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an oat field with healthy, green oat plants growing throughout

Plant Growth Regulator Reduces Height, Lodging in Oats

With the goal of reducing lodging in oats, SDSU Extension and a research team initiated a multi-location trial in 2018 growing season to study the effects of plant growth regulator (PGR) on oat performance.

Rows of vegetables are shown

SDSU Extension, SD Specialty Producers Association to host soil, cover crop field day

August 23, 2024

South Dakota State University Extension and the South Dakota Specialty Producers Association invite the public to attend a Soil Health and Cover Crop Field Day for vegetable growers.

Left: Lady beetle on red clover. Right: Cabbage looper on broccolini.

Friends and Foes of Brassica Crops

Brassica crops are a group of plants widely cultivated for their nutritional value and versatility in agriculture. Understanding their relationship with beneficial and detrimental insects is crucial for maintaining healthy crops and productive harvests.

Healthy soil with ample organic matter throughout.

Why Is Carbon So Important to Agriculture and Society?

Carbon is not only vital to soil health—it’s the foundation of our long-term food security. Learn some incredible facts about the role carbon plays in our soil and environment.

Three photos: Man mowing lawn, crab grass growing on lawn, sprinkler watering lawn.

Summer Lawn Care: Mowing, Weed Control and Watering Practices

During a summer of drought, the extreme heat, lack of rainfall and invasion of pests can really take a toll on our turf. Learn some general concepts of summer lawn care and techniques to help your lawn through difficult summer months.

Diseased sunflower head, showing sclerotia bodies that have replaced seeds.

Sclerotinia Concerns in Sunflower

Sclerotinia diseases are a concern in sunflowers, because the fungus can infect the plant through the root, mid-stalk or the head. Wet weather and cool temperatures two-to-three weeks prior to and during flowering favor disease development.

Adult red sunflower seed weevil on a sunflower leaf.

Malathion receives special local needs approval to treat red sunflower seed weevils in South Dakota from July 15 to August 31, 2025

The request was submitted and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency due to the large populations of red sunflower seed weevil present in South Dakota that are resistant to pyrethroid insecticides.

Three South Dakota fields that claimed prevent plant. The first field is planted with a cover crop. The second field has no cover crops, but tillage was completed to control weeds. The third has no cover crops and weeds are growing throughout.

Prevent Plant: Its Effect on Fall and Spring Fertilizing Plans

Driving around South Dakota, you can see the many acres that farmers were not able to plant. Now that fall soil-sampling season is well on its way, many people have questions regarding how different situations of prevented planting will affect soil sampling and fertilizer application needs.

veterinarian using a stethoscope on a horse

Another Piece of the Puzzle? Understanding South Dakota Veterinarian's Response to the Opioid Epidemic

Researchers at South Dakota State University (SDSU) wanted to understand the extent of this problem in South Dakota in order to better prepare veterinary clinics to deal with this epidemic.

variety of garden catalogs laying on a blue background

Choosing Vegetable Varieties for Your Area

Spring is coming and will be here before we know it. Gardeners are reading through catalogs, looking at that new variety of green bean, or maybe a gorgeous new tomato. The catalogs are written to hook you in by making these varieties look as good as possible. The photos are generally mouthwatering and the descriptions often seem a bit over-the-top.