Farmers and ranchers across the region are recovering from what South Dakota State University Extension State Climatologist Laura Edwards is calling a worst-case scenario. “We saw heavy rain on top of a greater-than-average snow pack last week, which was on top of frozen soils that were already saturated. It’s a really tough situation.” For South Dakota, the short-term impacts are flooding and accessibility to livestock on the farm. Edwards says the snow load is causing some barns and shed roofs to collapse. Cows and calves had to be rescued from barns. Longer-term, the flooding isn’t over yet for the region.“In the northern area of South Dakota and up in the Red River Basin, we still have a lot of snow out there that hasn’t melted yet,” explains Edwards. “Flooding will continue to be an issue all across the area.”
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