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Root Weevils: Accidental Invaders

The latest insects to find their way inside South Dakota homes are the root weevils, a kind of beetle characterized by a distinct snout on the front of its head.

an image of a field of soybeans

Soybean Production: Cost-effective pest management practices

Chemicals were one of the most expensive individual costs in soybean production, behind only to seed in the non-land cost category. The average cash-rent soybean production farms incurred a crop chemical cost of $39/ac in 2015, an 88% increase from 2010.

an image of fresh tomatoes

Farmers Market Food Safety: Health & Hygiene

Health, hygiene and hand washing apply to all stages of production, processing and marketing. Ill food handlers can easily contaminate fresh produce with disease-causing microorganisms. Many of these organisms have the capability to survive on fresh fruits and vegetables for an extended time, from several days to weeks. Once the organism is established on fresh produce, it is very hard to remove.

grove of trees with noticable yellowing and browning on leaves

Trees & Drought Stress

Trees require a lot of water to meet their functional needs and long-term shortages can influence their growth and survival.

Young man pruning an asparagus plant in a fall garden.

Asparagus

One of the keys to growing healthy asparagus is to allow the plants plenty of time to develop the big ferny stems, starting about the first of July. This ferny growth produces the carbohydrates that the plant needs to grow and also store up for the winter and next year’s initial crop of spears.

Chalkboard with the words “Lactose Intolerance” written on it next to a glass of milk.

Eat Confidently With Lactose Intolerance

February is Lactose Intolerance Awareness Month, a time to clear up confusion about the condition and return to confidently eating the dairy foods you love!

food thermometer being callibrated in oven

How to Calibrate a Meat Thermometer

A properly calibrated meat thermometer is key for achieving both meat safety and quality.

patch of reed canary grass in pasture

Reed Canary Grass: Possible Prussic Acid & Alkaloid Issues

Prussic acid issues with reed canary grass are poorly understood and may go unrecognized if they occur. This article addresses a little-known but interesting aspect of the biology of reed canary grass.

sweet potato fries on plate

Root Vegetables & Sheet Pan Cooking

Stock up on root vegetables in the fall. They’re inexpensive and provide variety to meals when other fresh vegetables are out of season.

harvester chopping corn silage, depositing silage into green wagon.

Silage: Minimizing Losses and Maximizing Value

Optimizing silage value starts by harvesting at the right moisture content.