In response to drought conditions in the southern part of the state, South Dakota State University Extension is holding regional drought meetings tomorrow/Wednesday (June 17, 2026) at three different locations.
Extension Forage Field Specialist Kim Ricardo says the free meetings in Winner (Winner Regional Extension Center), Hot Springs (Mueller Civic Center) and Yankton (Yankton County 4-H building) will be connected via Zoom and will be held at the same time.
Ricardo asks that people pre-register so they can get a count for the meal.
Along with SDSU Extension specialists, representatives from USDA’s Farm Service Agency will be available to address questions on agricultural drought disaster relief programs.
Meeting attendees can bring stock dam or other livestock water supply samples with them for quick testing, on-site. They can also bring forages to be tested, but those will be collected, and results sent to the attendee once testing is complete.
To register for any of the drought meeting locations, visit https://extension.sdstate.edu/drought.
For more information about drought resources, visit extension.sdstate.edu/drought.
Written version below.
SDSU Extension will hold free regional drought meetings on June 17, 2026, in response to current moderate to severe drought conditions affecting agriculture in southern South Dakota.
The meeting will be held concurrently at three locations: Hot Springs, Winner and Yankton. Presenters and attendees will be connected across locations via Zoom.
“This unique meeting style will allow our staff to reach agricultural producers across the region, without sacrificing the in-person connection,” said Heather Gessner, SDSU Extension interim Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Director and Livestock Business Management Field Specialist.
It is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT/ 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. MT at the SDSU Extension Winner Regional Center in Winner, Mueller Civic Center in Hot Springs and the Yankton County 4-H building in Yankton. There is no cost to attend, and lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is encouraged. Visit https://extension.sdstate.edu/drought to register.
The meeting agenda includes a morning session focused on crops and forages, lunch with a climate and drought update, and an afternoon session focused on economics, marketing and livestock management in a drought.
In addition to SDSU Extension state and field specialists, representatives from USDA’s Farm Service Agency will also be available to address questions on agricultural drought disaster relief programs.
Livestock and stock dam water samples can be brought for quick testing on-site. Forages can be brought for testing, as well; they will be collected and tested at the closest available office.
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows over 60 percent of the state in drought as of May 26. This is a significant increase since Jan. 1, when only 7 percent of the state was in drought.
The drought conditions in South Dakota have expanded and intensified during the late winter and spring season, according to Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension State Climatologist.
“Central and southern South Dakota has seen some rapid expansion in drought this year,” Edwards said. “Mid-June will be a critical time for some farm and ranch decisions to be made. These meetings are coming at just the right time.”
For more information, visit extension.sdstate.edu/drought.
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