01/30/2026
There’s been a lot of confusion about HB 1064, and it’s important that South Dakotans understand what this bill does and what it does not do.
Supporters have described it as pro‑agriculture, suggesting it would open the door for consumers to buy individual cuts of producer‑raised meat and keep more dollars with local ranchers. The reality is that South Dakotans can already do that.
Livestock producers: be aware.
If this bill passes, it does not fully become law. HB 1064 is a trigger bill, meaning nothing changes in South Dakota unless federal law changes first. Unless Congress or a federal court overturns long‑standing federal food‑safety requirements, producers still cannot sell individual cuts of uninspected meat, and consumers still cannot buy individual cuts of uninspected meat. While the bill is being promoted as expanding choice, it does not create any new options today.
Local beef is already available.
South Dakotans already have access to local beef in the exact ways supporters of the bill describe. Consumers can buy individual cuts, small quantities, or bundles directly from local producers through state and federally inspected processors. These inspected facilities, many of them small, family‑run businesses, make it possible for ranchers to sell these cuts legally, safely, and with full consumer confidence. And for those who prefer the traditional route, custom exempt plants already allow families to purchase a quarter, half, or whole beef directly from a producer for personal consumption.
Some have suggested that HB 1064 would keep money out of the hands of the major packers. While local beef is a valuable and growing market for producers, it’s important to remember that grocery‑store beef is safe and also comes from operations across South Dakota. To preserve rural America, we must recognize that cattlemen and women rely on consumers across the country and around the world to eat our beef. Many local ranchers who sell their beef locally also funnel their cattle into the supply chain that puts South Dakota beef on grocery store shelves.
Stimulating local business.
Cattle producers selling local beef today rely on South Dakota’s inspected processors. These processors have invested heavily in food safety, compliance, and community service. If the law is changed creating a pathway for uninspected cuts, it undermines small processors who make local beef sales possible in the first place.
South Dakota producers are feeding their neighbors safely and legally NOW. Strengthening the systems that work today is far more meaningful than passing a bill that doesn’t change anything on the ground.
