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Plants or Crops

All Plants or Crops Content

Tractor spraying pre-emergent herbicide in a bare field.

How Well Will Pre-Emergence Herbicides Work in 2021?

It is always good to start with a pre-emergence program to prevent weeds from becoming resistant. With the spring starting out below normal in subsoil, there are questions as to how well preemergent herbicides will work.

Drip irrigation system set up in a home garden.

Vegetable Gardening During a Drought

In a drought, getting water to plants is a priority. The following management tips will help you efficiently use water and maximize other gardening practices to achieve a healthy and productive garden.

Young woman watering a drought-stressed flower garden.

Gardening Tips During a Drought

Drought conditions present challenges for gardeners, but it's still possible to grow things by modifying gardening techniques to keep established plants growing and provide a good environment for new plants.

Color-coded map of the United States showing the one-month temperature outlook for April 2021.

April 2021 Climate Update

As we look at March in the rear-view mirror, we look ahead to April and the potential for rain to return to South Dakota to reduce drought concerns across the state.

man watering newly planted tree with yellow bucket

Tree Watering Tips for Drought Conditions

There is no precise recipe for how much and how often trees should be watered during a drought. However, there are a few guidelines to follow.

grove of trees with noticable yellowing and browning on leaves

Trees & Drought Stress

Trees require a lot of water to meet their functional needs and long-term shortages can influence their growth and survival.

A lawn with large patches of yellow and brown grass.

Dealing with Drought Stressed Lawns

Drought is a common concern across the region this summer affecting landscapes in many ways, but probably most noticeably in its impact on lawns.

corn showing symptoms of drought stress

Using Drought-Stressed Corn as Forage

When drought has compromised tonnage of corn grain, silage producers may still retain part of its feeding value.

Color-coded map of South Dakota and other Midwestern states. Colors indicate a higher risk of unplanted areas in Eastern and Northeastern South Dakota.

Stretching Corn Silage Supplies

During the 2002 drought there was a need to stretch corn silage supplies as a result of the drought that affected the U.S. Now we deal with the opposite scenario, where excessive spring rains have not allowed farmers to get to the fields. In both situations livestock producers face challenges.

rancher observing cattle at a feedbunk

Making Use of “Ugly” Feeds

Feed does not have to be perfect to be useful. The key to making smart feeding decisions is knowing what the imperfections are and adjusting accordingly.