South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard has vetoed Senate Bill 136. That bill would have allowed cropland within fifty feet of a lake, river or stream to be classified as non-cropland if it is planted to grass.

Senator Jason Frerichs of Wilmot is one of the sponsors of the bill, and says the benefits of having those buffer strips is more than any possible loss of property tax…..

The Governor, in his veto message, said there was ambiguous language, possible constitutional issues, and bad tax policy in the bill.

Frerichs says Ag producers are paying higher property taxes year after year…

County officials had raised questions about the manpower needed to update land maps around drainage areas.
Frerichs says those assessors do a good job now of classifying various types of agland…..

The legislature meets for the last day tomorrow, (Tuesday) and Frerichs hopes they can override the veto.