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Five youth stand in front of banners holding a sign that says "South Dakota"

SDSU Extension 4-H members compete at national FCS contest

February 20, 2025

The FCS skill-a-thon team won fifth place in the life skills assessment. The team members were Anna Johnson, Norman Johnson and Ada Sharp, of Brown County; and Mercedes Jones, of Buffalo/Jerauld counties. Their team coach is Aubrey Anderson, SDSU Extension 4-H Educator, Minnehaha County. Samantha Brenden, of Clark County, placed fourth in modeling and fifth overall for a constructed outfit in fashion revue.

tar spot on a corn leaf

SDSU Extension to host tar spot webinar

January 24, 2025

Tar spot is a potentially yield-impacting corn disease that was confirmed in 46 of South Dakota’s 66 counties in 2024. The fungus can cling to crop residue over the winter and re-emerge once temperatures rise. It’s most commonly spread in South Dakota by wind-blown spores.

rows of vegetable plants are pictured

SDSU Extension to host virtual training series on vegetable production

January 17, 2025

Designed to empower small and medium-scale commercial specialty crop producers to improve and expand their operations, the short course will provide practical, science-based vegetable production information.

Beef cattle in a snow covered feedlot

SDSU Extension to provide educational sessions during 2025 Dakota Farm Show

December 19, 2024

South Dakota State University Extension will provide a day of educational sessions for crop and cattle producers during the 2025 Dakota Farm Show in Vermillion.

Map of 4-H regions in South Dakota

SDSU Extension 4-H launches regional support for county operations

December 16, 2024

SDSU Extension has organized operations support into four regions: North, South, Central and West. Each region consists of about 16 counties and is supported by an assigned regional youth educator.

2024 4-H Capitol Day group

SDSU Extension to host fifth annual 4-H Capitol Day

December 10, 2024

Held in conjunction with Brookings and SDSU days at the Capitol, the event provides educational legislative experiences for 4-H members and the opportunity to meet 4-H supporters from across the state.

A girl and a woman stand on either side of a table stacked with donated hygiene items

SDSU Extension 4-H donates 894 care kits to people in need

November 22, 2024

For the project, members collected personal hygiene items and packaged them into Clover Care Kits. The kits contained hygiene items like a bath towel, washcloth, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo/conditioner, soap and deodorant. 4-H members and their families donated 894 kits to organizations that serve people in need across the state.

A plot of land from the side, with plant roots growing down into the soil

SDSU Extension 2025 Crop Hour webinar series starts in January

November 18, 2024

Crop Hour provides producers and industry professionals with information to navigate the
challenges and opportunities of farming in South Dakota. People can participate live via Zoom or watch the recorded presentations on YouTube.

A close-up shot of big round bales of hay

Learn about forage rye, livestock feed at Northern Plains Forage Association annual meeting

November 06, 2024

South Dakota State University Extension encourages producers to attend the Northern Plains Forage Association annual meeting and seminars, which will feature forage-related education and research.

A group of people in green jackets smile for the camera

SDSU Extension 4-H State Ambassadors for 2024-25 announced

November 04, 2024

The State 4-H Ambassador program provides leadership and mentoring opportunities as participants support 4-H and serve as positive role models. Through their service, State 4-H Ambassadors develop skills that can prepare them for future career opportunities, including public speaking, event planning and public relations.

A girl in a cowboy hat holds two plaques and several large rosette awards

SDSU Extension 4-H recognizes 2024 Premier Exhibitor awards

November 04, 2024

Sixty 4-H members are being recognized for their hard work and accomplishments in the 4-H animal project areas with the Premier Exhibitor Award. The award is divided into four categories: large animal (beef, sheep, swine, meat goat); small animal/dairy (poultry, rabbit, dairy goat and dairy cattle); horse; and dog.

Cattle are shown eating behind an electric fence in a recently harvested field

SDSU Extension to host annual soil conference in Wagner

October 18, 2024

Managing Soil: Maximizing Profit is an annual conference for crop producers and industry professionals. Anthony Bly, SDSU Extension Soils Field Specialist, said the conference provides valuable information for everyone who raises crops, forages and livestock.

Four blooms are shown in close-up, one multi-colored, one white, one fuschia and one orange-and-pink

SDSU Extension publishes zinnia research for cut flower producers

October 18, 2024

Kristine Lang, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist, managed the research trials. Over two years, Lang and her team monitored the growth and quality of four popular zinnia varieties: Zinderella Peach, Oklahoma Ivory, Queen Red Lime and Benary’s Giant Purple.

corn leaf with tar spot on it

SDSU Extension to host disease scouting workshop for corn, soybeans

October 01, 2024

If you have been wondering what you’re seeing in your corn or soybean fields this season, join the SDSU Extension plant pathology team in Volga to see tar spot in the corn field and white mold in the soybean field, or to have your own diseased plant material identified.

Crate of fresh picked vegetables with a garden in the background

Dakota Food Rx and high tunnel research support local producers

September 25, 2024

SDSU Extension has supported the growing local foods movement for more than 20 years. This year, those efforts have included a pilot produce prescription program and expanded high tunnel research.