Press Releases - Senator John Thune

Thune Continues Fight for America’s Farmers and Ranchers

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today discussed his priorities to help agriculture producers weather the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways he will continue to provide support for our nation’s farmers and ranchers. Thune said he believes recently confirmed Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack... Continue Reading

Thune, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand and Strengthen Local Meat Processing Capabilities

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) today reintroduced the Strengthening Local Processing Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would provide much-needed federal support to America’s small meat and poultry processors and help strengthen and streamline their operations. The... Continue Reading

Thune Announces Committee Assignment for 117th Congress

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the announcement of the U.S. Senate committee assignments for the 117th Congress. Thune will continue to be a member of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee; the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; and the Finance Committee. “It is my privilege... Continue Reading

Thune Questions Secretary of Agriculture Nominee Tom Vilsack

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry today questioned Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture nominee. If confirmed, Vilsack will be head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the second time, as he served as secretary during the Obama administration.... Continue Reading

Thune: Congress Must Step Up and Advocate for America’s Producers

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today discussed the importance of prioritizing farmers and ranchers across America, especially considering the additional challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thune, along with farm-state senators, including Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), continue to advocate for full funding of... Continue Reading

Following Thune-Johnson Request, USDA Provides Flexibility for Harvesting and Grazing Cover Crops on Prevented Plant Acres

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), members of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees, respectively, today issued the following statements after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it would allow producers to graze or harvest cover crops on prevented plant acres in certain counties... Continue Reading

Thune Statement on USDA Cattle Market Investigation Report

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a report on its investigation into cattle market volatility during the coronavirus pandemic and following a 2019 fire at a Tyson Foods beef plant in Holcomb, Kansas. The report provides an analysis... Continue Reading

Thune, Stabenow, Johnson, and Loebsack Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urging USDA to Provide Flexibility for Harvesting and Grazing Cover Crops on Prevented Plant Acres

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and U.S. Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) today led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging it to exercise its authority to allow producers to graze or harvest cover crops on prevented plant... Continue Reading

Thune, Smith Introduce Bill to Allow Emergency Haying and Grazing on CRP Acres During COVID-19 Pandemic

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, this week introduced legislation that would allow emergency haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres during the COVID-19 health crisis. Under current statute, emergency CRP haying and grazing is limited to weather-related disaster... Continue Reading

Delegation Urges USDA to Allow State-Approved Meat and Poultry Products to Be Donated or Sold Across State Lines

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) allow meat and poultry products that have been inspected by state-approved meat and poultry inspection programs to be... Continue Reading

Members of Congress Urge USDA to Provide Assistance to Pork Producers

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today led a bipartisan, bicameral letter urging U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to take immediate action to assist pork producers and maintain the pork food supply chain. The letter follows the closure of the Smithfield processing... Continue Reading

Thune, Rounds Join Bipartisan Group of Senators in Calling on USDA to Allocate Additional Funds for Biofuel Industry During COVID-19 Crisis

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and ten of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requesting additional funds be allocated to the biofuel industry through the Commodity... Continue Reading