Spearfish Seminar

June 14-16, 2001

Session 6

NATURAL RESOURCES/THE ENVIRONMENT

Bonnie Halverson

Day 1

            SDARL Class 1 convened for Session 6 in scenic Spearfish, SD at Black Hills State University.  Our meeting site was the impressive Young Center which is a joint venture of the community and university.  Dan Gee welcomed us and reviewed the agenda for the seminar.  Changes in future sessions were discussed.  There will not be a meeting in October and an extra day will be added to the December meeting in Rapid City.  Doug Hoff served as the General Seminar Manager and did an excellent job.  

                The first seminar session was presented by the cerebral Dr. Patrick R. Zimmerman from the SD School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, SD.  The topics covered were global warming, Carbon Sequestration and Carbon Trading presented with a power point presentation.  The C-Lock Progress Report was reviewed and explained.  Dr. Zimmerman did an excellent job in presenting technical scientific data in a format that was understandable and very interesting.  He described how it will impact scientific data in a format that was understandable and very interesting.  He described how it will impact the class participants as agriculture producers.  The website for the C-Lock Project that will allow producers to sign-up, enter their data, and gain more information on the project, should be up and operable by mid-July 2001.  The presentation was followed with a very good question and an answer session.    

                 At 4:00 p.m. buses picked up the class and their families for a trip to the Belle Fourche Irrigation Project.  Although the weather was not very cooperative the buses were able to get very close to the dam and view the project.  Gary Welden, Bureau of Reclamation, gave an historical overview of the irrigation project.  A brochure on the project was handed out.  Next was a stop in Newell, SD to tour the museum.  The collections were extensive and required more time and space to fully appreciate. It was an excellent museum for a small community.

                 Dinner was held at the Tom Brunner farm.  It was hosted by Tom, Brad Brunner, Wanda Blair, Gary Cammack and Doug Hoff.  A delicious steak barbecue was enjoyed by all, the musical entertainment was provided by Tom’s family. 

Day 2

                Although it’s been many years since most of us have experienced college living in the dorms and the dining hall experience, it came back to us right away.  The surroundings were comfortable, if perhaps austere and the meals were quite adequate.  Perhaps we’ll all have a little more compassion for those college freshmen this year.

                The class boarded the buses at 7:30 a.m. for the trip to the Pope & Talbot Inc. plant, which is the largest producer of lumber in South Dakota.  The presentation began with an ll minute film showing the tree harvesting procedures and equipment used in the logging operations.  Tom Troxell, Director of Black Hills Forest Resource Association addressed the group, followed by Jim Rarick, Resident Manager, Pope & Talbot, Inc. and the President of Black Hills Forest Resource Association.  He discussed the politics involved in foresting and the multiple use coalition.  The group then toured the sawmill.  A planned trip up into the forest to see the logging was canceled due to the recent rain.  

                Pope & Talbot is the largest producer of lumber in South Dakota.  Located in Spearfish, the plant employs 260 people with an annual payroll of over $12 million.  In addition, the mill contracts with 155 loggers who harvest and deliver the timber to the mill site.  The combined wages and earnings of these 415 people constitute a large economic impact in the Black Hills.  The mill produces 1” thick lumber up to 12” wide and 2” thick lumber up to 10” wide, as well as 5/4 shop.  From these products pattern lumber can be made along with 5/4 x 6” decking.  By-products (sawdust, shavings, and wood chips) are used to make particle board at the Merillat facilty in Rapid City and paper at the Stora Enso facility in Wisconsin.  Heartland Wood Pellets are also produced by these by-products.  These wood pellets, for use in wood pellet stoves, are produced in Spearfish by Pope & Talbot.  

                 The timber harvested by Pope & Talbot comes primarily from the Black Hills.  The Black Hills National Forest has become a nationally recognized forest for its multiple-use sustained yield management.  Annually, harvesting of timber occurs on only 2½% of the 1,246,000 acres that make up the Black Hills National Forest.  This harvesting controls bug infestation, forest fires, and timber overcrowding that hampers water development.  At the same time the timber industry works under contract with the Forest Service to provide road maintenance for access to snowmobile trails, cross country skiing, and diverse wildlife habitat for the various wildlife that abound in the Hills.  Finally, the Black Hills National Forest is a profitable forest.  Annually, after the Forest Service expenses for monitoring their timber program, revenues still exceed costs by millions of dollars.  In 2000 over $3.6 million was divided by seven Black Hills counties within the Black Hills National Forest.  Lawrence County received $781,000 as its share, with Pennington County receiving the highest share - $1,128,000.  Forest Service reports from the last ten years show over $35.2 million was generated from timber sale receipts for schools and roads.

                 Pope & Talbot feels the timber industry is a two-way winner for South Dakota.  The Black Hills National Forest has more trees today than at any time in its history.  The forest is healthy, diverse, and beautiful.  At the same time the Black Hills provides a source of tremendous economic opportunity for the people of western South Dakota, both in the timber products and recreational industries.  The state, counties, and towns all benefit from wise multiple-use sustained yield management of the Black Hills National Forest.

                 Pope & Talbot is proud to be a member of the American Forest and Pulp Associations (AF&PA) Sustainable Forestry Initiative Program (SFI).  This program certifies Pope & Talbot’s commitment to sustainable forests and environmentally conscious harvesting techniques.  

                 Diane Miller, Project Learning Tree, boarded the bus to share her information on the ag based program that is used in the classroom.  It is a privately funded project based on environmental issues.   Charles Nicholas, local rancher, also boarded the bus as we toured his land viewing his tree planting and conservation practices.  We had lunch in the Spearfish City Park and took a quick tour through the fishery.

                 Early afternoon the bus headed south through the scenic Black Hills to Lead, SD to tour the Wharf Mine.  Jim Lessard, Wharf Resources, and Kim Schultz, Environmental Director, joined the bus as we went down into the bottom of the mine.  The mining procedures were discussed and explained.  A good discussion followed.  Ms. Schultz described the reclamation procedures that Wharf is using and the regulations involved.  The parent company of Wharf Mine is Goldcorp and more information can be found at the website goldcorp.com.

                 A reclamation project at the Richmond Hill mine was next on the agenda.  Todd Duex of Duex Environmental Services was the tour guide.  Acid rock drainage occurred when pyrite combined with air and water creating a hazardous reclamation site.  The mine has been completely reclaimed and will be maintained and monitored indefinitely.

                 The evening seminar was held in the Young Center and was presented by Harvey Krautshun, Financial Planner, Spearfish.  He presented a broad overview of the importance of financial planning for farm families.  Key issues were:            

·         Income – Financial Needs

·         Taxes

·         Succession/transition Documents

·         Family Equity

 A good reminder to all farm families of the importance of solid financial planning.

Day 3  

The Class gathered in Sturgis at Sturgis Meats at 9:30 a.m.  The plant manager gave a tour of the processing rooms and coolers and discussed the planned expansion.  We also toured the previous cheese plant that is now owned by Sturgis Meats and will be a major part of their expansion.  Phil Cyre discussed the philosophy and plans of Sturgis meats and answered questions.

            We convened to the conference room to discuss the 3-day seminar and wrap it up.  Positive input was given on all seminar activities.  We had an excellent meeting viewing the diverse segments of South Dakota industry.  We took away many things to think about and share with others in our communities, among them are the generosity and the good-hearted nature of our fellow South Dakotans on the scenic western side of the state.

Date last modified:  February 28, 2005