SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Congress needs to move quickly to pass a farm bill, largely to help western South Dakota ranchers recovering from a fall blizzard that killed thousands of cattle, Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson and leaders of the South Dakota Farmers Union and SD Stockgrowers Association said Tuesday.

The early October storm impacted more than 600 farmers and ranchers, some of whom lost more than half their herds, said Doug Mack, a board member of the Stockgrowers Association.