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Black, yellow, and brown wasp in a clear container

Huge Wasps on My Tree! No, Those Still Aren’t Murder Hornets.

Another insect that has been mistaken for the Asian giant hornet (also known by its media-popularized name of ‘murder hornet’) is the horntail wasp. Horntail wasps are wood-boring insects that are harmless to humans, as they do not have venom and cannot sting.

A soybean field with plants yellowing and dropping leaves in larger portion of the field while the rest of the field has green soybean plants.

Drought Stress or Stem Canker Killing Soybean Plants?

Several soybean fields scouted in a number of Eastern counties have plants dying or dropping leaves prematurely. While the majority of these fields have drought stress causing early senescence, a few fields have also stem canker developing

yellow-green grasshopper with black chevron markings on its hind leg sitting on a tan surface.

Grasshoppers May Be an Issue for Winter Wheat This Fall

We have recently observed large populations of grasshoppers in Southeast and Western South Dakota. Due to their destructive feeding habits, it is very important to monitor their populations prior to and during winter wheat planting.

Orange beetle with black markings on an orange flower

Orange Beetles Are Killing My Flowers, or Are They?

Many gardens are being invaded by orange beetles that have a strong preference for flowering plants. Rest assured, these are soldier beetles and they aren’t feeding on the flowers! Instead, they are actually predators and pollinators.

Three common aphids. From left: Green peach aphid colony. Potato aphid colony. Foxglove aphid on the underside of a pepper leaf.

Are Your Pepper Plants Covered With Aphids?

During this time of the growing season, it is common to observe aphids on garden plants, including peppers. However, when dense aphid populations are present, they can reduce pepper yields and cause rapid plant health decline.

Left: Common asparagus beetle adult. Right: Twelve-spotted asparagus beetle adult.

Asparagus Beetles Active in South Dakota

Two insects that we recommend scouting for in asparagus are the common asparagus beetle and the twelve-spotted asparagus beetle. Learn how to identify and manage both before they cause serious issues in your garden.

A series of food trucks lined up at a community event.

If You Build It, They Will Come: Building a Local Tourism Event

Whether realizing it or not, entities across South Dakota have overcome many hurdles to launch entrepreneurial tourism-focused ventures. For the rest of us, let’s take a moment to consider core steps in building your next big idea.

Rancher holding a notepad beside a feed bunk.

Capitalizing on Cow Costs

Feeding cows is one area of consideration when analyzing the cost of keeping a cow through her production year. Through small management choices, we can decrease the cost of the cow while maximizing on opportunities.

a man standing in front of a cornfield

SDSU Extension Weed Evaluation Extension Demonstration Available at South Dakota State Fair

September 01, 2020

The SDSU Extension Weed Evaluation Extension Demonstration project will be available to the public at the South Dakota State Fair September 2-September 7.

A medium-sized cooler trailer with "Pack N Cool" lettering on the side

Mobile Walk-in Cooler for Growers

Growers in South Dakota who are looking for an inexpensive way to cool their produce may want to consider a technology adapted by North Carolina State University (NCSU) Researchers.