U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today reacted to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s announcement that certain Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres in counties designated as “abnormally dry” under the U.S. Drought Monitor would now be eligible for emergency haying and grazing. In... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) has added a survey to his website asking South Dakota farmers and ranchers for their suggestions on changes that could be made to programs that would assist in dealing with this summer’s ongoing drought conditions. The National Climatic Data Center reported today that the U.S.... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today sent the following letter regarding haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres in South Dakota to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack after meeting this past weekend with ranchers in Western South Dakota. Such emergency action has been permitted for CRP acres... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John Thune, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today said the Obama Administration’s announcement that it will withdraw its proposed Department of Labor (DOL) rule that would prevent youth from participating in many commonplace work activities on family farms is a victory in the war against America’s... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Today the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, of which Senator Thune is a member, held a markup and passed the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012. The 2012 Farm Bill makes significant changes and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected it would save $24.7 billion... Continue Reading
U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) joined Senators Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell today to discuss the pine beetle infestation in the Black Hills National Forest. The Forest Service has focused its efforts near Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, and in the... Continue Reading
Washington, DC —Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Subcommittee on International Trade Ranking Member John Thune (R-S.D.) today applauded the Senate’s unanimous passage of their legislation to protect American jobs and exports by ensuring the U.S. Commerce Department can continue to apply countervailing duties in cases involving non-market... Continue Reading
U.S. Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, today sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking that the Department of Justice use all tools available to investigate, and potentially prosecute, MF Global executives... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senator John Thune, ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Jobs, Rural Economic Growth, and Energy Innovation Subcommittee, made the following statement regarding today’s Agriculture Committee investigative hearing focused on MF Global’s bankruptcy: “Many farmers in South Dakota and throughout the nation depend on futures contracts to hedge against... Continue Reading
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.–Senator John Thune today attended the Sioux Empire Fair’s Agriculture Appreciation Day in Sioux Falls. Thune joined industry leaders and members of the community in serving complimentary lunch to farmers and ranchers to express gratitude for their contributions to the entire state. “The Sioux Empire Fair’s Agriculture Appreciation... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today pressed officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security, and the Department of Commerce on enforcement of current antidumping and countervailing duty laws during their appearance before the Senate Finance Committee Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness. Senator Thune is the Ranking Member... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today expressed concern over the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) expected announcement this afternoon to approve a partial waiver for the use of E15 (15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline) in conventional vehicles with a model year of 2007 or newer, and called on the Obama Administration... Continue Reading
