South Dakota Certified Beef
Certified Beef to Debut Soon

Aberdeen American News- May 17, 2005
By Russ Keen, American News Writer

The certified beef program approved by the South Dakota Legislature this year is a great idea, said some beef producers selling cattle in Aberdeen on Monday.

"It's the coming thing," said Jerome Schaefers of Miller. "We'd be foolish not to."

But a good idea is worthless unless it becomes reality, several added. "I hope it's not just political propaganda, and that something actually happens," said cattle rancher Steve Swanson of Clark.

And something is, said Mark Johnston, press secretary for Gov. Mike Rounds. An update on the program, which Rounds promoted to the Legislature, is scheduled to be released later this week, Johnston said Monday. He's cautiously optimistic that SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef will be available to consumers in a month to six weeks.

Rancher Swanson said even with his doubts he's optimistic, and is gearing up to participate in the program designed to guarantee consumers they're buying beef raised in the state. A state seal of approval is to be put on beef products that qualify and that come from cattle raised from birth to slaughter in South Dakota.

Producers must follow state standards and keep records required by the state. They must enroll in the program and pay state licensing fees. The money will be used to finance the project and promote SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef.

"It will help get the Japanese business back," cattleman Dave Boomsma of Hitchcock said Monday at Aberdeen Livestock Sales Co. The certified beef is expected to cost more than non-certified beef. Japan, as well as other foreign and domestic niche markets, are willing to pay more for top quality beef.

How fast the program grows hinges on how fast a beef processing plant goes up in Huron, some producers said Monday at Aberdeen Livestock Sales. Huron-based Ridgefield Farms South Dakota announced last year its $42 million plant was scheduled to open Nov. 1 this year. Ridgefield will sell the state's certified beef, along with other in-state processors.

Ridgefield began earth work in the fall and was to start construction in March. But Ridgefield representatives told the Huron City Council this spring that construction is delayed because of a dispute involving cost overruns with the general contractor, Suitt Construction Co. of Greenville, N.C.

Ridgefield said it now plans to open in 2006, Huron City Commissioner Ron Volesky said Monday. He's calling for an independent audit of Ridgefield's books. "I am not alleging anything or pointing a finger at anyone," he said. But Huron taxpayers are paying for the water and sewer infrastructure for Ridgefield, and have a right to know what's going on, Volesky said.

Ridgefield did not return phone calls on Monday. Also earlier this year, five of 14 on the Ridgefield board of directors resigned, saying in a joint news release that the information they needed from Ridgefield to do their jobs was often untimely and sometimes inaccurate. But all five continued as investors in Ridgefield.

Ridgefield's equity drive last year drew about 300 individual investors who committed at least $15,000 each and corporate investors. A total of almost $20 million was raised.

Despite the Huron troubles, Steve Hellwig, an owner of Hub City Livestock in Aberdeen, said chances are good that SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef will succeed.

"It's stumbling a little bit now," Hellwig said, "but the program as a whole is a tremendous idea. "South Dakota raises some of the highest quality cattle anywhere in the world. And we raise grains as good as anywhere in the world."