Drought in South Dakota, July 1 to 31, 2017

Hot and mostly dry conditions throughout July led to the continuation and expansion of the drought across central and northeast South Dakota. The drought conditions intensified across north central South Dakota with extreme drought encompassing the entire region by July 11th. The severe drought conditions also expanded into Jones and Spink counties by July 18th. By the end of July, there was some slight improvement across parts of north central South Dakota while extreme drought developed across parts of Lyman and Buffalo counties.

Some episodes of heavy rain affected parts of northern South Dakota, but central South Dakota including the Pierre region largely missed out in the beneficial rain. The heavier rain over northern South Dakota had slowed the continued worsening of the drought, but for many in the agricultural community, it was too late. At the South Dakota Senator's request, the USDA opened up 235,000 acres of CRP lands across the hard hit regions of South Dakota for emergency haying and grazing. Regulations were also eased for grass waterways, wetlands restoration, farmable wetlands and related buffers, and duck nesting habitat.

Over the past three months, much of central and northern South Dakota had only received 50 to 75 percent of normal precipitation. July was a hot month, accelerating the deteriorating conditions. Pierre only recorded 0.17 of rainfall resulting in the second driest July on record surpassed only by 0.10 of rain in July 1936. Average monthly temperatures were from 3 to 5 degrees above normal with many 100 degree plus temperatures recorded. Some of the hottest temperatures in the drought region were 104 degrees at Aberdeen, 106 degrees at Pierre and Mobridge, 107 degrees at Kennebec, and 109 degrees at Gann Valley.

Topsoil and subsoil moisture continued to decrease across most of the region throughout July. The majority of the crops including spring wheat, oats, barley, corn, alfalfa, along with pasture and range land conditions were rated at poor or very poor. The majority of the stock water supplies were also short or very short. Many areas of winter wheat were cut for hay instead of grain with many acres declared a complete loss. Cattle sales also continued across the region as a result of feed shortages and poor grazing conditions. Below average river stream flow conditions also continued.

Many counties continued with burn bans throughout July as the grassland fire danger index reached high or very high frequently with grass fires reported across the region. |In June, many counties issued drought declarations with the Governor declaring a statewide drought emergency along with the South Dakota Drought Task being activated.