June Grasslands Productivity and Outlook in South Dakota

Huron, SD, June X, 2026 -South Dakota (SD) Grassland Productivity Map conditions have changed across the state since last updated on May 1. These maps, produced through the SD Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Drought Tool, will be updated and report conditions just one more time as of July 1.

The "Current" map compares the precipitation we have received to the 'average' precipitation from the last two years. The month of May brought us a much-needed drink of water across the state, improving conditions greatly. The "Forecasted" map shows what peak forage production will look like if the remaining time between now and July 1 has 'normal' precipitation. As we get closer to the July 1 date, we are less likely to catch back up to 'normal' in certain parts of the state.

Some parts of the state have been brought back to normal conditions, while others are still having a precipitation deficit. Future moisture may set warm season forages up for success, however, most of our cool season forages are nearly done producing for the year. Consider speeding up your rotations or accessing alternative forages to give cool season-dominated pastures a rest if they are not looking good. Use the SD Grazing Exchange to see if there are any alternative forages (cover crops) available in your area!

The SD Drought Tool utilizes weather data from many sources including Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) weather reporters. We have vetted many of the CoCoRaHS stations and used their data for the maps, however, the data is only useful if ALL weather data is recorded. This includes those "0" days! If you are a CoCoRaHS observer, make sure to submit "0" on days that there has not been rain as well- this action helps data users confirm that there was no precipitation on those days. For more information on CoCoRAHS, or to become an observer, visit their website: https://www.cocorahs.org/.

For more information about Grassland events in your area, check out the visit the SD Grassland Initiative's Calendar of Events, where events for learners of all ages are posted.

The following resources are also available:

SD NRCS Range and Pasture page: bit.ly/Range_Pasture

South Dakota Grassland Coalition Drought Planning website: sddroughtplan.org/

National Integrated Drought Information System: drought.gov/

U.S. Drought Monitor: droughtmonitor.unl.edu

South Dakota State University Extension Drought Resources: extension.sdstate.edu/drought

SD Growing Resilience Web page: www.growingresiliencesd.com

SD Grazing Exchange: https://www.sdgrazingexchange.com

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