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Cattle grazing a high-diversity, native pasture.

How to Test Hay and Forage for Nitrate Levels Using Test Strips

Step-by-step instructions for how to complete Nitrate testing for forage and hay.

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The Small Grains Disease Forecasting System Could Save Producers Money

The South Dakota State University Small Grains Plant Pathology program has partnered with the Small Grains Plant Pathology program at North Dakota State University to deploy a small grains disease forecasting system for South Dakota. The system uses weather variables including rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity to predict the likelihood of disease development. This new tool has the potential to save growers money by helping them avoid unnecessary fungicide applications, or knowing when to apply a rescue fungicide treatment.

Three women sit at a booth in a small cafe.

Community Vitality helping train South Dakota board members for service with customized curriculum

June 15, 2023

The SDSU Extension Community Vitality team has created the Building Highly Effective Boards curriculum to teach South Dakota board members how to thrive in their roles.

Birds flying over a snow covered wetland

The Importance of Wetlands in Winter

Drive by a wetland in the dead of winter and it may look like a shut-down ecosystem, patiently waiting for spring to return. But that is simply not the case. While winter may present its own challenges, life goes on and wetlands play an important role.

A country garden with four raised garden beds.

New season of SDSU Extension Garden Hour starts May 5

April 23, 2026

The latest season of Garden Hour, South Dakota State University Extension’s popular webinar series for gardeners, will start on May 5, 2026.

sun rising over a cornfield. several grain bins are in the background.

Corn Grain Moisture Discount: Why and How Much?

Corn marketed at the standard moisture content of 15.5% and 56 pounds per bushel typically contains 47.3 pounds of dry matter and 8.7 pounds of water. At harvest, a producer has to decide whether to sell (or even store) his corn at ‘as is’ moisture content or mechanically dry it before taking it to the buyer.

A farmer watching the sun rise in a bare, unplanted field.

Being Proactive and Prepared During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Tips for South Dakota Farmers and Ranchers

August 10, 2020

Are you prepared to be gone from your operation for a month?

South Dakota Mesonet weather station along agricultural land in Beresford, South Dakota.

Building Resilient Farms Amid Increasing Weather Variability

Recent decades have brought a noticeable increase in climate variability in South Dakota. Understanding these trends and adopting adaptive management practices can help producers strengthen the resilience of their operations.

A manure pit in a dairy facility.

Understanding Manure Storage System Safety Risks

Many producers know and understand the risks associated with confined manure handling systems, but accidents and deaths still occur because unwarranted risks are taken as manure is being handled and removed from the systems.

Group of mixed cattle grazing drought-stressed pasture.

Maintaining Cow Herds in Times of Limited Fall and Winter Moisture

Lack of moisture has been a common theme for a majority of beef cattle producers in the Northen Great Plains the last few years. These conditions cause beef producers to stretch grazing resources and feed inventory reserves.