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Trees & Drought Stress

Trees require a lot of water to meet their functional needs and long-term shortages can influence their growth and survival.

Black angus cattle eating a corn feed ration from a small feeding bunk.

Raising Freezer Beef: How To Feed Grain-Finished Beef

A trend that has become more prominent in recent years is for ranchers to finish a few animals and sell beef directly to the consumer. This article will address a few options for hand-feeding a small group of cattle to finish.

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SDSU Extension Hosts First South Dakota Watershed Academy

SDSU Extension recently hosted the South Dakota Watershed Academy at the Oak Lake Field Station. The workshop was designed and organized in consultation with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to provide information on water resources regulation and monitoring.

Picture shows a dense and diverse cover crop mix grown after cereal grain.  The cover crop is very green with many brassica and grass plants growing. The top third of the picture is the sky with some gray clouds.

South Dakota Land Use Trends (2012-2017)

Significant education efforts for natural resource conservation have occurred in South Dakota during the last five years. Many stakeholder groups have brought awareness for soil health and water quality to the forefront.

Herd of cattle grazing in a pasture rotation.

General Principals of Grazing Management

Grazing involves a number of variables, including land carrying capacity, type and distribution of the livestock, water distribution and number of pastures. A combination of proper grazing techniques and grassland management will improve harvest efficiency and lower production costs.

A black cow restrained in a chute with a small table of vaccination equipment to the side.

Injection Site Lesions

Injection site lesions can cause damage to costly beef cuts. The Beef Quality Assurance program aims to educate producers on proper injection site management, reducing the occurrence of lesions and leading to better-quality beef.

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SDSU Extension Launches New Streamlines Podcast

July 14, 2021

Hosted by John McMaine, Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Water Management Engineer, and Anthony Bly, SDSU Extension Soils Field Specialist, the audio series aims to bring listeners insight and discussion on all things water.

Blooming Prairies: Native Forb Research

This episode of Cattle HQ, Kaylee Wheeler from South Dakota State University Extension discusses research efforts focused around native forbs on South Dakota rangelands.

A loader depositing soil into a trailer being pulled behind a tractor.

Summer Maintenance in Outside Yards

Spring mud and poor drainage are two of the biggest production drags associated with feeding cattle outside. Summer months represent an opportunity to address and correct any problems that might be present in open lots.

small group of cattle eating forage

Feeding Drought-Stressed Crops to Cattle

Can drought-stressed crops be be utilized as feed? The answer is yes, if we know what the levels of nitrates are in the feedstuffs in question.