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• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- Rep. Kristi Noem says the livestock disaster assistance bill passed by the U.S. House is a good first step toward helping South Dakota farmers and ranchers deal with problems caused by the drought.
• But the Republican congresswoman says she will continue trying to persuade House leaders to pass a five-year farm bill because that would be the best way to help livestock producers.
• Noem says she has been working for the past few months to reauthorize the livestock disaster programs that expired last year.
• Noem's opponent in the November election, Democrat Matt Varilek, says Noem

and the Republican-controlled House have created uncertainty for farmers and ranchers by failing to pass a new farm bill.
• Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson says the House should pass the farm bill approved by the Senate.
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• BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) -- Drought conditions have eased somewhat in northeastern South Dakota, but the situation has worsened in some counties in the southeastern part of the state.
• Laura Edwards of the South Dakota State University Extension Service says this week's drought report reflects recent rainfall and improving crop conditions in the northeastern corner of the state. But she says conditions degraded in Minnehaha, Lincoln and Union counties in the southeast.
• According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, about 88 percent of South Dakota is at some level of drought, with the rest of the state rated abnormally dry.
• State Climatologist Dennis Todey (TAH'-dee) says 82 percent of South Dakota's corn-growing region is in some level of drought, while 81 percent of the soybean-growing area is in drought.
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