Plants or Crops

All Plants or Crops Content

Tree lined hiking trail at Cathedral Spires

Limber Pines of the Cathedral Spires: A Unique Tree

Fact sheet on the history, status and threats of limber pines.

Crop field with various areas highlighted to show variations in crop performance.

Variations in a Field and Variable Rate Technology Adoption

Field variations, including soil properties, nutrient content, and moisture levels, can significantly impact crop yield and farm profits. By understanding the specific needs of different areas, farmers can apply fertilizers, seeds, and other inputs more effectively.

Light colored moth on a yellow sunflower head.

Sunflower Moths Active in South Dakota Sunflowers

We have received reports of sunflower moths present on early planted sunflowers this week. The observed sunflower moth populations are above the recommend threshold of an average of 1 to 2 moths per five heads.

A sign directs drivers to an SDSU Extension field day

SDSU Extension hosts 5th annual Specialty Crop Field Day

July 24, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to announce its fifth annual Specialty Crop Field Day at the SDSU campus in Brookings.

Monarch butterfly visiting a blanket flower near a backyard garden.

Backyard Natural Resources Webinar Series

Learn how to support healthy ecosystems in your backyard and beyond in this webinar series.

Dark green and tan curled caterpillars with an orange stripe along their sides.

True Armyworm Caterpillars Are Active in South Dakota Wheat

We have received a few reports of true armyworm caterpillars in wheat that are heavily feeding on the leaves. The big concern with these pests is that they will also clip wheat heads prior to harvest, so scouting is necessary to ensure that they don't cause yield losses.

Many green soybean plants within a field that has brown grass and residute.

Burnt Soybeans Look a Lot Better Than Weedy Beans!

Prior to the introduction of Roundup-Ready soybean, growers were accustomed to soybeans exhibiting short-lived herbicide injury. While soybean plants may look unsightly from a PPO-inhibiting herbicide application, a more unsightly view is a soybean field full of weeds.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offices in Washington, D.C.

Update on Chlorpyrifos Use in South Dakota

As of June 30, 2025, the labeled uses for chlorpyrifos products for food and feed are limited to alfalfa, soybean, and wheat in South Dakota. Chlorpyrifos can no longer be used to treat sunflowers.

A green absinth wormwood plant surrounded by other green vegetation.

Absinth Wormwood Spray Window Passed: Mow now and plan to treat the regrowth in the fall

Absinth wormwood is a statewide noxious weed that inhabits cropland, pasture, rangeland, right-of-ways, and waste sites. If not effectively managed, the species can displace desirable vegetation, reduce crop yield and decrease land value.

Corn and soybean fields with abundant weeds growing throughout.

Inexpensive and Simple Herbicide Programs in Corn and Soybean Will Not Be Effective

While selecting an inexpensive program with only one active ingredient in each application may be tempting due to the current agricultural economy, the result will likely be a more expensive problem in the future.