News

Starting off a lot like 2012

The 2015 planting season is starting off much differently than normal for eastern South Dakota farmer Keith Alverson.  “It’s warm and its dry,” he says.  “Planting conditions are pretty good because normally we have a lot of spring moisture – when most of South Dakota gets the bulk of its moisture and planting conditions are good because we’re not dealing with wet ground.”

He tells Brownfield this year bears a striking resemblance to 2012.  “We’ve kept our fingers crossed and have hoped that we get back to the norm where there’s a little more rain – especially as warm and dry as it’s been so far,” he says.  “We know we can’t count on those rains later in South Dakota.”

Alverson says the early spring rains help build moisture reserves – allowing for maximum yield potential.