Thune-Backed Senate Farm Bill Advances With Year-Round E15, South Dakota Ag Priorities

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - U.S. Sen. John Thune said Wednesday that Republicans have advanced the Senate farm bill out of the Agriculture Committee, even as Democrats continue to oppose moving the legislation to the full Senate.

Thune, a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, called the committee vote an “important step” toward delivering long‑awaited updates for farmers and ranchers. The bill includes several provisions he authored, including permanent year‑round E15 fuel sales — a major priority for South Dakota’s agriculture and biofuels industries.

“A lot of hard work has gone into the Senate farm bill, and reporting the bill out of committee is an important step that pushes us closer to getting this critical legislation to the president’s desk,” Thune said.

“While I’m frustrated by Democrats’ lack of support, I’m proud that Republicans united to advance the farm bill so we can build on the historic investments we enacted in the Working Families Tax Cuts and deliver long‑overdue policy updates for South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers.”

Thune criticized Democrats for again voting against the bill, saying their opposition “puts partisan politics ahead of producers.”

“Senate Republicans worked in good faith with Democrats to negotiate a farm bill that includes year‑round E15 and more than 100 bipartisan bills to support rural America,” Thune said.

“Democrats’ decision to put partisan politics ahead of producers and vote against the farm bill yet again is simply inexcusable.”

Key Thune‑Authored Provisions in the Senate Farm Bill

The bill incorporates several measures written by Thune, including:

·         Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act — expands ELAP to cover feed and water hauling costs and adds adverse weather and drought as qualifying disasters.

·         CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act — increases grazing access, expands enrollment options, and speeds up emergency haying during drought.

·         SAFETY Act — protects U.S. food products from unfair foreign trade practices.

·         Rural Internet Improvement Act — streamlines USDA broadband programs by merging ReConnect with traditional loan and grant programs.

·         Strengthening Local Processing Act — supports small meat and poultry processors.

·         Promoting Precision Agriculture Act — encourages wider adoption of precision ag technology.

·         Fertilizer Transparency Act — improves price reporting for fertilizer products.

·         Base Acre Update Expansion — ensures all eligible acres can be enrolled in commodity programs.

·         American Beef Labeling Act — reinstates mandatory country‑of‑origin labeling for beef.

Thune has helped write five farm bills during his time in Congress. Agriculture remains South Dakota’s largest industry, with more than 42 million acres of agricultural land statewide.