Natural Resources

All Natural Resources Content

Grazing exclosure constructed in a rangeland area.

End-of-Season Monitoring

The end of the grazing season is a great time to monitor your pasture/rangeland resources. Learn about some strategies and tools available to help assess where you stand at the end of the season.

Kaylee Wheeler smiles at the camera. Her long brown hair is down, and she is standing outside in a field

SDSU Extension welcomes new Range Field Specialist

October 24, 2023

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Kaylee Wheeler as a new Range Field Specialist. She will be based out of the SDSU Extension Pierre Regional Center.

a picture large purple flowers with yellow centers surrounded by dead leaves and grey landscaping rocks.

Landscaping Best Practices for Pollinators and Beyond

Our yards are all part of a greater ecosystem. By incorporating some best practices into your landscaping routine, your yard can develop healthier soil, support more pollinators, and reduce the need for pest control.

A lush, native grassland with a variety of wild flowers blooming.

How do we describe biodiversity? It's multidimensional!

Fact sheet on the importance of biodiversity

Webcam view of the Groton mesonet station.

Climate, Weather and Fire/Fuels Update: October 2, 2023

Across South Dakota, some localized storms and showers brought rain in many parts of the state last week, while weekly average temperatures were two to ten degrees above typical for this time of year.

A soil coring device that has been pounded into ground. Next to it are trimmed samples in rings used to measure soil bulk density.

Bulk Density is an Indicator of Soil Health

Bulk density is a commonly measured soil property that can indicate how compacted a soil is and can be used to calculate the percent pore space in the soil.

Lush, densely vegetated riparian area 10 years after beginning the SRAM program.

2023 Marks the 10-Year Anniversary of the Seasonal Riparian Area Management Program

The Seasonal Riparian Area Management program has partnered with landowners to maintain healthy riparian areas to address common water resource concerns and improve water quality in streams, rivers, and lakes within the Big Sioux River watershed.

Workshop attendees at an aquatic species identification station.

SDSU Hosts South Dakota Aquatic Invasive Species Citizen Monitoring Workshop

On August 10, 2023, the South Dakota Lakes and Streams Association, in conjunction with SDSU Extension, and the University of Minnesota held the inaugural South Dakota Aquatic Invasive Species Citizen Monitoring Workshop.

Tractor pulling manure a spreader through a harvested crop field.

Using Feedlot Manure to Reduce Crop Production Costs

Livestock waste can be a valuable source of crop nutrients when correctly managed. Taking a strategic approach to feedlot manure application can increase the value of manure as part of your overall system.

Cottonwood Creek on the SDSU Cottonwood Field Station.

SDSU Extension offers workshop on riparian restoration on Sept. 5 in Newell

August 09, 2023

South Dakota State University Extension is partnering with The Nature Conservancy to offer a free, one-day workshop on riparian restoration.