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A woman applying bug spray to a teenager's arm.

How to Avoid Being Dinner: Preventing Tick and Mosquito Bites

Summer is here, and so are the opportunities to enjoy the long days and warm weather. Ticks and mosquitoes share the outdoors with us, and there are things you can do to prevent bites from both.

A small group of black angus cattle in a feedlot.

Virtual Feedlot Shortcourse to Begin July 16

August 10, 2020

SDSU Extension will commence its seven-week virtual feedlot shortcourse starting on July 16. The program is scheduled to run each Thursday at 12:30 p.m. CDT from July 16 through August 27.

A young man receiving an optometry examination.

Keep an Eye on Your Dairy Farm Employee Vision Health

With the aim to understand more about vision impairment with dairy employees, the SDSU Extension dairy team researched dairy employees' health status with a focus on vision care.

Mosquito with darker coloration and mosquito with white band on proboscis.

Know Your West Nile Virus Vectors

In some areas of South Dakota, recent precipitation has led to an increase in mosquito activity. To reduce the chances of contracting West Nile Virus, it is important to understand the behavior of the mosquitos capable of vectoring it.

A patty of dung with several holes in it and grass growing through it. It has been broken down by dung beetles.

Dung Beetles and Other Insects Can Help Breakdown Dung and Control Pests

This article summarizes findings related to dung beetle ecology and how dung beetles advance the breakdown of dung pats.

A male and femail dung beetle rolling a ball of dung in a pasture. Courtesy: Beverly Skinner/USFWS (CC BY 2.0)

Managing Livestock for Dung Beetles and Other Beneficial Species

South Dakota researchers have taken a closer look at the function of dung beetles in Eastern South Dakota over the last few years. This article summarizes findings related to management of livestock grazing and chemical pesticides in relation to dung beetle and insect community health.

several pieces of weather monitoring equipment in a green field

South Dakota Mesonet Weather Station at Eagle Butte Returns to Service

July 15, 2020

The South Dakota Mesonet at South Dakota State University has reactivated its weather station near Eagle Butte with the support of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Telephone Authority.

Monitor Livestock, Pets and Yourself for Eye Gnat Activity

While being outside this week, I noticed a lot of small gnats flying around my legs and really bothering my dogs. I caught a few and identified them as eye gnats. Although this pest is considered a nuisance in most cases, it is capable of transmitting diseases and pathogens.

NOAA climate map with preciptation outlook as of July 12, 2020. Most of South Dakota is predicted to have average to above average precipitation.

Late Summer 2020 Climate Outlook

Drought concerns in South Dakota may be relieved later this summer, according to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center’s seasonal outlook released this week.

Pollinators Party

In this lesson, participants will learn how plants reproduce and how to identify pollinators that help plants.