AGP Executive Report
Last update: an hour agoWater & Research: Arizona State University water scientist Jay Famiglietti won the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water at the UN in Vienna for turning NASA satellite data into practical tools to track groundwater depletion and freshwater loss. Ag & Food Processing: Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA) awarded $2.9M in Dairy Business Builder grants to 28 Midwestern dairy firms, including farmstead operators, to expand value-added products and by-product use. South Dakota Agriculture Events: SDSU Extension is hosting free spring wheat variety tours June 29 at two South Dakota field sites, with agronomy specialists discussing drought tolerance, disease resistance, and yield performance. Local Infrastructure: Sioux Falls is rolling out new green infrastructure projects using native plants and engineered soil to cut flooding and improve water quality. Power & Jobs: A PowerOn Midwest transmission economic impact report projects major construction jobs, payroll, and long-term property tax revenue tied to a new 765-kV line anchored in eastern South Dakota. Mining & Energy: Wharf Mine in the Black Hills produced fewer ounces of gold in 2025, but higher prices lifted revenue; the operation also paid about $17M in severance taxes. Utilities: A scheduled hearing on the Black Hills Corp.–NorthWestern Energy merger was canceled, with regulators set to weigh settlements instead. Food Safety: Power Plate Meals recalled nearly 6,000 pounds of frozen meatloaf in SD, ND, and MN due to misbranding and an undeclared soy allergen. Policy Watch (National): A 17-state coalition led by Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers sued to block California’s plastics packaging producer-responsibility law, with South Dakota included. Community & Business: Mitchell tax increment financing rules are changing to add independent fiscal feasibility review before TIF approvals.
Note: AI summary from news headlines; neutral sources weighted more to help reduce bias in the result. Feedback is welcome. Please let us know if you have any comments or suggestions about the AGP Executive Report.