Johnston says even though dairy development is a local control issue the state can also help facilitate the needed growth in cow numbers through tax incentives and other programs.
Senate Ag Chair Shantel Krebs says it’s important for legislators to see first-hand the significant economic activity the dairy industry can drive in the state and then look for ways to support it through the legislature.
One of the ideas the dairy industry is proposing is to take revenue generated from sales or exise taxes collected by the state on dairies and funnel that to the counties and townships for infrastructure. Krebs says this could be a win-win and help tame the opposition to these projects. She thinks there would be good support in the legislature for a change in state law to support this concept.
The push for dairy development is part of South Dakota Governor Dennis Dugaard’s recently announced livestock initiative.
