• Brookings, S.D. - Extreme heat and varying degrees of soil moisture currently impact an expanding area of our country, says Jim Krantz, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist.
• "For many South Dakota crop and livestock producers, these conditions that prevailed last year in the southern plains have migrated northward, now threatening livelihoods earned from both sectors," Krantz said.
• He adds that adapting to these conditions has challenged generations of farmers and ranchers and forced them to place renewed emphasis on their management skills in times of drought.
• "As they do so, a systematic approach may provide the means to overcome or minimize the impact of Mother Nature," he said.
• On the crop side, Krantz says that adequate moisture for most of the state provided almost ideal conditions for field preparation, planting and weed control. However, many areas are witnessing extremely dry conditions in the midst of a monster heat wave.
• "Agronomic practices were part of a well-planned crop strategy that, until now, provided row crops and grains with the framework for rewarding yields. In drought-stricken areas, those yields now may be measured by tons of forage, not bushels of grain," Krantz said.
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• If this scenario becomes a reality, there are some considerations Krantz says producers need to think about as they plan their forage options:
• Well fertilized crops, under stress condition caused by drought, have higher ni