Hot weather increases the risk of cyanobacteria development, also known as blue-green algae. Toxic levels of blue-green algae blooms have been in the headlines frequently this summer. The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality has posted advisories for lakes, dams and creeks in more than ten counties this summer. Several of these high levels blooms have triggered water advisories for recreationists and resulted in livestock deaths. “The cause of cyanobacteria is nutrient buildup within waterbodies, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus,” says Miranda Meehan, livestock stewardship specialist, NDSU Extension. “There are way livestock producers can reduce those nutrient levels, lowering the risk of blue-green algae blooms in the future.” Hear more in this RRFN story.