Food & Ag Policy: South Dakota Farmers Union leadership camps in the Black Hills are teaching youth more than fieldwork—students learn ag careers, finance, and how cooperatives work, including hands-on roles like running a credit union cooperative. Livestock & Land Use: American Prairie and conservation groups have appealed a federal decision ending bison grazing leases on Montana BLM parcels, arguing the change could hurt prairie restoration and tribal food sovereignty programs. Water Infrastructure: Sioux Falls has put its upgraded Well 25 back into service, replacing a 1952 well and adding more than 5 million gallons of daily capacity to support growth and peak summer demand. Manufacturing & Jobs: The South Dakota Board of Economic Development approved up to $29.98M in sales-tax rebates for Smithfield’s Sioux Falls relocation, tied to a roughly $1.29B project. Local Government & Utilities: Dupree rejected a state revolving fund loan for its sewer project, citing added costs despite enough grant funding to finish current work. Agriculture Markets: USDA reports the U.S. winter wheat crop is shrinking, with harvest and yields tracking below last year as weather continues to disrupt Plains production. Energy/Environment Regulation: EPA clarified when oil-and-gas producers can flare associated gas after phase-out deadlines, setting conditions tied to methane reductions. Livestock & Research: SDSU research is exploring how swine manure affects crop yields and soil health, aiming to move beyond limited trial data. Weather & Risk: Hit-or-miss thunderstorms and above-normal temperatures are affecting Plains winter wheat and forage, with drought signals mixed across the region.