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tree branch cut off at the edge of the collar

Pruning Fruit Trees

February is a good time to start pruning your fruit crops. Pruning is one of the most important cultural practices in growing apples and other fruit crops. It is important to prune your fruit trees at the right time to avoid the risk of damage to the crop. The ideal time to prune most fruit trees is anytime between February and April.

Strawberries, rhubarb, and five jars of strawberry-rhubarb jam on a picnic table.

Strawberry-Rhubarb Jelly

Try this research-tested recipe for strawberry-rhubarb jelly courtesy of the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Choice vegetable salsa.

Choice Salsa

Try this research-tested recipe for canned choice salsa courtesy of the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Flowering Canada thistle distributing seed in a pasture.

Dense Seeding Can Reduce Canada Thistle in Planted Grasslands

Canada thistle is a common invader in grassland plantings. Over the past decade, researchers and land managers have experimented with controlling Canada thistle in planted grasslands through increasing competition from desirable plants.

Small white insects with tent like wings present on a green leaf.

What Are These Small White Insects in My Soybean Field?

During the last two weeks we have received reports of increasing numbers of small white insects present on soybean. The insects in question are whiteflies.

Shiny green and bronze beetle on green dill plant.

What Are These Shiny Beetles in My Yard and Why Are They Eating Everything?

Japanese beetles are very bad news for anyone with a garden. They are polyphagous insect pests, which simply means they feed on many different host plants.

Two-stripped grasshopper resting on a leaf in a garden. Courtesy: Ryan Hodnett (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Grasshoppers: When to Manage Them in a Yard and Garden

Grasshopper populations are elevated in Central South Dakota. Some of the concerns regarding these large grasshopper populations is that they are feeding on trees, gardens and almost everything in between.

beefSD participants in a pasture

SDSU Extension Accepting Applications for beefSD

August 10, 2020

SDSU Extension is now accepting applications for class 5 of beefSD.

A large wasp on a pink flower.

Giant Wasps Are Invading My Yard! No, They Still Aren’t Murder Hornets.

Every year we receive multiple reports of giant wasps that seem to invade yards and gardens. These wasps aren’t the same as the so-called "murder hornets," but are actually cicada killer wasps.

Cream colored moth with a dark brown band in the middle of its body.

Monitor Sunflower for Banded Sunflower Moth Activity

Banded sunflower moths are active in South Dakota, which means it is time to start scouting sunflowers for their eggs. Banded sunflower moth caterpillars can reduce yields and oil content by feeding on the developing florets and tunneling into developing seeds.