Farm Management

All Farm Management Content

Aerial view of the SDSU Southeast Research Farm.

Aug 21

Ag Economic Dialogues - August

This free, 1-hour webinar was created to assist farmers and ranchers in making the best and most profitable decisions for their operations.

Jul 17

Ag Economic Dialogues - July

This free, 1-hour webinar was created to assist farmers and ranchers in making the best and most profitable decisions for their operations.

Jun 19

Ag Economic Dialogues - June

This free, 1-hour webinar was created to assist farmers and ranchers in making the best and most profitable decisions for their operations.

Rancher greeting grandson in a farm driveway.

Jun 02

International Farm Transition Network - Annual Conference

The 2026 International Farm Transition Network (IFTN) Annual Professional Development Conference will take place June 2-3 at the Wyndham Gettysburg (95 Presidential Circle, Gettysburg, PA 17325).

May 15

Ag Economic Dialogues - May

This free, 1-hour webinar was created to assist farmers and ranchers in making the best and most profitable decisions for their operations.

Calves at sunrise at the SDSU Cow-Calf Education and Research Facility.

A few longer-run trends continue to dominate the supply-side story of cattle in South Dakota. Beef cow numbers continue to decline. The number of feeder cattle outside of feedlots has remained stable.

Cattle grazing a high-diversity, native pasture.

Connecting Nutrition and Conservation: The Importance of CPS 592

Conservation Practice Standard (CPS) 592 is a practical feed management framework that helps producers move toward greater profitability, accountability, and sustainability without sacrificing performance.

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

Feeder Cattle Basis

Feeder cattle basis levels observed during 2025 specific to South Dakota locations were higher than expected throughout 2025 and sharply higher in November and December, perhaps reflecting a tight supply of feeder cattle nationally.

A livestock producer stands beside a concrete feed bunk at sunset, holding a tablet and reviewing feeding data. Several beef cattle with ear tags are eating a mixed ration from the trough. In the background, a feedlot mixer truck with a visible mixing tank and discharge auger delivers feed into the bunk, creating light feed dust in the air. The image represents modern feed management combining animal care and digital decision-making in a commercial feedlot.

Feed Management in a High-Data Livestock Industry

Livestock feeding systems are generating more data than ever before. In modern feed management, success depends less on how much data is collected and more on how effectively that data is translated into biologically sound decisions.

Herd of bison behind a fencline in a pasture.

Getting Started With Bison Ranching

While bison ranching has some similarities with cattle ranching, there are significant differences that must be accounted for to ensure long-term sustainability and profitability.