South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has called state lawmakers into a special session for Monday October Fifth. The purpose is to determine how to spend federal funding to the state for pandemic relief. South Dakota Farm Bureau Lobbyist Mike Held says one of the more interesting ideas he’s heard about is possible funding for state meat inspection plants.

South Dakota Farmers Union Lobbyist Mitch Richter says one of the major issues his group is concerned about that they’d like state legislators to look at is funding for rural mental health services.

The Governor has a proposal to put $400 million for small business grants. Held says that could end up involving agriculture.

Richter says another negative impact of the pandemic has been on the renewable fuels industry which has also hit South Dakota.

Barring an extension, South Dakota has until November 30, 2020 to spend all of the $1.25 billion in Federal COVID Relief dollars.