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A swift fox with her young sitting in a grassy patch of rangeland.

Swift Fox Status on South Dakota’s Grasslands

The swift fox (Vulpes velox) is a small fox native to the short and mixed-grass prairies of the Great Plains. In 2014, I began my master’s research at South Dakota State University monitoring the population of swift foxes around Badlands National Park in southwestern South Dakota. This population has recently declined, possibly due to various biotic and abiotic factors.

Pink and light-yellow lilies blooming in a garden.

Growing Lilies in the Home Garden

Lilies have long been a perennial staple of many gardens. They are prized for their large, showy, and often-fragrant flowers.

A group of people listening to a presentation
Oct 15

Eastern South Dakota Water Conference

The Eastern South Dakota Water Conference will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center (631 22nd Ave., Brookings, SD 57006).

Left Mosquito specimen with dark coloration. Right: Mosquito specimen with white band on its proboscis.

Mosquitos to Watch for in South Dakota

After many areas in South Dakota experienced heavy rainfalls, mosquitos are now a major issue. Learn which species are most common throughout the state and which carry the highest risk for West Nile Virus.

A field of green alfalfa test plots has dead patches due to winter injury of plants.

How Late is Too Late for the Last Alfalfa Cutting?

With a very challenging growing season and flooding across parts of South Dakota, many growers have struggled to harvest high quality forages in-between rains this summer.

Kristine Lang and Rhoda Burrows look at some plants with two men inside a high tunnel

The South Dakota State University Southeast Research Farm to host Field Day on July 11

June 30, 2023

The South Dakota State University Southeast Research Farm Field Day will be held on July 11 near Beresford, South Dakota.

A close-up photo of a plant with thick, waxy leaves that are pointed. There is a pink, feathery flower in the center of the waxy leaves.

How to Care for Succulents Indoors

Succulents are popular, low-maintenance house plants that will grow in your home year-round. Learn some expert tips for planting, growing and caring for them in this resource!

Hole in the ground with an installed bioreactor

Bioreactors and Your Bottom Line

Why are bioreactors unpopular and what can we do to incentivize farmers to put them in?

Producer holding a clump of healthy, plant-rich soil.

Fertilizing Grasslands

Grassland fertilization, like many other grassland management topics, is highly dependent on certain parameters, such as soil type, vegetation type and harvest methods.

Producer with tablet observing a field in late autumn.

Critical Period of Weed Control: A good, but not perfect guideline

The critical period of weed control is the period during a crop lifecycle when weeds need to be managed to avoid a significant yield loss.