top of page
Search

Thune Says Senate Democrats’ Farm Bill Block Creates Uncertainty for South Dakota Farmers and Ranchers

Red barn and silver silo beside cornfield under blue sky, with Northeast Radio SD logo in the upper right.

Northeast Radio SD News – National South Dakota News - U.S. Sen. John Thune (R‑S.D.) criticized Senate Democrats on Thursday after they declined to advance the 2026 farm bill out of the Senate Agriculture Committee, a move he said creates additional uncertainty for South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers.

“Democrats’ refusal to support the farm bill and year‑round E15 is deeply disappointing and only creates more uncertainty for South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers,” Thune said in a statement shared with Northeast Radio SD. “This bill includes over 100 bipartisan bills, yet Democrats chose to put partisan politics above producers and rural America.”

The farm bill includes several major provisions authored by Thune, many of which directly affect South Dakota’s agriculture industry. Among them is permanent year‑round E15, a long‑sought change that would allow continuous sales of the higher‑ethanol fuel blend. Thune has repeatedly argued that year‑round E15 would strengthen the state’s agriculture economy and lower fuel costs for consumers.

Other Thune‑backed measures in the bill include:

·         Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act, expanding ELAP to cover feed and water hauling costs and adding drought and adverse weather as qualifying disasters.

·         CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act, increasing grazing access, expanding enrollment options, and expediting emergency haying.

·         SAFETY Act, aimed at protecting U.S. food products from unfair foreign trade practices.

·         Rural Internet Improvement Act, streamlining USDA broadband programs and targeting funding to communities with limited service.

·         Strengthening Local Processing Act, supporting small meat and poultry processors.

·         Promoting Precision Agriculture Act, establishing voluntary industry standards for precision ag technology.

·         Fertilizer Price Transparency Act, requiring reporting to help producers better understand fertilizer pricing.

·         A one‑time increase to the voluntary base acre update cap.

·         American Beef Labeling Act, reinstating mandatory country‑of‑origin labeling for beef.


Thune, who has served on the Agriculture Committee in both chambers of Congress and has helped write five farm bills, said the legislation represents “real support and certainty” for producers — but warned that blocking it in committee delays needed progress.


In remarks delivered on the Senate floor Wednesday, Thune emphasized that the bill builds on last year’s Working Families Tax Cuts, strengthens commodity programs and crop insurance, modernizes farm loan programs, expands livestock assistance, improves CRP flexibility, and invests in rural development, water infrastructure, health care, and broadband.


He also highlighted the significance of securing permanent year‑round E15, calling it a “win‑win” for farmers and consumers.

“It’s taken a lot of work to get here, but I’m very proud that this farm bill delivers permanent — permanent — year‑round E15,” Thune said. “This is something that is going to further help producers and help bring down fuel costs for all Americans.”

The Senate Agriculture Committee had been scheduled to mark up the bill on August 6.

Thune said he remains committed to advancing the legislation and getting it to the president’s desk.


Read more local & state news at www.northeastradiosd.com/news

Subscribe to the DAILY newsletter & download the LOCAL online RADIO app - https://zurl.co/FchgS

bottom of page