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A young girl playing with colored wooden blocks.

Playing With Blocks

Who remembers building glorious structures and towers with wooden blocks? And then having a sibling knock them down and having to rebuild it over again? There are so many learning experiences with building and making mistakes in block play.

A red angus cow with two unweaned calves attempting to suckle from it.

Alternative Calving Considerations

Structuring a calving program that best suites farm and ranch operations can be challenging. Of primary concern are: weather, labor, market timing, and animal health considerations, with weather possibly being the most volatile factor, as it ranges from challenging to catastrophic in some years.

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

Testing Your Beef Cattle for Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus

Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) is among the most important pathogens affecting today’s beef and dairy cattle operations. Associated with reproductive, digestive, and respiratory illnesses in cattle, the virus can also create a congenital, persistent infection in calves, greatly aiding the virus’ spread within and between herds.

an image with several young people with awards they have won

South Dakota 4-H Members Compete in Livestock Judging Contest at 2019 North American International Livestock Exposition

January 13, 2020

South Dakota 4-H youth from Clark, Deuel and McCook counties competed in the 2019 National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest held on Nov. 19, 2019, in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) in Louisville, Kentucky.

Almonds, a tablespoon of oil, and almond butter sitting on a countertop

How to Make a Safe Nut Butter

During the last few years the popularity of plant-based butters has increased considerably. These plant-based nut butters have proven to be good sources of protein, fiber, essential fatty acids and other nutrients and may include soy butter, almond butter, pistachio butter, cashew butter, sesame butter, and so on.

A South Dakota Mesonet station in a snow-covered field.

Livestock Stress Tool

Weather conditions in the Northern Plains can present more than a few challenges for livestock producers. From below zero or blizzard conditions during winter or even spring, to heat waves in the summer months, farmers and ranchers need to be prepared for rapidly changing conditions to provide the best care for their livestock and minimize their risks of losses.

Frost-covered grass in a winter pasture.

SWOT Analysis for Your Ranch (And Don’t Forget About Yourself)

Completing a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis allows you to evaluate your operation's current position and decide on management strategies to achieve your goals for the next year. Learn how to get started today!

Portrait of schoolchildren with teacher performing daily physical exercises in classroom during break on lesson

Brain Breaks in the Classroom

Do your students struggle with behavior or staying on task? Boost your classroom productivity with Brain Breaks!

Local farm to school team members in a school cafeteria.

Building Your Farm to School Team

Putting together a farm to school team should include a core group of individuals and agencies dedicated to the farm to school mission. View a list of potential team members to help get your team started today!

an image of three youth in green jackets in front of a display

South Dakota State 4-H Ambassadors Attend National 4-H Youth Agri-Science Summit

January 24, 2020

Hands-on learning experience prepared youth to develop an action plan to address local agri-science challenges.