South Dakota cattle producers have lost as many as 200,000 head of livestock in the worst winter in recent memory.
The final blow fell April 4 when a three-day blizzard swept into South Dakota and southeastern Montana. Entire cow herds lost their calves because of exposure from -30 C wind chills and 100-kilometre per hour winds. Losses were estimated at about 100,000 head.
Tim Alcorn, of the South Dakota department of agriculture, said some producers were wiped out and others have been pushed close to bankruptcy. There are no government programs or insurance policies available to help recover some of the livestock losses.
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The federal government leans heavily on producers to “take one for the team” and risk their livelihoods without any reassurance of support.
Until now there has been no need for that kind of coverage, he said. There are always a few deaths, but ranchers write those off as the cost of doing business.
South Dakota has 3.9 million head. Some farmers lost everything in this winter of record snowfall and cold temperatures.
“The rebuilding process is going to be slow. It’s not going to happen overnight to rebuild their equity base,” said Alcorn.
Replacement heifers and breeding bulls are available but Alcorn predicts it will be a sellers’ #market for those who can afford to rebuild their herds.
Statistics on losses are scattered because no one has to report livestock deaths since there is no insurance.
“We have to work off estimates,” said Alcorn.
North Dakota estimates about 98,000 animals were lost in total and Montana statistics are equally sketchy.
Montana state extension agent Jim Johannes said some herds lost all their calves in the blizzard and overall, a 10-15 percent calf death loss is calculated.
