PIERRE, S.D. -- One question I frequently am asked is "What is the biggest challenge agriculture faces today?"
Farming and ranching always have been challenging.
Twenty years ago, I would have said the biggest challenge in agriculture was the markets or the weather.
Today, I feel the challenges are other uncertainties. It's the impact of government interventions. What kind of new rules and regulations will hamper the sustainability of our farms in South Dakota?
New regulations
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It seems that the federal government continually is coming out with new regulations that prevent farmers and ranchers from producing the food to feed the world.
One example of these restrictions that seem to lack common sense is the recent consideration by the EPA to regulate dust in rural America. Last summer, the EPA reviewed its air quality standards, and one of the staff recommendations was to further regulate dust emissions -- or coarse particulate matter, as the EPA calls it. This spring, the EPA will decide whether to formally propose more rigorous rules for the dust standard.
Kicking up dust
Here in South Dakota, dust is a fact of life. When you drive down one of our thousands of miles of gravel roads, you kick up dust. When you plant corn, harvest wheat or work cattle, there's dust.
Yes, farmers and ranchers need to be responsible stewards of the environment. And most of us are.
Many producers have implemented no-till and other best management practices into their operations to reduce soil erosion. But this is not a time to impose burdensome regulatory policies that will decrease our ability to produce the very food, feed, fiber and fuel that the world needs.
Eye on agencies
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture keeps a close eye on what the EPA and other federal agencies are doing.
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The Office of Ag Policy was created within the department in 2001 to research and develop factual information on issues affecting the state of South Dakota and its agricultural industry. According to statute, the office may develop briefing documents, policy statements and other informational documents.
Our Office of Ag Policy monitors federal regulations, listens to congressional hearings and works with our congressional delegation on behalf of our producers. We provide comments and feedback to federal agencies. We also gather the top agricultural news from across the Web in one location every day.
Ag Policy department staff also will keep a close eye on the development of the 2012 farm bill.
One of my goals as secretary of agriculture is to be accessible and responsive to our producers and constituents. If you have an issue you'd like to discuss, call me at 800-228-5254 or email me at agmail@state .
sd.us.
Editor's Note: Bones is South Dakota's secretary of agriculture.
