SD Governor gets push back on joining ag and enviornment agencies
SDFBSDFB President Doug Sombke
PIERRE, SD – Interim Agriculture Secretary Hunter Roberts and several team members outlined the proposed merger of the Ag Department and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee last week. State Senator Josh Klumb of Mount Vernon is the committee vice-chairman.
“Unless the merger is challenged, it will go through. They were simply advising us of how it would operate,” shared Klumb.
The South Dakota Farmer’s Union opposes the merger and in response to the plan by the Governor, is crafting legislation that would make the Secretary of Agriculture an elected office rather than a gubernatorial appointee.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signs executive order on department merger
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has signed an executive creating a new Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the result of a merger between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 3:55 pm, Jan. 19, 2021 ×
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem steps up to the microphone to deliver her annual State of the State address in the House chambers of the state Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 12. Christopher Vondracek/Forum News Service
PIERRE, S.D. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has signed an executive order to merge the state Department of Agriculture and the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
KNBN NewsCenter1
January 19, 2021
PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem issued an executive order Tuesday to merge the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to become the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, or DANR.
Noem says the merger will simplify life for South Dakota Agriculture producers by creating a one-stop shop in the state. She adds it will also save taxpayers money through streamlining processes and eliminating redundancies.
Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden said in Pierre Tuesday, the movement displays the state’s commitment to agriculture and keeping regulations low.
“We’re not interested in expanding the department because it’s a regulatory agency and one of our goals is to keep the regulations as low as possible,” said Rhoden. “But we’re always looking for opportunities in the state where our ag industry outpaces the number two industry by tenfold. We are obviously very dedicated to seeing our
Governor Noem Signs Executive Order on DANR Merger
Governor Noem Signs Executive Order on DANR Merger
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem signed Executive Order 2021-03 to merge the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, forming a new Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR).
“With this merger, we are fostering sustainable agriculture and conservation that we can pass on to our kids and grandkids,” said
Governor Kristi Noem. “This merger will simplify life for South Dakota’s agriculture producers by creating a one-stop shop in state government. It will also save taxpayers money by streamlining the state’s regulatory bodies,eliminating redundancies, and creating a better customer service experience for all.”