Prairie Public Broadcasting

Draught Continues To Hamper Cattle Production in ND FARGO, ND (NDPR) - A Beef Cow Specialist with the North Dakota Extension Service says sales-barns have seen increased activity - as cattlemen cull their herds due to the dry conditions in central and western North Dakota. Greg Lardy says draught has been the topic of weekly conferences with Extension Agents around the state since the spring. He says along with grazing shortages, and shortages of water, cattle producers are now facing concerns over water quality...
"...The simple science behind it is, you start with a given quantity of water in a stockpond, and so many parts-per-million of dissolved solids and other material in there, and when that water evaporates as we get in these temperatures -- 85, 90, 95 degrees - none of that particulate matter or dissolved solids leaves, and so, by the simple math, it becomes more concentrated and much more harmful to livestock."

Lardy says the Extension Service has received some reports from north-central North Dakota where sulfate levels in the water supply have increased dramatically because of evaporation. He says there have been some areas where sulfates have risen to lethal levels. © Copyright 2009, NDPR