Category: Agriculture

Agriculture, Siouxland, Siouxland Observed, South DakotaLeave a comment

Siouxland Observed #7: Where is this old fellow?

Gary Dickson

He’s leaning a little bit, but not too much. You can see right into his heart, by golly. Word is he might be scheduled for a bypass, but he isn’t talking. He doesn’t want to get anyone too riled up — at least not any more than they already are. After all, it’s Thanksgiving. He says even with a bypass he’ll do just fine. In fact, Ol’ Red says the doctors tell him he will probably be feeling better. He might even take up water skiing next summer. Continue reading Siouxland Observed #7: Where is this old fellow?

Agriculture, Government, South DakotaLeave a comment

$8.3B in crop insurance payouts to South Dakota farmers: A cost of climate change

Gary Dickson

South Dakota farmers have received nearly $10 billion in payouts from the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. over roughly the past two decades, with payments specifically due to weather disasters rising significantly during that time.

Between 2001 and 2022, South Dakota was among the top states in the nation for receiving insurance payouts for crop losses due to weather disasters, a trend environmentalists have said reveals a hidden but rapidly rising cost of climate change that is increasing the frequency and severity of storms that damage crops.

American taxpayers have funded a large portion of the payouts, as nearly 65% of the premiums for the crop insurance program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are subsidized with federal funding. Continue reading $8.3B in crop insurance payouts to South Dakota farmers: A cost of climate change

Agriculture, EnvironmentLeave a comment

Winnebago Tribe to get back 1,600 acres of land once taken for proposed recreation area along Missouri River

Gary Dickson

By Paul Hammel, Nebraska Examiner The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska stands to receive 1,600 acres of land that were taken a half-century ago for a recreation area that never materialized. The land, on the Iowa side of the Missouri River, would be returned under a bill introduced recently in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer and her fellow Iowa and Nebraska senators — Pete Ricketts, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst. The chairman of the Winnebago Tribe, Victoria Kitcheyan, said the return will be a “historic and beautiful moment” for her tribe, whose reservation is located north of Omaha. … Continue reading Winnebago Tribe to get back 1,600 acres of land once taken for proposed recreation area along Missouri River

Agriculture, Environment, Iowa, Minnesota, Siouxland, South DakotaLeave a comment

Less rain results in a cleaner Big Sioux River, report says

Gary Dickson

Less precipitation means less pollution is running into the Big Sioux River, according to a 2023 water quality report. “You can see a pretty strong correlation between the amount of rainfall and water quality,” Friends of the Big Sioux River’s Emily Oyos said. “A very direct correlation.”

“We had a significantly less amount of rain than 2022, and that has resulted in better numbers,” said Rachel Kloos, with Friends of the Big Sioux River. Otherwise, the results reveal many of the same problems as in past years. Continue reading Less rain results in a cleaner Big Sioux River, report says

Agriculture, economic development, Government, Rural Life, Siouxland, South DakotaLeave a comment

Union County Commission meeting heats up over tree removal and cannabis license

Gary Dickson

Things got a little heated Tuesday morning at the Union County Board of Commissioners regular meeting Tuesday, Oct 31. County resident Don Larsen had a beef about trees that were removed from his property in northern Union County. There was also the ongoing saga of the Dune Budz folks wanting to remove the cannabis cultivation license of Dakota Health & Wellness LLC.

But before that could be sorted out, there was regular business to take care of. Commissioners Rich Headid, Keven Joffer and Tom Kimmel carried on in the absence of Milton Ustad and Michael Dailey. Continue reading Union County Commission meeting heats up over tree removal and cannabis license

Agriculture, GovernmentLeave a comment

Navigator cancels carbon pipeline project

Gary Dickson

A company that sought to build a $3 billion carbon sequestration pipeline in South Dakota and several other states announced Friday that it’s giving up on the plan.

“Given the unpredictable nature of the regulatory and government processes involved, particularly in South Dakota and Iowa, the Company has decided to cancel its pipeline project,” said a news release from Navigator CO2. Continue reading Navigator cancels carbon pipeline project

Agriculture, Iowa, Rural Life, Siouxland, South DakotaLeave a comment

Looks like harvest is going well

Gary Dickson

If you’ve been driving outside of town anywhere in Siouxland the last week or so, you’ve likely noticed combines out in the fields. And if you’ve been on the secondary roads in South Dakota, Iowa or Nebraska you’ve probably encountered farm machinery or trucks going between fields or transporting corn or soybeans to the nearest elevator. Yup, it’s that time of year in Siouxland. I’m not a farmer, but I’m always curious as to how harvest is going for those that are. Especially when our local TV meteorologists are forecasting heavy rain for later in the week. And I’ll bet … Continue reading Looks like harvest is going well

Agriculture, Art, History, Iowa, Minnesota, People, Pondering and Wandering, Rural Life, Siouxland, South Dakota, WritersLeave a comment

The Lizard, hungry hogs and a photo a day for eight years

Gary Dickson

This film, co-produced and directed and written by Twin Cities photographer, filmmaker, teacher and poet Mike Hazard, provides an excellent insight into the late writer Frederick Manfred. Nicknamed Media Mike, Hazard has written, directed and produced five films that have been released nationally on PBS. His documentary on the late Senator Eugene McCarthy was awarded the D.L. Mabery Prize, Minnesota’s Oscar. Continue reading The Lizard, hungry hogs and a photo a day for eight years