Natural Resources

All Natural Resources Content

Dry, winter rangeland with minimal snow cover.

Can You Break the Hydro-illogical Cycle?

Regardless of the time of year, it is critical to start thinking about the next drought before we are in it. Learn some key strategies for breaking the Hydro-Illogical Cycle by leveraging drought motioning resources and creating a plan for your operation.

Frost-covered grass in a winter pasture.

SWOT Analysis for Your Ranch (And Don’t Forget About Yourself)

Completing a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis allows you to evaluate your operation's current position and decide on management strategies to achieve your goals for the next year. Learn how to get started today!

small water channel next to green grass

Saturated Buffer for South Dakota

Saturated buffer fact sheet for producers, tile drainage contractors, conservation professionals, other ag professionals.

From left: Meadow deathcamas in a South Dakota prairie rangeland. Silvery Lupine in a rangeland in South Dakota.

Poisonous Plants on Rangelands: Deathcamas and Lupine

With prolonged drought conditions throughout many areas of South Dakota, there is an increase of invasive weeds and poisonous plants on rangelands. Identification of poisonous plants is crucial to ensure livestock production is not compromised.

Three poisonous rangeland plants. From left: Hemlock, Halogeton and Buffalo Bur.

Poisonous Plants on Rangelands: Hemlock, Halogeton and Buffalo Bur

Several species of poisonous plants are invasive and can easily establish dense stands when there is a disturbance on rangelands. Hemlocks, halogeton and buffalo bur can all be found throughout South Dakota and are toxic to livestock.

Two poisonous rangeland plants. Left: Woolly Locoweed. Right: Lambert Crazyweed (Purple Locoweed).

Poisonous Plants on Rangelands: Locoweed and Crazyweed

Locoweed and crazyweed are found throughout South Dakota rangelands, and both can cause livestock poisoning.The names locoweed and crazyweed are often used interchangeably. However, there are notable differences between the species.

Low larkspur and twogrooved poisonvetch plants growing in rangeland.

Poisonous Plants on Rangelands: Larkspur and Poisonvetch

Larkspurs are the second leading cause for all livestock deaths from toxic plant poisoning. Poisonvetches are considered accumulator plants that uptake excessive levels of selenium and cause toxicity problems in cattle.

purple flower with yellow center and green, fuzzy stem

Common Flowering Plants (Forbs) of South Dakota

This guide focuses on forbs, or flowering “broad-leaved” herbaceous plants, but forbs can be narrow-leaved as well.

Lake water with intense algae bloom throughout.

Liebig’s Law of the Minimum and Phosphorus in South Dakota Surface Waters

Too much phosphorus in water can lead to increased growth of aquatic plants, algae blooms and fish kills. Learn about some recent research investigating the impact of phosphorus runoff on South Dakota's water resources.

Eastern South Dakota Water Conference participants.

Registration Open for the 2022 Eastern South Dakota Water Conference

September 21, 2022

Registration is open for the 2022 Eastern South Dakota Water Conference to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center in Brookings, South Dakota.