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Livestock

South Dakota producers face new challenges each day. SDSU Extension is your partner, providing resources and expertise to help meet production goals.

Featured Resources

A South Dakota Mesonet station in a snow-covered field.

Livestock Stress Tool

Weather conditions in the Northern Plains can present more than a few challenges for livestock producers. From below zero or blizzard conditions during winter or even spring, to heat waves in the summer months, farmers and ranchers need to be prepared for rapidly changing conditions to provide the best care for their livestock and minimize their risks of losses.

A vast, open rangeland with a few patches of weeds.

Noxious Weed Control in Pasture and Range

Noxious weed control in pastures is becoming more of a challenge. Most ground commercial spray businesses are no longer spraying pastures. If they are, there may be restrictions on the time they will spray, what products they will spray, or they may only spray if they also have all of the rest of your spraying business.

Upcoming Events

Cattle outfitted with virtual fence collars on an open rangeland.
May 21

Virtual Fencing Cattle HQ Live

Join SDSU Extension's beef team to gain valuable insights to improve the health, productivity and profitability of your herd. This month, we will discuss current virtual fence systems on the market, considerations for producers interested in utilizing this technology, and current research being conducted at SDSU with virtual fence.

Participants of the 2023 Precision Livestock Field School at the SDSU Cottonwood Field Station, looking at differences among long-term grazing treatments and precision livestock technology. (Photo courtesy of Hector Menendez)
Jun 12

Cottonwood Field Station Field Day

Attend the Cottonwood Field Station field day on Friday, June 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MT at the SDSU Cottonwood Field Station. The Cottonwood Field Station is located approximately 19 miles east of Wall along U.S. Highway 14 at 23738 Fairview Road, Philip, SD 57567.

Black beef cattle at a feedbunk at an SDSU research facility.
Jun 23

Environmental Training for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)

SDSU Extension will host an environmental training session for operators of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) on June 23 at the Crossroads Convention Center (100 Fourth St. S.W., Huron, SD 57350).

Herd of cattle in a virtual fence
Jun 23

Virtual Fence Workshop

SDSU Extension and the South Dakota Society for Range Management will host a Virtual Fence Workshop, June 23-24, in Rapid City.

Research plots at the SDSU West River Research Farm.
Sep 09

West River Research Farm Field Day

Attend the West River Research Farm field day on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. MT at the SDSU West River Research Farm near Sturgis, South Dakota (13370 Alkali Road, Sturgis, SD 57785).

Aerial view of the SDSU Southeast Research Farm.
Sep 10

Southeast Research Farm Fall Field Day

SDSU Extension, the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station at SDSU and the Southeast South Dakota Experiment Farm Corporation will host the Southeast Research Farm fall field day on Thursday, September 10, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CDT.