Farm Management

All Farm Management Content

Image of western South Dakota where green triangles indicate areas with low grasshopper populations, orange squares indicate medium grasshopper populations, and red circles indicate high grasshopper populations that exceeded thresholds.

2019 South Dakota Grasshopper Forecast

The USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service conducts an annual survey to monitor grasshopper populations in Western South Dakota. In 2018, SDSU conducted a survey to monitor populations in Eastern South Dakota. These previous-year surveys can be used as a prediction tool for where grasshoppers may be an issue during the upcoming season.

United States Environmental Protection Agency logo.

Cancellation of Several Neonicotinoids

On May 20, 2019, the United States Environmental Protection Agency announced the cancellation of registrations for 12 products that contain neonicotinoid insecticides. The cancellation of the product registrations was voluntarily requested by the companies that had registered the products.

small group of cattle grazing on cover crops

Cover Crops & Livestock Integration: A Profit Opportunity for S.D. Farms

Cover crops have been gaining a reemerging acceptance over the last decade, with very few producers disagreeing about the potential soil health benefits of adding cover crops to their farming operation.

a wet, snow-covered field with deep ruts in the soil

Stuck in a Rut: How to Deal With Field Ruts this Spring

As spring approaches, planting comes to mind, and for many, this means deciding what to do about last fall’s field ruts.

A green combine harvesting wheat.

Factors Affecting Wheat Production Decisions: Producer survey findings

Recent USDA data shows that during the past 3 years acres devoted to wheat production continue declining in both South Dakota and North Dakota (USDA, 2018). South Dakota wheat acres experienced a remarkable decrease of 31.5% during the past 3 years, compared with a relatively mild drop of 16.4% by North Dakota.

crop fields flooded by spring snow melt. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung

Managing Soil and Soil Fertility After Flooding

During floods, your fields will experience different amounts of erosion, sediment deposition, and crop residue accumulation. To avoid compaction of these soils it is crucial to let soils drain and dry out sufficiently before removing any large debris from fields or working the soil.

Small green insects on a wheat plant.

Scouting Winter Wheat for Aphid Pests

Although we cannot predict aphid pressure in winter wheat, there are measures that may be taken to reduce the risk associated with these insects.

A small brown insect on a green blade of wheat

Scouting Winter Wheat for Mite Pests

Winter wheat planting is underway in South Dakota. After wheat emergence, it is important to scout for brown wheat mite and wheat curl mite populations.

A combine harvesting soybeans and emptying them into a nearby tractor trailer

Harvesting For Maximum Soybean Yields

Numerous studies have been conducted over the last 40 years on soybean combine losses which show that yield loss can be as high as 15 percent.

A soybean stem with several small nymphs and adults on it.

Why the 250 Threshold is Still Appropriate for Soybean Aphids

When gearing up for soybean aphid scouting, it is important to think about the population densities that warrant insecticide management.