Sturgis area rancher Gary Deering is the new President of the South Dakota StockGrowers Association. He was elected over the weekend at their convention in Rapid City. Deering says he has several priorities including getting country of origin labeling reinstated, pushing for passage of the GIPSA Fair Practice Rules and making sure state property taxes are determined on the land’s ability to produce income.

He says some of their priorities at the national level supports rewrite of the Waters of the United States rule, getting repeal of the estate tax and working on federal land issues.

Deering says the most important national concern is making sure Congress gets rid of the estate tax.

Deering says he also wants to get more younger producers involved in Association activities.