DRA News - Dakota Rural Action

Aug
04

DRA Welcomes New Executive Director

DRA Welcomes Jason Schoch as New Executive Director After an extensive search, Dakota Rural Action (DRA) is pleased to announce Jason Schoch as its next Executive Director. As the organization prepares to celebrate nearly 40 years of organizing in South Dakota, the board and members are excited to welcome a permanent executive director. Schoch succeeds long-time director Frank James, who…

May
26

Farm Bill Set to Move through the Senate

The Farm Bill Set to Move through the Senate! The House passed its version of the Farm Bill earlier this spring, and it was missing key pieces our SD farmers…

May
06

Rapid City Data Center Panel Discussion scheduled for May 13

Dakota Rural Action (DRA) will host a Data Center Panel Discussion at 6:30 pm at the Minneluzahan Senior Center in Rapid City on Wednesday, May 13. The discussion will explore…

7,654

Dakota Rural Action

We organize and build community power in promoting and protecting natural resources & resilient food and energy systems for future generations in South Dakota.

Dakota Rural Action

1 day ago

❗Our state has opted to not have a big stick against bad actors. Instead of proactive protection of our water and resources, we maintain enforcement of ordinances and permit conditions through complaint processes.📌Alternatively, SD has taken a proactive approach by intimidating citizens when they speak up in demand for honest, transparent governance. The States Attorney General is the office that should protect the public interest and act on behalf of the public in issues of antitrust. Instead, Attorney General Jackley's office has decided to investigate a citizen after exercising her right to file a complaint with her county office regarding a current industrial dairy permit. 🤨This act of intimidation begs the question of how integrated the industrial dairy sector is in our political system. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

Dakota Rural Action

4 days ago

❓Did you know that 60% of the South Dakotans who are enrolled in Medicaid live in rural communities? That means that this coverage is critical for people to access healthcare close to their home, and is essential for keeping these rural healthcare facilities open. 📌This fall, the ballot measure Amendment I could undermine this essential access.📌South Dakotans approved Medicaid Expansion in 2022. Amendment I would automatically end Expansion if the federal match falls below 90%, potentially hurting hospitals and clinics that depend on Medicaid funding to keep their doors open. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

Dakota Rural Action is with Western Organization of Resource Councils.

5 days ago

"People that made true historical change in moments like this, in perilous moments like this, are people that didn't have any more money, didn't have any more knowledge, than the average person. It's from people who've had enough and want to do something about it," - Cheyenne Long Fox, Rapid City People's Alliance co-chair. Let's organize. ... See MoreSee Less

The Power of Grassroots Organizing

www.youtube.com

Hear from organizers and member leaders in the WORC network on how ...

Video

View on Facebook

Dakota Rural Action

6 days ago

The proposed 25,000-head Riverview Dairy in Edmunds County raises some red flags 🚩with the math. 1️⃣First of all, what is an animal unit? 🤨 Animal units are a tool used to count the number of livestock in order to ensure manure management plans correctly estimate manure production, environmental protection for the surface & ground water, and adequate acreage to spread the manure.🧮Animal unit equivalents are often used on county zoning level to help understand impact of different projects across livestock breeds (turkey, hog, dairy cow, etc.). The math ➕➖➗ matters! 🐄The proposed dairy is for 25,000 head BUT that's estimating 1,000-pound cows. Dairy cows are larger - they eat more & produce more manure 💩 In fact, Edmunds County defines those mature dairy cows as 35,750 animal units, a 10,000 cow difference. ⚠This is why the Edmunds County Commission should review the Riverview dairy proposal before agreeing to that amount of manure being produced without enough acres to handle it. #daries #cafos #industrialagriculture ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

Dakota Rural Action

6 days ago

We are proud members of NFFC, and it was wonderful to spend time with other folks working for family farmers in communities around the country.Greetings from St. Louis!! For our Annual Gathering, representatives from our member organizations convened over two days in St. Louis, at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. This was an extra special gathering for it marked 40 years since our founding in 1986.We are super grateful for our co-host and founding member Missouri Rural Crisis Center as well as all the members, past presidents, and allies who made the trek to celebrate with us! And a special shout-out to Patchwork Family Farms for providing delicious local fare!Stay tuned for more photos and recaps of the festivities 🥳Photo credit: Troy Freund. Troy Freund Photography ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

Stay Informed

Support Our Work

DRA News Check in on the latest DRA News

DRA Welcomes New Executive Director

Farm Bill Set to Move through the Senate

Rapid City Data Center Panel Discussion scheduled for May 13

Dakota Rural Action

Get In Touch