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statement this week. "With the resources we're providing, university experts will help ensure farmers and ranchers are highly educated as they make critical decisions about new programs that impact their livelihoods. The new tools that will be developed will empower farmers and ranchers to select the plan that best fits their unique needs."
• The money will fund outreach meetings where producers can talk with extension agents and staff with the Farm Service Agency, which oversees federal farm programs, to get a better understanding of the new programs and their options. The meetings are to begin late this summer.
• About $44,000 is going to the extension service at North Dakota State University in Fargo and about $46,000 is going to the service at South Dakota State in Brookings.
• NDSU Extension Service Director Chris Boerboom said planning for the workshops is still in the early stages, "but our specialists are busy working on resources for producers."
• South Dakota State has contacted other universities in the region as well as the state Farmers Union about possibly collaborating, said Alvaro Garcia, director of the school's Agriculture and Natural Resources Program.
• "Independent of collaborative joint efforts, SDSU Extension will host face-to-face and or remote conferences through the Digital Dakota Network or DDN in each of its eighth regional centers," Garcia said.
• USDA also is providing $3 million for officials at the University of Illinois, the University of Missouri and Texas A&M to develop online tools for producers and train experts to educate farmers.
• Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., applauded the effort.
• "Many farm bill experts in North Dakota have studied these programs for years but have questions and concerns about the way in which new programs are being implemented," Cramer said.
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• LANGFORD, S.D. (AP) -- The National Weather Service says a tornado that caused damage in northeastern South Dakota's Marshall County was a relatively weak twister.
• The tornado that touched down Wednesday evening about 9 miles northeast of Langford has been rated an EF-1, the second-weakest on the enhanced Fujita scale. Officials say it carved a path about 50 yards wide and had peak winds of about 90 mph.

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