South Dakota, Trumpistan sinking fast

Creighton University's Ernie Goss has been warning that the Trump Organization is bad for American agriculture and follows the economies of several breadbasket states including South Dakota's — one of the slowest growing in the US. 

Almost 57% of rural banksters are freaking out because the Rural Mainstreet Index fell to 45.7 in May from 47.9 in April and three quarters of them recommend no change to Federal Reserve interest rates. Farm equipment sales dropped to 18.2 marking the 33rd straight month below growth neutral or 50.0.

The May RMI for South Dakota declined to 45.7 from 47.9 in April. The state’s farm and ranchland price index climbed to 52.3 from April’s 48.0. South Dakota’s new hiring index for May sank to 44.8 from 48.0 in April. According to trade data from the [International Trade Association], South Dakota exports of agriculture goods and livestock for the quarter of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, fell by 55.1% to $25.6 million. [Creighton]