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4-H youth washing a black beef cow in preparation for a fair.

Fair Season Biosecurity

Fairs are a big part of youth livestock programs, but they come with a responsibility to care for animals the right way. With a few extra steps, you’ll be doing your part to keep your animals, your barn, and your community healthy, now and for the seasons to come.

Rows of corn growing inside a research facility.

Consumer Demand for Genome-Edited Crops: Implications for Farmers’ Adoption Decisions

Genome-editing is a breakthrough technology for crop improvement that makes site-specific modifications in the genomes of cells and organisms.

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.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offices in Washington, D.C.

Organophosphate Insecticides Under Continual Review by the Environmental Protection Agency

Recent moves by the EPA to limit or prevent the use of organophosphate insecticides present challenges for growers seeking effective pest control. So, what is motivating these changes, and what do they mean for producers?

Four youth smile with certificates

SDSU Extension names 4-H State Ambassadors for 2025-‘26

October 10, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension 4-H is pleased to announce the youth chosen as State 4-H Ambassadors for the coming year.

Tools for measuring grassland growth placed in a rangeland project area.

Monitoring Success

While periodic monitoring is necessary for continued success, a thorough evaluation in the first few months will tell you a lot about grazing levels, benefits to livestock and livestock-to-acre ratio.

small group of dairy cattle grazing in a pasture near a red monoslope barn

Dairy Cattle Publications

Salts accumulate on the soil surface of a field with salinity issues.

Soil Salinity, Sodicity, and Alkalinity in South Dakota Soils

Salinity and sodicity are issues that negatively affect crop production and soil health in South Dakota.

Group of students eating lunch at school

Farm to School

Farm to school provides an opportunity for youth in early childcare, educational settings, after-school programs and other settings to experience local foods.

Hands reviewing a document and pointing to a certain section with a pen

4-H Policy and Procedure Overview

This overview provides the overarching guidance for South Dakota 4-H polices and procedures.