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Two adult wasps side-by-side. The left is black and yellow and is resting on a green leaf. The right is black, yellow and burnt orange in color and is resting on a piece of wood.

Wasp Activity Is Ramping Up

With their distinctive black and yellow stripes and tendency to hang out in groups, wasps receive attention no matter the time of year. As the weather warms up and spring progresses, you may notice more wasp activity in your yard or around your house.

An alfalfa field with noticeable dead patches due to winter kill.

Dealing With Alfalfa Winter Kill

Winter kill and general stand loss of alfalfa has specifically been of concern in many parts of South Dakota the last two years. Most observed alfalfa winter kill is due to low, wet or flooded areas where plants were suffocated and died over the winter.

A red, tractor-mounted sprayer with its tank being flushed by a hose connected to a large truck.

Preparing Spray Solutions: Mixing Order

Before mixing any pesticide always check the pesticide label for instructions on compatibility of two or more pesticides. Some herbicides and carriers require a compatibility agent, some are not compatible with a compatibility agent.

onions still in the ground with their tops bending over

Growing Onions

Onions have been a commonly grown vegetable for thousands of years. They are easy to grow, nutritious and can be stored for months until they are needed as part of a meal. There are many different kinds of edible members of the Allium genus but bulbing onions are the most commonly grown.

A patch of soil with kochia weeds growing throughout.

Temperature and Herbicide Performance

In South Dakota, the spring can come with a wide range of temperature fluctuations. This will affect the performance of burndown herbicides. Depending upon the target weed, type of herbicide and application rate, there will likely be decreased weed control in cooler temperatures.

Several bundles of fresh carrots on display at a farmers market.

Carrots: How to Grow It

Carrot is a hardy, cool-season vegetable. Carrots are eaten both raw and cooked and they can be stored for winter use.

A red, round hay baler that has been burned up from a fire.

Preventing an Unwanted Baler Fire

Forage harvesting for hay will soon be upon us, and we need to take the time to prepare our equipment and ourselves for a safe and successful forage harvest when utilizing a baler.

Young, emerging corn plants with browning on their leaf tips due to frost damage.

Low Temperature Damage to Corn and Soybean

Temperatures are forecast to reach 32°F or lower in large areas of South Dakota for several nights beginning on May 7, 2020. While a relatively low percentage of planted crops are likely to be emerged at this point in time, producers may still want to evaluate individual fields for crop damage.

A few wheat plants showing heavy yellowing mosaic symptoms due to Wheat streak mosaic virus.

Wheat Streak Mosaic Disease Developing in Winter Wheat

Although the majority of winter wheat in the state is rated good to excellent in the recent USDA-NASS report, a few winter wheat fields in Central South Dakota have been diagnosed with wheat streak mosaic disease (WSMD) caused by wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV).

Pumpkins and winter squash on display at a farmer's market.

Harvesting and Storing Pumpkins and Winter Squash

The gardening season will soon come to an end, but we can still enjoy pumpkins and winter squash well into the winter months if we take some extra care during the harvest and storage process.