Farming in Eastern South Dakota

This is a fairly typical farm in the eastern part of the state. The silo is in the center of the frame. A silo is generally used to store feed for livestock. This farm is primarily used for the production of beef cattle. In the foreground you can see small mounds of siledge (chopped corn and stalks) used to feed growing cattle. They are covered with sheet of durable plastic to protect the feed from the elements. Old automobile tires provide the weight to keep the plastic in place. Farms and farm houses are almost always surrounded by "shelter belts" or groves of trees to cut the wind and provide a shield from the weather extremes. To the left of the frame is a modern barn made of corrugated metal used to house farm machinery. The metal buildings are a durable alternative to the wood barns of yesterday.