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A map of South Dakota with yellow and green circles indicating iverson risks at various locations throughout the state.

Use the SD Spray Tool for Inversion Detection and Weather for Pesticide Application

The SD Mesonet Spray Tool provides real-time weather data for pesticide applicators. This dedicated website for pesticide applicators uses the SD Mesonet weather data, which is updated every five minutes.

An empty grain bin full-air floor is plugged by insect webbing.

Stored Grain Pests: Spring Insect and Disease Issues

Grain storage is a key component in getting your crop to market. Aside from watching bins for spoilage, moisture, and temperature changes, make sure you are looking for signs of pest infestation.

Bar Graph: South Dakota: Farm numbers by size in acres (1997-2017). For a complete description, contact Alvaro Garcia at 605-688-4940.

Farm Size in South Dakota: Where Are We Heading?

Agriculture is going through some difficult times not only in the United States, but globally as well. Aside from some short-lived price hikes for different products, the overall trend has been to higher costs of production and lower output prices.

Two side-by-side field plots. The left field has corn planted, and the right has soybeans.

Field Studies: Replicated Comparisons vs. Side-by-Side Comparisons

How should a basic study be set up or laid out in the field? One very common approach is to divide a field in half and compare the halves or possibly compare two fields in close proximity and see which variety or practice yields highest. This approach can end with very misleading results because of the variability that exists across a field or fields due to many factors.

two side-by-side fields. The left is labeled "a". It has uniform rows and soil. The right is labeled "b". It has ununiform rows and varying soil quality.

Field Studies: Setting up a Trial

Increasingly, farmers are generating on-farm research data that encompasses a wide-range of practical topics. However, setting up those experiments so that the data is statistically valid is not necessarily common knowledge.

a bare, freshly tilled field awaiting planting.

Field Studies: What do You Mean 5 Bushels Per Acre is Not Significant?

Utilizing sound research results to help make decisions on the farm is a wise business practice. It can be confusing, however, when you see two numbers that are clearly not the same labeled as “not significantly different.”

Two beef heifers standing in a pasture. One is red, the other black and white.

Replacement Heifer Calculator

Excel decision aid to assist producers decide whether to raise or purchase replacement heifers.

A combine harvesting soybeans at dusk.

Field Studies: Blowing the Whistle on Marketing Claims

With technology surrounding today’s culture, data and marketing information has become a key part of life. The best way to determine if a product or practice is effective is to ask for the data and research backing a company’s claims. However, before a producer makes a decision, understanding the data and statistics is key.

A close shot of a black and red cow's face. A blurred white cow's head is in the foreground.

Lingering Health Effects in Cows and Bulls Following a Harsh Winter and Spring

While mortality directly due to harsh winter weather is much more likely in calves rather than adult cattle, older animals can be affected too, and some of those effects might linger into the days of better weather and warmer temperatures.

A woman riding a bike on a green hill. A bright blue sky with patchy white clouds is in the background.

Takeaways From the New 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

Recently, the second edition of Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans were released. So what is new in the guidelines? Here are some of the key takeaways from the updated guidelines.