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Teacher pouring a small amount of seed into a student's hand to construct a tiny greenhouse.

Plant the Seed

In this Grow Getters lesson, students will learn to identify the parts of a seed and the growth and development of a seed to a plant.

A young, freckled girl eating small, red tomatoes inside a greenhouse.

Agritourism

When a producer has decided to sell a product directly from the farm, entertainment or tourism-based activities could be incorporated to create larger appeal. Agritourism could add value to the farm visit though education, entertainment, outdoor recreation, dining, relaxation or other avenues, potentially drawing more customers in.

Green alfalfa weevil larvae with a white stripe running down its body.

Alfalfa Weevil Activity Prediction Update: May 29, 2025

The lowest calculated degree days in South Dakota indicate that fourth instar larvae should be active, while the highest calculated degree days suggest that pupation is occurring in the field.

Green beetle larvae with a white stripe running down its body.

Alfalfa Weevil Activity Prediction Update: May 25, 2023

Last week we confirmed both alfalfa weevil adult and larval activity in alfalfa. Scouting should continue, as the forecasted warm weather will promote alfalfa weevil larvae feeding.

Green alfalfa weevil larvae with a white stripe running down its body.

Alfalfa Weevil Activity Prediction Update: May 22, 2025

Degree day accumulations for alfalfa weevil larvae indicate that third to fourth instar larvae should be active in fields throughout South Dakota.

A group of children examining the parts of a wildflower in a meadow.

Plant Part Powers!

Following this lesson, participants will be able to identify basic plant parts and use more complex plant part vocabulary.

Top: Army cutworm caterpillar. Bottom: Pale western cutworm caterpillar.

Monitor Wheat for Early-Season Cutworm Activity

It's finally warming up in South Dakota, and insect activity in wheat fields will be increasing. For wheat, a couple of early-season pests that may already be active are the army cutworm and the pale western cutworm.

Gray beetle with long antennae that are alternating white and black pattern on green leaf petiole.

Dectes Stem Borer Adults Active in Sunflower

In South Dakota, one of the insects that is commonly observed in sunflower is the Dectes stem borer larva. At this point in the season, adults are beginning to become active with females laying eggs in sunflower plants.

vegetables growing in three plastic tubs

Growing Vegetables in Tubs

You can grow lots of vegetables in plastic container gardens. The important things to remember are using a good growing medium and keeping enough water on the plants as they get larger.

Red-brown colored weevil with bent antennae originating on the elongated mouthparts.

Red Sunflower Seed Weevils Are Active

Red sunflower seed weevils are active in South Dakota sunflowers. We noticed that many fields at R5 stages are already being sprayed, but scouting should still continue in those fields after application, and it should begin for fields that will reach the R5 stage within the next week.