Rural Life & Outdoors

Each year, trains carry nearly 11 billion pounds of chemicals through South Dakota's cities and countryside, much of it on century-old tracks, a South Dakota News Watch analysis has revealed. Meanwhile, state officials and the public are mainly kept in the dark when it comes to knowing what specific chemicals and hazardous materials are being shipped through their communities and neighborhoods.

As invasive zebra mussels have spread west across South Dakota, now infecting Pactola Reservoir in the Black Hills, a growing number of advocates and officials have criticized what they say is a slow and inadequate response by Gov. Kristi Noem and the Legislature to prevent further spread of the mussels that can damage waterways, infrastructure and fisheries.

Though the state pheasant hunting industry remains on a historic downward slide -- and hunting has become more difficult for residents who access public lands -- hunters, state officials and business owners report that the 2022 season is off to a strong start.

Court documents provide details of how farmers who commit grain fraud orchestrated their schemes and how they spent their ill-gotten gains.

As organic farming in the U.S. has evolved into a $63 billion a year industry, some farmers have turned to fraud and others have exploited loopholes in the organic regulatory system in order to make millions. But legitimate farmers in South Dakota and beyond are working to protect their reputations and build more trust in organic labeling by pushing for more regulation, oversight and transparency within the industry.

Mirroring a national trend, churches across South Dakota are experiencing consistent declines in church affiliation and attendance, which has led some churches to close and is leaving religious leaders concerned about potential weakening of church influence. As they work on strategies to reverse the declines, some church leaders believe they are fighting to not only save their churches but also to save the souls of South Dakotans and their state.

With diesel fuel as their economic lifeblood, South Dakota truckers and farmers are being hurt by unusually high per-gallon prices at the pump. Meanwhile, as many truckers and farmers take steps to reduce fuel consumption, higher transportation costs are often passed on to consumers who are already facing high inflation.

Overly wet weather has forced many South Dakota farmers to delay or cut back on planting of their annual crop. The delayed or reduced crops will require some farmers to seek financial help from insurance or federal assistance programs to keep their operations viable.

Even with record high gas prices, officials and operators within the South Dakota tourism industry are hoping for another banner year in terms of number of visitors and revenues. They say a post-COVID wanderlust, combined with South Dakota's deep roster of attractions and strong sense of hospitality, will override visitor concerns about fuel costs.

Inadequate enforcement by federal agricultural agencies is allowing some farmers in South Dakota and across the Great Plains to illegally convert wetlands into croplands. As a result, states are seeing a continuing decline in wetlands and ponds that are crucial for breeding and hosting of wildlife, including South Dakota’s lucrative pheasant population.