor Noem advocated for these presidential pardons with letters to President Trump. You can read her letter regarding the Nystrom pardon here, the Jorgensen pardon here, and the Frease pardon here. Governor Noem also secured additional support from relevant community leaders.

You can read the White House press release announcing the pardons here.

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Gregory City Meeting Tomorrow Evening

The Gregory City Council will meet tomorrow, Tuesday, January 1st 6:00 p.m. at Gregory City Hall located at 120 W 6th Street.  Items of new business that will be discussed tomorrow night include:

a) Building Permit/Bart Birkeland
b) Set back recommendation for Grandview Commercial Lots
c) Supplement to 2020 Budget
d) Preliminary Dec. 2020 Financial Report
e) COVID Update

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Chamberlain City Meeting this Tuesday

The Chamberlain City Commission will meet this Tuesday,  January 19, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. at the Chamberlain City Offices  located at 715 North Main Street.

For those needing assistance please contact the Finance Office by phone or in writing by 10:00 AM the day of the meeting. Phone 234-4401.

 

 

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Winner City Meeting

The City of Winner will hold their City Council meeting this Tuesday, January 19th which is one day later than usual (second and fourth Monday of each month) due to Martin Luther King Day this upcoming Monday.  The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Winner City Council Chambers.

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SD Health Department Announces Beginning Stages of Priority Group 1D for Next Week

 The South Dakota Department of Health announced that starting on Monday, January 18, 2021, the Department of Health and its health partners across the state will start vaccinating a prioritized population group, within Group 1D, of the state’s vaccination T. This first prioritized population group will be those 80 and over, as well as high-risk individuals and will be expanded to other groups within 1D as vaccines become available. The modification comes amidst the federal government’s plan to release vaccines to states to speed up vaccinations nationwide.
“Given the progress we’ve seen in groups A through C, we are confident that with an increase in vaccine allocations, we can move into a limited population of group 1D. We will begin with those 80 and over and high-risk individuals, and from this starting point, adjust accordingly as allocation permits,” said Kim Malsam-Rysdon, Secretary of Health. “We want to reassure those who’ve already received their first dose, and those in groups A through C who are already in the queue, that their second-dose will be available.”
In addition to the release of COVID-19 vaccines, Operation Warp Speed announced it is changing how it will allocate such vaccines to states. Federal officials will increase weekly allocation to states based on the size of a state’s 65+ population and take into consideration how quickly each state is administering the vaccine to the general public. Currently, South Dakota has been receiving an average of 11,000 doses a week and has administered over 47,950 doses. To see detailed vaccination effort numbers statewide, click here.
“Given our strong partnerships with stakeholders, and the non-stop efforts of our healthcare systems, the Department of Health is proud to say that South Dakota remains among the top states in the country in vaccination efforts– Shots in arms, that’s our goal, ” added Malsam-Rysdon.
Updated infographics with detailed information on the beginning stages of group 1D can be found here.
For additional information and the latest COVID-19 resources, visit COVID.SD.GOV.
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Winner Dairy Queen Owner Receives Community Service Award

Lonnie Heier, the owner of Dairy Queen restaurants in Pierre, Eagle Butte, Martin, Winner and Vermillion received the Community Service award this week at the South Dakota Retailers Association annual banquet in Pierre.

The award recognizes a business that goes above and beyond to give back to the citizens of the communities it serves.
Heier is known for generosity both with his employees and the communities he serves.

He finds unique ways to reward individual members of his staff for meeting personal and employment goals, providing them with everything from shoes to laptops to concert tickets.

Recently when an employee fulfilled a commitment to turn his life around, Heier rewarded the employee with a mobile home.
When nursing home and assisted living residents weren’t able to have direct contact with their families due to COVID-19, Heier organized a fund-raiser to provide them with iPads. He is currently
sponsoring a scholarship program for nurses.

“We feel like we need to be more than just a business that comes in and takes your money; we need to help and that’s what we do,” Heier said. “If you give, you get back more in return through more business and better relationships. It’s something employees can be proud of, and of course we should be proud of.”

While 2020 was a struggle for businesses, Heier made it his mission to continue generous support for individuals and projects, saying, “If we’re going to go down, we’re going to go down giving back.”