Tuesday the South Dakota House voted 52 to 18 to defeat legislation calling for farmers to be paid first when grain companies go out of business. The measure was brought forward due to the Anderson Seed debacle where several producers were left holding the bag and not paid for gain delivered to the company. Bill sponsor, Representative Dennis Feickert of Aberdeen says he didn’t get enough support from commodity and ag groups for his legislation.
Feickert says while the issue may be dead this session, says he’ll try again next year and will bring back a different form of the legislation that gives increased protections to producers.
He says if he can’t get producers paid first in his revised bill when bankruptcies occur, then he’ll try to get them a better bond distribution from the Public Utilities Commission.