SDFB Sets Priority Issues for 2007 Legislative Session

 When the South Dakota Legislature convenes next week for the 2007 Session, the SD Farm Bureau will be working with legislators on several key issues affecting its producer members.  Among the top issues for the state’s largest general farm organization are agricultural land taxation, ballot measures, value-added agriculture, property rights, resource conservation, and rural education.

“Farm Bureau policy starts with ideas that farmers and ranchers bring to their county Farm Bureau,” said SDFB President Scott VanderWal.  “After the delegates have voted on policies, that provides direction for our county leaders, Board of Directors, and our lobbyists.”

“We anticipate that one of the more widely-discussed issues this session will be property taxes and how to accurately value farm and ranch land,” noted VanderWal.  “Farm Bureau policy states that the assessed value of ag land should reflect the land’s ability to produce under natural conditions.  We believe that approach would more accurately reflect the inherent value of land and would alleviate many of the problems associated with the current method of basing valuations on a theoretic market value.”

Another issue to receive additional scrutiny this year will be improving the signature-gathering process for initiated and referred measures.  “We fully support the right of citizens to initiate measures and to refer laws,” said VanderWal.  “However, those efforts need to be done fairly and honestly.  The Constitutional Revision Commission is recommending ways to improve the verification of petition signatures for ballot measures, as well as ways to increase accountability of those circulating petitions.  We applaud their efforts.”

Value-added agriculture efforts include working to protect and expand livestock production opportunities, as well as expanding production and use of renewable energy.  Property rights issues will focus on defining conditions of public use for flooded private lands, working to improve communication among landowners, sportsmen, and public officials, and protecting landowners’ interests on prairie dog issues.  The SDFB also favors adequate funding for conservation projects, as well as adequately funding quality education in rural areas.

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