Wednesday,  May 29, 2013 • Vol. 14--No. 313 • 3 of 30

(Continued from page 2)

• "Our primary concern right now is flooding in fields in the eastern part of the state," Edwards said.
• Depending on the type of rainstorm, Edwards says fields could be impacted by flash flooding, which can erode soil, wash away new seed and leave large cutouts in fields; or fields are under standing water, which can suffocate young plants.
•  Edwards says that based on discussions with SDSU Extension Agronomists, the impact this flooding will have on the 2013 crop all depends on how fast fields dry up and how mature the crop is - if plants have a few leaves above the waterline, the crop may survive. She adds that some of the long term effects won't be known until later in the growing season.
• "This has been a cold wet spring punctuated by extreme rainfall. If the plants do survive this most recent event, we have yet to know what type of diseases may follow," she said.
• The heavy rain can also induce crusting on the soil surface, which can slow down emerging plants, or cause uneven emergence in corn and soybean fields.
• As to whether or not South Dakota is still in a drought, Edwards says it all depends on where in South Dakota you're located.
• "The eastern side of the state has made phenomenal gains this spring which has improved the drought situation dramatically. I still have some concern about the long term deep soil moisture all across the state that could affect us later this summer," she said. The western counties are holding steady, but drought impacts could emerge quickly as the area enters its dry summer season.

(Continued on page 4)

© 2013 Groton Daily Independent • To send correspondence, click here.