Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota and Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota have introduced legislative measures aimed at expanding meat and poultry markets and protecting against federal overreach. Two key bills are at the forefront of this initiative.

The first piece of legislation, the New Markets for State Inspected Meat and Poultry Act, seeks to permit meat and poultry products inspected by state programs to be sold across state borders. Currently, these products are restricted to intrastate sales despite state inspections meeting or sometimes surpassing federal standards. This bill has garnered support from several senators, including Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, Angus King of Maine, John Barrasso of Wyoming, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Steve Daines of Montana, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, and Tina Smith of Minnesota.

The second bill, the Natural Resources Conservation Service Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act, focuses on reforming the NRCS within the USDA. It aims to protect farmers, ranchers, and landowners from what is perceived as excessive bureaucratic control, allowing producers more freedom in managing their land. Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota is also a cosponsor of this bill.

Senator Hoeven emphasized the importance of these reforms, stating, "Strengthening rural America starts with empowering the people who feed it. These commonsense reforms support our farmers and ranchers, open up new markets, and cut unnecessary red tape—boosting local economies, creating opportunity, and delivering real benefits for North Dakota and the entire country."