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SUMMER 2020 CLIMATE AND DROUGHT OUTLOOK
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BUILDING A BUSINESS WITH PRESSURE
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BUILDING A BUSINESS WITH PRESSURE Plamp builds budding washing business, helping farmers clean machinery By Sam Fosness S outh D ak ota Farm and R anch
A
s a farmer his whole life, Cody Plamp knows how challenging and inconvenient it can be to thoroughly clean agriculture equipment. When combines and tractors are out in the fields during harvest and planting season, they tend to get coated with plenty of dirt and mud. Rather than farmers having to stop what they are doing and take their large combines and tractors into town to get them cleaned well, Plamp brings his business to the farm. That was the genesis for his business, CP Pressure Washing, based in Mitchell. “Growing up on the farm, I’ve always liked to keep my equipment clean. It helps them run more efficiently, and I started noticing how there was a need for mobile washing, because combines and tractors aren’t easy to drive down to wash bays that are usually in town,” Plamp said.
BUILDING A BUSINESS: Page 5
Matt Gade / Republic
C ody Plamp started his own business called C P Pressure W ashing.
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BUILDING A BUSINESS
W hile the j ob started as a side j ob for Plamp, it has now created two additional full- time j obs.
From Page 4
“We can go right out to the field, so they don’t have to move at all. We also get really busy during postharvest and postplanting.” Plamp uses two portable pressure-washing machines attached next to each other that he can transport into crop fields with his truck and trailer. Plamp knows time is a commodity, especially in the midst of fall harvest season. Cutting down on interruptions in such a crucial time to clean farming equipment and keep it functioning at its best is what Plamp has strived to achieve with his business. “When you are rushing and working hard to finish harvest or planting, it can be a real setback having to stop where you’re at and drive into town,” he said. “The last thing I want to do after working a full day is to go through all of the work it takes to clean the combines and tractors.” The two mobile pressure wash machines consist of cold and hot water that is pressurized and powered by a portable engine.
BUILDING A BUSINESS: Page 7
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“Where SERVICE Means More Than The Sale Itself” 6 SOUTH DAKOTA FARM & RANCH JUNE 2020
Matt Gade / Republic
C ody Plamp started his own pressurewashing business in 2 0 1 9 , which has grown from ag cleaning servi ces to commercial cleaning around the M itchell area.
BUILDING A BUSINESS From Page 5
According to Plamp, the warm water machine is typically used on most of the equipment and machinery he cleans, as it helps loosen heavy patches of dirt that typically dries up and crusts onto surfaces. However, Plamp said some equipment may be extremely hot after being driven for several consecutive hours in the fields. Therefore, the cold water pressure wash machine is sometimes used to create a cool-down effect, while removing dirt and mud. “The 200-degree water can take the dirt and grease off the combines and tractors,” Plamp said. “We also can do interior detail work as well, but most customers are looking for exterior work.” It’s been just over a year since Plamp started CP Pressure Washing, but he has found a niche. C&B Operations, in Mitchell, is one of those customers Plamp has been serving over the past several months. The local John Deere dealer has utilized Plamp’s pressure-washing business when an equipment tradein takes place, which usually entails a farmer trading in used agriculture equipment. Cory Thelen, manager of C&B Operations, in Mitchell, said the type of deep cleaning Plamp provides is a major benefit.
“He does a great job, and customers are able to get their equipment in good condition when he washes everything,” Thelen said of Plamp. “It’s always nice when he sends us photos of his progress as well, and we can always rely on him when we need things cleaned up.” As the 27-year-old has been busy holding down a full-time agronomy sales position with Central Farmers
Co-Op, finding enough time to keep up with the business growth he’s experienced is perhaps Plamp’s biggest challenge. To keep up with the demand and growth, Plamp knew he needed more help, prompting the hire of two fulltime employees based out of the Sioux Falls area. “Between agronomy sales all around the area, and farming and
ranching with my brother, I had to work hard to get this business up and running. I take a lot of pride in keeping this business moving forward and succeeding, but I am very fortunate to have some of the best employees to make it all possible,” Plamp said.
BUILDING A BUSINESS: Page 8
Matt Gade / Republic
W ith pressure- washing tanks on a trailer, C P Pressure W ashing has the ability to take cleaning servi ces directly to the farm.
JUNE 2020 SOUTH DAKOTA FARM & RANCH 7
BUILDING A BUSINESS From Page 7
Excluding his truck, the overhead costs for the equipment was around $10,000. Plamp said he charges by the hour rather than breaking it down to square footage of surfaces that need to be cleaned. While the first few customers he took on were primarily farmers in need of equipment and machinery washes, Plamp has broadened his clientele rather quickly. As of recent, Plamp has noticed how dirty cattle barns, grain bins and residential decks tend to be. Now, he’s pressure washing the interior walls and exterior sides
of large commercial buildings ranging from Cabela’s to cattle facilities, taking breaks from cleaning farm equipment in the fields. Plamp’s latest addition has been pressure washing concrete for masonry companies. Although he continues expanding his services and growing his business, Plamp credits his deep farming roots for helping it all come together. “Being a part of the farming community pretty much my entire life has helped me build a lot of connections and relationships with people in the industry. I’m really proud of how far the business has come, and the things I’ve learned while farming has helped me along the way,” he said.
Matt Gade / Republic
For Plamp, the two mobile pressure wash machines consist of cold and hot water that is pressurized and powered by a portable engine.
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SHARING THE GOOD WORD ABOUT BEEF Foothills group seeks to make COOL issue national By Marcus Traxler S outh D ak ota Farm and R anch
W
ESSINGTON SPRINGS — The Foothills Cattle Producers are making inroads in South Dakota, letting people know about the issues facing “Cattle Country.” Now, they’re looking to broaden their message and take it national. The group, which started gathering informally in late 2019 and consists of cattle ranchers and advocates in South Dakota and around the region, is in the process of shooting a television commercial that it intends to have air in regions of the country that have not had politicians supporting mandatory country of origin labeling legislation in Washington, D.C. Their message is to make people aware of the economic impact of beef cattle in the United States and re-introduce mandatory COOL, as it is known. Their group’s momentum is building, said Phil Wipf, of Wessington Springs, who is the Foothills group’s president.“We’ve got a lot of support from around South Dakota and around the country.
This is our livelihood,” Wipf said. “This is cattle country and farm country, and we need to show how much that matters to us.” In late May, about a dozen adults and as many kids gathered for the commercial shoot, which took place in the town’s City Park. The commercial involves a family gathering for a picnic and eating hamburgers and discusses the importance of understanding where your food comes from. Three generations of Wipf’s family were all involved with the filming of the commercial. The Foothills group has worked closely with U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., to understand which members of the Senate should be targeted regarding spreading the word about beef. Rounds introduced a bill in October that prohibits the label of cattle meat from bearing the phrase “Product of U.S.A.” unless such meat product is exclusively derived from one or more cattle born, raised and slaughtered in the United States.
Mar cus T r ax ler / S o uth D ak o ta F ar m
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From left, N atalie B artel, her three- year- old daughter E mersyn and father Phil Wipf participate in the filming of a commercial at the W essington S prings C ity Park on M ay 2 0 , 2 0 2 0 . T he commercial is intending to show the family importance in beef production.
GOOD WORD: Page 10
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GOOD WORD From Page 9
That bill remains stuck in the Senate Ag Committee and has yet to get a hearing. Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Steve Daines, R-Mont., are the other co-sponsors. The Foothills group asked Rounds what they needed to do to get the bill moving, and the senator said they should try to build more grassroots support among consumers. The idea of changing the minds of families in other parts of the country soon followed, Wipf said. “The ranchers can say all we want and call our Congressmen and that’s one side of it,” he said. “But if we get the consumer to say, ‘We’re concerned about quality, we’re concerned about safety, we’re concerned about availability,’ that carries a lot of weight.”
Growing their group
The genesis for the group came from frustrations over the Tyson Foods cattle plant fire in Holcomb, Kansas on Aug. 9, 2019, and beef packers still turning healthy profits soon after. The Kimball Livestock Exchange organized a bus trip for about 40 cattle producers to rally in Omaha, Nebraska in October, where about 400 ranchers and feeders gathered. It was from there, Wipf said, that the idea formed to create a local group advocating in the same way.
“A lot of us were upset with the cattle prices and the industry in general,” Wipf said. “It was a call to action. They said, ‘If you don’t do anything, nothing is going to change.’ You need grassroots activity to create some awareness.” In January, more than 300 cattle industry supporters gathered for an event in Wessington Springs, featuring Rounds and Corbitt Wall, a commercial cattle manager and livestock market analyst from Texas, as speakers. Wall also spoke at the Omaha event and noted that the cattle industry risks becoming vertically integrated and squeezing out independent cattle producers. “We’re all in the same boat; we’re all going to struggle,” Wipf said. “Now is our chance to try to enact some changes for ourselves.” On that night, the group decided it would focus its efforts on COOL for beef and getting that re-enacted. The repeal of the labeling rules, farm advocates say, allows processors to blend lower-quality and lower-priced meat from other countries for ground beef and still use the Product of the U.S.A. label. Foreign meat generally has looser safety standards than the U.S., allowing another place for processors to cut costs. There’s also the issue that when consumers see a U.S. Department of Agriculture marking on their package of meat, some may figure that means it’s U.S. grown. Instead, it merely means it was inspected in the U.S., but it could be sourced from outside the country.
Through a GoFundMe page, the group is pursuing donations to help with the costs of production and distribution related to the marketing efforts. The initial goal is to raise $2,500. The commercial is being shot and produced by the Independent Cable Advertising Network, which partners with many independent cable providers in Iowa and South Dakota to air community advertising. With their new advertising, they’re planning on targeting states in the southeastern part of the U.S. first. Wipf is the group’s de facto president, although there is not much of a formal membership or leadership team. In addition to the 300-plus in attendance for its January event, it has about 850 followers on Facebook. The group has already created a television ad that has aired on cable television in South Dakota and had some local radio advertising. The effort has the support of the Wessington Springs Area Development Corporation and its leader Loree Gaikowski. She said the formal backing makes sense, given what the area’s cattle producers and farming operations mean to the community of about 950 residents and its surrounding area. “More people want to know where their food is coming from,” Gaikowski said. “We need to make sure we’re telling those people where it comes from. Our town has a lot at stake on helping our farmers and ranchers.” Christi Christensen is one of the
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Kimball sale barn’s owners with her husband, Wade, and colleague Chad Heezen. Like many members of the group, she wants to make sure that there’s a strong, locally driven cattle business that her young sons can someday work in. “I strongly believe that working to make sure the livestock industry is saved is the best way to make sure our small towns and small businesses are saved,” Christensen said. “Our best chance is when we’re all working together.” For a few years in the early 2010s, all meat products in the United States were required to carry labels showing where the animal was born, raised and harvested. But in 2015, the requirement was repealed following pressure from the World Trade Organization. There is some timeliness to the effort, which happens to be aided by the coronavirus pandemic. Crunches to the food supply and concern about safety and sourcing has put more pressure on the nation’s four dominant meatpackers: Cargill, JBS, National Beef and Tyson, which have been accused of price gouging. “It brought everything that this group has been working on to the forefront, and it has created this opportunity to act,” Gaikowski said. “We have a chance to take advantage of this and speak about how much this matters to us and how beef supports a family and that family supports a community.”
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PROMOTING SAFE COMMUNITY GARDENING AMIDST THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SDSU Extension experts have established guidelines for community gardens to follow in order to promote the health and safety of local gardeners during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Producing nutritious foods close to home at a community garden may be more practical and relevant than ever as food prices are soaring in some locations, even as peoples’ incomes are shrinking,” said Lauren Pierce, SDSU Extension Family and Community Health Field Specialist. “Similar to other everyday activities that we need to do differently, we also need to shift the way we approach community gardening.” SDSU Extension is recommending the following community garden guidelines: Always follow local and state guidelines. Guidelines may change and evolve as more is learned about COVID-19, so be sure to stay up to date on changes. Garden leadership should consult with local government leaders to determine if their space is considered essential and follow local guidelines. Stay at home when ill or when exposed to someone else who is ill. Always lean on the precautionary side. Post this guideline in a large visible notice at the garden entrance and in any communication about the garden. All gardeners and visitors should wash or sanitize hands before beginning garden work and upon exiting the garden. Set up a handwashing station, have hand sanitizer readily available, or request that gardeners and visitors bring their own hand sanitizer. Sanitize items that are used and/ or touched on a regular basis. This could include shared tools, hoses, water spigots, tables, bins, buckets and gates. Follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) directions for cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces. Consider acquiring multiple sets of common tools to allow time for cleaning and sanitizing between users. Ask volunteers to bring their own tools or assign select tools and tasks to individuals. Encourage the use of drip irrigation systems to minimize handling of hoses. Practice social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19. Encourage individuals to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between themselves and others while in the garden. Do not gather in large groups, host gatherings or provide group education at a garden. If feasible, create alleyways between each garden plot and widen pathways to facilitate distancing. Have a manager or gardener present to monitor the garden and visitors if the gardens are not fenced off.
If this is not possible, use signage to state that a 10-person limit is in place at the garden at this time. Note that the 10-person limit may need to be adjusted depending on the size of the garden. Also consider utilizing a schedule to stagger garden visitors and workers. Wear a mask or cloth face covering to protect others in case you are infected and not showing symptoms. The CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public settings. Communicate guidelines to gardeners and visitors via posted signage at garden site. SDSU Extension experts also recommend individuals follow food safety considerations when handling and consuming garden produce. “The CDC states that based on information about this novel coronavirus thus far, it seems unlikely that COVID-19 can be transmitted through food,” Pierce said. “However, it is still important to continue to practice basic fruit and vegetable washing guidelines.” These Guidelines Include: Wash hands thoroughly before washing fruits and vegetables and again after handling the produce. Wash fruits and vegetables under running water before eating and preparing. It is important to wash all produce, regardless of whether or not you are going to eat the peel. When you cut into a fruit or vegetable without washing it first, germs from the skin can contaminate the inside of the produce. “We can have a productive community gardening season this year by following basic hygiene practices and by taking extra precautionary steps such as practicing social distancing and wearing cloth face coverings,” Pierce said. “The benefits of community gardening cannot be overstated and we may find that it is an imperative support to our communities now more than ever.” SDSU Extension Garden Hotline South Dakota citizens may submit garden questions to the SDSU Extension Garden Hotline. Certified and experienced Master Gardeners are available to provide research-based information on plants, lawns, trees and insects. Submit questions via email along with a phone number and a representative will respond to you. SDSU Extension Aberdeen Regional Center: sdsu.gardensnorth@sdstate.edu SDSU Extension Sioux Falls Regional Center: sdsu.gardenseast@sdstate.edu SDSU Extension Rapid City Regional Center: sdsu.gardenswest@sdstate.edu
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PALMER AMARANTH IS AN AGGRESSIVE THREAT TO SD FIELDS By South Dakota Soil Health Coalition on’t ignore the threat of Palmer amaranth. If there’s one message Dan Forgey hopes to convey to South Dakota farmers and ranchers, it is the fact that this aggressive weed could take up residence in their fields in 2020 if they don’t take the threat seriously. “Producers can’t brush this off,” says Forgey, farm manager of Cronin Farms, in Gettysburg and South Dakota Soil Health Coalition (SDSHC) board member. Forgey speaks from experience. In 2018, the weed was discovered on Cronin Farms, in an 80-acre field of white wonder foxtail millet. The Palmer amaranth found its way into the field, stowed away in the millet seed. Its discovery voided the $42,500 seed contract. Forgey and his employer opted to hay the millet and burn the bales at a cost of $3,500.
D
“It’s our belief on this farm, that we won’t give someone else our problem,” Forgey explains. What makes this weed so bad? Its competitive nature. “It can outgrow row crops if given the right environment,” says Gared Shaffer, SDSU Extension Weeds Field Specialist. Carrying up to 1 million seeds per plant, if conditions are right, Palmer amaranth can emerge within five days, growing to heights of 10 feet, with a stalk 4-inches in diameter. “It gets as tall as a Christmas tree and spreads like wildfire,” Forgey says. Our climate no longer protects us from this weed. Originally found in southern states, over time, Palmer amaranth has been introduced to northern climates. It has been found in North Dakota, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Like many weeds these days, Palmer amaranth can also be resistant to many herbicides including glyphosate. Palmer is in many S.D. counties Within the last five years Palmer amaranth went from being positively
identified in one South Dakota county to, by the end of 2019, the weed had been found in 11 counties, mainly along the Missouri River. Due to the number of prevent plant acres, if proper control measures were not employed, Schaffer says the number of Palmer sightings could increase in 2020. Lowry farmers, Jeff and Dixie Beitelspacher agree. In 2019, they found Palmer amaranth growing in two prevent plant fields of millet. After the discovery, they were determined to find its source and eliminate the risk of spread. The third-generation farmers walked their fields, hand rogueing Palmer. They spent many hours tracking down the source, eventually learning the seed originated in Kansas. “This is a serious thing,” says Dixie, noting that in 2020 they plan on spending hundreds on additional herbicide to clean up the fields. Although the seed grower offered to buy the bales of Palmer-infested millet, Beitelspacher’s would have had
to sign a release agreement, releasing the grower, dealer and company from any liability. They would be expected to keep everything confidential. “We gave up the $23,000 and burned the bales because we didn’t want to sell the hay as feed and infect someone else’s land,” Jeff explains. “And we feel it is important to get the word out,” Dixie adds. “We want to tell our story so that this won’t happen to others.” So, what can South Dakota farmers and ranchers do to protect their acres from Palmer amaranth? Although Palmer amaranth is new to South Dakota, Shaffer reminds producers, that for the most part, tactics for prevention are not. “The only difference with Palmer amaranth is that in some crops it is emerging later than the other weeds we typically spray for. If you don’t use a post applied herbicide in June, you may not catch it in some cases,” Shaffer explains.
PALMER AMARANTH: Page 13
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Below, Shaffer and Brent Turnipseed, Manager/Professor South Dakota State University Seed Testing Lab and Assistant Department Head of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science share more tips. Ask before you buy: Before purchasing seed, ask where the seed originates to ensure it is not grown in areas infested with Palmer amaranth. Ask if the seed company tests for Palmer amaranth seed. No tolerance for Palmer amaranth is allowed in seed lots because the weed is on South Dakota’s prohibited noxious weed seed list. However, it is important to understand the testing process the seed company utilizes. “Not all seed tests are the same,” Turnipseed explains. “The rules only require seed companies to have a 50-gram sample tested in foxtail millet. If three Palmer amaranth seeds were found in a 500-gram sample, what are the chances they would have been detected in a 50-gram sample?” The Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) Rules for Testing Seeds has minimum sample sizes to be analyzed in a noxious weed seed exam by crop species. The maximum sample size required by the rules is 500 grams (454 grams = 1 lb.). For smaller sized seeds, the minimum noxious weight is based on the weight of 25,000 pure seed. Wheat for example has a 500 gram sample size, alfalfa is 50 grams, Kentucky bluegrass is 10 grams, etc. To learn about sample size and testing procedures, in addition to reading the standard seed label, he encourages producers to ask to see the seed testing documentation. Read the fine print to ensure the testing lab follows Association of Official Seed Analysts Rules for Testing Seeds. If everything checks out on paper, for added accountability, Turnipseed suggests producers ask their seed salesperson (or do it themselves) to probe a 1-to-2-pound sample from bags they purchase. Place it in a freezer bag. Seal it with duct tape and have the seed representative initial it before it’s placed in the freezer. This way, if Palmer amaranth turns up in their fields, they will at least have a representative sample for re-examination of contamination. ID: Proper identification is an important component of managing this weed. Palmer amaranth is from the pigweed family and therefore can be mistaken for waterhemp, redroot pigweed, and other common pigweeds that occur in South Dakota. Leaf shape: This can vary within species. However, typically, the leaf shape of Palmer amaranth is wider, ovate or diamond shaped.
Waterhemp leaves are generally longer, linear, or lanceolate in shape. Long Petiole Length: Palmer amaranth is the only species of pigweed whose petiole is longer than the leaf blade. This characteristic becomes more noticeable as the plant matures and the petiole continues to grow. Scout: Scout fields throughout the growing season for weed emergence before and after herbicide application. If a plant is found, it is best to dig it out by hand and bag it. Burn the plant to prevent seed frb Crop rotation: Add a small grain cash or forage crop such as oats, wheat, or rye to your cropping rotation. Reduce opportunity to germinate: Consider decreasing row width and increase seeding rate of cash crop within reason. Palmer amaranth relies on light to germinate; a closed canopy will limit germination. Utilizing additional diversity, for example, cover crops can also aid in reducing any weed’s opportunity to germinate. Don’t ignore this threat: Shaffer reiterates Forgey and the Beitelspachers’ concerns. “If we don’t take the threat of Palmer amaranth seriously, it could turn into an issue and become the next water hemp.” Where can I go for more information? To learn more, review a helpful new pamphlet developed by SDSU Extension and recently released. The pamphlet can be viewed at https://extension.sdstate.edu/identification-and-management-palmer-amaranth-south-dakota. In addition to the SDSU pamphlet, there are many more science-based, unbiased resources available including: North Dakota State University: https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/palmeramaranth Purdue Extension: Palmer amaranth Biology, Identification, and Management https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/WS/ WS-51-W.pdf Penn State Extension: Eight Key Points to Palmer amaranth and Water hemp Identification: http://extension.psu.edu/ pests/weeds/palmer-amaranth/ eight-key-points-to-palmer-amaranth-andwaterhemp-identification University of Illinois: Guidelines for the Identification and Management of Palmer amaranth in Illinois Agronomic Crops http://bulletin. ipm.illinois.edu/?p=1689 Iowa State University: Identification of the weedy pigweeds and water hemps of Iowa: https://store.extension.iastate.edu/ Product/pm1786-pdf https://store.extension. iastate.edu/Product/Palmer-amaranth-identification eXtenion.org: Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) http://articles.extension.org/pages/65209/ palmer-amaranth-amaranthus-palmeri
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RESILIENCY IN THE FACE OF EXTREME WEATHER, MAJOR STRESS Soil health producer says his way of management helps him in difficult times By Janelle Atyeo S outh D ak ota S oil H ealth C oalition
T
he record wet year in 2019 left many acres in South Dakota unsuitable for planting, but on Doug Sieck’s cropland near Selby, South Dakota, he was able to plant every acre he wanted to. He attributes that to decades of no till management and the years of cover cropping that have helped build healthy soil. He’s found his land is more resilient when it comes to handling weather extremes — whether drought or heavy rain. “That resiliency helps to reduce my stress level,” he said. Sure, he worries about the things other farmers worry about — the big one being market prices — but when it comes to whether he’ll get his crop planted or harvested, he has faith in the way he’s managed his land. After about 20 years of no till, cover cropping and incorporating cattle on the landscape, his soil has structure that holds up in wet and dry conditions.
The cattle return nutrients for the crop, but they also offer options when nature throws a curveball. If he’s unable to plant a field until late in the season, he can plant cover crops that can be hayed or grazed. The cattle also take care of high-moisture corn or damaged stands unfit for harvest. “I can be flexible,” he said. “You don’t feel near as trapped. You don’t feel near as stressed.” A recent survey by the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition showed that farmers who used soil health practices were less stressed, more satisfied and had higher optimism than those who used conventional methods. To read the full survey report or view result highlights visit https://sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/farmer-rancher-stress-survey-results/. While he has ways of keeping a positive outlook, Sieck, a Soil Health Coalition board member, encourages producers to keep in mind that others may be struggling. “It would be a good year to keep an eye on
14 SOUTH DAKOTA FARM & RANCH JUNE 2020
your neighbor,” Sieck said. Uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have added extra stress to agricultural markets, as well as to our everyday lives. With community activities canceled and families practicing social distancing, Sieck said it can help to share what you’re going through and how COVID has disrupted your life. “It is something that has humbled all of us,” Dr. Michael Rosmann said in a May 12 webinar for the AgriSafe Network. Rosmann, who lives near Harlan, Iowa, is a psychologist and farmer whose life’s work has focused on behavioral health in the agricultural community. While there are many uncertainties around the pandemic that we can’t control, he said, how we deal with COVID is within our control. He encourages farmers to plan with their families and employees on how to handle becoming ill with the disease and to how to deal with its effects, such as unpredictable marketplaces, prices, and COVID-era regulations.
Having a plan can give peace of mind to farmers, families and employees. Taking care of yourself is also important. “Look at managing your behavior like a feed ration for your livestock,” Rosmann said. Like livestock need optimal amounts of nutrients, proteins and minerals, we need a mix of the right ingredients like physical activity, prayer or meditation and social interaction. He encourages eating well, time for recreation, and making an effort to get enough sleep — especially during busy times like planting season when farmers are working long hours. Getting enough sleep is a matter of safety. Accumulation of sleep debt produces similar cognitive conditions to drinking too much alcohol, Rosmann pointed out. Reaction time is slower, judgment diminishes, we take more risks, and we have less control over anger. Rosmann also urges farmers to have a support network.
RESILIENCY: Page 15
RESILIENCY From Page 1 4
Depending on the type of farm, a support team of agronomists, veterinarians, university extension specialists, farm business management consultants, healthcare providers and ministers can all help provide necessary expertise in times of stress. “Now is the time to be reaching out and to squelch our desire to not share what’s going on internally,” he said. “Just know that we’re not in this alone. We’re all in it together. Through sharing, meditation, recognition of a higher force than us, we’re more likely to get through this and come out as better people with more understanding of COVID and survival.” Despite the pandemic and its impact on markets. Many South Dakota farmers are coming into the season with a better outlook than a year ago. Planting conditions were much improved through much of the state, and that helps take some stress away. “The nice thing about the spring and farming is there’s a sense of hope again — a sense of a
new season,” said Scott Stahl, who farms with his dad and uncle near Emery, South Dakota while serving as vice president of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association. The Stahls weren’t able to plant anything until June 6 last year, and then only 40 percent of their acres were planted. The unplanted fields were seeded with cover crops to keep the soil active and healthy and to grow hay and forage for their cattle. “We really just tried to make the best out of a bad situation,” he said. “Here we are in 2020 doing the same sort of thing in a different way.” He reminds those who are feeling stressed that there’s nothing wrong with asking for help. With COVID19 causing schools to close, Stahl and his wife, Amanda, took on extra responsibilities at home implementing e-learning for their older children, ages 9 and 7, while caring for a 4-year-old and 9-month-old twins. Stahl also worried about his parents staying healthy, especially his mom, a two-time cancer survivor. They try to take extra precautions on the farm and wash hands. While he works with his dad, COVID has put a temporary end to family gatherings with Stahl’s sisters and their families in Brookings and Sioux Falls. While it
added to the stress, Stahl said he feels blessed to have a healthy family and to spend more time with his kids. “I think times like these really let you know what’s important,” he said. Still, Stahl knows how hard it can be on farmers when nothing seems to go right. He feels for those in northern South Dakota who are facing another year of prevent plant. It’s hard on farmers when they don’t get to grow a crop. “I really feel like part of your identity gets taken away,” he said.
“It just wears on a person.” That identity is important to Stahl, as someone who can trace his farming ancestry back to Europe. But he finds strength when reflecting on past generations who had their own struggles in times without the luxury of modern equipment and programs like crop insurance. Those that came before him worked through hard times and made tough decisions that ultimately gave him the opportunity to farm today. “That’s sustainable to me,” he said.
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SUMMER 2020 CLIMATE AND DROUGHT OUTLOOK By SD Farm and Ranch ROOKINGS — With alternating cool and warm weather patterns throughout the last few months and the summer season ahead, temperature continues to be a challenge for climate forecasters in South Dakota.
B
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center released their June climate outlook on May 21. Regarding temperature, the outlook did not provide a clear prediction of what is to come and projected equal chances of warmer, cooler or near
average temperatures for the month of June. “The mixed signals are predicted to continue into the summer season,” said Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension State Climatologist. “The three-month outlook for June through August shows equal chances of warmer, cooler or near average
temperatures for all of South Dakota with the exception of the far western edge of the state.” She added that, in the far west, there is a slightly enhanced chance of warmer than average temperatures over the three summer months.
SUMMER 2020: Page 17
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“The projections for precipitation seem to be more consistent,” said Edwards. “The latest outlook calls for increased chances of wetter than average conditions in June and subsequent months through August, particularly in the eastern half of South Dakota. In the latter half of the summer, the western half may shift toward equal chances of wetter, drier or near average moisture.” Some areas throughout the state experienced a period of very dry conditions in April and early May. Much of that concern has recessed given recent rains, with the exception of the far northwest region. Rainfall in the remaining days of May and June will be critical for grass and forage production and any row crops that already have been planted. Agriculture impacts “With drier conditions in the north, it may become prudent to test water sources for livestock, as dry years can often lead to poor water quality in stock ponds and watering areas,” said Edwards. “SDSU Extension is preparing for water and forage testing for nitrates, should that be needed.” In the east, the dry period in late April pushed planting progress ahead rapidly, and by mid-May, corn and
soybean planting was ahead of the five-year average. The one notable exception is the James River valley, where persistent wet soils and standing water have proven difficult to work around. Early season emergence of field crops appears to be good overall. The outlook for wetter than average
conditions in the summer months could indicate continued sufficient moisture for these crops, and near average temperatures could reduce any long-term heat stress and avoid drought. For home gardeners, this could reduce the need for hand watering and sprinklers, but could require
increased lawn management. Gardens should see rapid growth soon, as the risk of frost is likely in the past. For more information on climate conditions, contact SDSU Extension State Climatologist Laura Edwards at laura.edwards@sdstate.edu or 605.626.2870.
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season with savings on select skid steer loaders, too. Don’t wait! Just like spring,
0% FINANCING
0% FINANCING* and CASH BACK OFFERS won’t last long.* Call today or visit nhoffers.com for details.
Special offersBACK end June 30,OFFERS! 2020. AND CASH
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commercial us– e onand ly. Customerso participaare tion subjecthe t to credit qsavings ualification and approvto al by CNkeep H Industrial Capyou ital America moving. LLC. See your New Holland Spring is*dFeoalrhere er for details and eligibility requirements. CNH Indu– strialOR Capital Am– erica LLC standard terms and conditions will apply. Down payment may be required. Not
all customers or applicants may qualify. Offer good until June 30, 2020, at participating New Holland dealers in the United States. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery,
The Spring Drive additional osales ptions or event attachmentsis not up includand ed in surunning, ggested retail pricjust e. Offerlike subjectyour to changefarm or cancellor ation operation. without notice. © 202We’ve 0 CNH Industgot rial America LLC. All rights reserved. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland are trademarks registered in the United States and m™ other countries, owned by or licensed great deals on the 25-hp WORKMASTERany sub-compact to to CNNew H IndustriHolland al N.V., its subsitractors—from diaries or affiliates. ® ™ our higher-horsepower machines, like the new GENESIS T8 with PLM Intelligence . Make 3 years 1,200 hrs/yr the mostONLY of the season with savings on select haytools, too. Don’t wait! Just like spring, * $5.83 PER – PLUS – won’t last long. Call today or visit 0% FINANCING and CASH BACK OFFERS HOUR! nhoffers.com for details.
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*For commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. See your New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC standard terms and conditions will apply. Down payment may be required. Not all customers or applicants may qualify. Offer good until June 30, 2020, at participating New Holland dealers in the United States. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in suggested retail price. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. © 2020 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland are trademarks registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.
18 SOUTH DAKOTA FARM & RANCH JUNE 2020
F
By Lura Roti S outh D ako ta Farmers U nion
ood security isn’t something many thought about prior to COVID-19. But that’s changed. “Empty grocery store shelves in Brookings or Sioux Falls speak to the fragility of even this sophisticated food system we are so proud of,” explained Barry Dunn, President of the state’s land grant college, South Dakota State University. During a March 31 interview, Dunn went on to say he was very concerned about what would happen to food security if COVID-19 infected a pro-
cessing plant’s workforce. “As great as we perceive the food system in America, if the virus were to get into a packing plant, we would truly see how fragile the system could become.” Sadly, this prophetic statement became reality. Within days of a few employees testing positive, Smithfield Foods, a pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, was forced to shutdown. As of April 15, 518 of the 3,700 employees tested positive for the virus and infected another 126 community members.
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FOOD SECURITY From Page 1 8
“People come first. We must take care of the people involved in our food system if we are going to maintain food security for this country,” says Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union and a fourth-generation family farmer. “The current system is more focused on packers’ lining their pockets than caring for the people responsible for getting the food to the table — farmers, ranchers and packing plant employees.” Sombke says Smithfield Foods should have done more to protect their employees. “Instead of paying employees a $500 bonus to work the month of April, they should have invested those dollars in protective measures.” And he says more needs to be done to protect the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers raising crops and livestock. “COVID-19 is accelerating what was already a very depressed farm gate market,” says Sombke, who leads one of the state’s largest family farm and ranch organizations, 19,000 members strong. “Our family farmers and ranchers are going into the fifth year of a financial crisis, driven by the 2015 repeal of country of origin labeling (COOL), a trade war and lack of anti-trust oversight resulting in price gouging.” Going into 2020, many of South Dakota’s nearly 14,000 cattle producers weren’t anticipating profits.
Many were simply hoping to break even. Then, COVID hit, and as of April 9, an Oklahoma State University study shows cow/calf producers began losing an estimated $247 per head. Overall, the total beef cattle industry experienced a loss of $13.6 billion. “What consumers need to understand is, in order for farmers and ranchers to do what we do — raise food — we need to be able to stay in business,” explains Keldron cattle rancher, Danni Beer. Protecting farmers and ranchers during COVID is a focus of South Dakota’s Congressional leadership. “I think a really good example of why we have to protect our own producers is what is going on in pharmaceutical industry,” explains S.D. Senator Mike Rounds. “We have lost a lot of our pharmaceutical production capabilities. We’ve sent them overseas to places like China. And now, we are finding out that is not necessarily a good thing. And now, as they manipulate the pharmaceutical supplies and we have a tough time getting them, you can see about what would happen if we lose our ability to produce our own food in this country.” Senator Rounds, together with Senator Thune and Representative Johnson were among a bipartisan group who came together to ensure cattle producers were included in the CARES Act. “Because of COVID-19, we have seen a lot of disruptions to the food environment and it is making so many of us appreciate the hard work that our ag producers are doing on the
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farm and on the ranch every single day of the year,” says Representative Dusty Johnson. “We are not done working. It is going to be hard for the price to recover until we have beat back COVID-19. What we can do is provide relief.” On April 16, Johnson and Thune led a bipartisan letter urging U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to take immediate action to assist pork producers and maintain the pork food supply chain. “It’s critically important that we maintain our pork supply chain to ensure that consumers continue to have access to high-quality pork products in grocery stores and supermarkets throughout the country, especially during the COVID-19 crisis,” Johnson says. Here at home, the S.D. Department of Agriculture is working to help producers and their employees stay healthy and is making information available to agriculture producers on their website: https://sdda.sd.gov/. “Although, there is risk when continuing to operate an essential business, there are many steps a business can take to ensure that their supply chains remain strong while taking extra precautions to keep employees healthy,” explains Dusty Oedekoven, State Veterinarian. In addition to providing guidance, the department is taking extra precautions such as postponing routine dairy plant inspections and limiting meat inspection personnel to one, necessary facility visit each day.
“The nation’s farmers and ranchers are the backbone to the economy and our strong food supply chain,” says Kim Vanneman, S.D. Secretary of Agriculture. “Prevention should be the primary focus, but farmers should also make plans for how they will continue to feed livestock and complete their field work if an employee or family member is impacted by the virus.” The path forward after COVID-19 is not clear. But Sombke would like to see support for a more localized processing system to bolster marketplace competition and overall food security. “We need to get away from the lowest-cost production system. Not only for the survival of American farmers and ranchers but for security of food for our entire nation.” A few months ago, Sombke’s idea may have been considered a bit radical. But as COVID disrupts the food chain, infecting workers not only in South Dakota but at plants in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and elsewhere, out-ofthe-box ideas are welcome —if not necessary. “This type of disruption makes you reevaluate the structure of our food system,” says Matt Diersen, Professor and SDSU Extension Risk & Business Management Specialist. “U.S. agriculture is designed at a big and efficient scale that keeps food costs low and captures a lot of efficiencies during normal times. These are not normal times.”
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