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Tomatoes growing in a high tunnel. Courtesy: USDA

Pollinating Tomatoes in High Tunnels

In field-grown tomatoes the air movement is sufficient to vibrate flowers and achieve pollination. This is not generally true in the high tunnel because there is not sufficient natural wind to vibrate the flowers. High tunnel tomato growers should therefore pollinate their crop by other means.

Rancher standing in a vast, rolling grassland.

Grassland Fertilization: Terminology and Economics

This article is the first in a series of six focused on helping producers understand the pros and cons of grassland fertilization. We begin by learning some of the basic terminology and information related to fertilization.

a windmill in front of a sunset

Farming Strategies for the Future

There was a time in agriculture when greater yields always meant greater profitability. Today’s economic environment is characterized by high input costs and depressed commodity prices. Under this scenario when the optimum input/output relationship has been attained, more inputs do not necessarily result in greater returns on investment. Therefore, todays’ agriculture paradigm requires management that addresses production “optimization”. This is the point where a previously known level of inputs maximizes outputs before incurring into greater investments that result into diminishing returns.

a stretching field of green corn plants

Corn Production Costs in the Northern Great Plains

Supply and demand regulates U.S. agricultural and non-agricultural markets all the time. Prices increase when scarcity of a certain item is anticipated. Similarly, prices drop if the market is saturated because of oversupply or there is a reduced demand for the product.

Group of producers having a discussion in a pasture with native flowers blooming in the foreground.

The Heart of the Homestead

Behind the resilience farm families are known for, mental health challenges have increasingly come into focus. Learn how a new voucher program is helping South Dakota families cultivate emotional well-being.

A group of people stands in a pasture

beefSD helps cattle producers ‘raise the steaks’

January 17, 2025

Since 2010, 175 participants from more than 100 operations in South Dakota and Minnesota have completed beefSD. The well-established intensive educational program is designed to take beginning beef producers to the next level in beef enterprise management.

Glory of the Snow, Daffodil, and Allium blooming in three gardens.

Bulbs to Plant in the Fall

Fall is the time to plant cold-hardy bulbs in South Dakota gardens. This will ensure that your landscape will have a variety of color, size, and bloom types the following season.

Two brown calves stand in a fenced pasture and look at the camera

SDSU beef team growing through innovative research, collaboration

September 09, 2024

It’s an exciting time for the South Dakota State University beef team as a core group of longtime faculty and experts is joined by rising stars in their respective disciplines.

cattle feeding at a feed bunk

Let’s Talk BQA Assessments

Simply put, BQA assessments are a review of a farm or ranch by an assessor that helps managers benchmark their current level of cattle care and discover areas they may be able to improve.

Group of young swine bunched up in a research pen.

Distillers’ Dried Grains With Solubles Decreased Feed-To-Water Ratio

Recent research at SDSU found that using distillers’ dried grains with solubles in swine diets showcased a significant impact on water consumption, leading to a decrease in the feed-to-water ratio.