While most sectors of our economy were thriving before the coronavirus pandemic hit, farmers and ranchers were struggling. Low prices, extended trade disputes, and natural disasters had meant a tough few years for agriculture producers even before the arrival of the coronavirus. So the pandemic has hit farmers and ranchers particularly hard. Agriculture is the lifeblood of South Dakota, and making sure our agriculture producers have what they need to keep feeding our nation – and the world – is one of my top priorities in Washington.

This past week once again featured heavy thunderstorms. Two were hard rain, high winds, and near constant thunder and lightning. A third brought heavy hail that flattened some of the hearty stems still standing after the last hail storm swept through, reminding me how lucky we are not to be subsistence farmers. These losses are minor heartbreaks, not major tragedies.

As the calendar turns to August, we are getting closer to that time of year when kids go back to school. In South Dakota, our kids will be in classrooms this fall. I met with both parents and superintendents earlier this week to discuss what that will look like, and everyone was on the same page that our children should attend school inperson.

PIERRE, S.D. – At the request of the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, Gov. Kristi Noem has proclaimed Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, as “Purple Heart Recognition Day,” calling on all South Dakotans to honor those men and women who are recipients of the Purple Heart Medal.

We are in an interesting season of parenting. With our two kids growing more independent and self-reliant by the hour, some aspects of kidwrangling are now a breeze. Getting them into car seats, for example, was once an exertion in patience under pressure, especially when it took place in a busy parking lot. Now, they hop in their seats, buckle the top buckles, and wait for me to click the bottom buckles into place. The ease of it amazes me daily.

Since my time in Congress, I’ve had a good relationship with President Trump and his administration. We worked on tax reform together, he helped bring back fireworks to Mount Rushmore earlier this month, and he and his team have been instrumental in helping us secure the supplies we have needed to battle COVID-19.

My husband and I agree on many things. We share a lot of the same opinions and have even been known to finish each other’s sentence or have the same thought at the same time.

It’s high summer, and as is often the case this time of year, we are experiencing an abundance that exceeds our capacity to deal with it. Yes, the garden is producing beautifully, the calves and lambs are growing strong on their mother’s sweet milk and the good green grass, but that’s not what I am referring to. Year after year, without even trying, our ranch churns out litters of kittens that threaten to overwhelm the barn.

The Lyman County Historical Society Museum is now open for the summer season! Museum hours: Monday thru Friday, 8 am to 1 pm and Sunday and Monday evening 5 to 8 pm. After hours contact information is posted on the front door.

It can be a concern for people to see large numbers of grasshoppers migrating into their yards or fields. Grasshoppers are sporadic pests, which can occasionally occur in very large numbers. They have voracious appetites and in large numbers can feed on almost any plant. They are also difficult to control due to their migratory nature.