Friday,  July 13, 2012 • Vol. 12--No. 365 • 17 of 32 •  Other Editions

(Continued from page 16)

• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- The U.S. Agriculture Department says it is guaranteeing a loan of nearly $37 million to Southeastern Electric Cooperative to help it build and improve 467 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements for more than 1,600 customers.
• It's part of $287 million in loan guarantees announced Thursday by USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service.
• Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the guarantees will help ensure that rural areas can retain existing businesses, support new ones and have reliable, up-to-date infrastructure.

• The loan to Marion-based Southeastern includes $2.8 million in smart grid projects.
• Vilsack says the smart grid funding helps utilities make efficiency improvements to the electric grid and helps consumers lower their electric bills by reducing energy use in homes and businesses.
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Noem praises House committee passage of farm bill
CHET BROKAW,Associated Press

• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota's lone member of the U.S. House defended the farm bill approved by the House Agriculture Committee on Thursday, saying it will help South Dakota farmers and ranchers while making sure food stamps go only to people who need the help.
• Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., who serves on the Agriculture Committee, said she would still like to see some changes in provisions that provide a financial safety net for farmers but the bill includes some good things for South Dakota.
• Her opponent in the November election, however, said House committee's version of the bill makes "draconian" cuts to food stamps, provides inadequate support for developing ethanol and other biofuels and favors Southern rice and peanut farmers over South Dakota corn and soybean farmers.
• Democrat Matt Varilek also said Noem voted for a provision that could eventually hamper efforts to have meat carry labels identifying the country in which it originated.
• Noem said the bill includes provisions she has promoted to extend livestock disaster payments, encourage protection of native sod and grassland and streamline the process of fighting the mountain pine beetle infestation that is killing trees in the Black Hills.

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