South Dakota Senator John Thune says USDA is working quickly to get the disaster portion of the farm bill implemented as quickly as possible. He hopes to see livestock disaster payments go out in six to eight weeks.

South Dakota Stock Grower’s Association President Bob Fortune of Belvidere says the most immediate need for ranchers hit by the October blizzard is restocking of herds, so as soon as payments can get out, the better.

Thune says he intends to keep pushing USDA to get the rules written and the payments out.