CONDE, S.D. (WNAX) – South Dakota Senator John Thune has introduced new legislation to help the National Weather Service improve their forecasting ability. State Farmers Union President Doug Sombke says while improving weather accuracy can be helpful for farmers what Congress really needs to do is address climate change.

He says climate change has been quite extreme lately and farmers have been doing their best to adapt to it.

Sombke says Congress needs to recognize and compensate farmers for the beneficial steps they’re taking to deal with the climate.

Sombke says the general public needs to notice what farmers and ranchers and agricultural groups are doing to benefit the environment. He points out specifically efforts by the South Dakota Corn Growers Association as well as the American Coalition for Ethanol.