Search
Ranching and Prairie Streams: Why Riparian Areas Matter
For many producers, riparian pastures are essential to their operations. However, land managers need to balance grazing and utilization needs with riparian health for the long-term benefit of their operation.
New Technology for an Old Problem
One of the last projects I was involved with as coordinator for the Lower James River Watershed Project was the installation of a deep pit monoslope barn for a feedlot operation near Alexandria, SD. A deep pit confinement barn is a manure storage system that employs slatted flooring with pit manure storage underneath.
Nitrates and Livestock Water Quality
Nitrate poisoning is something we think about with forages such as millet, oats, corn, sorghum, sudan, kochia and others that have been fertilized or if there is a drought, but water can also be a contributing factor.
Blue-Green Algae and Livestock
With warmer temperatures, the conditions are right for blue-green algae blooms. Different species of blue-green algae contain various toxins, which can poison livestock, resulting in rapid death.
Water Use by Plant Stage
Over the growing season, solar radiation, air temperature and plant size are the dominant factors in determining evaporative demand and the rate of water use by wheat. Water use can vary dramatically on a day-to day basis, depending on climate and wheat health.
Saturated Buffer for South Dakota
Saturated buffer fact sheet for producers, tile drainage contractors, conservation professionals, other ag professionals.
Welded Connections and Shallow Bury Pasture Pipe Offers Alternative to Above Ground Systems
Above-ground systems offer a great amount of flexibility in delivering water and options for changing pasture designs over time or space. However, some producers do not desire to maintain as much flexibility in their systems, and for those individuals more-permanent options exist without going to a deep-bury system.
June 2019 Climate Outlook for South Dakota
As South Dakota emerges from the wettest 12-month period in 124 years of climate recordkeeping (June 2018-May 2019), June has started warmer and drier than average. The outlook, however, turns towards cooler and wetter than average again for the middle of the month.
Big Sioux River Flood Information System Sees Heavy Use During Spring 2019
The Big Sioux River Flood Information System is the result of a combined effort between the SD Department of Environment and Natural Resources, local governments, and private industry, to create a product that can be used to predict the impact of flood events in the Big Sioux River Basin.
Floods Continue With a Wet Outlook
As April unfolds, major flooding continues along the Eastern rivers. The James River is at crest in Brown county the first week of April and will slowly recede while maintaining flood level for much of April.