Blog---March 26, 2025—10-11—It’s YOUR Agri Business

   Our It’s YOUR Agri Business Show did a little traveling for our audience.

   We started with Reid Jensen---one of the 50 members of the South Dakota Farm Bureau that traveled to DC---meeting with law makers---and hopefully pushing the agenda for those in agriculture—and living in South Dakota.

   Reid shared with us on Tuesday what they were doing—their plans to meet with the South Dakota House and Senate delegation—and get some answers to questions and learn from the experience a Thune—a Rounds—and a Dusty would have.

   It is important to have the South Dakota Farm Bureau--- and other farm organizations come calling on their delegations. Both sides learn what the other is doing and hoping for.

   Reid was good at taking my questions----and having made a few of those Washington trips thru the years---I know that it is easy to become overwhelmed with where you are and who these Senators, Representatives, Cabinet members are ---and why they should be listening to each other.

   Reid was good at what he was doing---and we talked about doing more in the future. If it helps them---helps the leadership---and helps our audience—I’m all for it.

   Farm Bill still a big issue---along with fears that we have being farm away from DC but hearing they could be hurting not only those in agriculture but those that are older---or needing help and the door is shut.

   Next up—Candi Briley---she was in the count-down mode as we head towards the Fair coming up in August----today we were taking the bait to talk about entertainment---the big news THE REJECTS. I’ve never heard of them—but they are apparently big stuff. We’ll be following along with Candi as the count down goes thru April, May, June, July and finally August. She is good at telling the stories and keeping us informed so we’ll keep doing it.

    We talked with Brent Baloun---Plains Commerce Bank---they are the planners---and we always ask about farmers, business, the older and the young—and how the 8 Plains locations can help us and our listeners.

    Sarah Heinrich—KFGO Fargo—had the Growing Harvest Network---Matt Swenson looked at the morning Commodities--- 

    With it being Ag Appreciation Week in Iowa—thanks to Don McDowell we were able to visit with Ag Secretary Mike Naig. We talked about the importance of the week—the kind of issues they are working on for their farmers---and his trip to Costa Rica and Guatemala for trade talks---and highly pathogenic avian influenza 

     He had made a recent trip to my home county and town—Monona County’s Onawa, Iowa—with the widest main street in the country. 

     Gerri Eide helped us look ahead to April 3-5—for the big FFA event in Brookings—the guest this morning was Josie Nold –Star Finalist and State Officer Candidate. It was interesting and you could tell—that Gerri has had quite the influence on Josie. Interesting—special---and typical of the stars that we have interviewed for the last two weeks. 

     We talked with Patti –Executive Director—Red Cross in South Dakota---today is giving day—and we learned more about that Patti Brooks---we talked about a couple of the South Dakota locations that are taking blood today---and events coming up April 1, 14th, and 18th in South Dakota. Yes we will follow along with the heavy need that is out there for those that have been affected and the blood supplies and the financing need some pumping up. 

    We closed the show with Laura Edwards—South Dakota State Climatologist. We talked about a story out on this day from South Dakota News Watch—sharing that South Dakota is under drought conditions with 42% of the state under severe or extreme drought. At this time last year it was only11%.

    Laura talked us thru where we are—what to expect for the closing days of March—and looking into April and the growing season.

    Our It’s YOUR Agri Business Show—covered a lot of topics—a lot of ground—much of it dry---but it’s what we do.

   Norm Anderson will post the show as a podcast—my job is to schedule the guests—interview them—write the scripts—and keep an eye on agriculture for the next direction I need to go. Use these notes as a guide to the podcast at the KELO-AM website---and feel free to call or text me at bill.zortman@mwcradio.com or call 605-728-BILL (2455).