BIG Update

Many government services are halted during a government shutdown. One of which was the local Farm Service Administration (FSA) offices which provide vital services to producers. I’ve heard from many producers across South Dakota that they need these offices to open so they can cash their checks from commodity sales. Without these funds, many farmers are put in a tough spot. I expressed my concerns to Secretary Brooke Rollins, and she assured me USDA would fix the problem.

Good news for producers – these local FSA offices will now be open five days per week to sign these checks and continue payments for other programs like ARC, PLC, CRP, and more. These services are critical for producers, and I will continue to advocate for them in D.C.

 

BIG Idea

Day after day, hundreds of thousands of military service men and women and federal employees have shown up to work without pay during the government shutdown. These hardworking individuals shouldn’t have to suffer because Congress didn’t do its job. I introduced the Shutdown Fairness Act, which has President Trump’s support, to pay federal employees and servicemembers who are required to work during a government shutdown. My bill would make sure none of these employees work without pay and help folks make ends meet for themselves and their families. It’s not fair that these individuals and families have to suffer by missing a paycheck, so I’ve made sure my pay is withheld as I keep working to resolve this shutdown.

 

BIG News

The Trump Administration announced plans to buy beef from Argentina. This announcement was concerning to me and cattle country, and I shared these concerns with the administration and asked for more details about this plan.

South Dakota’s cattle producers set the standard for quality and safety in beef production. I understand the President’s efforts to strengthen trade and keep food affordable, but those efforts should not undermine the farmers and ranchers who put dinner on our tables. Any decision to import foreign beef must hold countries to the same gold-standard regulations our producers meet every day. American ranchers play by the rules, produce the best beef in the world, and they deserve a fair shot to compete.

This week, USDA also announced its plan to fortify cattle herds in the U.S. The best way to ease prices at the meat counter is with more U.S. beef. Anything we can do to keep more American families in the cattle business is good news.