A priority for the South Dakota Farmers Union now that the election is over is the need for affordable health care for farmers and ranchers. President Doug Sombke says the state needs to approve Medicaid Expansion to help those who aren’t covered.

He says a large number of those without coverage are farmers.

Sombke says his group has been lobbying legislators for health care help but the unfortunate thing is that the elected representatives are following party policy rather than the needs for their constituents.

Sombke says South Dakota Farmers Union will be pushing state lawmakers on this issue and his group has also been working with a coalition including members of the health care industry to find better health care options for rural residents.