The South Dakota Department of Agriculture is taking public comment until October 19 on their proposal to increase the tonnage fee in the Animal Feed and Remedy Program. South Dakota Association of Cooperatives Executive Director Brenda Forman says that program is an important one that needs to be adequately funded.

She says their Association hesitantly backs the 8 cent per tonnage fee increase to help keep the program going.

Forman says while their backing the increase are also requesting that program needs, target fund balances and performance indicators be established to provide information to assess the need and effectiveness of the program.

Forman says in their comments they also asked why program costs have increased so dramatically since fiscal year 2014. The Animal Feed Remedy Program is intended to protect producers and consumers from contaminated or mislabeled feed. The comments will be reviewed by the State Agriculture Department and the South Dakota Legislature.