District II Farmers Union to host Carbon Credit Incentive Program meeting at Annual Meeting

HURON—The District II South Dakota Farmers Union will launch a new program offering farmers and ranchers an additional income option at Madison during their annual meeting on September 16, 2006 which will be held at Nicky's in Madison.

The resolutions committee will be meeting at 10:00 am with the meeting called to order at 10:30 am. The Carbon Credit Program portion of the agenda will begin at 1 p.m. State officials will do a presentation on the program that gives cash for carbons and will be available to answer questions.

The Carbon Credit Program was developed in conjunction with the North Dakota Farmers Union and would pay farmers and ranchers for continuing or beginning certain soil conservation practices including no-till crop production and long-term grass seeding.

“This is an opportunity to take advantage of farming practices that farmers may already be doing,” Farmers Union President Doug Sombke said. “I strongly urge every producer and land owner to take a look at the program. It’s an opportunity to receive added income and every farmer needs that.”

South Dakota counties currently eligible for the Carbon Credit Program include: Bon Homme, Brookings, Clark, Clay, Codington, Day, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Hanson, Hutchinson, Kingsbury, Lake, Lincoln, Marshall, McCook, Minnehaha, Moody, Roberts, Turner, Union and Yankton.

The meeting will conclude at 2 p.m. with election of district officers being the last item on the agenda. For more information contact the South Dakota Farmers Union at 1-888-734-8136 ext. 120.