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Darsha Dodge| Rapid City Journal

South Dakota's lone congressman has been named the "most effective House Republican" on agriculture for the 117th Congress, according to the Center for Effective Lawmaking.

It's Dusty Johnson's second time in a row receiving the honor.CEL also ranked him 14th out of his 222 House Republican colleagues.

Agriculture is the top industry in South Dakota. My focused efforts to represent our producers well have delivered results to the industry, Johnson said. Im proud to be named the top House Republican in Agriculture policy and will continue to work hard for South Dakota.

During the 117th Congress, Johnson was the Republican lead on many bills passed, including theOcean Shipping Reform ActandStrengthening the Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Act.

Other bills were implemented administratively by the agencies they affected, an often faster process than waiting for Congressional passage. TheFEEDD Actexpands relief under the federal crop insurance program, while theCattle Contract Library Actincreases transparency for producers by allowing them to view price components from different packers.

Johnsonsecured his third term in a landslide victoryover Libertarian Collin Duprel in November. Now months into the 118th Congress, Johnson continues to prioritize his agriculture work in the legislature. It's his third term serving on the agriculture committee, a vital seat on the national stage to represent South Dakota's number-one industry, especially in a year where Congress has to renegotiate the Farm Bill.

Since the session began on Jan. 3, Johnson has re-introduced two cattle-focused bills aimed at helping the ag industry theButcher Block Actand theA-PLUS Act. TheButcher Block Actassists new or expanded livestock or meat processors, allows for financing of cooperative stock and establishes a rural development grant program.The U.S. Department of Agriculture implemented a pilot program mirroring that legislation in July 2021.

He's been outspoken about Chinese Communist Party influence, noting repeatedly that "food security is national security." Johnson is one of 24 lawmakers appointed to the Select Committee on China; he questioned CCP involvement in America's agriculture and farmland productionduring the first hearing on Feb. 28.

Johnson recently visited Wall, wherehe and USDA Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small toured Wall Meat Processing. Co-owner Ken Charfauros said the demand for locally sourced meat has exceeded the capacity of their 2,400-square-foot processing plant. Charfauros and the Wall Meat Processing team have expanded with their subsidiary, I-90 Meats, to create a 30,000-square-foot plant in New Underwood.

I-90 Meats received a $3.3 million federal grant to assist in the plant's creation, a direct impact from Johnson's legislation.

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Dusty Johnson gets second nod as 'most effective House ... - Argus Leader