Dakota Rural Action
P.O. Box 549,
Brookings,
SD
57006
Phone 605-697-5204 |
Fax 605-697-6230 |
Email action@dakotarural.org
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Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
In addition to sharing membership in the National Family Farm Coalition, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement joined Dakota Rural Action in 1998 in supporting Amendment E to South Dakota’s state constitution, which would have forbidden non-South Dakotans from investing in that state’s farms. In 2003 a federal circuit court ruled that Amendment E violated the U.S. Constitution’s commerce clause.
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Sierra Club
In 1998, Dakota Rural Action (DRA) spearheaded a disinformation campaign resulting in the passage of "Amendment E" to South Dakota's constitution, which "banned corporate farming" in the state. When the South Dakota Farm Bureau and the South Dakota Sheep Growers petitioned to have their arguments heard, DRA hired the Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund (the Sierra Club's legal arm). Earthjustice filed a motion to silence the Farm Bureau and the Sheep Growers, arguing that they lacked the "standing" to be heard. A judge dismissed the motion, thwarting Earthjustice's attempt to muzzle Amendment E's victims. Amendment E was ruled unconstitutional in 2003 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
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Tides Foundation & Tides Center
By Tides’ standards, its contributions to Dakota Rural Action have been modest (only $60,000 since 1996). But that number could dramatically increase in the near future, as the political battles over the future of Dakota farmland grow more vicious and attract even more out-of-state cash.
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Western Organization of Resource Councils
The Western Organization of Resource Councils is the parent organization of Dakota Rural Action. DRA holds seats on WORC’s board, and regularly receives funding from WORC. In addition, WORC facilitates the sharing of resources among all of its member groups.
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