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Organic Gardening: Soil Management

Gardeners throughout South Dakota are experimenting with organic gardening. While the adoption of organic gardening methods can be daunting, learning some fundamental soil management concepts will set the foundations for success.

Garden plant surrounded by a layer of wood chip mulch.

Organic Garden Mulches To Conserve Moisture and Prevent Weeds

If you want to reduce time spent in your vegetable and flower gardens watering or pulling weeds, consider mulching the soil surface with an organic material to improve plant health and your enjoyment of the garden.

Vast, rolling rangeland near the Black Hills of South Dakota.

'Good, Bad and Invasive Plant Tour' set for June 3

May 28, 2021

This year's tour will take place on June 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (CST) at Sica Hollow State Park near Sisseton.

Seecorn maggot larva feeding on a seed in a field.

Seedcorn Maggot Degree Day Activity Estimates: May 27, 2021

In South Dakota, we have accumulated enough degree days across the state that the peak emergence of the overwintering seedcorn maggot population has passed. In most of South Dakota, we are at peak emergence of the second generation or slightly past it.

Purple-brown caterpillar with orange head on a green corn leaf.

Common Stalk Borer Activity Estimate: May 27, 2021

Throughout South Dakota, we still haven’t accumulated enough degree days for common stalk borers to begin moving into corn, which is a good thing. At this point in time, common stalk borer activity is still going to be limited to weeds and grassy weeds.

Field bindweed spreading in a patchof bare soil.

Field Bindweed Control in Yards and Gardens

Field bindweed is one of the most-serious weed problems in South Dakota. Learn some tips for identifying, managing and controlling this invasive weed in your yard and garden before it becomes an issue.

Stripe Rust Starting To Develop in Winter Wheat

Stripe rust was found in a few winter wheat fields scouted this week. The presence of a few plants with stripe rust indicates there is inoculum of this pathogen in the state.

Next 'Notes from the Field' Webinar to be held June 4

June 01, 2021

South Dakota growers and agribusiness professionals are invited to join soybean research and Extension specialists from land-grant universities across the country as they host the monthly webinar series, "Science for Success: Notes from the Field."

South Dakota native grassland with a variety of plants and grasses growing.

Grassland Fertilization: Ecology

In the first article in this series, we discussed basic terminology and economics. This article focuses on the ecological impacts of fertilization in various grassland plant communities, including native rangelands and prairies.

Healthy, South Dakota native grassland with a variety of plants and grasses growing.

Grassland Fertilization: Native Pasture Case Studies – McPherson, Deuel, Grant and Clark Counties

Even our best native pastures, rangelands and prairies suffer from at least some level of invasion. Within this reality lies a wide gradient of quality of native grasslands that is largely influenced by past and present management.