Officials Say Rains Ease Drought in Much of South Dakota

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Officials say recent rains have eased the drought in much of South Dakota, but problems remain in some western areas of the state.

State Climatologist Dennis Todey told the state Drought Task Force on Tuesday that recent rains have replenished moisture in surface soils, but southwestern South Dakota remains particularly dry.

Todey says conditions have improved a lot from last year's drought that hurt crop yields and forced some farmers and ranchers to sell cattle.

The U.S. Drought Monitor report issued last week indicated that the severity of the drought has diminished in many parts of South Dakota.

Officials say the recent rain has reduced the risk of wildfires, but there's still a danger in the southern Black Hills and the prairies of southwestern South Dakota.

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