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information, documentation, etc. so they can get it right on the first try," he said.
• He said it was impossible to understate the importance of restoring the program, and estimated it might improve the recovery time in the area by as much as 10 years.
• "You're talking about ranches that have spent decades and decades building equity in the ranch and building equity in the cow herd," he said. "What happens in a deal like this is that the cattle are lost and they might have spent generations paying off the ranch."
• Vilsack, the agriculture secretary, predicted instead that ranchers could get assistance within a couple of weeks.
•

• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A South Dakota organization that helps raise money for railroad rehabilitation says more than $1 million has been committed locally to help match a federal grant for which the state is applying.
• Rails to the Future says the state is seeking $12.6 million in a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant. The state wants to rehab the state-owned railroad from Chamberlain to Presho.
• The entire project is estimated to cost $29 million. Earlier this month, the South Dakota Railroad Board committed $14 million toward the project.
• The organization says the commitments have been made by farmers, businesses, agriculture organizations and tribal and local governments.
• The state Department of Transportation will officially submit the application next week.
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• RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- Teams from the Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing and Production will showcase their projects Saturday at an Earth Day celebration at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.
• Vehicles on display will include the Supermileage vehicle, which has run 668 miles on a single gallon of fuel; the Alternative Fuel Vehicle, a zero emissions, electric snowmobile for transportation in emissions sensitive testing areas in Greenland; and the Human-Powered Vehicle.
• Students will also be on hand to answer questions, and local organizations and businesses will have booths to sell merchandise, demonstrate their eco-friendliness and talk about ways to positively impact the environment.

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