Hop in the cab with South Dakota Corn Utilization Council president Brian Smith, a farmer near Montrose as he talks about the advantages of no-till planting and the technologies he uses to increase his efficiencies as he grows the next supply of food, feed, fuel and fiber.
As farmers, the state National Resources Conservation Service and independent consultants continue to work together to protect natural resources while improving farm land potential, a gigantic backlog of wetland determinations remain in South Dakota.
(A quick background on this issue: In order for land owners to perform drainage activity, they must first have Wetland Determination done by an NRCS official in order to comply with the Federal Farm Program. This is called Conservation Compliance, which ensures that wetlands are protected and Farm Program eligibility remains.)
There has been a focus on ways to improve and expedite the Wetland Determination process from both the NRCS and commodity organizations during the past couple of years. Two examples would be the temporary NRCS hires and active independent consultants. While the number of processed determinations has increased, the demand continues to grow as farmers seek to improve their land with the numerous economic and environmental benefits that drainage can provide.
With the last update on the backlog from the NRCS in February, South Dakota’s total far outweighs that of other states with a whopping 3,175. Other totals from states in the Prairie Pothole Region include Minnesota with 1,889, North Dakota with 1,592 and Iowa with only 203.
A backlog update from the last South Dakota State Technical Committee meeting in March had shown 1,173 determinations were completed during the last four months prior to the meeting, but during that same time they had received an additional 1,174 applications. No doubt this inability to make progress on the backlog is frustrating for all parties involved and further attention to possible solutions is increasingly necessary.
“Farmers have a right to know what is happening with the process so they can follow the rules and do the right thing,” noted South Dakota Corn Growers Association president Mark Gross. “Some farmers have been stalemated from investing in their own land for over two years because of the lengthy backlog in which they have no control over. That’s a genuine problem and those folks deserve answers.”
These South Dakota farmers have started planting the next crop of food, feed, fuel and fiber.
You can follow the planting progress on Twitter with the hashtag: #plant13
*Source: USDA ERS – The industry group dollar demonstrates that the cost of food equals the sum of value added by all supply chain establishments.
Have you ever wondered what makes up the amount of money you spend on food?
The United States Department of Agriculture released its annual breakdown of the country’s food dollar earlier this month giving consumers an answer to this question.
While we’ve visited this topic in past years, the minuscule amount of money (10.8%) that goes back to the farm (where your food was raised) is simply amazing. Our farmers and ranchers continue to produce year after year meeting demands in a way that is efficient, profitable and yet highly affordable for consumers.
And thanks to America’s food producers, we spend a lower percentage of our income on food than any other nation in the world!
A couple of things to keep in mind as prices inevitably rise at the grocery store…
For more information on the food dollar, click the link below: http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-dollar-series/food-dollar-application.aspx?reportPath=/FoodDollar/Nominal&table_num=1&year=2011
The use of precision technology in agriculture has been a game-changer in the way food is grown today. These advancements have led to drastic improvements in both the economical and environmental sides of farming. Precision agriculture has allowed farmers to increase yields while reducing the amount of necessary inputs such as seed, fuel, fertilizer and others.
To further grower education in this arena, South Dakota State University Extension will be hosting a Precision Ag Conference on Wednesday, March 13th in Sioux Falls at the Convention Center. The conference will focus on managing farm data and the financial benefits of precision ag technologies. There will also be a precision ag trade show during the break periods and following conference.
To register and/or view the conference agenda, click on the link provided below:
http://igrow.org/product/western-corn-belt-precision-ag-conference/
Corn Comments Podcast with Jim Woster.
In this week’s Corn Comments Podcast, Woster talks about South Dakota Corn’s True Environmentalists campaign. For more information about how South Dakota farmers and ranchers are feeding the world and caring for the land, check out the website:
You can find South Dakota Corn everywhere. We’re talking to you—and each other—about the future of the industry that sustains us. And we have a lot to say. Be a part of the conversation.
Corn Comments Podcast
