SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

I'M JACKIE HENDRY.

AGRICULTURE IS SOUTH DAKOTA'S LARGEST INDUSTRY, BY FAR.

IT BRINGS IN MORE THAN $32 BILLION IN ANNUAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

A STATE STUDY ON ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS SHOWS AGRICULTURE EMPLOYS NEARLY 15% OF THE STATE'S WORKFORCE.

SO, MANY AG PRODUCERS WERE SURPRISED TO HEAR THE STATE'S MOST DOMINANT INDUSTRY WILL NO LONGER HAVE A DEDICATED DEPARTMENT.

GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM RECENTLY SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO MERGE THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

AS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, GOVERNOR NOEM'S MERGER PROPOSAL WILL BECOME REALITY UNLESS LAWMAKERS REJECT IT.

THAT'S UNLIKELY WITH REPUBLICANS IN CONTROL OF BOTH HOUSES.

NOEM SAYS THE MERGER WILL SIMPLIFY THE LIVES OF SOUTH DAKOTA'S FARMERS AND RANCHERS WITH A ONE-STOP SHOP IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

SHE ALSO SAYS THE MERGER WILL ELIMINATE REDUNDANCIES AND SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

PRODUCERS AROUND THE STATE HAVE MIXED OPINIONS ON THE MERGER, AND MANY OF THEM LOOK TO FORMER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE WALT BONES FOR ADVICE.

WE VISITED HIS OPERATION ABOUT 20 MILES EAST OF SIOUX FALLS TO TALK ABOUT THE MERGER AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING AHEAD.

>> LIKE SO MANY FARMS IN SOUTH DAKOTA, THIS FARM IS A FAMILY BUSINESS AND HAS BEEN FOR GENERATIONS.

WALLET BONES RUNS THE OPERATION WITH HIS TWO BROTHERS AND ONE BROTHER-IN-LAW.

>> AND EACH OF THEM NOW HAS A SON WITH US.

SO THE NEPHEWS WOULD BE OUR FIFTH GENERATION ON THE FARM.

MY GREAT GRANDFATHER HOMESTEADED HERE IN 1879.

>> SINCE THEN, THE FARM HAS GROWN AND DIVERSE IDENTIFIED.

>> WE'VE GOT CORN AND SOYBEANS.

WE GOT A BEEF COW HERD, WE HAVE A CATTLE FEED YARD THAT WE BACKGROUND SOME HERS -- HEAVY FORCE A LOCAL DAIRY, RUN A SIDE BUSINESS.

>> NONE OF THAT HAS COMES EASY, THE AG PRODUCERS FACE A RUN IN YEARS, FLOODS KEPT FARMERS FROM PLANTING, TARIFFS STUNTED INTERNATIONAL SALES TO CHINA AND OTHER COUNTRIES, AND LAST YEAR, THE PANDEMIC SHUTTERED ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST FOOD PACKING PLANTS, RESULTING IN A BACKUP OF LIVESTOCK WITH NOWHERE TO GO.

BUT WHEN I ASK WALT BONES HOW HIS OPERATION HAS WEATHERED THESE CHALLENGES, IT TAKES IT IN STRIDE.

>> THAT'S FARMING.

[ Laughter ] YEAH.

WE ALWAYS HAVE CHALLENGES TO TRY TO -- THAT WE NEED TO OVERCOME AND, YOU KNOW, THANKFULLY WITH, AGAIN, THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE AND THE HELP THAT WE CAN GET AND SOME OF THE SAFETY NEATS WE HAVE THROUGH FEDERAL, YOU KNOW, CROP INSURANCE AND SOME OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

IS IT A CHALLENGE?

YES.

BUT, AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT FARMING.

AND IF IT'S EASY, AS THEY SAY, EVERYBODY WOULD BE DOIN' IT.

>> THE BONES FAMILY HAS EXPERIENCED PLENTY OF THOSE CHALLENGES THROUGH THE GENERATIONS.

>> YOU KNOW, MY GRANDFATHER SURVIVED THE '30s.

YOU KNOW, UNPRECEDENTED DROUGHT, YOU KNOW, JUST HORRIBLE.

MY DAD SURVIVED THE DOWNTURN OF THE '80s.

AGAIN, WE SAW, YOU KNOW, LAND VALUES AND ASSETS, YOU KNOW, THEIR VALUE CUT IN HALF.

AND, SO, THE SITUATIONS MAY BE DIFFERENT.

THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE MAY BE DIFFERENT.

BUT, AGAIN, IT'S JUST WE NEED TO PLAN AHEAD.

>> THAT PERSPECTIVE AND EXPERIENCE INFORMED ANOTHER ROLE IN HIS LIFE.

FORMER GOVERNOR DENNIS DAUGAARD APPOINTED BONES AS HIS SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE IN 2011, AND HE SERVED IN THE ROLE UNTIL 2013.

HE ENJOYED A POSITIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

>> THEY WEREN'T THE EVIL REGULATORS THAT WERE LOOKING TO COME DOWN AND HAMMER YOU.

I MEAN, THAT WASN'T THEM.

I MEAN, THEY HAD A JOB TO DO.

>> THE AGENCIES HAVE SOME OVERLAP, BUT SERVE DIFFERENT GOALS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SUPPORTS AND PROMOTES THE STATE'S LARGEST INDUSTRY, WHILE THE DENR ENSURES SOUTH DAKOTA AG PRODUCERS AND OTHERS FOLLOW FEDERAL GUIDELINES FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.

WALT BONES EXPLAINS THE DISTINCTION THIS WAY.

THE AG DEPARTMENT INDEPENDENCE A DAIRY OPERATION TO ENSURE THE PRODUCT IS SAFE FOR CONSUMERS.

WHILE THE DENR INSPECTION ENSURES THERE'S NO RISK OF GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION.

>> IT DOESN'T HAPPEN HOPEFULLY VERY OFTEN, BUT IT PROBABLY HAS HAPPENED WHERE AN OPERATOR, AS OURSELVES, MAY HAVE ONE DAY A VISIT FROM AN INSPECTOR FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AG AND THEN MAYBE THAT AFTERNOON WE GET AN INSPECTOR FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

YOU KNOW?

BASICALLY KIND OF LOOKING AT SOME OF THE SAME THINGS.

MAYBE DIFFERENT.

SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE THIS A ONE-STOP SHOP SO THAT PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND IF THEY NEED HELP OR IF WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE GOING OUT AND DOING THESE INSPECTIONS THAT WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING ALL THESE SERVICES.

>> THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER, THOUGH.

THEY SAY HAVING TWO SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS ENSURES A CHECK AND BALANCE SYSTEM.

OTHERS WORRY COMBINING THE TWO WILL PRIORITIZE AG BUSINESS AND LEAVE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION ON THE SIDELINES.

WALT BONES HAS BEEN FIELDING PLENTY OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE OF HIS OPERATION'S LONG HISTORY AND HIS TIME IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

HE TELLS PRODUCERS WHO ARE WORRIED TO LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENT OF AG'S WEBSITE AND CONSIDER THE RESOURCES THEY ALREADY USE.

>> AND THEN LOOK AT THE NEW ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND SAY, SO, ARE THOSE SERVICES STILL THERE?

YOU KNOW?

ARE WE MISSING SOMETHING?

ARE THEY ADDING ANOTHER LEVEL OF BUREAUCRACY PER SE?

AND, SO, WHEN I'VE ASKED, YOU KNOW, OR SUGGESTED TO PEOPLE TO DO THAT, MOST OF THEM CAME BACK AND, YOU KNOW, WOULD TALK A FEW DAYS LATER AND SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING IS STILL THERE.

>> BONES IS CONFIDENT GOVERNOR NOEM AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LARRY WITHHOLDEN ARE WELL SUITED TO MAKE THESE CHANGES BASED ON THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES WITH FARMING AND RANCHING, THE SAME IS TRUE WITH HUNTER ROBERT, THE CURRENT DENR SECRETARY AND INTERIM AG SECRETARY.

HE'LL SERVE AS THE FIRST HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES ONCE THE MERGER TAKES EFFECT IN APRIL.

RHODEN.

WALT BONES SAYS HE'S MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT'S FUTURE WHEN THERE'S NEW LEADERSHIP.

>> TWO YEARS FROM NOW, SIX YEARS FROM NOW, WHO'S GOING TO BE IN THOSE ROLES.

THE SECRETARIES OF EVERY DEPARTMENT SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE GOVERNOR.

SO A NEW GOVERNOR COMING IN, YOU KNOW, COULD HAVE A NEW SECRETARY.

OF THE AG AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, WHATEVER IT'S CALLED NOW.

TIME WILL TELL.

>> IN THE MEANTIME, BONES TURNS HIS FOCUS TO HIS OWN OPERATION, KEEPING HIS COWS COMFORTABLE THROUGH THE WINTER AND PREPARING FOR SPRING PLANTING.

>> HERE NOW TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ARE LEADERS OF TWO OF THE STATE'S LARGEST AG ORGANIZATIONS.

OUR FIRST GUEST IS DOUG SOMBKE, PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION.

THE FARMERS UNION RELEASED A STATEMENT EARLIER THIS MONTH OPPOSING THE MERGER.

DOUG SOMBKE, WELCOME TO "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, JACKIE.

>> ALSO JOINING US, SCOTT VANDERWAL, PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA FARM BUREAU.

THE FARM BUREAU RELEASED ITS OWN STATEMENT SUPPORTING THE MERGER.

SCOTT VANDERWAL, WELCOME TO YOU AS WELL.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THE INVITATION.

>> SO, DOUG, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FARMERS UNION IS ONE OF VERY FEW ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAS DIRECTLY COME OUT IN OPPOSITION TO THIS MERGER.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ACTUALLY EXPRESSED NEUTRALITY AS FAR AS THE MERGE GOES.

TALKS TO US ABOUT WHY YOUR MEMBERS VOTED TO OPPOSE THIS MERGE.

>> YEAH, THIS WAS A LONG DEBATE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A VIRTUAL CONVENTION.

IT WAS STILL A LENGTHY DEBATE, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT IT AND TRYING TO GET TO UNDERSTAND IT.

QUITE HONESTLY, IT CAME DOWN TO NOT SO MUCH THAT IT WOULD BE A ONE-STOP SHOP BUT WOULD WE BE STILL OFFERING THE SAME SERVICES AS THE SEGMENT YOU JUST HAD THAT WALT BONES PRESENTED.

BUT WITH COMBINING THEM, YOU KNOW, YEAH, YOU MIGHT SAVE A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, BUT, QUITE HONESTLY, YOU'RE DILUTING THE SERVICES.

YOU REALLY ARE.

UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS HIGHLY QUALIFIED AS HUNTER ROBERTS.

AND WE DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE CASE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT HUNTER ROBERTS WILL STAY AROUND THROUGH THE WHOLE ADMINISTRATION.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE STAY FOR THE FULL TERM OF A GOVERNOR YET SINCE LARRY GABRIEL.

>> SCOTT, I KNOW YOUR GROUP HAS BEEN ONE THAT POINTED TO THIS MERGER AS KIND OF A COMMON-SENSE STEP, AND I KNOW THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN A BIG REASON BEHIND YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS MERGE.

HUNTER ROBERTS BEING PART OF THAT.

MAYBE ADDRESS THAT QUESTION OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION CHANGES?

>> SURE.

BUT I'D FIRST LIKE TO START OFF WITH OUR PROCESS.

WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED, WE SAT BACK AND WE DIDN'T TAKE A POSITION RIGHT AWAY.

WE SAID, WE'RE GOING TO STUDY THIS ISSUE, WE'RE GOING TALK TO ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED AND FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND, FIRST OF ALL, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RHODEN AND SECRETARY ROBERTS WERE INVITED TO OUR BOARD MEETING IN AUGUST, AND THEY CAME AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND THE PROCESS AND EVERYTHING.

AND OUR BOARD SUPPORTED IT AT THAT TIME.

AND THEN OUR DELEGATES AT OUR STATE CONVENTION IN NOVEMBER CONFIRMED THAT.

SO AS FAR AS THE CONCERN ABOUT WHO'S THERE, THAT'S ALWAYS -- THAT'S ALWAYS A RISK.

THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE ARE JUST RIGHT ON BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SECRETARY ROBERTS IS VERY UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO DO THAT JOB.

WE THINK HE'S DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB AND STARTED OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT.

HAVING SAID THAT, DOWN THE ROAD, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT GOVERNOR, WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS, AS MUCH AS WE CAN BE, EVERY TIME SOMEBODY -- THAT SEAT IS OPEN AND SOMEBODY'S ABOUT TO BE APPOINTED TO IT.

SINCE IT'S A COMBINED SEAT, THAT WILL BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT, BUT, LIKE I SAID, WITH THOSE TWO POSITIONS THERE'S ALWAYS THE RISK THAT YOU CAN GET SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY FRIENDLY TO AGRICULTURE.

>> UM-HUM.

SCOTT, I KNOW -- OR IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, I THINK YOU WERE QUOTED IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THIS MERGER WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS OR SO.

TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT COMMUNICATION WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, ABOUT THIS PROCESS.

>> SURE.

WE'VE BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THEM.

HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RHODEN.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY OPEN AND WILLING TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS ANY TIME.

WE TRIED TO GET AS MUCH INFORMATION IN FRONT OF OUR MEMBERS AS WE COULD, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AND THEY WERE VERY GOOD ABOUT THAT.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND SECRETARY ROBERTS ACTUALLY CAME TO OUR CONVENTION AS WELL.

AND WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THE PREMISE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SAVE SOME MONEY DOING THIS.

AND JUST LIKE MOST OF THE POINTS THAT WERE MADE ON YOUR SEGMENT WITH WALT BONES, THERE'S SOME EFFICIENCIES TO BE GAINED THERE.

HOPEFULLY LIFE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR FARMERS AS FAR AS COMBINING THOSE TRIPS AND VISITS FROM THE REGULATORY SIDE.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S MISSING A LITTLE BIT, AND WALT TALKED ABOUT THAT, TOO, LOOK AT THE LIST AND SEE WHAT'S MISSING.

WE USED TO HAVE THE SECRETARY OF AG TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE AND REALLY WAS A CHEERLEADER FOR AGRICULTURE.

AND WE'VE KIND OF MISSED THAT THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND WE THINK THAT'S BEING REPLACED BY THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS REQUESTED THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO BE A LIAISON WITH AGRICULTURE.

AND HE HAS REALLY DONE THAT.

HE TOLD US THAT HE'S TAKING THAT SERIOUSLY.

AND I ALWAYS SAY, YOU HAVE TO WATCH WHAT PEOPLE DO AND NOT LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY.

HE HAS DONE THAT.

HE'S BEEN IN VERY CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH, I THINK, ALL THE AG LEADERS IN THE STATE.

I KNOW MYSELF AND SEVERAL OTHERS.

AND THAT'S BEEN A GOOD THING.

AND ACTUALLY WE'RE ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> DOUG, TO THAT SAME POINT, WITH THESE CONCERNS THAT YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION HAVE ABOUT THIS MOVE, DO YOU FEEL THAT THOSE ARE BEING HEARD AND RESPONDED TO AT THE HIGH LEVEL IN THE STATE'S ADMINISTRATION?

>> YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT GOOD COMMUNICATION AS WELL.

BUT HERE'S THE ONE THING THAT NONE OF US HAD PRIOR TO HAVING ANY INPUT OR ANY MEETINGS WITH THE GOVERNOR BACK IN AUGUST WAS ANY COMMENT OR ANYTHING TO DEVELOP THIS.

I MEAN, NONE OF US WERE APPROACHED.

SCOTT WASN'T -- I KNOW THAT SCOTT WASN'T APPROACHED.

WE DID A STORY EARLIER ABOUT THIS.

EVEN HUNTER ROBERTS HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS COMING DOWN.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU SHOULD AT LEAST TALK TO ALL THE AG GROUPS, THEIR BOARDS, TO GET SOME INPUT.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS?

BUT, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS, YOU KNOW, THE ONE GROUP THAT WE'RE NOT HEARING A LOT FROM ARE THE CONSERVATION GROUPS.

I MEAN, THE ONE THING THAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP OUT IN THE FARM LIKE I HAVE, RAISING MY FAMILY, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD GOOD ACCESS TO CLEAN FRESH AIR, CLEAN WATER AND PLENTY OF WILDLIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT DISAPPEAR.

AND I KNOW A LOT OF MY COUSINS AND NEIGHBORS IN LARGER CITIES, LIKE SOUTH DAKOTA -- LIKE SOUTH DAKOTA FOR THAT FACT, TOO.

AND YOU'RE STARTING TO REALLY SEE THIS DOWN IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF OUR STATE THAT THAT'S DETERIORATING.

YOU DON'T SEE THE WILDLIFE LIKE YOU USED TO DOWN THERE.

WE'RE FARMING FENCE ROW TO FENCE ROW.

WE'RE SPREADING MANURE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'VE GOT THREE OF THE FIVE LARGEST CAFO STATES RIGHT AROUND US, IOWA, MINNESOTA, AND NEBRASKA.

AND IOWA'S NUMBER ONE, MINNESOTA'S NUMBER TWO, AND NEBRASKA'S NUMBER FOUR.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE IN THE SOUTHERN, SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, A DANGER TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE ALSO GOT TO TALK ABOUT.

I MEAN, I HEAR IT CONSTANTLY THAT FARMERS ARE THE BEST CONSERVATIONISTS, AND I LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT.

BUT IF THAT'S THE CASE, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT THAT AS WELL.

AND IF YOU COMBINE THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS, YOU'RE REALLY GIVING 50-50 OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH.

>> YOU BRING UP TWO POINTS I WANT TO TOUCH ON.

FIRST, THAT STORY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S BY MY COLLEAGUE, LAURA RODY FROM JANUARY 14th THAT COVERS THIS MERGER AND THE TIME FRAME AND WHO KNEW WHAT WHEN.

SO VIEWERS CAN FIND THAT STORY AT LISTEN.SDPB.ORG.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

IT HELPED ME WITH THIS PROGRAM.

SECOND, DOUG, SINCE YOU BRING UP CAFOs AND I'M GLAD YOU DID, BECAUSE I WANT TO BRING THAT UP FOR VIEWERS.

CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS.

AND, DOUG, I'LL START WITH YOU SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP, AND THEN, SCOTT, I'LL BRING YOU IN.

KIND OF EXPLAIN FOR THE UNINITIATE THE, WHAT THOSE -- UNINITIATED, WHAT THOSE OPERATIONS LOOK LIKE AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS WITH HAVING A HIGH NUMBER OF THEM.

>> SURE.

WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THAT IN IOWA.

IOWA, WAS, LIKE I SAID, THE NUMBER ONE STATE FOR CAFO TODAY.

DON'T GET ME WRONG, WE'RE NOT AGAINST CAFO, WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS THAT HAVE CAFs AND I TURNED TO THEM AND ASKED THEM, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS?

AND, QUITE HONESTLY, THEY FEEL UNDERSERVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

THEY FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THE TIMES THE THINGS THEY TELL THEM AREN'T TRUE.

FOR INSTANCE, A BUILDING CAFO TODAY, YOU HAVE TO DO CERTAIN REGULATIONS AND ABIDE BY CERTAIN RULES.

AND YOU'RE PROMISED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOME COST SHARE.

SEVERAL -- EVERYONE BUT ONE OF THEM TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T GET THE COST SHARE THAT WAS PROMISED TO THEM.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THAT WAS.

BUT THEY DIDN'T.

THE OTHER THING IS THE SCHEDULED VISITS.

THEY DON'T COME LIKE THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO COME.

SO THAT'S A PROBLEM.

SO I AGREE WITH SCOTT ON THAT FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE INSPECTIONS ARE HAPPENING WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL'S THERE SO THEY CAN MEET AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

IT'S REALLY A BIG THING, IN MY OPINION, WITH DAIRIES AND WITH THE CHICKEN, WITH THE EGGS.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT FOOD THAT'S GOING OUT IS SAFE FOR THE CONSUMER.

AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A REAL DIFFICULT TASK, I THINK, FOR ONE PERSON TO WATCH OVER ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ENTITIES.

YOU KNOW, JUST IN THE DENR SIDE, THERE'S FOUR DIVISIONS.

AND IN THOSE FOUR DIVISIONS, THERE'S FIVE TO SEVEN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES IN THOSE DIVISIONS, IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, I BELIEVE THERE'S 14 DIVISIONS.

AND OF THEM, THERE'S -- I'M SORRY -- THERE'S NINE DIVISIONS.

AND THERE'S 14 DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

THAT'S A LOT FOR ONE PERSON TO HANDLE.

AND, AGAIN, I DO HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN THE CURRENT PERSON, IN HUNTER ROBERTS.

I THINK WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF TRUST AND FAITH IN HIM BEING ABLE TO HELP AND PROTECT US.

BUT WE ALSO GOT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE BEAUTY AND NATURE OF THIS STATE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH HOG CONFINEMENTS DOWN IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE, CONTAMINATING WATER.

NOW, IT'S NOT A BIG BAD PROBLEM WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

I MEAN, THERE'S ONLY BEEN 217 CASES IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.

THAT'S NOT VERY MANY.

SO WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB WITH WHAT WE ARE DOING.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE GROWING THESE CASES.

IN 20 -- WE'RE GROWING THESE CAFOs.

IN 2017 WE HAD 17.

WE'RE NOW HAVE 250.

IT'S GROWING.

IN KINGS COUNTY, WE'RE LOOKING AT I KNOW FOR SURE THREE NEW DAIRIES GOING IN IN THAT AREA, A 600 HEAD PLUS FOR THREE DIFFERENT DAIRIES.

THIS IS A CONCERN.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SERVICE THEM.

IF WE'RE GOING TO GROW THIS INDUSTRY, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE PROTECTION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL.

>> SCOTT, HOW -- HOW DID THAT PLAY INTO YOUR ORGANIZATION'S CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE?

>> WELL, I THINK YOUR QUESTION LEADS RIGHT INTO PART OF THE INTENT OF COMBINING THE DEPARTMENTS.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS ARE VERY CLOSELY WATCHED BY THE DENR AND ONCE THEY'RE COMBINED BY THE DANR, ANYTHING OVER 1,000 ANIMAL UNITS HAS TO HAVE A GENERAL PERMIT AND THEY HAVE TO KEEP THAT PERMIT UP AND FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS.

NOW, WE CERTAINLY WOULDN'T CONDONE PEOPLE NOT FOLLOWING THOSE REGULATIONS.

AND IF THAT HAPPENS, THEY NEED TO BE STRAIGHTENED OUT.

NOW, THE WAY HUNTER ROBERT GOES ABOUT IT IS THEY'LL GO OUT AND IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, THEY'LL GET WITH THE OWNERS, OR THE MANAGER OF THE FEED YARD, WHATEVER IT IS, AND SAY, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM HERE.

AND RATHER THAN LOWERING THE HAMMER ON THEIR HEAD, THEY'LL SAY, HERE'S HOW WE CAN WORK THIS OUT AND WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN FIX IT.

AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD WAY TO DO IT RATHER THAN JUST HANDING OUT FINES AND MAKING EVERYBODY MAD.

WE THINK THAT WITH THE COMBINED DEPARTMENTS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE AND THE AG PEOPLE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THEY BOTH UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SITUATION IS AND THEN TRY AND MAKE THOSE SITUATIONS BETTER.

AND HOPEFULLY THEN WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T POLLUTE THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE TAKE CARE OF OUR WATER AND OUR AIR AND EVERYTHING.

AND AT THE SAME TIME KEEP OUR AG ORGANIZATIONS AND OPERATION HEALTHY AND THRIVING IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE, NONE OF THIS MATTERS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN BUSINESS.

SO WE NEED TO FIND THAT BALANCE AND WE THINK THAT THE COMBINED DEPARTMENT CAN PROBABLY DO THAT.

>> SCOTT, WE KNOW THAT WITH THIS MERGER MORE THAN LIKELY TO GO THROUGH, BASICALLY DONE RIGHT NOW, THAT WOULD MAKE SOUTH DAKOTA, I BELIEVE, ONE OF THREE STATES THAT HAS MADE THIS KIND OF MOVE.

THE OTHERS BEING ALASKA AND RHODE ISLAND, WHICH, FRANKLY, COME NOWHERE CLOSE TO OUR LEVEL OF AN AG ECONOMY IN OUR STATE.

I THINK WE'VE HEARD FROM DOUG ABOUT THE RISK OF LOSING SOME OF THAT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS WITH THIS MERGE.

BUT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE FLIP SIDE OF THE COIN.

ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING SOME OF THAT, YOU KNOW, DEFINING AG.

YOU MENTIONED THE SECRETARY OF AG BEING A CHEERLEADER FOR THE INDUSTRY.

TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT -- A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT CONCERN.

>> WELL, WE THINK THAT WILL CONTINUE.

LIKE I SAID, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S BEEN INSTRUCTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO INCREASE THE CLOSENESS OF THE RELATIONSHIP.

SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.

CLOSENESS OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AG GROUPS.

WE THINK LONG TERM, THAT WILL BE OKAY.

AND AS FAR AS THE VIABILITY OF THE AG INDUSTRY IN OUR STATE, LIKE I SAID, WE THINK THE COMBINATION CAN HELP MAKE THAT STRONGER AND WE'LL ALL BE OKAY IN THE END.

>> DOUG, I THINK WALT BONES SAID IT PRETTY WELL IN THAT STORY AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR.

TIME WILL TELL.

WHAT WOULD BE A BEST-CASE SCENARIO FOR YOU IN WATCHING THIS MERGE GO THROUGH?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO DATE MYSELF A LITTLE BIT HERE BECAUSE I'VE WORKED WITH WALT, I'VE WORKED WITH -- ALL THE WAY BACK TO LARRY GABRIEL, AND SCOTT HAS AS WELL, SO WE KNOW THESE GUYS VERY WELL.

THEY WERE ALL VERY PASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS AND VERY CARING ABOUT AGRICULTURE.

AND I THINK EVERY ONE OF THEM HAVE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB FOR US.

AGAIN, THE BIGGEST CONCERN THAT WE HAVE, NOT SO MUCH HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO SERVE AGRICULTURE, WE THINK THAT'S THE CASE, BUT WE ALSO THINK THAT THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO GROW IN OTHER AREAS AS FAR AS HELPING THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS MARKET AND GET DIFFERENT MARKETS OUT IN THE WORLD BESIDES JUST, YOU KNOW, SELLING TO THE LOCAL SALE BARN OR TO THE LOCAL ELEVATOR.

WE THINK THERE'S SPECIALTY MARKETS.

I MEAN, LOOK, WE JUST DEVELOPED A NEW INDUSTRY WITH HEMP AND THAT'S GROWING.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO START DOING SOME MARKETING FOR THAT AS WELL.

OTHER STATES ARE DOING IT.

OUR FRIENDS TO THE FLORTDZ KICKING OUR -- NORTH ARE KICKING OUR TAIL RIGHT NOW, THEY GROW A LOT MORE COMMODITIES THAN WE DO HERE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

WE REALLY ARE MORE SEEN AS COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL FARMERS COMPARED TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND WE NEED TO BE MORE DIVERSIFIED.

I'M NOT SAYING WE HAVE TO GO BACK IN THE DAY, BUT WE ARE DEVELOPING NEW MARKETS, NEW WAYS OF MARKETING, AND WE NEED TO -- WE NEED THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S HELP TO DO THAT.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU PROTECT THE THINGS LIKE THE WEST RIVERSIDE, THE FORESTERIES AND THE MINES THAT ARE OVER THERE THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT TO, YOU KNOW, OPEN AND DETERIORATE OUR ENVIRONMENT.

DENR HAS THEIR HANDS FULL JUST WITH THAT, LET ALONE COMING OVER AND SEEING THE DEPARTMENT -- THE CAFOs AND THINGS GROW OVER HERE.

DON'T GET ME WRONG.

I'M NOT AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT OR THE EXPANSION OF US GROWING.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE PROTECT BOTH THINGS.

WE PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND WE PROTECT FAMILY FARMERS.

AND THEY'RE BOTH VERY BIG THINGS THAT DEAR AND NEAR TO ALL OF OUR HEARTS, NOT JUST FARMERS.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.

I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR A REALLY ENLIGHTENING CONVERSATION.

MY GUESTS HAVE BEEN SCOTT VANDERWAL, PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA FARM BUREAU.

SCOTT, THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

>> AND DOUG SOMBKE, PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION.

DOUG, THANK YOU AS WELL.

>> YOU BET.

THANK YOU, JACKIE.

>> FARMERS AND RANCHERS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WITH A STAKE IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

HERE TO GIVE US A BROADER PICTURE IS PROFESSOR MEGHANN JARCHOW.

SHE HAS A PHD IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY FROM IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY.

SHE ALSO CHAIRS THE SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

MEGHANN, WELCOME TO "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO, I WANT TO START OFF WITH, YOU KNOW, REALLY GROUND-LEVEL STUFF.

WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD "SUSTAINABILITY," I THINK THEIR BRAIN JUMPS TO, I NEED TO REMEMBER TO RECYCLE MY SODA CANS AND KIND OF MICROLEVEL ACTIONS.

BUT TALK TO US ABOUT KIND OF THAT MACRO PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IN, YOU KNOW, BROADER TERMS WHEN WE'RE TALKING SUSTAINABILITY.

>> I THINK THAT IS A REALLY GOOD POINT, THAT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF SUSTAINABILITY, THEY THINK INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR CHANGE AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE ACTUALLY OFTEN THINK ABOUT ARE SYSTEMS AND THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SO LET'S SAY OUR AG SYSTEM AS OPPOSED TO THINKING ABOUT THE ACTIONS OF INDIVIDUAL FARMERS.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT FROM A MORE HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE IS OFTEN PART OF OUR GOAL.

>> SO WITH THIS MERGE, THE NEW DEPARTMENT, WHICH WILL BE THE DEPARTMENT OF, I BELIEVE, AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES, THAT REMOVES THE WORD "ENVIRONMENT" WHOLESALE FROM THE NAME.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT AT THE END OF TONIGHT'S SHOW.

BUT YOU POINTED OUT THAT THERE'S SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING NOW MISSING FROM ONE OF THE MISSION STATEMENTS FROM MELDING THESE TWO TOGETHER.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU NOTICED THERE.

>> YES.

SO IN DOING SOME RESEARCH ABOUT THE MERGER, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE MISSION STATEMENTS OF WHAT WAS THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND WHAT WAS THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND THEN WHAT'S THE MISSION STATEMENT NOW OF, YOU KNOW, THE PROPOSED DANR.

AND THE DENR REALLY HAS A FOCUS ON PUBLIC HEALTH AS PART OF IT.

IT'S FOR THE PUBLIC.

SO I'M NOT A FARMER, BUT I WOULD PERCEIVE THE DENR AS SERVING ME.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S FOR ALL OF SOCIETY AND IT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE FOR EVERYONE.

AND, SO, IF WE MOVE TO A DANR EXAMINE WE TAKE OUT THIS IDEA OF SERVING THE PUBLIC AND MAKING THAT AS EXPLICIT OF A ROLE, I THINK WE'VE TAKEN SOMETHING OUT OF THEIR POSITION -- OR OUT OF THE MISSION THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND, SO, TO SEE THAT GO I THINK IS UNFORTUNATE, AND I THINK IT DOES CENTER AGRICULTURE AND AS WE'VE HEARD, AGRICULTURE IS FOUNDATIONAL TO SOUTH DAKOTA, IT'S THE BIGGEST LAND USE, IT HAS, YOU KNOW, A RANGE OF IMPACTS.

BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY, YOU KNOW, STAKEHOLDER IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND THE DENR, I THINK, HAS A BROADER FRAME IN TERMS OF THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES THAN ONLY AGRICULTURE, YOU KNOW, WHEREAS, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS THAT REALLY DIRECT FOCUS ON AGRICULTURE.

AND I THINK HAVING BOTH OF THOSE IN OUR STATE IS IMPORTANT.

>> I'M CURIOUS IF YOU CAN WALK US THROUGH, BECAUSE THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT RIGHT NOW, THE DENR AS IT STANDS MOST OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ENFORCE REGULATIONS THAT COME FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

SO HOW MUCH OF A ROLE DO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OR STATE GOVERNMENTS ACTUALLY HAVE IN FORMING SOME OF THOSE POLICIES AND ENFORCING SOME OF THOSE POLICIES?

>> WELL, SO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A BIG ROLE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND, SO, IN ENVIRONMENTAL -- ENFORCING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE EPA REGULATIONS, SO PART OF THE ARGUMENTS I'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS MERGER IS THAT THOSE FEDERAL REGULATIONS WON'T GO AWAY.

YOU KNOW, THE STATE CAN CHANGE ITS RULES, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT CHANGING FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

BUT I WOULD ASPIRE TO THE FACT THAT SOUTH DAKOTA MIGHT HAVE ADDITIONAL INTEREST IN OUR ENVIRONMENT ABOVE THE MINIMUM FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS.

AND, SO, YES, IT'S TRUE THAT WE WILL FOLLOW THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS AND THEY EXIST.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE CAN AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO MORE AND HAVE AN AGENCY THAT CAN HELP US DO MORE THAN THE MINIMUM FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS.

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, AND I THINK IT WAS CLEAR FROM OUR LAST CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT TRYING TO INSINUATE IN ANY WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, FARMERS AND RANCHERS DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, POSITIVE INTEREST IN KEEPING THE LAND HEALTHY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT'S NOT THE GOAL.

BUT I THINK IT'S INTERESTING, TO YOUR POINT, OF, YOU KNOW, FARMERS AND RANCHERS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES BEING SERVED BY THE DENR AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW.

AND THERE'S A SENSE THAT WE LOSE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT WITH THIS MERGE.

I WONDER IF YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU KNOW, YOUR PhD BEING IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, TALK A LITTLE BIT FOR JUST THE AVERAGE PERSON, WHAT DOES SUSTAINABLE GOVERNMENT POLICY RELATED TO SUSTAINABILITY MEAN FOR ME IN MY LIFE IF I'M NOT A FARMER OR A RANCHER?

>> WELL, SO, TO SAY ONE THING ABOUT THE ROLE IN AGRICULTURE, I THINK SOME OF THIS MERGER IS TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE WE DON'T DEMONIZE FARMERS.

AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I BELIEVE THAT MOST FARMERS CARE VERY DEEPLY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEY WANT TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND, SO, NO ONE IS COMING TO SAY THAT WE THINK WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, A SEPARATE REGULATORY ARM FARMERS, YOU KNOW, ARE THESE BAD APPLES.

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.

AGAIN, THIS IDEA OF SUSTAINABILITY, LOOKING AT SYSTEMS, THAT OUR AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM PUTS THINGS IN PLACE THAT MAKE IT HARD FOR FARMERS TO THEN PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT IN CERTAIN WAYS.

AND, SO, I THINK WE DO NEED AN AGENCY LIKE THE DENR TO BE ABLE TO HAVE REGULATIONS THAT CAN MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, THAT OUR AGRICULTURE IS PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND, SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, AGAIN, NOT SAYING THAT IT'S BAD FARMERS AND WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT WE NEED THIS AGENCY TO, LIKE, SOMEHOW KEEP THEM IN CHECK, BUT THESE ARE BIG SYSTEMS.

AGRICULTURE IS BIG.

AND, YOU KNOW, FARMERS HAVE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, SYSTEMS, EVEN LIKE HOW THEY CAN GET LOANS, WHERE THEY CAN GET INSURANCE, YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD THE FLOODING IN 2019.

SO THEY'RE EMBEDDED IN THESE LARGER SYSTEMS, AND WE NEED REGULATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE SYSTEMS DON'T -- AREN'T TOO HARMFUL TO OUR ENVIRONMENT.

AND WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE IN SOME WAYS, YOU KNOW, CONTRIBUTING TO NUTRIENT POLLUTION OR BIODIVERSITY LAW OR AIR POLLUTION, IN SOME CASES.

AND, SO, THERE NEED TO BE REGULATIONS, AGAIN, NOT THAT FARMERS ARE BAD, BUT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED REGULATIONS TO KEEP BIG SYSTEMS LIKE THAT CHECKS AND BALANCES ON THEM.

>> RIGHT.

ONE ARGUMENT THAT I'VE HEARD IN FAVOR OF THIS IS BASICALLY THIS POSITION THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF FARMS IN SOUTH DAKOTA ARE FAMILY OPERATIONS, RELATIVELY SMALL OPERATIONS.

AND MAKING THAT CONNECTION THAT SMALLER OPERATIONS, FAMILY OPERATIONS ARE CLOSER AND PERHAPS MORE INVESTED IN THAT SUSTAINABILITY ASPECT.

HOW DOES THAT ARGUMENT TRACK WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW COMPLICATED THESE SYSTEMS ARE?

>> RIGHT.

SO, AGAIN, I THINK TO TAKE THE STEP BACK, AND I THINK ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES WITH THIS IS SOME OF THE IMPACT, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF FARMING THEY'RE OFF THE FARM, THEY'RE EXTERNALIZED TO THE SYSTEM.

SO, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW IF YOU GET NUTRIENT POLLUTION, SO LIKE NITROGEN COMES OFF OF YOUR FIELD AND GOES INTO A WATERWAY, ACCORDING TO THE EPA, THAT'S NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T GET REGULATED IN THE WAY THAT, LET'S SAY, A FACTORY WOULD.

AND, SO, WITH ALL OF THIS, EVEN IF IT'S A SMALL FAMILY FARM, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A PROCESS IN PLACE, THAT WE ARE PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND JUST TO HELP, AGAIN, HELP PROVIDE THE SUPPORT FOR THAT.

>> AND OUR LAST ABOUT MINUTE AND A HALF OR SO, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER POINTS THAT HAVE REALLY STOOD OUT TO YOU AS WE'RE WATCHING THIS MERGER UNFOLD AND BECOMING ONE OF THREE STATES IN THE NATION TO TAKE THIS MOVE?

>> I HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT STRUCK BY SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN USED IN PUTTING THIS THROUGH.

SO IN LOOKING AT IT, THERE WAS LANGUAGE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE, ONE-STOP SHOP, WE NEED EFFICIENCY.

AND THERE HAS BEEN STREAMLINING.

SO THIS IDEA OF BEING FARMERS BEING CONSUMERS, AND, SO, WE NEED TO MAKE THIS AN EASY PROCESS FOR THIS CONSUMER, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S AN INTERESTING WAY TO FRAME THIS RELATIONSHIP.

YOU KNOW, THAT IT ISN'T NECESSARILY THAT OUR DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES IS, YOU KNOW, THAT THE FARMERS ARE THEIR CONSUMERS.

SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE -- THAT THE RELATIONSHIP, THINKING ABOUT IT ISN'T A GOOD FIT.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO BE THE CHEERLEADER OF AGRICULTURE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT HELPS DIVERSIFY OUR FARMS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEED.

BUT TO THINK THAT OUR DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES IS IN SERVICE TO FARMERS AND THAT WE NEED TO MAKE IT REALLY EFFICIENT FOR THE FARMERS AND EASY I THINK IS POTENTIALLY PROBLEMATIC.

>> MY GUEST HAS BEEN PROFESSOR MEGHANN JARCHOW.

SHE CHAIRS THE DEPARTMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT AT USD.

MEGHANN, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EXPLANATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE'RE GOING TO PIVOT NOW TO SOME CHANGES IN THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS NAMED HEATHER DAWN THOMPSON OF RAPID CITY AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF TRIBAL RELATIONS WITHIN THE USDA.

SHE'LL REPORT DIRECTLY TO SECRETARY TOM VILSACK.

THOMPSON IS A MEMBER OF THE CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE, A GRADUATE OF HARVARD LAW SCHOOL, AND A LAWYER WITH TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN TRIBAL LAW.

SHE JOINED SDPB'S "IN THE MOMENT" PROGRAM SHORTLY AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HER NEW ROLE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

HERE'S A PORTION OF HER CONVERSATION WITH LORI WALSH.

>> TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS BECAUSE THAT SEEMS LIKE AN INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE STARTING FROM WHERE WE'RE AT.

TO WHERE WE REALLY WANT TO GO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, I CAN TALK ABOUT REALLY CONCRETE COMPONENTS OF THAT AND THINGS AND CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD.

IT'S MY SECOND DAY ON THE JOB.

[ Laughter ] BUT, AS YOU KNOW, TRIBAL NATIONS ARE JUST DIFFERENT.

THEY'RE STRUCTURED DIFFERENTLY.

THEIR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS DIFFERENT.

AND IF YOUR AGENCY DOESN'T TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ACCESS.

AND, SO, YOU WOULD BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN A NONTRIBAL ENTITY THAT IS APPLYING FOR RESOURCES WITH THE USDA AND NOT FAIRLY.

SO I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

AS YOU KNOW, TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS DON'T HAVE A TAX BASE.

AND, SO, IN ORDER TO CREATE THEIR REVENUE, THEY HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN A PRIVATE MARKETPLACE.

THEY OWN CASINOS, AS MANY PEOPLE KNOW.

THEY OWN GAS STATIONS, THEY OWN GOLF COURSES, THEY OWN HOTELS.

AND THAT'S HOW THEY FINANCE AND RUN THEIR GOVERNMENT.

SO THOSE TRIBAL CORPORATIONS ARE WHOLLY OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

THEY'RE A HYBRID, RIGHT?

THEY ARE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, THEY'RE REVENUE GENERATORS, THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY FOR THAT TRIBAL NATION, BUT THEY ARE ALSO PARTICIPATING IN THE PRIVATE MARKETPLACE.

USDA HAS HISTORICALLY HAD VERY STRONG DELINEATIONS BETWEEN A GOVERNMENTAL PROJECT AND PROGRAM AND A PRIVATE PRACTICE, PRIVATE INDUSTRY PROJECT AND PROGRAM.

AND HERE YOU HAVE A HYBRID THAT FITS NEITHER.

AND, SO, FOR MANY PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS AND LOANS AND GRANTS, TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE JUST SIMPLY BEEN INELIGIBLE BECAUSE THE DEFINITIONS DID NOT INCLUDE THEM.

SO I THINK THAT'S A VERY CONCRETE EXAMPLE OF SYSTEMIC IMPEDIMENTS THAT END UP CREATING RACIAL INEQUALITIES BUT NOT PURPOSEFULLY, RIGHT, BUT YOU NEED TO BE REALLY THOUGHTFUL, YOU NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S AN EXPERT IN FEDERAL INDIAN LAW TO HELP THE SECRETARY WORK THROUGH THOSE IMPEDIMENTS AND STRAIGHTEN THEM OUT.

>> HOW DOES THE WORK THAT WE RECOGNIZE YOU FOR WITH THAT PROJECT APPLY TO THE WORK THAT YOU MIGHT DO WITH THE USDA?

ARE THERE PARALLELS TO SOME OF THAT PROCESS WORK?

>> I THINK SO.

OBVIOUSLY I THINK BEING A GOOD ATTORNEY AND A GOOD POLICY ADVOCATE, YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO DO YOUR RESEARCH AND GET THE EXPERIENCE BEFORE YOU SPEAK ON IT.

AND, SO, I'M GOING TO TAKE WHAT WE DID IN THE RAPID CITY INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL PROJECT AND BRING THAT WITH ME TO USDA.

BUT I THINK, MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR US HERE IN SOUTH DAKOTA, IS THE BIPARTISAN NATURE OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT REFLECTED IN THIS USDA AND SPECIFICALLY IN THE OFFICE OF TRIBAL RELATIONS.

AGRICULTURAL ISSUES, RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, TRIBAL ISSUES, FRANKLY, THEY'RE JUST NOT PARTISAN ISSUES.

THEY'RE AMERICAN ISSUES.

AND WE ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY IN INDIAN COUNTRY, WE'RE I, WHERE I IS FOR INDIGENOUS, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I CAN BRING TO THE TABLE BECAUSE IN INDIAN COUNTRY, AS WE KNOW, WE HAVE NATIVES AND NON-NATIVES, MY FATHER'S NON-NATIVE, MY MOTHER'S NON-NATIVE, WE ALL LIVE TOGETHER, WE LIVE TOGETHER ON THE RESERVATION, WE LIVE TOGETHER OFF THE RESERVATION.

AND OUR RURAL ECONOMIES NEED TO RISE AS A WHOLE.

AND I THINK ONE THING THAT WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED YET IN SOUTH DAKOTA THAT I'M HOPEFUL FOR IS IN OTHER STATES WHERE RURAL TRIBAL ECONOMIES HAVE SUCCEEDED THE ENTIRE RURAL REGION AROUND IT HAS SUCCEEDED.

IN SOME CASES, THEY ARE THE MOST AND THE BIGGEST EMPLOYER IN THE ENTIRE REGION.

TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE SOME COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES THAT OUR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DON'T THAT WE AS A TEAM, AS A WHOLE STATE, AS A WHOLE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SO THAT OUR ENTIRE REGION RISES UP.

>> TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CHALLENGE AHEAD OF YOU REGARDING THE PANDEMIC IN RURAL AREAS, PARTICULARLY, AND IF THIS ADMINISTRATION IS READY TO MEET THAT CHALLENGE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, AS I SHARED I'M ON DAY TWO, BUT ALREADY I'VE HAD TWO COVID MEETINGS.

THERE ARE DAILY COVID MEETINGS AT USDA, WHICH MIGHT SURPRISE SOMEONE, RIGHT?

YOU THINK, HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO USDA?

BUT YOU JUST PUT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

YOU KNOW, IN RURAL AMERICA, WE ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED AS QUICKLY AS WE NEED, AND IN INDIAN COUNTRY, IT'S NOT JUST URGENT, IT'S AN EMERGENCY.

I MEAN, WE'RE LOSING AN ENTIRE GENERATION.

AND AS YOU POINTED OUT, THESE ARE OUR GOOGLES, THEY ARE OUR ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND THIS INFORMATION DOESN'T EXIST ANYWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN IN THEIR HEART AND IN THEIR MINDS AND IT'S IRREPLACEABLE.

I THINK WHAT IS REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT THE USDA AND WHAT I'M HOPING THEY CAN BRING TO THE TABLE IS USDA HAS HUNDREDS OF RURAL OFFICES.

WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF VETERINARIANS THAT HAVE OFFICES AND REFRIGERATION AND THE ABILITY TO ADMINISTER DOSES THAT HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

AND THAT IS THE ONE THING THAT HAS REALLY IMPRESSED ME ABOUT THE SECRETARY AND THIS OFFICE IS THAT IMMEDIATELY THEY ARE PUTTING FORWARD ALL OF THEIR RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE IN RURAL AMERICA THAT MAKE IT MORE AVAILABLE TO RURAL AMERICANS.

>> YOU CAN SEE THAT FULL INTERVIEW ON OUR WEBSITE SDPB.ORG/NEWS.

>>> SOUTH DAKOTA VOTERS APPROVED BOTH MEDICINAL AND RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA MEASURES IN NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.

IN THIS WEEK'S "PIERRE TO PEER," SDPB'S LEE STRUBINGER TALKS CANNABIS AND WHAT THE NEW INDUSTRY COULD MEAN IN OUR STATE.

♪ >> I'M STANDING HERE WITH KIT JEFFRIES, HE'S THE FOUNDER OF DAKOTA CANNABIS CONSULTING.

KIT, THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON PIERRE TO PEER.

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> COULD YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHAT DAKOTA CANNABIS CONSULTING DOES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MY NAME'S KITRICK JEFFRIES, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN RAPID CITY.

I ACTUALLY LEFT RAPID CITY FIVE YEARS AGO TO GO GET INTO THE PROFESSIONAL CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

WHERE I STARTED OUT IN OREGON AND COLORADO, WHICH LED ME INTO CONSULTING IN SEVEN STATES, MAINLY FOCUSING ON THE SEED TO SALE TRACKING SYSTEM, TO HELP TRANSPARENCY WITH COMPLIANCE THROUGH LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN THE STATE AND STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL.

>> YOU KNOW, ON ELECTION DAY WHEN AMENDMENT A AND I.M.

26 PASSED, WERE YOU SURPRISED TO SEE THAT HAPPEN?

>> I THINK TIMES ARE CHANGING.

AND MEDICAL, IN MY OPINION, WAS PRETTY INEVITABLE TO HAPPEN AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER.

I'M GLAD THAT IT HAPPENED THIS CYCLE.

RECREATIONAL DID TAKE ME BY SURPRISE.

>> WHY IS THAT?

>> YEAH, I JUST THOUGHT HAVING BOTH OF THEM ON THE BALLOT AND BEING VOTED AND ELECTED ON AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT MAYBE, I WAS REALLY OPTIMISTIC THAT IT WOULD PASS, BUT, AGAIN, IT'S A CRAPSHOOT IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

IT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME A STATE'S EVER DONE THAT, VOTING BOTH ON MEDICAL AND RECREATIONAL AT THE SAME TIME.

I'M GLAD WE'RE THE FIRST.

>> SO, WITH THAT COMES A LOT OF, I GUESS, LEGISLATING.

AND, SO, LAWMAKERS HAVE UNTIL JULY 1st BEFORE THE LAW GOES INTO EFFECT.

WHAT ARE YOU TELLING LAWMAKERS ABOUT CANNABIS AND CANNABIS REGULATIONS?

>> REPRESENTATIVE DERBY HAD STARTED THE CANNABIS CAUCUS, IT'S AN INFORMAL GATHERING WHERE WE COME UP AND MEET, TRYING TO MEET ONCE A WEEK, AND TALK ABOUT EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS AND JUST THE PLANT IN GENERAL.

MY FIRST TOPIC WAS TERMS AND DEFINITIONS.

EXPLAINING ANYTHING FROM THE ENDOCA BINOID SYSTEM ALL THE WAY TO A SEED TO SALE TRACKING SYSTEM AND HOW THAT WORKS.

THERE WAS ALSO A FEW OTHER CONSULTANTS AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS THERE, TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL LEGALIZATION AND THE NEW BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

CANNABINOID.

AND THEN ALSO TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT FRAMEWORKS WE COULD SEE THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY TAKE SHAPE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

>> HOW CURIOUS ARE LAWMAKERS ABOUT CANNABIS AND WHAT ARE THEY ASKING YOU ABOUT?

>> I THINK THEY'RE VERY CURIOUS.

I THINK THEY WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE RISK FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS THE BENEFICIAL ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT CANNABIS AND AGRIBUSINESS MEDICAL AND RECREATIONAL BRING TO SOUTH DAKOTA.

ALSO VERY CURIOUS ABOUT HOW OTHER STATES HAVE IMPLEMENTED THESE PROGRAMS AND WHAT THAT COULD MEAN AND LOOK LIKE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

>> WHAT SHOULD SOUTH DAKOTANS KNOW AND EXPECT ABOUT LEGAL CANNABIS?

>> SOUTH DAKOTA CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A HIGHLY REGULATED INDUSTRY.

JUST LIKE SIMILAR STATES, COLORADO, OREGON, MONTANA, EVERYTHING'S TRACKED FROM SEED TO SALE.

SO THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THAT PLANT'S COMING FROM, WHAT PESTICIDES HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO IT, WHO IS HARVESTING IT, WHAT EMPLOYEES WERE WORKING WITH IT, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT THEY CAN GET A PRODUCT, MAKING SURE THAT IT'S SAFE FOR CUSTOMERS, WITH PACKAGING, LABELING.

SO I WOULD EXPECT SOMETHING SIMILAR IN SOUTH DAKOTA WHERE WE DO HAVE HIGH REGULATIONS.

IT ONLY MAKES THE MOST SENSE.

>> HOW DO YOU -- I GUESS WHAT DO YOU SAY TO MAYBE SOUTH DAKOTANS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF, YOU KNOW, LEGALIZATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY?

>> SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE BLACK MARKET SALES AND KEEPING IT OUT OF THE HANDS OF KIDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK WITH PROPER EDUCATION AND SOME FORM OF SEED TO SALE TRACKING SYSTEM, AS WELL AS LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE AND PROPER EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS, JUST MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE'S ON FULL TRANSPARENCY FROM THIS NEW BOOMING INDUSTRY, I WOULD CONSIDER IT TO THE LIKENESS OF ALCOHOL OR TOBACCO.

>> SO, YOU WERE BORN AND RAISED IN RAPID CITY, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YUP.

>> YOU SPENT SOME TIME IN COLORADO AND OREGON.

HOW DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO LOOK IN SOUTH DAKOTA?

>> I CAN TELL YOU HOW WE DON'T WANT IT TO LOOK.

BUT I WOULD SAY VERY SIMILAR.

I WOULD EXPECT IT TO LOOK VERY SIMILAR.

IT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE MOST COMFORTABLE WITH.

WALKING INTO A DISPENSARY, MAKING SURE YOUR I.D.s GETTING CHECKED AT THE DOOR TO PREVENT UNDERAGE PEOPLE FROM EVEN ENTERING THE BACK ROOM WHERE CANNABIS PRODUCTS ARE BEING HELD.

AND THEN A FULL ONE-ON-ONE EXPERIENCE WITH AN EMPLOYEE THAT CAN GIVE YOU A FULL ROUND OF INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE SO YOU CAN GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CANNABIS AND CANNABIS PLANT.

>> WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE TELLING LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK IN THE CANNABIS 202?

CANNABIS CAUCUS.

>> FOR 202, WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING ON WHAT A PROFESSIONAL INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE, AS ANYTHING FROM EXTRACTION LABS TO DISPENSARIES TO CULTIVATION FACILITIES, WALKING IN THROUGH THOSE STEPS -- WALKING THEM THROUGH THOSE STEPS.

AND ALSO SHOWING WHAT OTHER STATES HAVE DONE TO IMPLEMENT LICENSING AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND TAXES AND HOW THAT'S EITHER GREATLY IMPROVED THEIR INDUSTRY OR DRASTICALLY AFFECTED THEIR INDUSTRY.

FOR INSTANCE, MINNESOTA BANS ALL INHALEABLES, LIKE CANNABIS FLOWER, BAY TIPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND THEY ONLY HAVE TWO LICENSES.

SO WHAT THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IS THAT ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO CONSUME CANNABIS VIA VAPOR NOW HAS TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO GO IN -- TO GO AND DO THAT.

GLOOPS GREAT.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME ON PIERRE TO PEER, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> YEAH, NO PROBLEM.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

♪ >> THANKS, LEE.

IN OTHER NEWS HEADLINES THIS WEEK, THE HOUSE IS ADVANCING A BILL THAT PROHIBITS 'SEX' DESIGNATION CORRECTIONS ON BIRTH CERTIFICATES.

CRITICS SAY IT PUTS THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF TRANSGENDER SOUTH DAKOTANS AT RISK.

39 HOUSE LAWMAKERS VOTED FOR THE BILL.

31 VOTED AGAINST.

REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE FRED DEUTSCH IS THE BILL'S AUTHOR.

HE'S GRATEFUL THE BILL WAS REVIVED AFTER BEING REJECTED BY A HOUSE COMMITTEE.

DEUTSCH INSISTS HIS PROPOSAL IS NOT A 'HATE BILL' BUT DESIGNED TO CLARIFY JUDICIAL AUTHORITY.

>> SO OUR COURT SYSTEMS HAVE UNIFORM APPLICATION AND JUSTICE IS UNIFORMLY APPLIED ACROSS THE STATE.

>> IN THE LAST SIX YEARS, AT LEAST 14 TRANSGENDER PEOPLE HAVE MADE A REQUEST IN COURT TO CHANGE THE SEX DESIGNATION ON THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

TWO OF THOSE REQUESTS WERE DENIED.

THE ACLU OF SOUTH DAKOTA SAYS IT WILL SUE THE STATE IF THE BILL BECOMES LAW.

JETT JUHN-ELLIS IS THE ADVOCACY MANAGER WITH THE ACLU.

THEY SAY THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE TRANSGENDER PEOPLE TO USE A BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH THE STATE'S VIEW OF THEIR SEX, RATHER THAN THE REALITY OF THEIR IDENTITY.

JUHN-ELLIS SAYS IT VIOLATES THEIR RIGHT TO EQUAL PROTECTION.

>> THE CLEAR PURPOSE OF THIS LAW IS, OBVIOUSLY, TO PREVENT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE FROM AMENDING THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

WE KNOW THAT IS THE PURPOSE BECAUSE WITH THIS BILL ONLY YOUR SEX CANNOT BE AMENDED ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

EVEN THEN, ONLY TRANSGENDER PEOPLE CAN'T.

HIS ARGUMENT IS GENERAL APPLICABILITY, BUT IT'S JUST NOT.

>> IF THE BILL PASSES, JUHN-ELLIS SAYS THE STATE WOULD FORCE TRANSGENDER PEOPLE TO GIVE INACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR SEXUAL IDENTITY WHEN ASKED ABOUT THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

THEY SAY THAT VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

THE BILL MOVES NEXT TO THE STATE SENATE.

>>> WE STARTED OFF THIS WEEK TALKING THE MERGER BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF AG AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

WELL, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THE DENR HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO TITLE CHANGES AND MERGERS.

SDPB'S SETH TUPPER EXPLAINS IN THIS WEEK'S "WHY IS THAT?"

♪ >> GOVERNOR NOEM WANTS LAWMAKERS TO SUPPORT THE STATE'S MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRY, AGRICULTURE.

SHE WANTS MONEY FOR A NEW AGRICULTURAL EVENTS COMPLEX AT THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS.

SHE WANTS GRANTS TO HELP SMALL MEAT PROCESSORS EXPAND.

>> AND THE MERGER OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE AND DENR, TOO.

EACH OF THESE ITEMS WILL HELP REINVIGORATE OUR NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY AND ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT IT SERVES FOR SO MANY YEARS TO COME.

>> DENR STANDS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, THAT STATE AGENCY WILL MERGE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE UNLESS THE LEGISLATURES NO.

SOME CONSERVATIONISTS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS OPPOSE THE PLAN.

THEY SAY IT SUBVERTS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN FAVOR OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.

NOEM CALLS THE MERGED ENTITY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

REMOVING THE WORD "ENVIRONMENT" FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S NAME ERASES PART OF THE FOUNDING IDENTITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

IT WAS BORN IN 1973 AS THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR DICK KNIPE CREATED IT.

BEFORE THAT THE STATE'S ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION WAS SCATTERED AMONG VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

TED MUNSTER WAS THE CHIEF OF STAFF.

>> MOST OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITY WAS AIMED TOWARD THE CONSERVATION OF SOIL AND EROSION, WIND AND WATER EROSION.

THERE WAS SOME IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THERE WAS SOME REGULATION OF DRINKING WATER AND FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PURPOSES AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL I CAN RECALL.

>> BUT IN THE 1960s AND '70s, THE NATION'S ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS WAS RISING.

POLLUTION GOT SO BAD BY 1969 THAT OHIO'S RIVER FAMOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE.

IT WAS A REPUBLICAN, PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON, WHO RESPONDED BY CREATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.

>> THE GREAT QUESTION OF THE '70s IS, SHALL WE SURRENDER TO OUR SURROUNDINGS OR SHALL WE MAKE OUR PEACE WITH NATURE AND BEGIN TO MAKE REPARATIONS FOR THE DAMAGE WE HAVE DONE TO OUR AIR, TO OUR LAND AND TO OUR WATER?

[ Applause ] >> KNIPE ANSWERED THAT CALL BY CREATING SOUTH DAKOTA'S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

BUT MUNSTER SAYS SOME PEOPLE WERE NOT HAPPY.

SPECIFICALLY FARMERS AND RANCHERS.

>> THE AGRICULTURAL PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS AN UNWORKABLE AND UNJUSTIFIED INTRUSION INTO THEIR BUSINESS.

>> KNIPE'S CREATION LASTED ONLY SIX YEARS BUT THE DEPARTMENT TOOK ON IMPORTANT PROJECTS, LIKE CLEANING UP CYANIDE POLLUTION FROM BLACK HILLS MINING.

THEN CAME REPUBLICAN BILL JANKLOW, HE MERGED THE EXISTING AGENCY WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND THE NEW ORGANIZATION BECAME WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

JANKLOW DIDN'T WANT AN ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT WORKING AGAINST OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT PROMOTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

STEVE PER THEY ARE WORKED FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND LATER RAN IT.

HE'S NOW RETIRED.

>> MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE DRIVING FORCES FOR JANKLOW TO MERGE THE TWO.

HIS PHILOSOPHY WAS THAT STATE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE ON A PROJECT LIKE THAT.

>> SOME DEMOCRATS, CONSERVATIONISTS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS OBJECTED.

THEY SAID THE ENVIRONMENT WOULD LOSE TO DEVELOPMENT INTERESTS.

BUT THE CRITICS COULDN'T MUSTER ENOUGH OPPOSITION.

JANKLOW'S MERGER WENT THROUGH.

14 YEARS LATER, SOME OF THE FEARS ABOUT THE MERGER CAME TO FRUITION.

SEVERAL WATER SYSTEMS IN THE STATE CAME UNDER FIRE FROM THE FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FOR CONTAMINANTS IN THEIR WATER.

THERE WERE OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN THE 1980s AS WELL.

OTHER STATES WERE TALKING ABOUT DUMPING THEIR GARBAGE HERE AND A NEW FORM OF GOLD MINING WAS BLOOMING IN THE BLACK HILLS, RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA'S OUT OF DATE HIGH MINING REGULATIONS.

IN 1989, SOUTH DAKOTA'S CENTENNIAL YEAR, REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR GEORGE S. MIKKELSON TOOK ACTION, SURPRISING MANY IN HIS OWN PARTY, HE PUSHED A COMPREHENSIVE CENTENNIAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BILL INTO LAW.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THIS LEGISLATURE, 100 YEARS FROM TODAY, I WANT WHATEVER GOVERNOR IS THE GOVERNOR OF OUR STATE TO STAND HERE AND SHOUT BACK THROUGH TIME TO YOU AND ME AND SAY, THANK YOU FOR HOW YOU PRESERVED OUR PRECIOUS PRAIRIE STATE.

>> FOR A COUPLE MORE YEARS, THE OFFICE ENFORCING MIKKELSON'S NEW LAWS STILL CARRIED THE OLD NAME JANKLOW GAVE IT, THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

MIKKELSON THEN CHANGED THE NAME TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

NOW GOVERNOR NOEM'S PROPOSAL WOULD STRIP THE WORD "ENVIRONMENT" FROM THE AGENCY'S NAME.

TED00STER, WHO HELPED GOVERNOR KNEIP CREATE THE DEPARTMENT BACK IN THE '70s SAYS THAT'S NOT A TRIVIAL MATTER.

>> I THINK IT TENDS TO LOWER THE PROFILE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC POLICY.

AND I'M SORRY THAT IT'S NOT IN THE NEW NAME.

>> NOEM'S EXECUTIVE ORDER TAKES EFFECT IN 90 DAYS, UNLESS THE LEGISLATURE REJECTS IT.

BECAUSE SHE'S A REPUBLICAN AND THE PARTY HAS A SUPER MAJORITY, THE MERGER WILL LIKELY TAKE PLACE.

FOR SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, I'M SETH TUPPER.

>> THANKS, SETH.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR TONIGHT.

YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALL OF OUR "STATEHOUSE" COVERAGE ONLINE AT SDPB.ORG/STATEHOUSE.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU WANT ANSWERED ON THE PROGRAM, SEND US AN EMAIL.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND ME ON TWITTER @JACKIEHENDRYSD.

WE DON'T HAVE A SHOW NEXT WEEK, BUT YOU'LL SEE US ON FEBRUARY 11TH.

JOIN US THEN TO LEARN ABOUT PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO CREATE COMMUNITY-BASED SCHOOLS BASED ON THE OCETI SAKOWIN ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDINGS.

THAT'S A CURRICULUM CENTERED ON THE LAKOTA, DAKOTA AND NAKOTA PEOPLE.

UNTIL THEN, I'M JACKIE HENDRY.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪