Ag United News

Look to livestock operations to bring young people back to state

November 08, 2005 Farm Forum

By Stephanie Kontz, Special to the Farm Forum

Looking ahead to 2006, one of the biggest challenges South Dakota agriculture will be facing is going to be bringing young farmers and ranchers back to the farm after high school or college graduation. The farm that was originally designed to support one family may now be adding another one or two growing families to the business.

Like any other business, a farm needs to expand in order to provide for additional family members joining in the family business. However, with farmland prices at record highs across the state, families are looking for other ways to expand to welcome their grown children back to the farm.

Livestock feeding is one option for these families. Expanding a current operation, or starting new livestock feeding operations, allows young farmers and ranchers to return to South Dakota's rural communities.

Livestock feeding requires less land than grain production, and utilizes the abundance of grain South Dakota's farmers are already producing. We have strong environmental regulations, ample feed supplies, and farm and ranch families committed to livestock production here in South Dakota. With these three elements working together, we have the opportunity in the coming year to create an atmosphere for livestock production that can serve as a model example for the rest of the country.

However, in order for these families to expand, or for young families to start their own livestock feeding operation, be it a beef feedlot, swine feeding facility, or dairy operation, they must apply for a state permit, and receive county approval. These procedures assure that the livestock operations are designed and situated in the best possible location to protect the environment and water supply for the community.

This supportive atmosphere cannot be created, however, without community support, and too often, the families applying for a livestock permit face intense opposition from members of their local community, saying the livestock family will be contributing to the downfall of the county and the small towns therein.

As citizens of South Dakota, we see every day the struggles of our smaller rural communities trying to survive. Main Streets sit nearly empty, school enrollment drops every year, and recent graduates promise to 'leave this town and never come back'. This struggle will not end overnight.

However, one of the ways to keep our rural communities from dying is to encourage and welcome these farm families, who are committed to livestock production, and not try to drive them out of the area. These families want to start a business in the community. They will shop at the local grocery stores, fuel up at the local gas stations, buy feed from the neighboring grain farmers, put their children in the schools, and contribute to the future viability of South Dakota's rural communities.

This can be done successfully in South Dakota. For example, a young dairy farmer from Iowa wanted to expand to better provide for his family, but was unable to do so where he was located. However, he was able to move to southeastern South Dakota, to a farm with more acres, and expand his dairy to provide for his growing family. His oldest child just started kindergarten at the local school and he has created more demand for grain and hay from neighboring farmers.

This is only one example of how livestock production can be successful in South Dakota while benefiting the local community. In 2006, South Dakotans have the opportunity to support these livestock families, because when our family farms and ranches are growing, so are our rural communities.