Tri-State Livestock News Article: Passion in Action
By Jason | June 1, 2010
I recently had the opportunity to interview with one of the most vocal spokesperson’s for the United States Beef industry, Amanda Nolz. Very enjoyable to relate with an individual who is forging her career in production agriculture and providing a service to her community and industry. Amanda and I have known eachother since our FFA days when I was the State FFA Vice President and she represented South Dakota and won the National FFA Extemporaneous Speaking competition!
Click HERE for the feature story.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Encourage students to pursue the teaching profession commercial from SDEA
By Jason | May 17, 2010
My friends at the South Dakota Education Association (SDEA) asked me to participate in a statewide advertising campaign to encourage more folks to pursue the teaching profession. Partnering with the National Education Association they recorded video footage at our State Capitol building. You can view the commercial by clicking this link:
Jason SDEA future teachers commerical.
As a member of the SDEA and as a teacher I hope this advertising campaign will encourage people of any age to ask themselves how they can help shape the future. Clearly I have been fortunate to receive a lot of help along my early professional career. Teachers, parents, family, and friends deserve that credit.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Representative Frerichs to Meet with Young, Progressive Elected Officials in Washington
By Jason | May 13, 2010
200 progressive elected officials under age 35 will gather to discuss policies, leadership
Jason Frerichs, State Representative for Roberts, Day, and Marshall Counties will join more than 200 other young, progressive elected officials in Washington, DC this weekend at the fifth annual convening of the national Young Elected Officials Network.
The participants, progressive elected officials from across the country, are all under the age of 35. The young leaders will meet with a number of national leaders in Washington and share with each other their policy ideas, leadership strategies, and best practices.
“I look forward to the opportunity to forge connections with other folks from across the United States who face similar challenges and opportunities while serving in public office,” states Representative Frerichs.
Frerichs, 25, was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives in 2008. At the convening he will share with other elected officials best practices for garnering bi-partisan support for issues such as education and renewable energy which are important to rural communities.
The Young Elected Officials (YEO) Network, consists of over 550 young, progressive city, county, state and federal officials from all 50 states. Most are at the start of their political careers; 89 percent are interested in running for higher office in the future.
“These young elected officials play a critical role in our local, state, and national governments,” said Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee City Commissioner and executive director of the YEO Network. “They are leaders in policy debates around the country, and manage billions of dollars in public funds. They are passionate, innovative, and committed to helping their communities be places of freedom, fairness, and opportunity. The YEO Network National Convening is a great way for them to work together to share ideas and empower each other as they continue their careers in public service.”
# # #
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Oil Pipeline company changes the “rules of the game” on their potential customers
By Jason | April 30, 2010
Some of you may have recently followed the story from Keloland about TransCanada and the lawsuits filed against them from their potential customers who are refineries in the Central and Southern United States.
http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=99546
I find this news very interesting because during this last Legislative Session when I pushed forward with an effort to repeal the tax breaks for oil pipelines we were told that it would be unfair to “change the rules of the game”. It looks like to me that TransCanada feels that they can “change the rules of the game” on their customers, but expect the State to lay out the red carpet for them to use our land with massive tax breaks.
What kind of company will we be dealing with in Northeast South Dakota when they decide to pump oil through our area? With the increase in moisture and all of the water that was present when the pipe was installed I only wonder if the pipe is floating in parts of western Marshall and Day county?
My conscience is clear, because I know that I was advocating on behalf of rank and file South Dakotans in holding TransCanada accountable during this last Legislative Session.
TransCanada has a very “sweet deal” to travel through South Dakota, I just hope their customers and the consumers can bargain for a fair price.
Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Goose Management Working Group Report
By Jason | April 14, 2010
I participated in a Canada Goose Management Working group that met various times in communities of Northeast South Dakota. We had public input and also formulated some ideas within our group. Officials from the SD Game, Fish and Parks facilitated these meetings.
Over the past couple of months I have had the opportunity to participate on a Canada Goose Management and Depredation Working Group that was put together by the Division of Wildlife of Game, Fish and Parks. I serve on this working group with fellow landowners, sportsmen/women, Wildlife Federation representatives, and of course staff from various levels of the Wildlife Division. I have enjoyed the opportunity to participate because I have learned a great deal about the issue, but also am able to offer my ideas and perspectives to the group as a landowner and legislator. This is a challenging issue and the Working Group has reached the point now where we are able to put all options on the table to consider in dealing with the over abundance of resident Canada geese in South Dakota.
The objective of the Working Group is to: 1) promote communication between ag producers, sportsmen and GFP; 2) identify ideas and possible solutions to help address Canada goose crop depredation; 3) identify Canada goose harvest options that will help reduce goose numbers; and 4) develop a series of recommendations for the GFP Commission on this issue. Over the last two months, public input meetings were held in Watertown, Webster, Brookings, and Madison where landowners, sportsmen, and wildlife enthusiasts discussed their concerns and ideas in a round table format.
Three issues appear to be a common consensus of the Working Group: Regionalization of goose hunting units, providing a targeted August Management Take season, and increasing the bag limit. Regionalizing the goose hunting units will provide the option to hold at least two different ‘opening days’ for goose season which would help concentrate hunters and increase the chance for hunters to harvest more birds. The Big Stone Power Plant is an example where a special hunting unit may need to be developed to help concentrate hunters and reduce the Canada goose population in this localized area. Providing the option of an August Management Take season for waterfowl hunters could help to recruit new goose hunters and encourage participation by youth hunters. And, by increasing the goose limit during the early Canada goose season we can hopefully provide immediate results in our efforts to reduce the overall population of resident Canada geese.
Another issue that is on the table for our Working Group is the concept of sub-permitting individuals to harvest problem geese through a Special Canada Goose Take Permit. Controversy is evident with this issue, but I feel it would be very beneficial to allow hunters to be able to apply for some tags and then be available to assist landowners who need to have some problem geese removed on their property. This sub-permitting process for geese would be used much as the current depredation hunter pool us used to help address deer depredation. In the spring, Canada geese are scattered throughout our countryside as they begin to nest. If the sub-permittee were allowed to focus in on the areas where complaints have been the greatest, perhaps they can do some good in helping reduce goose damage to crops. I understand there will have to be tough restrictions placed on this sub-permitting concept, but I think it is a process that has promise. I also believe during the regular hunting season hunters should be able to pull the plug out of their gun and have access to more shells if needed.
Seasonal buffer strips of small grain and long-term buffer strips of grasses provide a nice avenue to reduce goose damage on our crops. However, many producers do not have a small drill or let alone the time to put in these buffer strips. I think the Game, Fish and Parks should consider providing a service where they would assist producers by performing the manual labor and providing the equipment to help establish these buffer strips.
All of us in South Dakota have work to do on this issue. If we are a farmer, we better invite sportsmen to help us out; if we are a sportsman, we need to explore all opportunities to help reduce goose numbers; and lastly ordinary citizens and those who care about our wildlife should work to help connect agriculture producers and sportsmen/women. I welcome our friends from southeastern South Dakota and their out of state friends/relatives to come on up to Northeast South Dakota and enjoy our hunting opportunity and resources. At the same time, our local business would enjoy you spending money to help add to our local economy!
I want to thank those who took the time out of their busy schedules to attend the public input meetings on this issue. Our Working Group will finalize our recommendations and submit them to the Game, Fish, and Parks Commission for their consideration. From there we look forward to working together with landowners, sportsmen and GFP, to help resolve some of these important wildlife management issues during the coming year.
Representative Jason Frerichs, D-Wilmot is a farmer/rancher and an instructor in the Agriculture Department of Lake Area Technical Institute.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Hosting a Fundraiser in Webster to Support Stephanie
By Jason | April 4, 2010
I will be hosting a fundraiser along with Gloria and Wayne McFarland and Angie and Gary Hanson this Wednesday night (April 7) to support Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin.
Stephanie will join us from 5:30-7:30pm in the Banquet Hall of the Galley in Webster.
We all know Stephanie is a solid supporter for renewable energy and ensuring more economic development for our rural communities. Production agriculture has a strong voice through Herseth-Sandlin as she stands up for independent farmers and ranchers.
Come on out and enjoy the company of great people and a chance to visit with Congresswoman Herseth-Sandlin!
Check out this link: 04.07.10Cocktails_with_SHS for more information on the event.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Legislative Update – Response to the Budget Cuts
By Jason | April 1, 2010
Governor Rounds finally gave his approval to House Bill 1155. This is a bill that I had drafted to address the issue of anemometer towers which are hard to see by our crop duster pilots. Truly a work in progress from the beginning as this bill was first tabled by the Commerce committee. In the end we reached a compromise between the wind companies and crop duster pilots. The State Department of Transportation was very helpful in providing facts and assisting to help solve the problem of visibility of these aluminum pipe towers.
This past week I had some discussion with Governor Rounds about the condition of roads and the flooding in northeast South Dakota. First off the Governor informed me that he and his staff are working with FEMA to see if roads that have severe issues due to all of the water could qualify for disaster assistance. Currently under the Federal rules only roads that have water that runs over them would qualify. All of us are quite familiar with roads that have been damaged from subsurface issues and are in severe need of being rebuilt. I hope the Governor and his staff continue to press this issue, and that requires all of us to continue to remind those folks of issues with roads and the water in northeast South Dakota.
By now I am sure most of you have heard of the budget cuts that were adopted by the Legislature. I did not vote for the budget bill that was presented to us on Tuesday evening. The severe cuts to rural communities such as the extension service, agriculture experiment station, and the State Fair are short-sighted and I did not support that effort to cut back programming in those areas. Education received serious reductions in higher education as well as K12 programs being cut along with the 0% increase in the per student allocation from the State. What does that mean if we do not send an increase to K12 education? All of us as local property taxpayers will have to keep our school districts afloat. Agriculture and education are my passions in life which I value only less than my Faith, Family and Friends. It is very disappointing that agriculture and education have to shoulder the cuts in South Dakota where those two areas define our State.
As Democrats we offered an amendment to the budget bill that would have allowed for the opportunity to spend the Federal Medicaid funds should the funds be provided to the State of South Dakota. This option would provide a 1.2% increase to K12 education, a 1.2% provider increase, as well as a one-time $500 bonus to full-time state employees. We looked at this amendment as a chance to be one-step ahead of the situation as well as provide much needed support to South Dakotans.
Looking ahead to next year one of the issues that still must be resolved is properly assessing the value of grassland for agriculture property taxes. Senator Jim Peterson has truly been a role-model for me in determining my path in the State Legislature and he has been the driving force on adapting to the productivity method for agriculture land. Sen. Peterson has continued to keep me informed on how we can further adapt this fair valuation of land. I wish to also take this opportunity to thank Sen. Gary Hanson for his service to District One. Gary has been a solid support to give me help as I continue to navigate the Legislative process.
Please keep me informed of any events that you would like me to attend in the future. You can continue to reach me at 949-2204 and email rep.frerichs@state.sd.us. Have an enjoyable Spring and let’s hope Mother Nature will work with us this Summer!
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Proof that HB 1190 is signed by the Governor
By Jason | March 29, 2010
House Bill 1190 the bill I prime sponsored with Sen. Russ Olson is officially signed by the Governor as referenced by this picture:
Thank you to Mark Wilson the Director for the Office of Career and Technical Education for his work in ensuring that HB 1190 contained the necessary information to balance the needs of our High School Career and Technical Education students to receive the Opportunity Scholarship.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Status of Career and Tech Education in the Opportunity Scholarship
By Jason | March 18, 2010
The following is a notice I sent to my fellow agriculture education teachers in South Dakota:
First off, HB 1190 is the law of the land in SD. CTE is now an option in the elective category with world languages for the requirements of the Opportunity Scholarship. Sen. Russ Olson of Madison was the Senate prime sponsor and a great help to me in our effort to forge bi-partisan support.
1190 will primarily affect the freshman in High School this fall (2010). We did put in law the requirement that the Board of Regents work with the Dept. of Ed and CTE to give credit for math and science courses through CTE.
HB 1160 is the home-school bill that morphed into applying to all students who receive a 28 ACT score regardless of curriculum will receive the scholarship. This has the same implementation date as HB 1190. The Governor has not signed the bill and could possibly veto it. This HB 1160 creates a “Track B” for the Opp Scholarship and should not affect the “regular” course requirements that we changed in HB 1190. I voiced opposition to this bill because it basically says that our teachers don’t really matter because a student could just take a standardized test and receive the scholarship.
Let me know if you have any other questions. Be sure to show your administrators, counselors, and parents that Career and Tech Education is on a level playing field with world languages! With this new law a student can take any combination of CTE and foreign language.
HB 1190 can be found at: http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2010/Bills/HB1190ENR.pdf
HB 1224 and the amendment died in the Senate committee which is good! This bill could have had the Gray amendment placed on the bill which would have eliminated course requirements.
HB 1160 can be found at: http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2010/Bills/HB1160ENR.pdf
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Timing is Everything in the Legislature – Weekly Legislative Update
By Jason | March 11, 2010
A year ago I remember very clear when the buzz around the State Capitol building was the federal stimulus money flowing into South Dakota. Officials from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget working with the legislative branch prepared various amendments to our general appropriations bill to ensure the state would benefit from the federal funds.
Timing is important this spring, especially as we think about all of the moisture that has appeared due to thawing, what is left in the snowpack, and this new precipitation. Last Friday, the citizens of Big Stone Lake hosted a meeting and various officials presented information on the expected flooding in the northeast part of the state. All of us need to be sure and prepare our property for potential flooding, and if we need assistance, the County Emergency Management folks are a solid contact point.
Recently in the State House, we approved a bill, brought to us by Senator Nancy Turbak-Berry, which guaranteed insured people must be “made-whole” before their insurance company. Limited situations would involve the opportunity where an injured person is awarded liability dollars.
Local governments in Legislative District One (Roberts, Day, and Marshall Counties) will receive a total of at least $150,000 over the next three years pending the approval of SB 65. After deferring to produce new license plates for five years, this money became available. Yes, all of us have paid to receive new license plates; however, local governments are in dire need of any help that can be provided, and I think we can go a few more years without replacing our license plates.
On the topic of timing, most of you who own agriculture land have probably had the opportunity to receive our notices on the assessment of your land for property taxes. This is the first year to implement the new productivity method for valuing agriculture land. There certainly are questions out there as to why certain assessments have been inflated. First off, I encourage you to explore why your assessment has been adjusted and be sure to explore any adjustments that have been applied in the past. Patience and willingness to change should be at the forefront for us as we adapt to this new system. We know the productivity method will need some work, but lets do all we can to move forward.
Both chambers of the legislature gave final approval to a bill that will allow any landowner or operator to receive two antlerless deer tags (free of charge!) to be used for depredation issues.
I continue to monitor HB 1155, which requires wind metering towers to be properly marked and be clearly visible. Throughout the whole process, I have worked with the crop dusters, wind companies, and the Department of Transportation. I find it interesting, after hearing second hand information from folks in the Capitol, that a lawyer for a wind company that has not engaged in our discussion on the bill is working to have the Governor veto HB 1155. I have made every effort to inform this lawyer about the intention of the bill. However, this “back-door” approach is foolish, and I think gives a bad image for our political process. I always like to be upfront and take issues face value while discovering the intent and possible effects of implementation. Hopefully, the Governor will agree with me and show this lobbyist that he had a fair opportunity to change or defeat the bill in the committee process.
This time of the legislative session is primarily focused on conference committees, which have the purpose of appealing to both chambers and both caucuses to find a compromise on a piece of legislation. Simply amending the pending legislation may be the goal, but during these conference committees, drastic changes could occur when deciding our laws. I have served on a conference committee that puts into statute requirements on corporations involved in campaign financing. This is in direct response to the recent United States Supreme Court decision allowing corporations to support political campaigns.
Our 2010 Legislative Session is rapidly approaching the end. The Budget continues to be up in the air, and there is conflict between the majority part and the Governor’s Office.
Please keep me informed of any issues and concerns that are important to you. You can reach me at 949-2204. My email is rep.frerichs@state.sd.us. Check out www.jasonfrerichs.com for updates. Follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/jasonfrerichs
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
« Previous Entries