STURGIS, S.D. – You can hear the frustration in Rob Larew’s voice as he makes away around the country, meeting with and listening to producer concerns over the Farm Bill and other issues important to ranch and farm country. The National Farmer’s Union President will be in west river South Dakota next week, (August 26-27) touring area ranches and visiting with farmers, ranchers and others who have a stake in the passage of a Farm Bill before the upcoming presidential and congressional elections.
Larew will meet with area ranchers to learn about the policy issues most important to them. He will provide an update on the progress of getting MCOOL (Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling) in the Farm Bill and will have an update on the DOJ investigation packer concentration. He begins his time in South Dakota at the Cammack Ranch near Union Center, Monday, August 26, 2024 at 8a.m. Doug Sombke, SDFU President and Oren Lesmeister, Northwest District Farmers Union Board Member and District 28-A Representative will also be attending. The day wraps up with a public invitation to a Meet and Greet at the Number 3 Saloon in Buffalo, S.D. A social begins at 5pm, followed by a free meal.
The following day, Larew will travel to Harding County with a tour of the Painter Ranch beginning at 8a.m. Members of the South Dakota Legislature and state ag organizations will be in attendance as well. That evening, the public is encouraged to attend another Meet and Greet that begins at 5pm., at the Branding Iron in Isabel with a free meal being served.
Many producers and consumers have been asking for a USDA labeling system that identifies USA bred, born, raised and processed beef be identified as such. Ranchers in the U.S. especially believe a mandatory Country of Origin Labeling Rule would give them a market-driven advantage.
Larew is convinced that if all of the stakeholders who want to see a Farm Bill pass this year come together, a coalition of that kind of depth could move the needle to a successful passage.
See more information at the National Farmer’s Union and the South Dakota Farmer’s Union.
