Plants or Crops

All Plants or Crops Content

Combine harvesting wheat.

Weed Management After Wheat Harvest

Most of the winter wheat has been harvested in South Dakota and spring wheat harvest is underway. While the growing season is over for the wheat, post-harvest weed management is important to minimize the amount of weeds that are present in the spring

Multiple grasshoppers feeding on a corn ear.

Grasshopper Populations Continue to Cause Issues in South Dakota

Recent reports of crop loss along field edges indicate that grasshopper populations in some areas of South Dakota are well above threshold. Unfortunately, crops are often the target of these moving populations.

A soybean leaf infested with numerous soybean aphids.

Soybean Aphids Exceeding Thresholds in Some Parts of South Dakota

There have been a few fields this week that were infested with soybean aphids that are getting closer to threshold. We have also received reports of insecticides being applied to manage soybean aphids in South Dakota.

variety of flowers growing in a yard

Flowers & Ornamental

Everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of flowers and ornamental plants with some simple recommendations.

Green plant leaf with several small, black beetles on it.

SDSU Extension welcomes new plant pathologist

August 12, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Cody Molnar as a new Horticulture Plant Pathology Field Specialist.

Organic cabbage and sweet corn plants at the SDSU Southeast Research Farm.

SDSU Extension welcomes new specialty crop expert

August 12, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Nick Volesky as a new Horticulture and Specialty Crop Field Specialist.

Instructor leading a proctored exam in an agriculture classroom.

South Dakota Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification Testing

New commercial pesticide applicators and those that have allowed their licenses to lapse must pass commercial pesticide applicator exams to receive certification. Learn about some some helpful resources, contacts, and tips to help you be successful in your certification testing.

Three chokecherry trees exhibiting various x-disease symptoms on their foliage.

X-Disease in Chokecherries

X-disease is the name given to a set of diseases caused by a strain of the bacteria “Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni” that primarily affects stone fruits. Infected plants will typically display yellowing or reddening of their leaves by mid summer.

Weeds growing abundantly between rows of soybean in a research plot.

Suspect Herbicide Resistance in Your Fields? SDSU Can Help!

Submission form to screen weeds for herbicide resistance in South Dakota.

Farmer viewing precision seed application data on a tablet.

Cybersecurity Planning: Securing the Future

With reliance on digital technologies, precision agriculture requires securing data and implementing key strategies to safeguard digital assets and maintain operational integrity and confidentiality.