South Dakota Lawmakers wrapped up their 2014 session on Monday this week. The State Farmers Union says overall it was a successful session for movement on issues effecting agriculture.  Farmers Union’s Legislative Director Mike Traxinger says funding for infrastructure and education along with an animal cruelty measure were the top issues for agriculture and will likely have the most effect going forward.

Traxinger says perhaps the biggest concern in the future is how to replace ag leadership and experience in the legislature. He says significant holes will need to be filled next session with new chairs for both the Senate and House Agriculture committees.

Traxinger says ag knowledge and legislative experience is being lost that can’t be retained just over the course of an election.