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Understanding Hay Inoculants and Preservatives on ‘Dry’ Hay
As haying season approaches, producers across South Dakota will begin preparing to get out the baler. In recent years, it has been quite difficult for many producers to put up quality, dry hay. This often results in growers considering using inoculants and hay preservatives.

Gearing Up for the Grazing Season: Soil Health
Grazing season is around the corner and preparation before turning out is key. Understanding the intersection between soil health and grazing can help improve the function of your grazing system.

Mineral Consumption Calculator
Mineral consumption is key to determining whether or not nutrient requirements are being met. The mineral consumption calculator was developed as a tool to make monitoring and tracking consumption easier.

Grain Bin Safety Improvements
One major area of concern during fall harvest is producer safety in and around grain bins. Let’s examine some of the changes that producers could make to their current bins, which will help make them safer.

Are you ready for winter? ¿Està listo para el invierno?
The first winter experience can be a challenge if you don’t know what is ahead, except for that there will be snow and cold. Some simple tips will help you survive the snow, ice and low temperatures.

Newborn Lamb Care Management
Proper newborn lamb care is a critical component of flock profitability. In the U.S. lamb mortality from all causes is approximately 20% with more than 80% of those losses occurring in the first two-weeks following lambing.

Hay Harvest Contracting
For those landowners who typically lease or harvest grasslands for hay, contracting for services is a learned business that can have local variations in how the grass and associated services are valued.

May 2022 Drought and Climate Outlook
The May climate outlook favors cooler and wetter than average conditions. It is possible producers could experience some short-term drought relief, with a return to drought or re-intensifying in the mid-summer season.

Earwigs in the Garden: Less-Toxic Control Alternative
Since earwigs provide some ecological service as natural enemies, I hesitate to recommend a pesticide application to control it. As an alternative least-toxic solution, bait trapping the earwigs should work to reduce the insect’s population to the non-threatening levels.