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Male and female rancher observing a black cow near a cattle shed.

The Secure Beef Supply Plan

The Secure Beef Supply Plan is a continuity of business plan for cattle operations who find themselves affected by movement restrictions during a foot and mouth disease outbreak in the United States.

Female rancher observing a small group of cattle in a pen.

Determining Cattle Temperament

Learn how to conduct a series of assessments during routine handling to determine the temperament of your livestock, ensuring the safety of animals and humans during handling.

A group of people stands outside a livestock trailer

SDSU Extension helps first responders train for crashes involving livestock

April 30, 2025

The first time Brandon Wingert responded to a vehicle accident involving livestock was in 2017 when a livestock trailer with 99 cattle tipped over. They successfully recovered all but four of the cattle, but Wingert, Hanson County’s sheriff and emergency manager, never forgot the incident.

Group of farm employees and managers gathered at a table.

Building and Retaining a Skilled Agricultural Workforce: Challenges and Strategies

Building a strong, motivated workforce is essential to the future of agriculture. A team from SDSU Extension is exploring the challenges and opportunities facing our agricultural community.

Gloved hands examining a musk thistle seedhead.

Now is the Time to Plan for Noxious Weed Control in 2026

Most of South Dakota experienced first frosts that were delayed by at least one month, allowing for noxious weed growth to continue later in the season. Now is the time to plan for noxious weed management tactics.

Snow-dusted, harvested field with a few scattered plants throughout.

Now is the Time to Prepare Your Weed Management Plan for the 2026 Growing Season

As harvest season comes to an end, now is the time to start formulating your weed management plan for next year. Learn some expert tips for getting your operation off to a good start this coming growing season.

Three generations of a family farm gathered in a barn.

Three Parts to a Farm Plan: And you need all three

Farmers and ranchers need to create three plans to efficiently transfer the management and ownership of their operations to the next generation. These include: an estate plan, a transition plan, and a retirement plan.

Team of natural resource management researchers and professionals standing in a stream.

Finding Technical and Financial Assistance for Fish Barrier Removal and Mitigation

Manmade barriers can limit the movement of many aquatic species and prevent them from gaining access to critical habitats. For public entities and private individuals interested in the removal or mitigation of those barriers, both technical and financial assistance is available.

Black angus cow with calf in a well-kept cattle pen.

SDSU Extension to host cow/calf calving camp

December 11, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension is hosting interactive Cow/Calf Calving Camps for cattle producers.

Cow with newborn calf in late-winter pasture.

Preparing for the Calving Season

Calving season is a busy time of year as beef producers prepare themselves for less sleep each night, while spending more time observing cows close to calving. So, what can we do to make calving season less stressful for everyone involved?