Freak Snow Storm: South Dakota Cattle Ranchers Report High Livestock Death Toll

Oct 08, 2013

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

Cattle ranchers in South Dakota are starting to grasp reality as an October snow blizzard has claimed the lives of between 20 to 50% of their cattle herd, early reports say.

South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Lucas Lentsch is calling the number devastating for producers, noting that he is working with the industry to draft a plan on how to move forward with recovery efforts.

Ranches in western South Dakota appear to have been hit the hardest, with many reports of property damage and a significant number of livestock casualties. Early estimates are suggesting that the region may have lost about 5% of its entire cattle population.

Producers are asked to document livestock losses with pictures and any other records which will be helpful in order to qualify for disaster relief programs. At this time, ranchers do not have access to U.S. Department of Agriculture services with the federal government’s partial shutdown.

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.