President, Barack Obama, has been touring through the Midwest the last couple of days talking about rural economic development. On Wednesday, he toured an ethanol plant in Macon, Missouri and stressed the important role that ethanol and other biofuels have in boosting rural communities.

“There shouldn’t be any doubt that renewable, home-grown fuels are a key part of our strategy,” said President Obama.

With nearly 400,000 employee’s nationwide working in the ethanol industry alone, those good paying jobs are extremely important in rural areas where  20% of the nation’s population live.

The President made sure to note that he is no stranger to ethanol.

“I may be President these days, but I used to be a Senator from Illinois. I didn’t just discover the merits of biofuels like ethanol when I first hopped on the campaign bus.  I believe in their potential to contribute to our rural economies and our clean energy economy used to be a senator from Illinois. I believe.”

President Obama went on to say that now is the time to reduce our dependence on imported oil.

 “For decades we have talked about doing this, for decades we have talked about how that dependence on oil from other countries threatens our economy, but usually our will to act kind of rises or falls depending on the price of gas at the pump,” he said.

The President also acknowledged that ethanol has benefits beyond being an economic booster.

“I believe in the potential of what you are doing right here to contribute to our clean energy future.”

Spring is always a busy time on the farm with calving season coming to an end and farmers racing to get into the field, there is little time to think about safety. But when it comes to cleaning out your grain bins this spring, SAFETY should be your number one priority.

With the wet harvest this last fall, farmers were left with grain in very bad condition and forced to practice some heavy drying. Following a long winter, cleaning out bins can be potentially dangerous with crusting and mold issues.

There have been numerous incidents so far this spring with farmers cleaning out their bins including fatalities, and South Dakota Corn asks that everyone be extra cautious.

Here are a couple of things to remember:

Farmers too often work alone, when cleaning out your grain bins, be sure to use the buddy system.

If your grain is in bad condition, make sure to wear a mask in effort to not breathe in possible molds.

Crusting is a serious issue that can be deceiving to farmers which can lead to lengthy falls or getting trapped.

Don’t let your bins get out of hand, if your grain is in bad condition in April, just imagine what it will look like as it warms up in June.

Be sure to watch the Hefty’s Grain Bin Safety Video.

What comes to mind you think of Earth Day? Most people probably think of planting trees or recycling. But what about our farmers? Everything they do is about sustainability and caring for the land. South Dakota Farmers are indeed are the True Environmentalists.

Each year, farmers are continuing to become more efficient through new practices and technologies. No-till planting, GPS and seed biotechnology are just a few of things that farmers are using to care for their soil, use less energy, prevent erosion, reduce run off and to use less chemical application.

“One of the clearest measures of the sustainability of an industry is that industry’s ability to increase efficiency, while decreasing environmental impacts,” said Lisa Richardson, SDCUC Executive Director.

Using less and growing more is exactly what farmers have been doing over last few decades.

“Today it takes about 40 percent less land and energy to produce a bushel of corn than it did 20 years ago. Earth Day is the perfect moment to recognize farmers for improving their environment and for being environmental stewards 365 days of the year,” said Richardson.

Not only do farmers care for the land, but they are both feeding and fueling a growing population.

“Our ability to feed and fuel a world population that will double in the next 20 to 40 years is in the hands of dedicated farmers, who truly care about conserving our natural resources,” said Richardson.

As South Dakota farmers have begun planting corn this spring using their new technologies and soil management practices, please acknowledge their endless efforts to provide an abundant, safe, high quality and inexpensive food and clean-burning fuel supply while taking care of their land in a sustainable way.

“Everything I do every day is to take care of the soil that I own, that I raise my family on and that I depend on for my living.” – Bill Chase, farmer from Wolsey, SD.