agriculture

In The Moment ... April 20, 2018 Show 320 Hour 1

Author, farmer, and activist Wendell Berry had strong words for proponents of industrial agriculture. He wrote eloquently and prolifically about rural values and the rural economy. A new film looks at his life through his words, and through the rural Americans he spoke to and for.

Directed by Laura Dunn, Look & See: Wendell Berry's Kentucky airs Monday on SDPB-TV.

In The Moment ... March 21, 2018 Show 301 Hour 1 

If you're weary of bad news and political dramas, you might want to consider just how good we have it in the 21st Century. Steven Pinker's new book is called "Enlightenment Now," and it paints a slightly rosier picture of life as we know it than you might see, for example, on the evening news.

But this isn't a Pollyana utopian fantasy. It's a data-driven look at how humans and human-led institutions are making progress on the most complex problems facing humanity . . . and the areas where we are falling short.

In The Moment ... March 19, 2018 Show 299 Hour 1 

Are backyard chickens livestock or pets? A recent NPR story has ruffled the feathers of South Dakota chicken aficionados. Stephanie Peterson runs Fruit of the Coop. It's a 7-acre farm near the Big Sioux River just outside of Brandon. She also teaches classes on responsibly raising chickens in the region.

In The Moment ... March 13, 2018 Show 295 Hour 2

For five intense days in December of 2017, what became known as the Legion Lake Fire burned fiercely as firefighters battled to contain it.

Jay Wickham is a Fire Management Officer with the Custer State Park Field Office.

We expand the conversation today by including Patricia Johnson. She's with South Dakota State University/West River Ag Center. She specializes in rangeland management.

In the Moment ... February 28, 2018 Show 286 Hour 1

Eliza Blue's February postcard takes you to the pasture to visit Rita. Find more from Eliza at Little Pasture on the Prairie.

In The Moment ... January 26, 2018 Show 264 Hour 1

Each month, Eliza Blue brings SDPB listeners an audio Postcard from the Prairie. Find more from Eliza at Little Pasture on the Prairie.

In The Moment ... January 23, 2018 Show 261 Hour 1

2017 was a news-making year of drought in South Dakota. And yet state farmers managed to harvest one of the more productive corn crops in state history.

The 32nd annual South Dakota Corn Growers Association Meeting was held Saturday, January 20 in Sioux Falls.  

Lisa Richardson, executive director of South Dakota Corn, joins us for a recap.

In The Moment ... January 22, 2018 Show 260 Hour 1

Earlier this month, Raven Industries announced a $5 million dollar gift to South Dakota State University.

We talk with SDSU President Barry Dunn about the gift and the Precision Ag major at SDSU.

Then we welcome Lon Stroschein, Director of Corporate Development for Raven Industries for a conversation about the future of precision agriculture in South Dakota and beyond. 

In The Moment ... January 18, 2018 Show 258 Hour 2

As the 2018 legislative session gets underway in Pierre, we welcome South Dakota's Secretary of Agriculture Mike Jaspers.

He owns and operates a corn, soybean, alfalfa and cattle production operation in Hutchinson, McCook and Marshall counties. Jaspers graduated from Roslyn High School and South Dakota State University.

In The Moment ... January 4, 2018 Show 249 Hour 1

Climatologist Elwynn Taylor visits Vermillion this week for a presentation at the Dakota Farm Show. He joins us for a conversation about what's ahead for the 2018 growing season. We also talk about managing risk through effective data analysis, how a changing climate impacts corn production in the state, and what needs to be done to prepare for another Dustbowl in America.

In The Moment ... December 22, 2017 Show 246 Hour 1

Eliza Blue's December Postcard from the Prairie is a look through the fog at a chicken who gathers more than she can use and the message in that for the rest of us.

In The Moment ... December 5, 2017 Show 233 Hour 1 

Doug Sombke was reelected to serve as President of South Dakota Farmers Union during the organization's 102nd State Convention in Huron recently.

He joins us with highlights from the convention, including thoughts on tax reform, the estate tax, and health insurance for rural South Dakotans.

In The Moment ... October 24, 2017 Hour 2

The relationship between producers and packers has been an issue of discussion for more than a century. Recently U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue withdrew the Farmers Fair Practice Rules from the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). Joining us to discuss reaction is Gary Deering, President of the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association.

In The Moment ... October 23, 2017 Show 204 Hour 2

Pork is the meat of choice for many families in Vietnam. A South Dakota swine specialist is planning a journey to the country to exchange knowledge about production as well as culture. Bob Thaler is an extension swine specialist and professor at South Dakota State University. He's been selected for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar program and will spend January through May of 2018 working with the Vietnam National University of Agriculture in Hanoi.

In The Moment ... October 19, 2017 Show 202 Hour 2

Bryan Jorgenson's grandmother and grandfather settled in South Dakota in 1909. His family stuck it out during the dirty thirties with resilience, faith, and a large family as their assets. It's a four-generation operation, with the fifth generation on the ground, doing what needs to be done for the future. Bryan Jorgenson was listed in Successful Farming Magazine on the Ten Successful Farmers list. He's a winner of the Leopold Award. He joins us from Ideal with a look at this year’s harvest.

In The Moment ... October 19, 2017 Show 202 Hour 1

U.S. Senator John Thune stopped by the SDPB studios for a conversation about the 2018 Farm Bill and the intense political work that needs to be done. With a president whose trade decisions have caused anxiety in farm country and a Congress locked in battles over tax reform and healthcare, we started by talking about what it takes to gather the support for effective farm legislation. We also talk forest management, crop subsidies, and the politics of pushing farm legislation forward.

In The Moment ... October 19, 2017 Show 202 Hour 2

Extreme natural disasters in the 1930s spurred conversations about supporting American farmers in innovative and desperately needed ways. Farm Bills are messy, complicated, and oft-criticized omnibus legislative packages. SDPB's Lee Strubinger joins us for some historical perspective on the Farm Bill and how it impacts you.

South Dakota residents are no stranger to drought.  The state’s position in the U-S and many unique landforms impact our weather—and in some years, keep the moisture away.  This year has brought extremely dry weather over most of South Dakota—with agriculture, tourism and nearly every other segment of life affected.  

In The Moment ... October 13, 2017 Show 198 Hour 1

You can now rediscover a classic Midwestern novel about the relationship between land and the people who farm it. The Center for Western Studies releases a new edition of Herbert Krause's "The Thresher." Patrick Hicks crafted an introduction to this new edition. You can join him this afternoon at 4 p.m. to celebrate the book's release in Sioux Falls.

In The Moment ... September 12, 2017 Show 175 Hour 1

The problem of agriculture is as old as civilization. David Montgomery is a MacArthur Fellow and professor of geomorphology at the University of Washington in Seattle. He's an internationally renowned geologist who studies landscape evolution. His latest book is called "Growing a Revolution: Bringing Our Soil Back to Life." He's coming to Sioux Falls for the 20-17 South Dakota Association Conservation Districts Annual Convention. That's September 17 through the 19. But first he stops by In the Moment.

In The Moment ... September 11, 2107 Show 174 Hour 2

As fliers associated with white supremacy make their way to South Dakota (some were recently found in Sioux Falls) state residents are reminded that neo-Nazi sentiments are not a thing of the past. How do we address nationalism, racism, and Nazi sympathies today? We begin with a look at history.

In The Moment ... August 17,2017 Show 158 Hour 1

Twenty-five years ago, agreement was reached on the North American Free Trade Agreement. It’s a trade pact that gradually eliminated most tariffs and trade barriers between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Has NAFTA been good or bad for the U.S.? Has it been good or bad for South Dakota? Today we welcome Russell Green. He’s a Will Clayton Fellow in International Economics for Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

In The Moment ... August 16, 2017 Show 157 Hour 2

Roger Whittle is Managing Editor of the Watertown Public Opinion. Dana Ferguson is a political watchdog reporter with the Argus Leader. This week on the Dakota Political Junkies we discuss hate groups in America and the role of public officials to address their actions publicly. We also talk tax reform and news from DakotaFest.

In The Moment ... July 24, 2017 Show 140 Hour 1

Successful Farming Magazine has released its "10 Successful Farmers" list, honoring ag professionals who choose to innovate, adapt, and sustain successful ag business. One of this year's honorees hails from Ideal, South Dakota and his method is simple: watch how Mother Nature takes care of herself and mimic her ways. Today, Bryan Jorgenson joins us. Read his full story here: Agriculture.com/10farmers.

In The Moment ... July 17, 2017 Show 135 Hour 1

Tomorrow is a pivotal day for the Dakota Power Community Wind project and Lincoln County residents. The public votes to either keep the ordinance of a roughly quarter-mile setback between Dakota Wind's turbines and residences or increase the setback to a half mile. The result of the vote could change the future of clean energy in South Dakota. SDPB's Leah Cover joins us with more.

Biotechnology is a booming business, and South Dakota companies are competing with organizations around the globe. Local scientists pioneer medicine, agriculture, manufacturing, and research. A researcher-turned-business developer outlines his assessment for area investors and scientists in an extended interview.

South Dakota Biotech's annual summit brought professionals together for the discussion, and some future scientists help equip fellow kids.

Schools and producers are working to feed kids with local crops. A federal grant worth $24,158 helps educate stakeholders on the Farm to School movement. The project brings local ingredients to school food programs.

Farm to Table restaurants aim to bring local foods directly to diners. Schools have a similar program to connect students with products raised nearby.

Sandra Kangas is the South Dakota Department of Education’s director of Child and Adult Nutrition Services. She says Farm to School improves access to local foods.

This week kids in Sioux Falls are planting seeds and sprouts in four raised garden beds next to a parking lot. A few days ago, we brought you a conversation from Ground Works-Midwest about teaching gardens. Volunteers have now constructed more places for food to grow.

National Ag Week runs through the 25th this week. Everyone from state government to high schoolers knows how important the industry is in South Dakota.

Agriculture has a $25.6 billion impact on South Dakota’s economy each year. Officials say this is why the state recognizes Ag producers and future leaders during the week.

As part of the week, the Agriculture Council of America hosts a National Ag Day Video Contest and Essay Contest. This year Bridger Gordon from Whitewood won the essay contest.