The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee unanimously supports a bill authorizing the construction of a precision ag classroom and renovations to Berg Hall at South Dakota State University.
However, the bill was amended to remove a financial appropriation from the legislature.
Scott Vanderwal is a farmer from Volga and serves as president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau. He supports the amended Senate Bill 183. Vanderwal says the project affords South Dakota the chance to be a leader in precision agriculture.
"In my mind, the major and the facilities needed to accomplish this task that can combine agronomy skills, the technical skills, and decision-making expertise into one individual is a genius idea. It will provide training for young men and women from South Dakota and the surrounding states and enable them to serve farmer's needs working for ag service providers everywhere. Precision ag is certainly the future of South Dakota agriculture and in the U.S. Because, efficiency and the responsible use of resources including inputs and the environment are very important. We need this facility to attract top-notch faculty and students into the program," Vanderwal says.
Other proponents included producers from Pierre, Vermillion, and Ideal, along with representatives with Raven Industries, the State Cattleman's Association, and the South Dakota Farmer's Union, among others.
No opponents testified against the measure. ?Before the vote, SDSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development Daniel Scholl answers a question from Senator Jeff Monroe about how much money South Dakota taxpayers will contribute to the project.
"Of course, the answer depends on what the Legislature ends with it, but as SDSU developed the project and launched it out to the broader public, it included a $30.9 million public portion, on a total project cost of $55 million," Scholl says.
The committee sends an amended Senate Bill 183 to the full chamber on an 8-0 vote.