SCOUTING YESTERDAY | South Dakota farmers face worst drought since Dust Bowl

This week in South Dakota history: June 5–11

Drought prevailed across much of South Dakota in 1936; this photo shows the drought conditions in Pennington County. (Courtesy South Dakota State Historical Society)

Farmers were searching for answers as a disastrous growing season continued to worsen 50 years ago this week. With some parts of the state receiving 30 percent or less of their average expected rainfall that year, drought withered away crops as cattle grazed fields bare.

“This is the worst condition we’ve ever had,” South Dakota Lt. Gov. Harvey Wollman said of the situation, according to the June 10, 1976, edition of The Daily Republic of Mitchell.

The sudden and severe drought in 1976 left some areas of South Dakota in more dire circumstances than during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Sioux Falls voters will get side-by-side look at Erickson, Smith in premier mayoral debate