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Youth and two adult helpers work with plants in box planters

SDSU Extension salutes their volunteers during National Volunteer Week

April 22, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension is proud to salute its dedicated volunteers during National Volunteer Week on April 19-25, 2026.

Two common praying mantises. The English mantis and the Chinese mantis.

Are There Praying Mantises in South Dakota?

The short answer to the title of the article is "yes." Both the European mantis and the Chinese mantis can be found in South Dakota. As their names indicate, neither species is native to North America.

several plots of alfalfa

Alfalfa Variety Trial Results

Progress reports for alfalfa variety trials.

Greenhouse bench containing plants in potted substrate exhibiting death (brown plants) and survival (green plants) after herbicide treatment.

SDSU Research Update on Herbicide Resistance Screening

SDSU Extension's herbicide resistance screening has been gathering valuable information on regional resistance patterns across South Dakota. Results will help guide herbicide selection, tank-mix strategies, and resistance management programs for growers.

Paul O. Johnson giving a presentation near a research plot.

Paul O. Johnson Retires After Dedicated Career in SDSU Extension

June 08, 2022

Paul O. Johnson, SDSU Extension Weed Science Coordinator and Northeast Research Farm Coordinator, is retiring after a dedicated 33-year career supporting the people of South Dakota in his role at SDSU Extension.

small black sap beetles on sweet corn

What’s Bugging Your Garden: Picnic Beetles

One of the most common garden insect questions I get asked is “what are those little black, spotted beetles that are in my sweet corn, tomatoes, raspberries and perhaps worst of all, in your beer! These little nuisances are called picnic or sap beetles. They are attracted to ripe or damaged fruit and vegetables.

a green melon hangs on a trellis

SDSU Extension to host Corn and Melon Disease Workshop at SDSU Southeast Research Farm

August 08, 2023

Field corn, sweet corn and specialty melon growers looking to learn more about identifying and managing common diseases in their crops are invited to attend the South Dakota State University Extension Corn and Melon Disease Workshop.

A pile of brown wheat seeds

Fungicide Seed Treatments for Winter Wheat

As producers are preparing to plant winter wheat, one of the decisions to make is whether to use a fungicide seed treatment, and if the answer is yes, which product to use.

A bird’s-eye view of SDSU's Southeast Farm horticulture research plots.

Trials and Tribulations of Growing Squash and Cabbage in Living Mulch, Reduced Tillage Systems

Research on clover cover crops grown in combination with four tillage and weed suppression methods was conducted on organic transitional land at the SDSU Southeast Farm near Beresford, South Dakota in 2023.

two side-by-side fields. The left is labeled "a". It has uniform rows and soil. The right is labeled "b". It has ununiform rows and varying soil quality.

Field Studies: Setting up a Trial

Increasingly, farmers are generating on-farm research data that encompasses a wide-range of practical topics. However, setting up those experiments so that the data is statistically valid is not necessarily common knowledge.