Early snow kills thousands of cattle in SD

Associated Press ^ | Oct 7, 2013 7:10 PM EDT | Chet Brokaw

[Olog-hai]

A record-breaking storm that dumped 4 feet of snow in parts of western South Dakota left ranchers dealing with heavy losses, in some cases perhaps up to half their herds, as they assess how many of their cattle died during the unseasonably early blizzard.

Meanwhile, utility companies were working to restore power to tens of thousands of people still without electricity Monday after the weekend storm that was part of a powerful weather system that also buried parts of Wyoming and Colorado with snow and produced destructive tornadoes in Nebraska and Iowa. At least four deaths were attributed to the weather, including a South Dakota man who collapsed while cleaning snow off his roof. …

[Tammy8]

My grandfather died in January, two states away from us. My brother had to stay at the ranch so my dad could go to his father’s funeral. Being gone from a ranch even four days is a huge deal in the winter.

The lack of even a basic knowledge of agriculture is stunning. If some people ever have to feed themselves it will be interesting.

[cloudmountain]

Weather prediction is alot like rolling dice. There are variables that the models cannot take into account. So the prediction often does not equal the outcome.
Several snowstorms here in New York occurred with only a 12 to 23% chance of snow.

Ok. Thanks.

[reaganaut]

Living out here we are natural preppers. When talking to one of my neighbors (farmer/rancher where I get my eggs from) who was concerned about TSHF, I reminded her, if we know nothing else, we know how to grow food. City folk will have issues, we will have our gardens, our neighbors, our animals, our farms, and our canning, hunting and fishing skills. Add to that, most of us have generators, firewood, wood stoves, and supplies.

As my Freeper friend from UT said when he came out this summer “This place is a preppers paradise and you do it automaticially!”

And I am sorry about the loss of your grandfather.

[wyokostur]

Here are some photos of some of the cattle...we have had blizzards where this is what happened to cattle around us. Thankfully the blizzards haven’t affected our cattle like this. My heart goes out to those ranchers.

http://bigballsincowtown.com/storm2013.htm

[reaganaut]

That is just heartbreaking.

[familyop]

You might want to have a look at this, too. There's a new law in CO brought by suburbanites moving in from the east and west coasts. We're likely to see similar changes in other states soon.

[familyop]

That whole case was from false accusations and corruption, BTW.

[reaganaut]

why you never trust “foreigners” (people moving in who have no connection).

[familyop]

"Some people still can’t conceive of divine influence of weather. Even those that might self-identify as religious conservatives."

And some would be enraged, if they knew of some of the prayers being said. Too many good ranchers have been brought down, even by their ranching neighbors. We had a beautiful drought, BTW, but it wasn't enough. Have fun. Enjoy the slide.

[darkwing104]

Gee I was Stationed at Ellsworth AFB in the early 80s...I guess nearby Rapid City was just a mirage...BTW SD has some bitch'n thunderstorms...Lighting time

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Viking Kitty/ZOT ping list!. . . don't be shy.

[Monkey Face]

My ex-husband is a native South Dakotan, and even after all these years, I think of him and how he is doing. Having spent a few winters there, I have nothing but admiration for the people who love the place enough to stay.

[Monkey Face]

Growing up in farm country has its advantages, does it not???

[RedMDer]

FR is funded solely by the freedom loving folks who love and use it.
Please donate today!
Let's finish this Thon quickly
so Jim can fully recover without
hosting the fundraiser for two months :)
Thank you!!

[reaganaut]

That it does, that it does.

[ncpatriot]

Well, I’ll be. Here in NC mtns we have the wooly worm festival in mid-October. So I guess our caterpillars will soon confirm what yours have already predicted.
http://www.woollyworm.com/

[Monkey Face]

I thank God almost every day (more and more as time goes by) that I was able to grow up in a place where people loved the land and were stewards of it. I learned many things at my parents’ knees, and know, that even as old as I am, if I had to, I could live off the land.

America has been good to us!

[Godzilla]

Dude, Rapid City is now where near the state of SD. You folks are full of it.

[Vendome]

Folks?

Channeling your inner Barry self?

Yokes on you and you didn’t have to demonstrate your stoopitity.

Barrack “The Petulant” didn’t close down Google.

[greeneyes]

Hubby got his masters at the University in Vermillion. At least the blizzards didn’t shut everything down like it does here. The road crews had the heavy duty equipment to clear the roads by the next day.

We were living in a trailer, and felt like we were freezing up until the snow drifted high enough to cover the windows. Then it was warmer and less drafty.LOL

Just color me pansy-I don’t like cold weather, and don’t even step outside the door here after Christmas.LOL

[cherry]

sorry to say but tell your relatives that they can expect NO help from the federales.....not the right type of people you know....