Sen. Thune pleased with farm bill passage

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SIOUX FALLS (AP) — Sen. John Thune says he's pleased with the U.S. Senate's passage of the farm bill, which includes a high level of reform while maintaining programs important to South Dakota such as crop insurance.

The Senate on Thursday completed a five-year, half-trillion-dollar farm bill that cuts farm subsidies and land conservation spending by about $2 billion a year but largely protects sugar growers. The vote was 65 to 34.

The measure now goes to the Republican-led House, where conservatives are certain to resist its costs.

The current agricultural program ends in September.

Thune says senators have spent three days processing 73 amendments on the floor. He says it's nice to get the bill to the finish line and have it still in reasonably good shape.

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