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South Dakota Delegate, Matea Gordon, to Present at the Society for Range Management Annual Conference in Denver

February 07, 2020

Matea Gordon, sophomore at Sturgis Brown High School, has been selected by the South Dakota section of the Society for Range Management (SRM) to participate in the High School Youth Forum (HSYF).

South Dakota 4-H Members Participate in Western National Roundup

February 07, 2020

Members of South Dakota 4-H attended the Western National Roundup January 8-12, 2020, in Denver, Colorado.

A producer loading a planter with fungicide-treated soybean seeds.

Pre-Plant Disease Management Considerations

If the forecast holds true, it looks like it is going to be another year of excessive soil moisture and possible flooding come this spring. The increased level of soil moisture has implications with regards to plant stand establishment as well as root rot and nematode infestations.

A steer standing in a feedlot. Its middle back has a visible bald spot due to lice.

Winter Lice Control

Seeing cattle rubbing hair off due to lice infestations can be extremely frustrating. Not only are the cattle damaging fences and equipment, there also can be performance losses and health issues not to mention that the cattle are simply not as visibly appealing, which can be very important for seedstock producers or feeders selling backgrounded feeders.

Young girl pretending to cook in a children's play kitchen.

Let Kids Pretend!

Pretend play is as natural as eating and sleeping to kids and should not be dismissed. It is teaching them to practice being in the world and problem solving.

Black angus cattle feeding in a feedlot.

What Goes Into Calculating Yardage?

Yardage cost is the non-feed cost per head for every day that an animal is fed harvested feed in some form of confinement. Yardage is usually associated with calves and yearlings in the feedlot, but this concept can apply to drylotted or wintering cows as well.

herd of cattle in a muddy feedlot with serious flooding. FEMA News Photo

Dealing With Spring Mud and Flooding

As the snow melts, we are going to be left to deal with mud at a minimum and extensive flooding as a possible worst-case scenario. While we can’t control the pace of melting or the possibility of additional precipitation, we may be able to take a few steps to mitigate the negative impacts.

herd of beef cattle grazing in a pasture

Beef Management & Reproduction Report Card

SDSU Extension tool for producers to track the critical management factors that affect reproductive success in beef cattle.

A small herd of cattle grazing in snow-covered, spring pasture.

Bunch the Cow Herd

Reproduction is one of the biggest drivers of economic success. Cows stressed by cold, wind, snow, and mud will put energy resources into body condition maintenance and lactation prior to recycling.

a wordmark for the 2020 Soil Health Awareness Day

South Dakota Declares February 21 Soil Health Awareness Day

February 20, 2020

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has declared February 21, 2020 Soil Health Awareness Day. Agriculture contributes over 132,000 jobs and 32.5 billion dollars in total output to South Dakota’s economy.