Grazing, garden plants, bees affected by drought in Mellette County, South Dakota
9/1/2017 5:33:02 PM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Mellette County, SD
Cedar Butte, SD
Start Date: 6/1/2017
- End Date: 8/29/2017
We planted 60 acres of cane for grazing cattle on July 3, 2017. Since that time, it has emerged very sporadically. The tallest plants are 3" in height. Last week we received .05" of rain, which sparked more seeds to emerge, and they are about 1/2" - 1" tall. Now, we are concerned that there will be a toxic nitrate issue if we turn cattle into this pasture soon. We have not received more than .18" of rain at any one time since the first of June. We have received less rain during June, July and August than during any year since 2006. We are again experiencing temperatures between 94 and 98 degrees this week. We have been watering our small garden every other day. The tomato plants were loaded with blooms earlier, but there are no fruits now. We were told it is because of the extreme heat during the days of pollination. Beekeepers bring bees to our land every year, keeping them here through September. They have now removed all of their bees and hives (over two weeks ago) due to the water shortage and lack of plants.
From Mellette County, South Dakota, on August 29, 2017
Sources
-
Grazing, garden plants, bees affected by drought in Mellette County, South Dakota.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
