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It’s ‘terrible dry’ in central South Dakota

“Terrible dry”.

That’s how David Fremark, who farms in Hand County in central South Dakota, describes conditions in his area.

“We haven’t had a drop of rainfall—maybe fifteen-hundredths in a shower early in March—so that’s about it,” says Fremark. “It’s terrible dry.  Stock water situations are pretty grim.  We’re really looking to the heavens for rain.”

Fremark says they’ll start planting corn later this week, which is about normal timing for that region.  He says they’ll be planting less corn and more grain sorghum this year, a decision he made back in January based on economics.

“Lower input costs and, quite frankly, a price that was 25 to 30 percent higher than that of corn,” he says.

If it remains dry, Fremark says it will simply reinforce his decision to double his grain sorghum acres this spring, from 3,500 to 7,000 acres.  Grain sorghum is generally more tolerant to dry conditions than corn.

AUDIO: David Fremark

Photo courtesy sdcorn.org