SDSU Extension to participate in seminar on protecting grasslands from cedar trees and other threats

BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State University Extension will participate in a two-part series hosted by the SDSU Department of Natural Resource Management on protecting grasslands from cedar trees and other woody plants that are encroaching on this important ecosystem.

This two-part series will be held in person and via Zoom on Feb. 6 and 13, 2026, from 10 to 11 a.m. CST. The in-person location is at the McFadden Biostress Lab room 103 on the SDSU campus in Brookings.

They are free to attend, but registration is required for those attending virtually to receive the Zoom link. To register, visit the SDSU Extension Events page and search “conservation”. 

At the first session on Feb. 6, Pete Bauman, SDSU Extension Natural Resources and Wildlife Field Specialist, will provide an overview of key components contributing to the expansion of cedar trees and other woody plants across South Dakota’s landscapes. Those factors include shifts in land management, conservation programs, wildlife use and the use of prescribed fire – aka controlled burning – to manage grass and pasturelands.

On Feb. 13, Sean Kelly, SDSU Extension Range Management Field Specialist, will discuss the socioeconomic threats of tree and woody plant encroachment to ranches and the importance of landowner-led prescribed burn associations in South Dakota. Kelly will highlight the role of key partners like SDSU Extension in supporting and enabling prescribed burn associations to flourish through education, training, outreach, planning, funding and implementation.

However, conservation experts warn that grasslands are under-protected and highly converted, citing “woody encroachment” as one of the top threats. A “woody plant” is anything with a hard stem. The most common examples are trees and shrubs or bushes, with some vines included. While eastern redcedars are among the most invasive, other species encroaching the grasslands include pine, cottonwood, dogwood, Russian olive, Siberian elm and buckthorn.

For more information, visit the SDSU Extension Prescribed Fire page or contact Pete Bauman, SDSU Extension Natural Resources and Wildlife Field Specialist.