US Senator John Thune says the future in agriculture is bright for South Dakota. Thune is meeting with farmers and ranchers Wednesday in Sioux Falls to see examples of progress in technology used in agriculture. Thune claims this gives him valid information to bring back to Washington DC.
Combines, tractors and farming simulators are on display at the Sioux Falls Convention Center for the SDSU Extension Precision Ag Conference. It's and opportunity for the public to see advances in farming equipment and techniques. Senator Thune says it’s important to talk about and see first hand the advances in Ag technology.
"To talk about things they can do to improve their farming practices, improve and maximize their yields, and therefore the impact on the economy here. This to me is really what the future of agriculture is really all about," Senator Thune says.
This event also has booths with hand outs with seed and fertilizer information. Several experts give presentations about different Ag sectors and are also on hand to answer questions. Thune says this Agricultural Conference is a good learning experience, even for him.
"Well it’s interesting for me just to see how some of these things are being done. Some of the equipment, the planters, to talk about the integration between the research and the technology. I mean, you look at what South Dakota State University for example is doing with Raven Industries, there’s a great partnership there. It’s leading, I think, to a higher level of agricultural production all across South Dakota," Senator Thune says.
Thune plans to take the information he gathers in Sioux Falls and bring it back to Washington DC. He says it’s important for politicians at the national level to understand the progress and possibilities of agriculture around the country.
