Natural Resources & Conservation

South Dakota is home to many unique land, water and wildlife resources. Our experts and partners offer research-based information through to help people enjoy, preserve and profit from these natural resources.

Our Experts

Professional portrait of Alexander "Sandy" Smart

Alexander "Sandy" Smart

grey circle and body outline on a light blue background

Allison Dollen

Professional portrait of Jeff Martin

Jeff Martin

Professional portrait of Kaylee Wheeler

Kaylee Wheeler

Professional portrait of Krista Ehlert

Krista Ehlert

Professional portrait of Lora Perkins

Lora Perkins

Professional portrait of Parker Witt

Parker Witt

Professional headshot of Pete Bauman

Pete Bauman

Professional portrait of Sean Kelly

Sean Kelly

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Our Programs

Grassland Management School

Northern Plains Water Voice

Prescribed Fire

Range and Soil Judging

Upcoming Events

Redcedar trees in a pasture
Aug 27

Woody Encroachment Field Tour @ Yankton

SDSU Extension and its partners will host a field tour near Yankton on August 27 at 5:30 p.m to discuss woody encroachment treatment options.

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Oct 07

Eastern South Dakota Water Conference

The Eastern South Dakota Water Conference will be held on Wednesday, October 7, at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center (631 22nd Ave., Brookings, SD 57006).

Related Topics

Conservation, Grassland, Soil Health, Wildlife, Grassland Fire

Related Content

Algal bloom on a South Dakota lake

Beach Closings and Harmful Algal Blooms

Recently, the City of Mitchell issued a swimming advisory and public beach closing effective July 31, 2026. The reason for this was due to an elevated concentration of microcystin in the lake due to a harmful algal bloom (HAB).

Red combine harvesting grain sorghum in early fall.

Proper Residue Management is Essential When Adopting No-Till Practices

Minimizing disturbance and keeping the soil covered are two of the soil health principles. One of the best ways to incorporate these principles is to adopt no-till. To be successful when adopting no-till, it starts when combining the crop from the prior year.

A group of people listening to a presentation

Balancing economics with resources is theme of 2026 Eastern SD Water Conference

July 29, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension and the South Dakota Water Resources Institute at SDSU are excited to announce the theme of the 2026 Eastern South Dakota Water Conference: Balancing Economic Development with South Dakota Water Resources.