Plants or Crops

All Plants or Crops Content

Tractor applying residual herbicide to a bare field.

Fall-Applied Residual Herbicides

Many parts of South Dakota can experience dry conditions when residual herbicides are applied, resulting in inadequate weed control. In these areas, residual herbicides can be applied in the fall and take advantage of a longer period to receive activating precipitation.

Hands holding a corn leaf with a single tar spot lesion developing.

South Dakota Tar Spot Update: September 9, 2024

Tar spot is a potentially yield-impacting disease of corn, and it was recently found in plant samples from Minnehaha and Turner counties. Learn some expert tips for scouting and managing it this season.

A white and purple seedhead of a Canada thistle with a blurry, bright green background.

Perennial Weed Management in the Fall

Most herbicide applications to manage perennial weeds have already occurred. However, now is the time to consider fall applications for weeds that were not treated or escaped the spring application.

A green sunflower head with brown frass throughout.

Sunflower Moths Causing Problems

While scouting late-planted sunflowers two weeks ago, there were increased observations of sunflower moth caterpillars in the heads that were later than the rest of the field. Sunflower moths are best managed as moths or early instar larvae.

Male farmer reviewing paperwork with a female banking agent at an office.

What should you do before or after any cyber security breaches?

Preparation is critical for managing cybersecurity breaches in agriculture, where digital tools and data are increasingly integral to operations. Learn what you can do before, during, and after a security breach to protect your operation in the event of a breach.

USDA agent analyzing an ear of corn with a producer alongside a cornfield in early fall.

Margin Protection Crop Insurance for Corn in South Dakota

Farmers may be interested in exploring different aspects of crop insurance during the current agricultural conditions of low commodity prices and high input prices. One alternative available is Margin Protection crop insurance.

An apple sliced in half revealing a ripe core and brown seeds.

Picking and Storing Apples and Pears

Apples and pears are rewarding fruit to grow. Picking them at the right time and storing then under the proper conditions will enhance their flavor and help them last into the fall and winter.

A group of people stands inside a high tunnel

SDSU Extension to host 4th annual Specialty Crop Field Day

August 28, 2024

This free, family-friendly event will feature a series of presentations and field tours related to small- to mid-scale commercial vegetable production research trials. Field tours will feature SDSU Extension research plots of cucumbers, tomatoes, melons, onions, peppers and broccolini.

Rows of vegetables are shown

SDSU Extension, SD Specialty Producers Association to host soil, cover crop field day

August 23, 2024

South Dakota State University Extension and the South Dakota Specialty Producers Association invite the public to attend a Soil Health and Cover Crop Field Day for vegetable growers.

Left: Drill-planted cereal rye cover crop. Right: Pre-harvest broadcast cereal rye cover crop.

Choosing Whether to Preharvest Broadcast Vs. Post-Harvest Drill Cover Crops

Cover crops are frequently planted following the harvest of the grain commodity crops. A decision for producers to make is to whether to preharvest broadcast or postharvest drill the cover crop.