North Dakota producers urged to check water quality before livestock turnout
5/9/2018 4:03:32 PM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
North Dakota
Start Date: 5/4/2018
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Many ponds and dugouts in North Dakota went dry during the drought, and those that still contain water may have poor quality water, according to Miranda Meehan, NDSU Extension's livestock environmental stewardship specialist.
"Runoff from snowmelt and spring rains may not be enough to replenish depleted ponds and dugouts, and water quality in ponds and dugouts still may be compromised by concentrated levels of salts, minerals and bacteria," she said.
Livestock producers were urged to have their water tested before livestock turnout, particularly if water sources had elevated total dissolved solids in 2017, stated Janna Kincheloe, Extension livestock systems specialist at NDSU's Hettinger Research Extension Center.
Bismarck Tribune (N.D.), May 4, 2018
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