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Farm Management

All Farm Management Content

Group of angus cattle grazing winter pasture.

Rotational Grazing During Winter

Winter feed represents one of the largest costs for a livestock production enterprise. Grazing pasture that has been stockpiled for winter use is a rational alternative to limit costs resulting from both harvest and feeding of hay.

A green combine driving down a paved road.

Roadway Safety During Harvest

If you have been on the roads lately, you have probably noticed that harvest has started. Producers and non-agricultural drivers have a shared responsibility to travel safely and share the road during this busy time of the year.

Outside the SDSU Swine Education and Research Facility.

Basic Ventilation System Design for Pork Producers

Ventilation systems have the potential to maximize swine production with regard to animal growth and performance. Understanding the rationale behind their design can help any manager do the best job possible.

Fans outside th SDSU Swine Education and Research Facility.

Understanding Fan Performance Metrics and Variability

As we move into the summer season, it is important to check for proper function of fans in your operation. When selecting new or replacement fans, it is critical to evaluate the flowrate requirement at the static pressure you will be operating, compare the efficiency of fan options, and ask your equipment supplier for detailed performance specifications.

Gravel road with swine barn in the distance.

Air Infiltration in Swine Barns

Air infiltration in large, confined swine operations has been an on-going problem for producers for many years. Regardless of technological advancements in building design and construction, unwanted air penetration continues to be a consistent problem.

Farmer calibrating a yield monitor insde a combine cab.

Calibrate Your Combine Yield Monitors!

The equipment associated with precision farming is a considerable investment and is a great tool for gaining knowledge about your farming operation. The yield monitor is often overlooked as the critical piece of equipment when the crops are ready for harvest.

A statue of a dairy cow on a landscaped terrace in front of a long dairy barn.

South Dakota Odor Footprint Tool

Two-part fact sheets explaining the South Dakota Odor Footprint Tool. Part I: Principles and Tools and Part II: Examples.

A large swine barn at the edge of a field.

Optical Dust Meters May Misestimate Dust Concentrations in Animal Barns

Fact sheet aiming to address the measurement bias issue associated with optical dust meters.

A group of ranchers meeting out in the range.

Strategic and Scenario Planning in Ranching: Managing Risk in Dynamic Times

A changing marketplace, price volatility, labor availability, record high feeder calf prices, the effects of the ethanol industry: How will your ranch operation adapt?

A group of soybean seeds drying on a paper towel. A small group of 13 damaged, swollen seeds is set aside from the pile.

The Clorox® Soak Test

This test is used in the field to determine the percentage of soybean (Glycine max) seed damage due to combining or threshing. It is also adaptable to use in the laboratory. The test can be used for beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and other large dicotyledonous seeds which may be injured in combining, threshing, or seed cleaning.