News

South Dakota producers ready for moisture

The winter storm happening in South Dakota this week could alleviate drought conditions. Rancher Todd Wilkinson says moisture is needed to replenish water supplies.

“When your dugout goes dry, it doesn’t really matter how good the grass is. If you don’t have water, it just doesn’t work,” says Wilkinson. “We’ve had five go dry since July and have only had 34 hundredths of rain in the last three months, very atypical.”

Wilkinson tells Brownfield ranchers have the hay and feed supplies necessary to feed cattle this winter. And if the drought continues, additional culling could happen in the spring.

“When the cattle markets are good, there’s a lot of optimism out there. I’m just amazed as I go across the country the sense of optmism and people looking forward to the next few years. If we can get Mother Nature to go along with it, I think we’re in for a good run.”

Wilkinson is attending the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association’s annual meeting in Pierre, South Dakota this week.