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2007.
• The service portrays the average South Dakota farmer as 56 years old.
• The census is issued every five years. It's used in evaluating and implementing agriculture policies and programs.
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• OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- An economist says a survey of bankers in 10 Midwest and Plains states suggests the regional economy is losing steam.
• The Rural Mainstreet Index dropped below growth neutral in the February survey, hitting 48.4, compared with 50.8 in January and 56.1 in December.
• The survey indexes range from 0 to 100, with 50 representing growth neutral. A score above 50 suggests growth in that factor in the months ahead.
• Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the overall index's decline shows that "areas of the nation highly dependent on agriculture and energy are losing economic steam."
• Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.
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• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A retiring South Dakota legislator has lost an eight-year fight for a measure to remove the sales tax on food.
• The House Taxation Committee voted 9-4 to kill the bill.
• Democratic Rep. Marc Feinstein of Sioux Falls says he's worked to remove the sales tax on food during all four of his terms.
• Supporters of the version defeated Thursday say it would have been revenue neutral by raising a different tax. They say the measure is necessary to help the poor afford food. Feinstein tears up when discussing the families he says need lower taxes on groceries.
• Opponents of the bill say there was no way to ensure that the bill would be revenue neutral.
• Feinstein says he's disappointed but hopes the tax will be removed in the future.
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