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Huge Wasps on My Tree! No, Those Still Aren’t Murder Hornets.
Another insect that has been mistaken for the Asian giant hornet (also known by its media-popularized name of ‘murder hornet’) is the horntail wasp. Horntail wasps are wood-boring insects that are harmless to humans, as they do not have venom and cannot sting.
Drought Stress or Stem Canker Killing Soybean Plants?
Several soybean fields scouted in a number of Eastern counties have plants dying or dropping leaves prematurely. While the majority of these fields have drought stress causing early senescence, a few fields have also stem canker developing
Summer Maintenance in Outside Yards
Spring mud and poor drainage are two of the biggest production drags associated with feeding cattle outside. Summer months represent an opportunity to address and correct any problems that might be present in open lots.
SDSU Extension 4-H recognizes volunteers during 2025 State Fair
September 23, 2025
South Dakota State University Extension 4-H is pleased to announce that the 4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame and 4-H Shooting Sports Hall of Fame will add six individuals on Aug. 31, 2025, during the 2025 South Dakota State Fair in Huron. In addition, eight individuals will be recognized for their outstanding 4-H volunteer service.
Grasshoppers Already Moving Into Sunflower Fields
With grassland food sources being depleted earlier than usual due to drought, grasshoppers are moving into nearby crops in search of vegetation. In parts of western South Dakota, grasshopper nymphs have already been observed feeding on young sunflower plants.
A Case of Mistaken Caterpillar Identity
Tweets about European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) caterpillars in the stems of conventional corn and feeding in the whorls of corn are crossing my Twitter feed. Unfortunately, there is a problem with some of these tweets. Not all of the caterpillars that are being identified as European corn borer caterpillars are actually European corn borer caterpillars!
Looking Back: A History of Wheat Production in SD
In spite of the open winter and some of the worst drought conditions in history, South Dakota ended up with a very good wheat crop in terms of yield and quality in 2012. The winter wheat yields averaged 50 bushels to the acre; second highest average yield in SD recorded history.
Oat Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate Guidelines: Do we use the yield goal or maximum return to nitrogen approach?
Nitrogen is an essential plant nutrient commonly applied to oat crops. It is important to apply an appropriate rate of nitrogen fertilizer to oats, as too little can reduce economic return, while too much can lead to potential negative environmental effects.
Spring Wheat Variety Trial Results
The 2025 spring wheat variety trials were planted throughout various locations in South Dakota.
Goldenrod Soldier Beetle: A late-summer friend in the garden
A number of ornamentals are in full bloom, ablaze with colors and, in some cases, buzzing with insects. One such insect that you may have noticed in your lawns is the goldenrod soldier beetle or Pennsylvania leatherwing (Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus).