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Fence line along a storm-damaged pasture in Butte County, South Dakota.

Pasture Recovery After Hail

When hail hits pastures, it essentially strips the leaves and breaks the stems of plants. When this occurs, it is essential to allow plants and grasses time to fully recover before grazing or haying again.

a room is pictured from above with round tables covered in blue and yellow tablecloths. a large picture of the SDSU jackrabbit logo is on the far wall

Save the date for 2024 SDSU Swine Day

July 23, 2024

South Dakota State University Extension invites swine producers and industry members to save the date for the 2024 SDSU Swine Day on Nov. 12 in Brookings.

Farmer signing a lease on the tailgate of a pickup.

Oral Lease Agreements Automatically Renew on September 1, 2024

September 1 is the automatic renewal date for all oral land lease agreements in South Dakota. If landowners or renters wish to make changes to the components of the lease, written notice must be given by the September 1 deadline.

A slanted bed biofilter diagram. Contact SDSU Extension for more information.

Slanted Bed Biofilter Construction: Lessons learned at the SDSU wean-finish unit

This article outlines the design considerations and cost to construct a slanted bed biofilter for a pit fan on the new South Dakota State University Swine Education and Research Facility wean-finish unit.

A young man analyzing the results of a pregnancy check on an electronic device.

Merits of Early Pregnancy Diagnosis in Replacement Heifers

By conducting early pregnancy diagnosis, producers can make management decisions that impact herd viability and expected financial outcomes.

Group of black angus cattle at a feeding trough.

Getting the Most Out of Your Cull Cows

Pregnancy detection is a tool that producers can use to manage cow herd expenses. An open cow continues to incur feed and health expenses until they are marketed. Early pregnancy diagnosis may increase profitability if open cows can be culled earlier.

A vast, open rangeland with a few patches of weeds.

Noxious Weed Control in Pasture and Range

Noxious weed control in pastures is becoming more of a challenge. Most ground commercial spray businesses are no longer spraying pastures. If they are, there may be restrictions on the time they will spray, what products they will spray, or they may only spray if they also have all of the rest of your spraying business.

Rancher looking at cattle in a pasture

Sustaining the Legacy

Agriculture is the lifeblood of South Dakota's economy. Sustaining the Legacy is the educational link to planning the continuance of multi-generational farming and ranching operations.

Sprawling rangeland with a diverse mix of native grasses and forbs.

Historical Trends in South Dakota’s Agricultural Land Values by Land Use

Average cropland and pasture values increased in all regions of South Dakota between 1991 and 2024. Learn some expert insights into South Dakota's regional trends in agricultural land values and rental rates for cropland and pasture/rangeland.

A green front-end-loader pulling a hay mower with a flushing bar.

Haying With Wildlife in Mind

Anyone who has spent time cutting hay knows that hayland can be a magnet for wildlife in late spring and early summer. Hay fields are often considered an “ecological trap” for wildlife; that is, they appear to be high quality habitat for nesting or feeding due to tall, dense grass and legumes, but often lead to increased mortality once harvesting is under way.