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Person carving a pumpkin on an outdoor picnic bench.

Pumpkin Carving Preservation

Pumpkin carvers can use several techniques to slow or prevent the spread of pathogens and help their jack-o’-lanterns last longer. Learn some expert tips for getting the most out of your pumpkin carvings this fall.

A sprawling green field of field pea plantings

Field Pea Variety Trial Results

2025 field pea trial results data from different locations in South Dakota.

A stand of field peas mixed with small grains being grown for forage.

Chickpea Variety Trial Results

2025 chickpea trial results data from locations in South Dakota.

groups of ripe aronia berries of the Aronia melanocarpa variety

Aronia: Beautiful and Healthy

Aronia melanocarpa, or simply “aronia,” is an attractive shrub that has recently been gaining more attention in the Midwest – its berries are very high in antioxidants thought to be beneficial for human health.

harvested Christmas trees against a fence.

Choosing the Perfect Christmas Tree

Christmas tree lots are already beginning to spring up around the state and Thanksgiving marks the start of the Christmas tree season, with more than 30 million trees being sold between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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.

grasshopper sitting on plant leaf

Grasshopper Mites in South Dakota

Fact sheet that covers the ectoparasite grasshopper mites.

Canada thistle growing in a pasture.

Noxious and Pasture Weed Plot Data Report

Data books to use as a reference to select appropriate herbicide(s) for noxious and pasture weed

soybean pods

Soybean Variety Trial Results

Conventional soybean and soybean variety testing results for different locations across South Dakota.

Color-coded map of South Dakota indicating the number of classes of change in drought conditions from June 3 to September 2, 2025. For a detailed description, please call SDSU Extension at 605-688-4792.

Summer 2025 Climate Review and September Outlook

A record wet August in several locations marked the end of South Dakota’s meteorological summer. One challenge coming this fall will be determining how quickly field and crop conditions dry down to allow harvest activities to progress.