Membership
Become an SDABA Member!
SDABA is Your Association - a single voice for all agri-business in South Dakota
Why Join SDABA
Your Association, Your Voice
Want to improve your business? Take advantage of all of the benefits your membership in SDABA provides. Your membership enables SDABA to leverage the collective strength of our industry and to share ideas and resources that benefit you. SDABA meets your business needs.
Shaping Public Policy
Supporting or blocking legislation or policy that can affect your business can be of vital importance to your company's future. Your membership ensures your voice is heard ... loudly. The issues that concern you and your business are affecting others in your industry. SDABA gives you the voice of the entire industry behind you.
- SDABA Political Action Committee: This non-profit entity contributes to members of the South Dakota Legislature who stand with us on agri-business issues. Funding comes from sales of raffle tickets during the Ag Expo. And to make things easier, as of July 1, 2011, contributions can be made by companies to political action committees (SDCL 12-27-1), whereas before contributions could only be made by individuals.
- Liaison with Government Agencies: The SDABA staff works directly with state and federal government agencies to represent you on issues of policy, procedure and practice.
- State Representation: SDABA is a watchdog for the fertilizer and agrichemical industry in South Dakota. SDABA monitors government action having any influence on taxes, regulations, fees, and many other items which affect your business. Through lobbying efforts your voice is heard at our state capital.
- National Representation: SDABA is affiliated with the Ag Retailers Association (ARA), CropLife Association (CLA), The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). Through these associations we have yet another voice for our members at the nation's Capital.
Information and Support
We sift through the mountains of regulatory and industry information and give you what you need to operate your business.
- Newsletters and Alerts: The SDABA provides members with news that is pertinent and specific to our industry. This is done through newsletters, alerts, and updates as you need them throughout the year.
- Web Site: Our web site has a library of current information that you can access at any time. In addition, the members-only website has a library with all past and current information and newsletters, as well as information exclusive to members.
- Regulatory Compliance: If you find that government regulations are demanding more and more of your time, the Asmark Institute can help. Through a partnership with the SDABA, Asmark Institute offers members of the SDABA a program that will simplify your regulatory compliance process.
- Posters and Videos: Restricted Use Pesticides, Agrichemical Shipments, Worker Protection Standard, and Refillable Container posters, as well as anhydrous ammonia training videos are available for no cost to members of SDABA.
Contacts and Networking
SDABA can help you make the connections you need to achieve operational goals. Tap into the expertise of your counterparts from similar businesses. Share your successes; glean wisdom from each others' experiences; and put your heads together to solve problems that challenge you and the industry.
- Ag Expo: A two-day annual convention and trade show in January that includes seminars, social events and the largest agri-business trade show in South Dakota.
- Membership Directory: SDABA provides members with both a printed directory as well as an on-line directory of its members available to you 24/7.
Education and Professional Development
- Agronomy: SDABA offers the annual Agronomy Conference for you to learn the latest trends and technologies in crop management and production, and sponsors the IPM Field School which is hands-on in-field training.
- Certified Crop Consultant (CCA) Program-shaping the future of the profession: SDABA is your point of contact for the South Dakota CCA program, and offers two opportunities to earn CCA credits throughout the year (Agronomy Conference and IPM Field School).
Stewardship and Advocacy
The best reason to be part of the SDABA is that your participation ensures a stronger industry for future generations.
- Tomorrow's Ag Leaders (TAL): This is a leadership development program designed to improve leadership and advocacy skills of South Dakota men and women working in agri-business.
- The CropLife Ambassador Network: This free program brings agriculture professionals to 4th - 6th grade classrooms. The speakers share about the methods of modern American farming throughout the Midwest states.
- 4 R Nutrient Stewardship Initiative: Partnering with the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts and the South Dakota Association of Cooperatives, the SDABA uses this program to educate crop producers in the Big Sioux, Vermillion and James River watersheds about the 4R's of Nutrient Management - Right Source, Right Time, Right Place and Right Rate.
Membership Levels
Your Membership Level is based on what type of business you are engaged in:
Industry
$500/YR
If you are producers, manufacturers or processors of fertilizer, pesticides, seed, grains or feed; suppliers; wholesalers; brokers; warehousers; and equipment manufacturers, you qualify for an Industry membership. Voting Member.
Note: If your company has an Industry membership already, then you qualify for an Associate membership.
Associate
$200/YR
If you are an individual, firm, or corporation associated with, but not primarily engaged in producing, processing, brokering, supplying, warehousing, wholesaling, or manufacturing of fertilizer, pesticides, seed, grains or feed, or equipment you qualify for an Associate membership. Non-voting member.
Ag Retail
$400/YR
If you are a retail firm or corporation engaged in the actual sales of fertilizer, pesticides, and seed, you qualify for an Ag Retail membership. Voting Member.
Note: If your company has an Ag Retail membership already, then you qualify for a Branch membership.
Ag Retail Branch
$200/YR
If you are a retail dealer outlet located apart from the headquarters of an Ag Retail member, you qualify for a Branch membership. Your headquarters must hold a membership. Non-voting Member.
Elevator
$400/YR
If you are a retail firm or corporation engaged primarily engaged in buying, selling, brokering, warehousing or processing grains, feeds, seeds or related products, you qualify for an Elevator membership. Voting Member.
Note: If your company has an Elevator membership already, then you qualify for a Branch membership.
Elevator Branch
$200/YR
If you are an elevator located apart from the headquarters of an Elevator member, you qualify for a Branch membership. Your headquarters must hold a membership. Non-voting Member.