SD Rep. Herseth Sandlin hosts Vilsack for rural issues forum

Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for a Rural Issues Forum at the farm of Jim and Barbara Hundstad in Bath, South Dakota, on Monday. In May, Rep. Herseth Sandlin invited Secretary Vilsack to survey the extensive flood damage in northeastern South Dakota and hold a town hall meeting with farmers and ranchers. During the forum, representatives of farming and ranching organizations along with area producers had the opportunity to ask questions of Rep. Herseth Sandlin and Secretary Vilsack.

"Today's forum provided an important opportunity for South Dakotans to raise their concerns with Secretary Vilsack about issues that affect their every day lives," Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "I appreciate Secretary Vilsack traveling to our state to hear directly from South Dakotans and I look forward to continuing our work together to support farmers, ranchers and rural communities."

An estimated 300 South Dakotans attended the Rural Issues Forum and local producers had the opportunity to participate in a farmer's market as part of the event. Katie Spicer, president of the Groton FFA led the Pledge of Allegiance and Dr. Lorraine Hale, President of Presentation College, offered a prayer. In addition, LeRoy Quinn Jr., Darrell DeCoteau and Dustina Gill, members of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, performed an Honoring Ceremony.

During the forum, the issue of Farm Bill implementation was raised. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Herseth Sandlin played an integral role in drafting the new farm bill and has been committed to overseeing the implementation of programs created by the legislation in the 111th Congress. Rep. Herseth Sandlin added, "I’m pleased with the progress USDA is making on implementing many critical programs, including the new disaster programs and the variety of programs to help develop our domestic renewable fuels industry in the energy title. The livestock disaster programs have been especially critical for producers suffering livestock losses during the storms this winter and spring and those impacted by the grasshopper infestation over the summer."

Also discussed during today's forum were economic issues impacting livestock producers. With regard to dairy, the overall state of the economy reduced demand for dairy foods, resulting in an estimated 2009 surplus of 6.5 billion pounds. In addition, the swine industry has been adversely impacted by economic conditions. Since September 2007, pork producers have lost an average of more than $21 on each hog marketed. "We must find solutions to address the economic crisis that our milk and pork producers face, and that many other livestock producers find themselves facing," Rep. Herseth Sandlin said.

South Dakota's contribution to the new energy economy, particularly through biofuels production, was also discussed with Secretary Vilsack today. This spring, Rep. Herseth Sandlin led a bipartisan coalition a bipartisan coalition of 28 Members of Congress in sending a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson requesting that she approve an application submitted by Growth Energy, on behalf of a coalition of ethanol producers, for EPA to approve an ethanol-gasoline blend containing up to 15 percent ethanol by volume, commonly known as E-15. A final rule is expected from the EPA by December 1.

Also this year, Rep. Herseth Sandlin raised her concerns with the EPA's proposed rule for the implementation of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) included in the Energy Bill passed in late 2007. Herseth Sandlin was a leading advocate for the aggressive increase included in the new RFS in 2007, and since enactment of the legislation has pushed to fully implement and improve the RFS to support ethanol and advanced biofuels development. However, the EPA's speculative proposed rule included findings on indirect land use changes impacting lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with biofuels production.

"Ultimately, if the EPA can’t get it right, I support requiring EPA to make the comparison of emissions from biofuels and gasoline the central issue, rather than the questionable science of indirect land use that would be devastating to the renewable fuels industry and our country’s energy independence," Rep. Herseth Sandlin. "It’s vitally important for economic development in South Dakota and for our nation’s energy independent future that the EPA correctly implement the RFS – and bases its rule on fact, not fiction."