May be a cold winter ahead
New snowfall records already: Records BK
Forum Discussion
Yes there have been record snowfalls, especially in western South Dakota and on westward. Despite all that rain and snow we are still in a drought.
Since our early October 2 foot snowfall, we, being slightly south of that region have had 2 good solid rainfalls and one 5 inch snowfall, again...we are very thankful. It has helped dampen the ground so when you dig a fence post you actually find moisture 2' down whereas in past years we did not.
It is hard to say how the rest of the winter will be but we are hoping it won't be a dry mild winter leading into an even drier spring and summer. After several years of drought in a row everyone is struggling to survive.
Not only drought but last season's fires that took out precious grass that did not regrow because the rains did not come--pushed ranchers to sell 1/2 their cattle herds to buy hay. Then the other shoe dropped this year...most folks were blessed with enough rain for hay to grow but pastures were ruined from too many years of drought that just turned to weeds that will not support livestock. Reseeding can be done but without rain for that grass to sprout...some will take decades to recover, therefore keeping herds smaller. However our devastating blizzard in early October killed over 100,000 cattle in SD, NE, & WY. We didn't lose any because we have shelter in the hills and creek bottoms but the folks in western SD who still had cattle out in the prairie in summer pasture lost as much as 1/2 their herds.
Folks can sit in other areas and watch the storms, be glad they aren't in them but in reality...what happens here affects everyone...a real beef shortage could happen unless we have more normal precipitation in the next few years in the high prairie regions. (west of the Missouri River)
Since our early October 2 foot snowfall, we, being slightly south of that region have had 2 good solid rainfalls and one 5 inch snowfall, again...we are very thankful. It has helped dampen the ground so when you dig a fence post you actually find moisture 2' down whereas in past years we did not.
It is hard to say how the rest of the winter will be but we are hoping it won't be a dry mild winter leading into an even drier spring and summer. After several years of drought in a row everyone is struggling to survive.
Not only drought but last season's fires that took out precious grass that did not regrow because the rains did not come--pushed ranchers to sell 1/2 their cattle herds to buy hay. Then the other shoe dropped this year...most folks were blessed with enough rain for hay to grow but pastures were ruined from too many years of drought that just turned to weeds that will not support livestock. Reseeding can be done but without rain for that grass to sprout...some will take decades to recover, therefore keeping herds smaller. However our devastating blizzard in early October killed over 100,000 cattle in SD, NE, & WY. We didn't lose any because we have shelter in the hills and creek bottoms but the folks in western SD who still had cattle out in the prairie in summer pasture lost as much as 1/2 their herds.
Folks can sit in other areas and watch the storms, be glad they aren't in them but in reality...what happens here affects everyone...a real beef shortage could happen unless we have more normal precipitation in the next few years in the high prairie regions. (west of the Missouri River)
