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A cow at the Cottonwood Field Station with her head in the green colored chamber of the GreenFeeder

Range Roundup: Precision Technology to Measure Cattle Methane Emissions and Intake on Western S.D. Rangelands

In a recent research project, our precision livestock team deployed technology to measure individual cattle methane emissions and feed intake by disappearance. Learn how this data can be used to help improve day-to-day management decisions on the ranch.

Two young woman inspecting plants growing on a vast, open range.

Range Roundup: South Dakota Women on the Range

With the percentage of women in agriculture expected to grow over the next few years, SDSU Extension will be launching a new program called South Dakota Women on the Range. The program will educate women about the importance of range management, while also empowering them to become leaders in the agriculture industry.

Registration open for 2026-2027 SowBridge educational webinars

January 27, 2026

Registration is open for the 2026-2027 educational SowBridge webinar series, which starts on Feb. 4, 2026.

Left: Ponderosa pine tree growing on rangeland. Right: Long, skinny, green needles on Ponderosa pine branch.

Pine Needles: Another Possible Threat to Beef Cow Pregnancies

For at least the past 50 years, consumption of Ponderosa Pine tree needles (and those from a few other pine tree species) by pregnant cattle has been recognized as a cause of abortions during the last trimester (three months) of gestation.

Black and white scan of Cottonwood Field Station soil map.

Range Roundup: Long-Term Grazing Records Can Guide Future Management

For nearly 80 years, researchers at the Cottonwood Field Station have monitored how different stocking rates have shaped plant communities. Today, these records are being compared with modern data to help us better understand how rangelands respond to long-term grazing management.

Rolling Rangeland with patches of snow with a wire snow catch fence on the right.

Reading the Range in Winter: What Dormant Season Clues Reveal About Spring

For range and grazing management, winter is one of the most revealing times of the year. With a few hours in each pasture, managers can gather a season’s worth of insight and set themselves up for a more-resilient grazing year.

The Healthy Swine Herd Series

Series of publications to keep your swine herd healthy

SDSU Extension co-hosting Cattlemen’s Education Day

February 03, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension, in partnership with the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, is hosting Cattlemen’s Education Day on Feb. 19, 2026.

Cow with newborn calf in late-winter pasture.

SDSU Extension encourages participation in Nebraska Extension Calving College

February 06, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension is encouraging cow/calf producers to participate in a series of calving workshops hosted by Nebraska Extension.

Black beef cattle at a feedbunk at an SDSU research facility.

Replacing Distillers Grains with Heat-Treated Soybeans to Increase Finishing Cattle Growth

Heat-treated soybeans offer interesting attributes that could enhance cattle growth. The SDSU Feedlot Research group recently examined how they can fit into modern cattle feeding diets.