Yes, it’s dry now, but water is still an issue: Meeting in Britton to address concerns

By The Britton Journal

In response to concerns about water management in the state, South Dakota Farmers Union will host a meeting in Britton to address water problems.

The session is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, at Norstar Credit Union. A free dinner will be provided to attendees, and District 1 Sen. Jason Frerichs of Wilmot will be the featured speaker.

Drought is on the mind of many farmers and ranchers this summer, but water problems have been an ongoing issue. In 2010, the number of prevented planting acres topped 1.5 million in the state.

During the 2012 session of the South Dakota Legislature, lawmakers set up a water management task force to look into the problems of excess water and its impact on farmers, ranchers, and the economy. The group held its first meeting July 23.

“Water management is really something that touches the lives of everyone in South Dakota,” said SDFU President Doug Sombke. “Based on the number of acres that were taken out of production, it’s had a major impact on our state’s economy over the past few years and cost the federal government millions of dollars.”

The meeting will focus on what has been done in the past to deal with water management and what needs to be done in the future. Area producers are encouraged to give input to help come up with what Sombke calls “real-world solutions that can have an impact.”

Dakotafire addressed some water issues in its Summer 2012 issue:

• Miles of tile: High crop prices prompt many farmers to invest in drainage projects

• What good is a wetland? Putting that value in numbers takes some doing