The South Dakota legislature opens their 2014 session today in Pierre. State Farmers Union Legislative Director Mike Traxinger says the two major high profile ag issues this session center around animal cruelty and ag land valuations. He says his group is backing a bill calling for tweaking the valuation method from a land’s ability to produce income to actual use.
Traxinger says Farmers Union has been working the State Veterinarian, other ag and animal welfare groups and law enforcement on ag cruelty legislation. That measure would increase the penalty or conviction of animal cruelty to a felony yet protect traditional livestock practices.
He says other bills his group will be watching include legislation regarding raw milk rules,, water issues and a proposed increase in the state wheat check off.
