In South Dakota, there’s an old saying that goes, “If you don’t like the weather now, just wait five minutes -- it will change.” While the state is known for its extremes, the weather has been consistently mild this year -- with little rain or snowfall since the spring of 2011. While calving season has been great, with limited challenges from cold temperatures or muddy conditions, there are growing concerns that a widespread drought could impact summer grazing and the 2012 harvest....More

One of the biggest challenges facing producers today is the rising cost of land. In fact, I recently read that the price of land is the number-one concern of young farmers and ranchers today, with many finding it nearly impossible to compete against established ranchers and obtain the necessary credit to make the purchase. And, once a purchase is made, does the investment pencil out?...More