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Stockgrowers meeting focuses on brand inspection contractSouth Dakota The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association hosted an Area Meeting immediately following the S.D. Brand Board meeting in Faith at Faith Livestock Commission Company on Aug. 30. About 25 ranchers from the Northwest part of the state stayed after the Brand Board meeting to discuss with the Stockgrowers the future of the brand inspection program, said SDSGA Vice President Larry Nelson, Buffalo. Nelson said the ranchers in the crowd favored the continuation of a brand inspection program managed by the Stockgrowers. "Everyone in the meeting agreed that a 10 cent per head increase is warranted with the documented drop in cattle numbers combined with rising expenses like fuel and insurance," Nelson said. "I hope the Brand Board heeds the comments of those ranchers and implements the fee increase to help offset some of the predicted losses for this fiscal year." Nelson says that even if the fee increase is implemented this fall, the Stockgrowers don't expect that the brand inspection program will take in enough in inspection fees to cover their fixed expenses, but without the increase, they expect the brand inspection program to lose over $80,000. "Hopefully the Brand Board agrees that the Stockgrowers shouldn't be expected to subsidize the brand inspection program to that extent," he said. Many of the approximately 35 to 40 ranchers who attended the state Brand Board meeting earlier in the day spoke during the public comment period. "A strong majority of those folks support a fee increase," said SDSGA District 1 Director, Linda Gilbert, Buffalo. "Legislators Eric Bogue, Ted Klaudt and Betty Olson were all in attendance and none of them mentioned any opposition to the increase. They seemed to acknowledge that it's just a sign of the times, with the rising fuel prices and lower numbers of cattle. Jack Billion, candidate for governor, who also attended, said he was there to listen and learn about brand inspection and the Brand Board." Linda Gilbert says that ranchers north of Interstate 90 and west of the Missouri River are under-represented on the Brand Board. "Given the fact that the Northwestern part of South Dakota does not have a seat on the Brand Board, I hope the Brand Board members take special note of the comments they received in Faith from some of the area's most prominent cattle men and women." Gilbert said she hopes ranchers from across the brand inspection area will travel to Pierre for the upcoming Sept. 27 meeting of the S.D. Brand Board where an official public hearing regarding the fee increase will be held. Written comments may also be submitted to the Brand Board prior to Sept. 27, via e-mail or regular mail. Nelson and Gilbert both thanked Scott and Gary Vance, owners of Faith Livestock Commission Company for hosting the meetings. Date: 9/22/06
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