Plants or Crops

All Plants or Crops Content

A John Deere Max Emerge XP corn planter behind a Case IH Magnum 335 with AFS precision farming system.

Why Precision Agriculture?

When precision agriculture comes into a conversation a few questions arise. Three of those questions might be: What is precision agriculture? How does precision agriculture make our farm more profitable? What do I do with all this data?

An organic garden with flowers, plants, land vegetables growing.

Organic Herbicides

Many gardeners across the state of South Dakota desire to have weed-free gardens, yards and flowerbeds. Many homeowners do not want to use inorganic herbicides due to their potential health effects.

a variety of cover crops growing in a field

Herbicide Considerations for Cover Crop Planting in 2019

Long residual pre-emergent or early post-emergent herbicides may cause stand reduction or complete failure of cover crops. Depending on efficacy of the herbicide, each situation can both affect in-season and/or post-harvest cover crop establishment.

A thick patch of yellow, flowering leafy spurge plants growing in a pasture.

Spot Treatment Options for State Noxious Plants

When controlling grassland weeds, the mindset of row crop weed control may be put into practice too often. In most cases, broadcast control of weeds in grasslands is rarely necessary. Most often, spot treatment can be used more effectively to manage the noxious and invading weeds.

A sprawling wheat field with gray, mostly cloudy skies in the background.

Small Grain Pre-Harvest Options

Consider pre-harvest herbicide applications in crop ground planted with small grains that are grown for seed or forage. Dense weed populations may inhibit harvest, therefore proper control of them early in the growing season is best.

Two groups of cover crops. Left: Oats. Right: Radish.

Herbicide Interactions With Cover Crops After Oats

After oats have been harvested, options exist to keep a living root in the soil. This can be done through growing cover crops. In 2018 an on-farm trial was preformed near Salem, South Dakota to observe how cover crops grown after oats would germinate after common herbicides had been applied.

A sprayer applying pre-emergent pesticide to a bare field.

Herbicide Rotation Restrictions

This is a quick reference guide to common herbicides and their rotation restrictions for selected crops.

A close up view of the stem of palmer amaranth which is hairless.

Identification and Management of Palmer Amaranth in South Dakota

Guide for the identification and management of Palmer Amaranth in South Dakota

A drop of dew on a green leaf.

How to Choose the Right Adjuvant for the Job

With the rise of herbicide-resistant weeds, the use of an adjuvants is also on the rise and may be necessary to help control resistant weeds.

A red, tractor-mounted sprayer with its tank being flushed by a hose connected to a large truck.

General Cleaning Recommendations for Sprayer Equipment

Crop damage could occur if sprayer clean-out is overlooked or not properly conducted. It is critical to always follow the procedure specified on the herbicide or commercial cleaner label to completely remove herbicide residue from the sprayer system.