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Three-generation family going for a walk in the countryside.

Move Your Way® Campaign: How much physical activity do I need and what counts?

Everyone can benefit from moving their bodies more throughout each day, and all types of activity count towards your daily goals. Find what works for you in the Move Your Way® campaign!

a small group of 4-H youth painting over graffiti with their 4-H youth advisor. Photo courtesy of National 4-H.

4-H Character Education Project

Good character is the foundation for everything positive in your life. Put your upstanding values to good use and share what a reputable citizen looks like with your peers.

a leafey green plant with bright pink stems

Two Favorite Spring Vegetables

After a long winter with no fresh homegrown vegetables, many gardeners really look forward to that first spring harvest of asparagus and rhubarb.

Gray beetle resting on the purple blossom of an alfalfa plant.

Blister Beetles Already Appearing in Alfalfa

Large blister beetles populations were observed while scouting alfalfa this past week. While they usually aren’t an issue until after the first cutting, this early activity means growers should monitor alfalfa fields prior to harvest for the remainder of the season.

A field with patches of soil exhibiting poor water infiltration.

Farm Practices That Improve Soil Health: Cover Crops and Crop Residues

Planting cover crops and returning crop residues (stover) to the soil both adds nutrients and improves overall soil quality. These practices are common with producers across South Dakota and have been recently studied by researchers to identify how they impact the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

A stack of binders and file folders on a wood table.

Organize this! Legal and Financial Must-Haves

A fiduciary is a person with legal authority to act on your behalf in a variety of situations (health care, financial, guardianship, executor, trustee, etc.). Organization is the key to ensuring your fiduciary knows what to do and when.

Young woman holding an older woman’s hands.

SDSU Extension to host Chronic Disease Awareness Day gatherings

June 12, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension Better Choices Better Health – South Dakota will host an educational webinar and community gatherings at locations throughout the state on July 10, 2025, for Chronic Disease Awareness Day.

A closeup shot of a sheep's eye.

Small Ruminant Abortions: Cleanup and facility considerations

Sheep and goat producers in the upper Midwest rely on annual lamb or kid crops to maintain economic viability. Reduction in the lamb or kid crop due to abortion (premature birth) and stillbirths are a common occurrence on many farms. Some of these problems have implications for human health as well as animal health.

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

Alfalfa Weevil Activity Prediction Update: May 29, 2024

Most alfalfa weevil larvae that were observed this week were between the first and second instar, but it is likely that later instars are present in southern counties.

Former cropland replanted with a variety of grasses and broadleaf plants.

Replanting Cropland Back to Grassland

Planting cropland back to grassland takes some planning regarding previous herbicide use, soil fertility and seed bed preparation. The first step is to identify what resources are currently available to help you reach your objectives and what problems may need to be addressed.