In This Issue:
Greetings from the South Dakota State FSA Office!
With planters rolling and pairs moving out to grass, everyone can feel optimistic about the growing season ahead and what it will bring us. However, despite our optimism, the unpredictability of weather often leaves a cloud of uncertainty around South Dakota’s farm and ranch families. Even with all the snow we received this past winter, the vast majority of South Dakota needs some good soaking rains to get our crops and pastures growing. The dry cool spring has already led many farmers and ranchers to alter their plans for 2023.
As your calendar starts to fill up with the summer chore list, I want to call to your attention to some dates to remember. I know it can get busy with planting, cattle to move, hay to put up and spraying to get done, but hopefully you will take time to set an appointment with your local USDA Service Center. Remember, waiting for a rainy day to do paperwork, may leave you feeling cloudy since others will have the same idea. This is why we encourage folks to make an appointment.
May 26th Grassland CRP deadline to sign up.
June 2nd PARP/ERP Phase 2 deadline to sign up.
July 17th Crop Acreage Reporting due.
The Livestock Indemnity Program sign up for 2022 livestock losses has been extended to June 2, 2023. In addition producers who did not sign up for ELAP assistance for hauling livestock, forage and feedstuff hauling or other losses covered under ELAP in 2022 can also apply through June 2, 2023. Also LFP applications for only newly eligible covered livestock are due by June 2nd as well.
Exciting changes were made to the FSA Farm Loan Program application process. As we’ve all heard, the FSA Farm Loan program has been labeled as the “lender of last resort,” however, over the years that has changed to “the lender of first opportunities.” FSA has worked hard to simplify and streamline the process for farm and ranch families to work with FSA and its lending programs. You can use the Loan Assistance Tool to see what FSA Loan Program best fits your operation.
Lastly, I want to invite everyone to attend the USDA Indian Ag Summit on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at the Ramkota Conference Center in Pierre. This event is an opportunity to have leadership of Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Risk Management Agency all in the same room focused on Indian Country agriculture. USDA is partnering with the Intertribal Agriculture Council in hosting the summit. If you are interested in attending, please register on line. There is no cost to attend the meeting.
Wishing everyone a safe and productive planting season!
Steve Dick
State Executive Director
USDA-Farm Service Agency
Spring has arrived but abundant spring rains did not arrive for most of South Dakota (SD). The cool spring and lack of moisture has impacted grassland productivity across the state. I encourage those of you managing grasslands with grazing livestock to work with your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office or visit our partnering South Dakota Grassland Coalition’s (SDGC) Pray For Rain, Plan for Drought Web site (https://sddroughtplan.org/) for information on how other producers have developed drought plans.
The NRCS will hold its regularly scheduled session of the State Technical Committee (STC) on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. The STC provides advice to NRCS on a number of issues within a variety of conservation programs. I invite you or your organization to be a part of these sessions. The link for this Microsoft Teams meeting as well as a call-in number will be posted on the events page of the South Dakota NRCS Web site. Previously, we have used annual batching dates for managing program applications and evaluating for funding decisions. At this STC, we will outline “Act Now”–a new method that will allow farmers and ranchers who have conservation plans ready to work through the contracting process and begin implementation of the practices they selected through their conservation plan without waiting for the next application batching date.
The SDGC annual ‘Birds. At Home, on the Range’ event is scheduled for June 2-3, 2023, near Brandon, SD. This is one great way to showcase the multiple uses of our SD grasslands.
Additionally, I want to welcome our Tribal leadership and Tribal land managers to the Indian Agriculture Summit located in Pierre, SD, on June 6-7, 2023. This event is being hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency, NRCS, and the Risk Management Agency as well as the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC). This event provides an opportunity to speak directly with USDA program leaders focused on Indian Country agriculture and natural resource needs. Please visit IAC events webpage to learn more and pre-register for the event. You may also contact your local USDA Service Center or call my office at (605) 352-1200 to learn more.
Thank you to all SD farmers, ranchers, and landowners who are moving the needle of conservation in our state.
Tony Sunseri
State Conservationist
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Some people choose to be a part of something; others have something choose them. The world of agriculture chose Larry Olsen from an early age.
Born and raised on a dairy farm south of Centerville SD, Olsen was always surrounded by the world of agriculture and the day-to-day operations. By the age of 13 he started taking his own steps to build a life in the industry as he started working with the sheep on the family farm. Crops and cattle were not far behind, and by 17 he was building his own operation alongside his dad and has continued to do so long after his dad chose to retire.
As Olsen built his farming operation, he became involved with the agricultural programs offered through the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service Agency (ASCS), what is now known as the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
While Olsen continued his farming operation, he also pursued a career with the FSA. He first started as a field reporter and did field measurements before being hired as a full-time employee. Olsen entered the County Executive Director Training in 1993 and was hired as the CED in Campbell County for two years before moving to Minnehaha County as CED. Many programs, policies, and procedures have come and gone over the 34 years Olsen served with the agency. This experience, along with being a producer himself, enables him to have a well-rounded point of view on issues and challenges facing South Dakota’s producers today.
Olsen said the decision to serve on the South Dakota FSA State Committee (STC) was a simple one. With his work experience, along with his involvement with the employee association, Olsen feels it is important to stay involved.
“After my retirement I felt like I still had a lot to contribute.”
Olsen feels strongly about the County Office Committee (COC) and the role the committees have at the local county.
“The local COC is the eyes and ears for the local office and STC. They can tell us if what we are doing is right.”
In Olsen’s opinion, a career in agriculture is one of the most rewarding experiences available and can also be one of the most worrisome. The highs and lows can be extreme with a balance of good times in between. Olsen feels everyone should get an education to fall back on, even if the goal is to return home to the farm. The agricultural lifestyle can’t be duplicated by anything, but it takes major commitment for the long haul. This is why he advises having an education to fall back for young people getting started in farming, so they can supplement their finances if necessary.
USDA announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin signing up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) starting today and running through May 26, 2023. Among CRP enrollment opportunities, Grassland CRP is a unique working lands program, allowing producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while conserving grasslands and promoting plant and animal biodiversity as well as healthier soil.
More than 3.1 million acres were accepted through the 2022 Grassland CRP signup from agricultural producers and private landowners. That signup—the highest ever for the program—reflects the continued success and value of investments in voluntary, producer-led, working lands conservation programs. The current total participation in Grassland CRP is 6.3 million acres, which is part of the 23 million acres enrolled in CRP opportunities overall.
Since 2021, USDA’s FSA, which administers all CRP programs, has made several improvements to Grassland CRP to broaden the program’s reach, including:
- Creating two National Priority Zonesto put focus on environmentally sensitive land such as that prone to wind erosion.
- Enhancing offers with 10 additional ranking points to producers and landowners who are historically underserved, including beginning farmers and military veterans.
- Leveraging the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to engage historically underserved communities within Tribal Nations in the Great Plains.
How to Sign Up for Grassland CRP
Landowners and producers interested in Grassland CRP, or any other CRP enrollment option, should contact their local USDA Service Center to learn more or to apply for the program before the deadlines.
Producers with expiring CRP acres can enroll in the Transition Incentives Program (TIP), which incentivizes producers who sell or enter into a long-term lease with a beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher who plans to sustainably farm or ranch the land.
Other CRP Signups
Under Continuous CRP, producers and landowners can enroll throughout the year. Offers are automatically accepted provided the producer and land meet the eligibility requirements and the enrollment levels do not exceed the statutory cap. Continuous CRP includes a Climate-Smart Practice Incentive to increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by helping producers and landowners establish trees and permanent grasses, enhance wildlife habitat, and restore wetlands.
FSA offers several additional enrollment opportunities within Continuous CRP, including the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Initiative, the Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP), and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Also available is the Clean Lakes Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR30) Initiative, which was originally piloted in twelve states but has since been expanded nationwide, giving producers and landowners across the country the opportunity to enroll in 30-year CRP contracts for water quality practices.
A Message from FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux
Earlier this year, Farm Service Agency (FSA) made several updates to disaster assistance programs to give more farmers, ranchers, and Tribes equitable access to recovery programs. Specifically, we made changes to the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and simplified the application process for underserved producers.
This important policy change opens the door to risk management options for producers who may not have previously known about or been able to obtain coverage to protect their crops.
NAP provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when natural disaster events cause low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting.
Our policy improvements mean that, beginning with the 2022 crop year, having a CCC-860 form, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, on file with FSA will provide producers with basic NAP coverage for all eligible crops. Specifically, FSA is waiving all NAP-related service fees for basic coverage for producers with a CCC-860 on file prior to the application closing date for each crop. These producers are also eligible to receive a 50% premium reduction if they elect higher levels of coverage before the application closing date for each crop.
At the end of January, FSA notified producers who already have the CCC-860 certification form on file regarding their eligibility for NAP basic coverage for 2022. If you suffered losses from natural disasters in 2022, you will need to contact your local FSA county office to file an acreage report, as well as a notice of loss, and an application for a NAP payment.
If you are interested in NAP coverage for 2023 and future years, your local FSA county office staff will be more than happy to provide information on eligibility, coverage options, and how to apply for additional coverage.
While these recent policy changes are intended to remove barriers to available benefits and help underserved producers manage risk, any producer of noninsurable crops can apply for NAP coverage by completing FSA form CCC-471, Application for Coverage, and paying a service fee. Your local FSA office can verify application closing dates and ensure coverage for your crops is available.
FSA is committed to revisiting program policies and finding ways, within our authorities, to remove obstacles that prevent participation. Expanding NAP to ensure all producers of noninsured crops have access to risk coverage is the result of proactive input from producers and the willingness of FSA employees to think outside of the box for the benefit of the producers we serve.
Please contact your local USDA Service Center for more information on NAP coverage options.
Beginning January 23, 2023, agricultural producers can begin to apply for two new important programs for revenue losses, from 2020 and 2021 natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic. Both programs equitably fill gaps in earlier assistance.
First, you may be eligible for assistance through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two if you experienced revenue losses from eligible natural disasters in 2020 and 2021.
You may also be eligible for the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) if you experienced revenue losses in calendar year 2020. PARP is addressing gaps in previous pandemic assistance, which was targeted at price loss or lack of market access, rather than overall revenue losses.
Applications for both new programs are due June 2, 2023, and you can apply for both programs during your same appointment with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Historically, FSA programs have been designed to make direct payments to producers based on a single disaster event or for a single commodity loss. For many of you, this may be the first revenue-based program that you’ve applied for with FSA.
Why revenue-based programs?
ERP Phase Two and PARP take a much more holistic approach to disaster assistance, ensuring that producers not just make it through a single growing season but have the financial stability to invest in the long-term well-being of their operations and employees.
In general, ERP Phase Two payments are based on the difference in allowable gross revenue between a benchmark year, representing a typical year of revenue for the producer and the disaster year – designed to target the remaining needs of producers impacted by qualifying natural disasters and avoid duplicative payments. ERP Phase Two revenue loss is based on tax years.
For PARP, an agricultural producer must have been in the business of farming during at least part of the 2020 calendar year and had a decrease in revenue for the 2020 calendar year, as compared to a typical year. PARP revenue loss is based on calendar years.
How to Apply
In preparation for enrollment, producers should gather supporting documentation including:
Schedule F (Form 1040); and
Profit or Loss from Farming or similar tax documents for tax years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 for ERP and for calendar years 2018, 2019 and 2020 for PARP.
Producers should also have, or be prepared to have, the following forms on file for both ERP and PARP program participation:
Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet (as applicable to the program participant);
Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity;
Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable); and
Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification.
Form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, as certain existing permanent and ad-hoc disaster programs provide increased benefits or reduced fees and premiums.
Most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, will likely have these required forms on file. However, those who are uncertain or want to confirm should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center.
Yes, FSA is stepping outside of the box.
FSA is a big proponent of agricultural producers having a say in the design, implementation and delivery of the programs that directly impact their livelihoods. We also believe that some of the most creative and useful ideas for program and process improvements come from the FSA employees who administer this assistance through our network of more than 2,100 county offices. We want to thank producers across the country, along with the entire FSA workforce, for not just thinking outside of the box but also providing their input to make sure that we can improve and enhance our programs and our approach to assistance to better and more efficiently serve all producers who need our help.
Please visit your local USDA Service Center for more information on ERP Phase Two, PARP and our full portfolio of conservation, prices support, safety-net, credit and disaster assistance programs.
Fruit, vegetable and wild rice producers will continue to follow the same rules for certain Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs.
If you intend to participate in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, you are subject to an acre-for-acre payment reduction when fruits and nuts, vegetables or wild rice are planted on payment acres of a farm. Payment reductions do not apply to mung beans, dry peas, lentils or chickpeas. Planting fruits, vegetables or wild rice on acres not considered payment acres will not result in a payment reduction. Farms that are eligible to participate in ARC/PLC but are not enrolled for a particular year may plant unlimited fruits, vegetables and wild rice for that year but will not receive ARC/PLC payments. Eligibility for succeeding years is not affected.
Planting and harvesting fruits, vegetables and wild rice on ARC/PLC acreage is subject to the acre-for-acre payment reduction when those crops are planted on more than 15 percent of the base acres of an ARC enrolled farm using the county coverage or PLC, or more than 35 percent of the base acres of an ARC enrolled farm using the individual coverage.
Fruits, vegetables and wild rice that are planted in a double-cropping practice will not cause a payment reduction if the farm is in a double-cropping region as designated by the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation.
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently made several policy updates for acreage reporting for cover crops, revising intended use, late-filed provisions, grazing allotments as well as updated the definitions of “idle” and “fallow.”
Reporting Cover Crops:
Cover crop types can be chosen from the following four categories:
- Cereals and other grasses
- Legumes
- Brassicas and other broadleaves
- Mixtures
If the cover crop is harvested for any use other than forage or grazing and is not terminated according to policy guidelines, then that crop will no longer be considered a cover crop and the acreage report must be revised to reflect the actual crop.
Permitted Revision of Intended use After Acreage Reporting Date:
New operators or owners who pick up a farm after the acreage reporting deadline has passed and the crop has already been reported on the farm, have 30 calendar days from the date when the new operator or owner acquired the lease on land, control of the land or ownership and new producer crop share interest in the previously reported crop acreage. Under this policy, appropriate documentation must be provided to the County Committee’s satisfaction to determine that a legitimate operator or ownership and producer crop share interest change occurred to permit the revision.
Acreage Reports:
In order to maintain program eligibility and benefits, you must timely file acreage reports. Failure to file an acreage report by the crop acreage reporting deadline may result in ineligibility for future program benefits. FSA will not accept acreage reports provided more than a year after the acreage reporting deadline.
Reporting Grazing Allotments:
FSA offices can now accept acreage reports for grazing allotments. You will use form “FSA-578” to report grazing allotments as animal unit months (AUMs) using the “Reporting Unit” field. Your local FSA office will need the grazing period start and end date and the percent of public land.
Definitions of Terms
FSA defines “idle” as cropland or a balance of cropland within a Common Land Unit (CLU) (field/subfield) which is not planted or considered not planted and does not meet the definition of fallow or skip row.
Fallow is considered unplanted cropland acres which are part of a crop/fallow rotation where cultivated land that is normally planted is purposely kept out of production during a regular growing season.
For more information, contact your local County USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov.
Agricultural producers in South Dakota who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after planting should make an appointment with their U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) service center before the applicable deadline.
An acreage report documents a crop grown on a farm or ranch and its intended uses. Filing an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage and prevented planted acreage, can prevent the loss of benefits.
How to File a Report
The following acreage reporting dates are applicable in South Dakota:
July 17, 2023, for 2023 crop year spring-seeded crops, perennial forage & Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage.
To file a crop acreage report, producers need to provide:
- Crop and crop type or variety.
- Intended use of the crop.
- Number of acres of the crop.
- Map with approximate boundaries for the crop.
- Planting date(s).
- Planting pattern, when applicable.
- Producer shares.
- Irrigation practice(s).
- Acreage prevented from planting, when applicable.
- Other information as required.
Acreage Reporting Details
The following exceptions apply to acreage reporting dates:
- If the crop has not been planted by the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.
- If a producer acquires additional acreage after the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendar days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.
- If crops are covered by the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, acreage reports should be submitted by the applicable state, county, or crop-specific reporting deadline or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins.
Producers should also report crop acreage they intended to plant, but due to natural disaster, were unable to because of a natural disaster.
Prevented planting acreage must be reported on form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date as established by FSA and USDA’s Risk Management Agency.
FSA offers continuous certification for perennial forage. This means after perennial forage is reported once and the producer elects continuous certification, the certification remains in effect until a change is made. Check with FSA at the local USDA Service Center for more information on continuous certification.
New Option to View, Print and Label Maps on Farmers.gov
Producers with an eAuth account linked to their USDA customer record can now access their FSA farm records, maps and common land units by logging into farmers.gov. A new feature will allow producers to export field boundaries as shapefiles and import and view other shapefiles, such as precision agriculture boundaries. This will allow producers to view, print and label their own maps for acreage reporting purposes.
Producers who have authority to act on behalf of another customer as a grantee via form FSA-211 Power of Attorney, Business Partner Signature Authority, along with other signature types, or as a member of a business can now access information in the farmers.gov portal.
Producers can learn how to use the farmers.gov Farm Records Mapping functionality with this fact sheet and these video tutorials.
More Information
Producers can make an appointment to report acres by contacting their local USDA Service Center.
Spring is finally here and for many, this is a time of hope and renewal. As some head to the local hardware store to kickstart outdoor improvements, America’s agricultural producers are already putting their spring plans into action, planting the seeds that will feed, fuel, and clothe us later in the year.
As in years past, we’d like to showcase the planting season stories of farmers and ranchers across America. To share yours, make a post on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with photos or video and tag @FarmersGov. Be sure to include where you are and what you’re working on in your post. You can also direct message us through any of our @FarmersGov social media accounts.
Alternatively, email us at SM.FP.Social@usda.gov with your name or the name of your operation, your location (city/county and state), and information about what’s happening in your photos or videos.
Need more ideas on what makes a great #Plant23 photo? Check out highlights from previous years:
Make sure to follow @FarmersGov on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and we look forward to sharing your story!
The Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program provides low-interest financing to help you build or upgrade storage facilities and to purchase portable (new or used) structures, equipment and storage and handling trucks.
Eligible commodities include corn, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, oats, peanuts, wheat, barley, minor oilseeds harvested as whole grain, pulse crops (lentils, chickpeas and dry peas), hay, honey, renewable biomass, fruits, nuts and vegetables for cold storage facilities, floriculture, hops, maple sap, rye, milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, meat and poultry (unprocessed), eggs, and aquaculture (excluding systems that maintain live animals through uptake and discharge of water). Qualified facilities include grain bins, hay barns and cold storage facilities for eligible commodities.
Loans up to $50,000 can be secured by a promissory note/security agreement, loans between $50,000 and $100,000 may require additional security, and loans exceeding $100,000 require additional security.
You do not need to demonstrate the lack of commercial credit availability to apply. The loans are designed to assist a diverse range of farming operations, including small and mid-sized businesses, new farmers, operations supplying local food and farmers markets, non-traditional farm products, and underserved producers.
For more information, contact your local County USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport.
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) assists beginning farmers to finance agricultural enterprises. Under these designated farm loan programs, FSA can provide financing to eligible applicants through either direct or guaranteed loans. FSA defines a beginning farmer as a person who:
- Has operated a farm for not more than 10 years
- Will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm
- Agrees to participate in a loan assessment, borrower training and financial management program sponsored by FSA
- Does not own a farm in excess of 30 percent of the county’s average size farm.
For more information contact, contact your local County USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov.
The USDA announced its $75 million investment in conservation assistance for producers transitioning to organic production. As part of the multi-agency Organic Transition Initiative (OTI), USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will dedicate financial and technical assistance to a new organic management standard and partner with new organic technical experts to increase staff capacity and expertise.
The investment, which includes funds from the 2020 Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), will help build new and better markets and income streams, strengthen local and regional food systems, and increase affordable food supply for more Americans, while promoting climate-smart agriculture and ensuring equity for all producers.
Direct Farmer Assistance
The NRCS will dedicate $70 million to assist producers with a new organic management standard under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
The NRCS will help producers adopt the new organic management standard, which allows flexibility for producers to get the assistance and education they need such as attending workshops or requesting help from experts or mentors. It supports conservation practices required for organic certification and may provide foregone income reimbursement for dips in production during the transition period.
Higher payment rates and other options are available for underserved producers including socially disadvantaged, beginning, veteran, and limited resource farmers and ranchers.
How to Apply
Eligible producers include farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and other producers beginning or in the process of transitioning to organic certification. The NRCS will announce state-specific deadlines later this year, after which producers can apply through NRCS at their local USDA Service Center.
Notice of Funding for Seven New Positions
The NRCS will dedicate $5 million to partner with six organic technical experts through five-year agreements. The organic experts will develop regional networks and support NRCS staff who provide services to USDA customers. These services include hosting hands-on organic training and fielding organic-related staff questions. One organic research position will support this network. A Notice of Funding Opportunity, closing on June 11, 2023, outlines requirements for proposals from regional organizations and partners.
For more information, visit farmers.gov/organic.
The May 1 edition of the South Dakota (SD) Grassland Productivity Outlook maps produced using data from the SD Drought Tool have been posted on the SD Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Range and Pasture Web page (bit.ly/Range_Pasture). The SD Drought Tool utilizes a two-year weighted average of precipitation data to determine its percent of normal production calculation. The numbers are calibrated based on historical clipping data from across the state. This prediction only relates to grassland forage production (not so much cropland) and will not predict forage quality. Producers utilizing these maps should consider local conditions when making decisions as the weather stations used to create the map are not equally spread out across each county of the state.
According to the South Dakota State University Extension, State Climatologist Laura Edwards, the last three months have been colder than average. This means that growing degree days have not accumulated as fast as normal, and plant development is behind compared to other years at this time. The cool spring and lack of moisture has impacted growing conditions across the state. Producers are encouraged to dust off their drought contingency plans and consider how they will manage their land and animals for continued resiliency. Visit the South Dakota Grassland Coalition’s (SDGC) Pray For Rain, Plan for Drought Web site (https://sddroughtplan.org/) for information on how other producers have developed drought plans and how they manage through all types of weather.
The following resources are also available:
SD NRCS Range and Drought page: bit.ly/Range_Pasture
SDGC’s Drought Planning Web site: sddroughtplan.org/
National Drought Mitigation Center: drought.unl.edu/ranchplan/Monitor.aspx
National Integrated Drought Information System: drought.gov/
U.S. Drought Monitor: droughtmonitor.unl.edu
SD State Extension Drought Resources: extension.sdstate.edu/drought
SD Growing Resilience Web page: www.growingresiliencesd.com
SD Grazing Exchange: www.sdgrazingexchange.com/
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