SDFB Members to Serve on National Advisory Committees

Several South Dakota Farm Bureau members have been selected to serve on advisory committees for the American Farm Bureau Federation, the nation’s largest general farm organization.  As committee members, they provide producer based expertise and guidance for specific commodity issues.

Committee members are:
Beef – Don Kelly, Quinn  (Alternate: Jeff Gatzke, Hitchcock)
Dairy – Bob Ode, Brandon  (Alternate:  Marv Post, Volga)
Feed Grains – Russ Hurlbert, Raymond  (Alternate:  Darrel DeBoer, Corsica)
Honey – Dale Rye, Renner
Sheep – Bill Aeschilmann, Hurley
Wheat – Steve Waters, Carter  (Alternate: Scot Eisenbraun, Wall)

“The advisory committees serve an invaluable role in getting input from farmers and ranchers on issues affecting their particular commodity,” said SDFB President Scott VanderWal.  The committees work to identify emerging issues, recommend issues for policy development not addressed by current AFBF policy, identify challenges related to production and marketing of commodities, and offer suggestions or clarification of existing policies.

Bill Aeschilmann, a sheep producer from Hurley, has served as an advisory committee member in the past.  “I have seen the results of the committee work,” he says.  “The AFBF does listen to the grassroots input.”  He cites an example involving USDA markets reports for the wool trade.  Traditionally, the reports were based on “clean” wool, while in the Midwest wool is typically sold on the farm or ranch on a “grease” basis.  “We requested that USDA continue to report the clean basis, but also give the grease basis.  We brought it up on our committee, and the USDA is now giving the market report both ways.”

The committees will be meeting in February.

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