SD Local Foods Network Listening Sessions

For Immediate Release: May 4, 2020 Media Contact: Dakota Rural Action, Eowyn Corral, eowync@dakotarural.org  South Dakota Local Foods Network South Dakota Local Foods Network Announces Upcoming Listening Session Opportunities The South Dakota Local Foods Network (Network) invites those interested in … Continued

Update On Agricultural Aid

USDA Release More Information, Many Questions Remain Late last Friday (April 17th), Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced a  $19 billion Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program and last night more details were released. While we know a bit more from these … Continued

Much Ag Aid Promised, Very Little Available Right Now

Agricultural Aid Promised in Response to Covid-19, Little Available Right Now.   The water remains murky when it comes to COVID-19 relief for farmers. The US Department of Agriculture’s plans around the $9.5 Billion earmarked for agricultural producers in the Coronavirus … Continued

Smithfield Foods to close Sioux Falls plant indefinitely.

Smithfield Foods to close Sioux Falls plant indefinitely amid COVID-19 outbreak   Smithfield Foods will close its Sioux Falls facility until further notice, the company announced Sunday in a news release. Dakota Rural Action is so thankful that Smithfield employees … Continued

Rural Electric Cooperative Shut Off policy

Ask SD Rural Electric Cooperatives for Non-Shut Off Policies   By Rick Bell, Black Hills DRA Chapter and Community Energy Development Committee Chairperson    Ask our SD electric cooperatives to develop a policy not to disconnect people from service during … Continued

Stand With Smithfield Workers, Stand With Community!

We need to keep pressure for a 14 day closure with widespread testing upon reopening. 3 days is not enough time to ensure this doesn’t continue to be a hotspot for spread. Smithfield Foods will close its Sioux Falls plants … Continued

Sign On TODAY to #CancelKXL

As the public health emergency from the novel coronavirus forces social distancing and community lockdowns, TC Energy (formerly TransCanada) is about to endanger thousands of workers by sending them into rural and Tribal communities along the path of its proposed … Continued

DRA Weekly Legislative Update

Legislature Adjourns Thursday; Gosch Tested for COVID-19 The last regular day of the 2020 Legislative Session was Thursday, March 12th, with Monday, March 30th reserved for consideration of gubernatorial vetoes. On Wednesday, Rep. Spencer Gosch was reported to have fallen … Continued