The Department of Agriculture (and Natural Resources) says it needs to increase costs for livestock producers right now!
House Bill 1020, requested by the DA(NR), would raise the livestock ownership inspection fee for each cow, horse, or mule from $1.00 to $1.65. HB 1020 includes an emergency clause, meaning the Department would start charging higher ownership inspection fees the moment the Governor would sign it during Session instead of waiting until July 1.
Representative Marty Overweg (R-19/New Holland) tried to raise the ownership inspection fee last year to $1.70. House Agriculture knocked the increase down to 35 cents; the House approved that increase, but Senate Agriculture killed it.
In January 2023, South Dakota had 3.6 million cattle. If we check each of those critters’ ownership once a year, the increased fee would put another $2.34 million in the Agriculture Department’s pockets. Inspect all 42,000 horses and a few hundred mules (USDA reports 1,250 mules, burros, and donkeys), and DA(NR) could net another $27,000.
Boy, I don’t know. The master of betrayal those ranchers put back in the White House is already trying to kill their industry. Now might not be the most politically opportune time for Pierre to try to raise their costs.
This will go over well…
Cory, I suspect cattle are inspected when they are sold, not every year.
Yes, some will be inspected several times in their life, but a twelve
year old cow that was raised on the ranch will be inspected only once,
when she is sold as a cull.
Instead of over raising prices every few years wouldn’t a gradual process be better?
Less fighting and less hurting.
They did vote for the idiot but still…
If they can’t make it at the prices being charged at the grocery store something has got to give.
Mark is correct. How about raiding it like they raise teacher salaries.