The end of cattle sales at the Sioux Falls Stockyards next month will have little direct impact on western South Dakota cattle producers, said Jodie Hickman, executive director of the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association. Most West River cattle producers sell their livestock at sale barns in their area.

The biggest impact will be on cattle producers closer to Sioux Falls, Hickman said. "Anytime you lose a market, it's certainly going to have an impact, certainly on the local producers."

The Sioux Falls Stockyards, which is being offered for sale, plans to end cattle auctions June 25. Hog and sheep auctions will continue.

The nearly 36-acre site, which has industrial zoning, is listed at $3.5 million. A real estate service says it's an attractive site for redevelopment.

Manager Paul Scott says it was a tough decision but that a limit on how much rain water can run off the grounds is part of the mix.

"Every plan we have comes back not good enough," he said. "It comes down to basically you could put a roof over it (corrals) is the only way to limit the amount of water kept out. Dollar-wise, it's not feasible."