Five Practical Themes Emerging from Dry-Year Conversations Across South Dakota
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Across much of South Dakota this morning (May 19, 2026), producers woke up not to heat warnings, but to frost advisories and freeze warnings — another reminder of just how unpredictable this growing season has become.
After weeks of concern about dry-year conditions, wind, and early-season stress, temperatures across parts of the state dropped into the 30s overnight, with freeze warnings issued in central and northern South Dakota at the time of this posting.
That uncertainty formed the backdrop for a recent conversation I had with three conservation specialists from the South Dakota Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Marcia Deneke, State Agronomist; Tanse Herrmann, State Grazing Lands Soil Health Specialist; and Emily Rohrer, State Rangeland Management Specialist.
What emerged from the conversation was not a list of silver bullets, but several practical considerations producers are already discussing as conditions tighten across parts of the Plains.
Build a contingency plan early
Herrmann emphasized that drought decisions are best made before operations are under severe stress.
“If you don’t have a contingency plan… put one down. Even if it’s on the back of a bar napkin.”
Those plans may include:
identifying forage thresholds,
prioritizing which livestock leave first,
evaluating water availability,
or setting decision dates for destocking or feed purchases.
The key point was simple: difficult decisions become harder when made too late.
Watch what the plants are telling you
Several early-season signals are already raising concern.
Deneke noted that some cool-season grasses and winter wheat are heading earlier than normal, while Rohrer described Kentucky bluegrass acting almost like an “indicator species” under warm, dry conditions.
“In locations where there is more diversity, you will have more resilience,” Rohrer said.
Native grassland species evolved with periodic drought on the Great Plains, while monocultures and introduced cool-season species may become stressed more quickly.
Flexibility matters more than rigid plans
The conversation repeatedly returned to adaptive thinking.
Herrmann noted that many producers are already evaluating alternatives rather than simply idling acres.
“Farmers want to farm. Period.”
That may mean:
shifting toward lower-moisture crops,
planting forage instead of commodity crops,
adjusting grazing strategies,
or reevaluating stocking rates earlier than usual.
The broader theme was that flexibility often creates more options during difficult years.
Soil cover still matters
The group also discussed how fields managed with residue cover, no-till, or cover crops are often handling wind and moisture stress differently.
Deneke pointed out that exposed soils are particularly vulnerable during dry, windy springs.
“Soil moves when it is loose and friable and dry.”
At the same time, she emphasized that cover crops in dry years require careful management and realistic expectations. In some situations, earlier termination may be necessary to conserve moisture for the cash crop.
But she also stressed that producers should weigh the broader benefits of soil cover against short-term yield concerns.
“Do the other benefits of that cover crop outweigh that little bit of yield fluctuation?”
Adaptation is rarely simple
One of the strongest parts of the discussion was its realism.
Changing systems is not always easy or immediately possible. Producers face practical limitations involving:
equipment,
seed availability,
herbicide carryover,
crop insurance,
labor,
and economics.
As Deneke explained:
“We’re a planning agency… We help producers make a plan, lay out alternatives, [and] consider how something fits into their rotation.”
The conversation avoided easy answers. But it also avoided fatalism.
Herrmann perhaps summarized the broader theme best:
“There’s a whole new level of freedom when you open yourself up to more opportunity rather than pigeonholing an operation…”
We’ll be releasing an edited podcast version of this conversation soon.
Visit these “Growing Resilience Through Our Soils” information pages:
1. Podcast page for drought planning fact sheets, Q&As, news, podcasts, and more.
2. Video page to watch videos of other ranchers’ journeys toward improved rangeland/pasture.
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4. Our homepage: www.growingresiliencesd.com