Drought leads to decreased hay harvest, low water supplies, early livestock sales in Fall River County, South Dakota
8/25/2016 5:44:18 PM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Fall River County, SD
Start Date: 6/15/2016
- End Date: 8/23/2016
My ranch is 3 to 7 miles east of Edgemont north of the Cheyenne River. I average around 175 tons of hay per year. This year I got 15 tons. I usually sell yearlings in mid September, this year I sold on Aug. 19. I haven't had to haul water to supplement my well since 2001 or 2002. This year I hauled water starting late June. I have applied for a temporary pipeline through the Farm Service Agency to supplement the well for my summer pastures. I received 1.29 " of rain in May, .39" in June, 2.64" in July and .77" so far in Aug. Of the 20 rainfall events I recorded, 12 of them were under .25", usually preceded and followed by temperatures well over 90 degrees. The days over 100 degrees are more than I can remember in recent history.
From an agricultural producer in Fall River County, South Dakota, on August 23, 2016
Sources
-
Miller, Jim
.
Drought leads to decreased hay harvest, low water supplies, early livestock sales in Fall River County, South Dakota.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
