Bart Pfankuch

Bart Pfankuch

Title: content director; expertise: agriculture, state government, education, rural issues, Indigenous people, poverty; language spoken: English; contact: 605-937-9398 / bart.pfankuch@sdnewswatch.org

A year after Serenity disappeared, broken hearts unable to heal

The passage of nearly a year since Serenity Dennard went missing has done little to soothe the hurt felt by those who love and miss her greatly. In fact, the idea that Serenity has been gone for a year and yet nothing certain is known about her whereabouts is haunting

Surprise inspections part of oversight reforms for SD youth homes

For the first time in South Dakota, unannounced surprise inspections would be conducted at private youth treatment centers as part of a sweeping oversight reform package being pushed by Gov. Kristi Noem. Noem has proposed a major overhaul to how South Dakota oversees, inspects and updates the public about conditions

A look inside a CAFO: SD farmers share stories of a life in livestock

MILLER, S.D. – The expansion of concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, in South Dakota is without a doubt one of the most controversial topics in agriculture. CAFOs are large livestock farms that generally house 1,000 or more animals in a confined, indoor space at any one time. Supporters

State financial incentive program for CAFOs criticized as ‘bribery’

The state of South Dakota entered the fray over siting of new large livestock operations in the state when it created an economic development initiative in early 2019 that can provide large payments to counties that approve new concentrated animal-feeding operations. The program, which has not yet distributed any funds,

Human health, environmental and antibiotic concerns follow CAFO development

A growing body of research into the rising number of concentrated animal feeding operations across the United States reveals deepening concerns over impacts on human health and the environment. The high concentration of manure and other wastes created by animals housed in confined areas — and the storage and spreading of

Expansion of large CAFO livestock farms causing division and concern across South Dakota

Expansion of large CAFO livestock farms causing division and concern across South Dakota

Editor’s note: This is the first of a four-part series on expansion of CAFOs in South Dakota. The livestock industry in South Dakota — among the state’s largest economic engines — is undergoing a fundamental transformation that may alter farms, farmers and rural communities for generations to come. Despite a

What it takes to produce a South Dakota News Watch story

South Dakota News Watch Content Director Bart Pfankuch discusses some of the challenges of producing in-depth articles about significant statewide topics.