Ag United News

Extension provides support in face of wet harvest challenges

November 6, 2009 -- BROOKINGS, S.D. -- The South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service is gathering information and expertise to assist producers as they face a challenging 2009 fall harvest.

Rain and snow have not only delayed harvest, they have created conditions that could impact crop, livestock, and ethanol producers.

The South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service is leading an effort to assist producers as they face these issues. Extension Leader for Agriculture Bob Thaler and Extension Plant Pathologist Lawrence Osborne are working with a wide range of Extension specialists and educators to warehouse news releases, publications, and presentation materials that will help producers.

"We have considerable resources ready because we have faced these conditions in South Dakota before," Thaler said. "We have gathered the information together in a single place so it is readily available to any producer who might face issues that range from proper grain drying techniques to considerations on using weather-damaged feed."

An Extension Web site prepared solely for this topic contains the information and is available at this link: http://sdces.sdstate.edu/weatherDamagedGrain/index.cfm. Or ask for information at your county Extension office.

The Web site includes a list of South Dakota State University publications that address problems producers may face in wet harvest conditions, news releases that illustrate some of the challenges producers are facing now, and additional material, including information from a Nov. 6 online conference that focused on the issues at hand. It also will be updated with more information as the situation dictates.

Thaler and Osborne are available to address questions from producers, media organizations, and community leaders. Call Thaler at (605) 688-5435 or e-mail him at Robert.Thaler@sdstate.edu. Call Osborne at (605) 688-5543, or by e-mail at Lawrence.Osborne@sdstate.edu.
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