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Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) in South Dakota 4-H resources

About YQCA – the national program
Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is a national multi-species quality assurance program for youth ages 8 to 21 with a focus on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development. The YQCA program is an annual certification created for youth producing and/or showing beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, meat goats, dairy goats, swine, poultry, and rabbits. The program has been designed by extension specialists and national livestock program managers to ensure it is accurate, current and relevant to the needs of the animal industry and shows, and is appropriate for youth learning levels.

Adult female emerald ash borer

Emerald Ash Borer Life Cycle in South Dakota

This fact sheet is a general description of the emerald ash borer life cycle in South Dakota.

Several portions of ground beef being inspected at a meat processing facility.

Ground Beef Basics

Fact sheet on navigating regulations and misconceptions of ground beef.

corn field with sunrise in the background

2019 Survey South Dakota Corn Nutrient Management Practices

Data from the 2019 survey South Dakota farmers was used to examine how local and operational characteristics such as geographic location within SD, tillage practice, and farm size were related to the adoption of various nutrient management practices.

Three ribeye steaks on a cutting board.

Building a Meat Processing Facility

This decision tool is designed for those interested in entering the meat industry.

man holding a small pile of soil in his hands

South Dakota Fertilizer Rate Guidelines Calculator for Corn, Soybean, and Wheat

Calculator for Fertilizer Guidelines for Corn, Soybean and Wheat in South Dakota

Tanks of anhydrous ammonia being pulled to a field for fertilizer application.

Updating Corn Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate Recommendations in South Dakota

Fact sheet updating corn Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate Recommendations in South Dakota.

A small herd of black angus cattle at pasture.

Basics of Body Condition Scoring (BCS)

Fact sheet about the basics of body condition scoring for cattle.

Several black beef cattle close together feeding.

Influence of Body Condition on Reproductive Performance of Beef Cows

Fact sheet about understanding effects of body condition score on reproductive performance.

five beef cows standing in a pasture

Using Estrous Synchronization in Natural-Service Breeding Situations

Estrous synchronization is typically associated with artificial insemination (AI) programs, and is therefore often viewed as impractical or impossible to use within natural-service herds.