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• "There are some new programs in the farm bill we think will enhance our efforts here. It gives us a few more tools in the toolbox," Bonnie said. "We want to roll this out now as folks are thinking about operations for the next year."
• Lindstrom said he would grade the conservation portion of the farm bill at a B-plus. He said one priority was to reauthorize conservation protections to crop insurance, which was achieved. There's also a new sod-saver provision for North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska that reduces crop insurance incentives to reduce native prairie.
• However, a lot of programs had funding cuts that are estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to add up to $6 billion over 10 years, even though the farm legislation runs for only five years.
• "How do you do more with less money?" Lindstrom asked. "We need to find ways to make these programs economically competitive and attractive to landowners. And the programs that may have worked 10 years ago might not be the programs that work well today."
•

• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- Gov. Dennis Daugaard said Friday he will not oppose the sale of the west end of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad line, a track that runs mostly through South Dakota.
• Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. announced last month that it is selling the line to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. for about $210 million. The sale is subject to U.S. Surface Transportation Board approval, and Daugaard this week sent a letter to the board saying he has reviewed the sale and won't oppose it.
• "I have great hope for G&W's future in South Dakota, and I want to express a warm welcome to them," Dugaard said in the letter.
• The deal includes 660 miles of track between Tracy, Minn., and Rapid City; north of Rapid City to Colony, Wyo.; and south of Rapid City to Dakota Junction, Neb. Also included are connecting branch lines and track in Nebraska from Dakota Junction to Crawford.
• Daugaard earlier said he wanted assurances that Genesee & Wyoming would maintain and operate the line between Pierre and Rapid City, provide a high level of service over the long term and maintain competition in shipping rates and access to markets.
• Genesee & Wyoming officials said the company will continue to provide freight service on all parts of the line it is purchasing. The line ships grain, bentonite clay,

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