Central South Dakota News

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds has introduced four legislative proposals that aim to set agriculture policy priorities for the 119th Congress. These initiatives intend to update safety net programs, expand market access for meat and poultry products, and prevent government overreach. Rounds aims to include these measures in the upcoming Farm Bill, due by September 30, 2025.

Rounds, representing South Dakota, expressed his ongoing commitment to addressing agricultural challenges despite not being a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. He emphasized his focus on ensuring fair coverage for producers, expanding cross-state sales of state-inspected meat, and reforming the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to protect landowners from excessive regulation. He stated, "I’m looking forward to working with Chairman Boozman and the Senate Agriculture Committee to get these priorities included in the Farm Bill and across the finish line. I will continue to work to support farmers and ranchers in South Dakota and across the country."

Among the proposals is the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) Improvement Act, which seeks to mandate quarterly updates to payment rates to better reflect market prices. Initially introduced by Rounds in March 2024, the legislation has already passed the House Agriculture Committee's version of the Farm Bill. This bill is cosponsored by Senator Michael Bennet.

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) Enhancement Act seeks to amend previous legislation by providing additional coverage for grazing crops. Rounds introduced this measure in June 2023, with support from Senators Kevin Cramer, Cynthia Lummis, Tina Smith, and Peter Welch.

The New Markets for State Inspected Meat and Poultry Act would permit interstate sales of meat and poultry inspected by state facilities, which Rounds had first proposed in May 2018. The bill has garnered support from a range of senators, including Majority Leader John Thune, Angus King, John Barrasso, Kevin Cramer, Steve Daines, Chuck Grassley, John Hoeven, Cynthia Lummis, and Tina Smith.

The NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act aims to reform the NRCS and protect landowners from bureaucratic overreach. Originally introduced in October 2020, the act has cosponsors Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven.

Rounds has been recognized as a leading Republican in addressing agricultural issues, ranking as the second most effective senator in this area during the 118th Congress.