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Pregnant black angus cow.

Late Gestation Planning Prior to Calving

For most, weaning is in the books and pregnancy detection is complete or soon to be underway. Now is the time to pay attention to those pregnant cows out on crop residue or grass.

Color-coded map showing the spring 2022 first-leaf return interval. For assistance reading this graphic and data set, please call SDSU Extension at 605-688-4792.

Late Spring Bloom in 2022

In South Dakota, with temperatures cooler than average in 2022, the arrival of spring has been later than usual. Indicators like the first leaf or bloom of some common plants can be used to define the arrival of spring.

Baskets of fresh vegetables at a farmers market

Local Foods: Whole Fresh Vegetables and Herbs

Fresh, whole raw fruits and vegetables grown in South Dakota can currently be sold without a food service license from the South Dakota Department of Health.

hand examining clump of soil organic matter

Soil: It’s Not Just Dirt

Most soils are complex ecosystems with worms, insects and microscopic organisms, which all work together in helping plants grow.

Soybean cyst nematode symptoms.

Know Soybean Cyst Nematode, Numbers Matter!

Have you noticed parts of your soybean field turning yellow earlier than expected? Are some of the plants stunted or showcasing a roller coaster appearance? Soybean cyst nematode may be to blame.

Man preparing several batches of pre-cooked meals for the week in plastic containers.

Batch Cooking With Protein

Batch cooking is the practice of cooking large amounts of food and keeping some for later meals. Ground and pulled meat and poultry, such as pork, chicken, turkey, beef, or bison are excellent options for batch cooking!

A shrub with blooming yellow flowers on its branches.

Spring Flowering Shrubs

Early spring flowering shrubs have a special place in our landscapes as they are the heralds of the warm weather yet to come.

Color-coded map of the Rapid City area showing flood risk scores.

South Dakota’s Changing Flood Risk

South Dakota’s flood risk is increasing in some areas of the state according to a recent report from the First Street Foundation. In 2020, 62,600 total properties are at substantial risk, with a projected increase to 63,000 properties by 2050.

A row of corn cobs in various colors and sizes

Indian Corn & Popcorn

Beautifully hued ears of dried ornamental corn appear this time of year in autumn decorations. In South Dakota, each fall the Corn Palace at Mitchell sports fresh murals from the naturally colored corn.

Merino sheep grazing on grassy pasture.

Using Rangeland to Extend Lambs to Meet a More-Optimal Market

Coming off a year of record prices across all classifications of sheep, the current drop in prices has been a bit discouraging. Using historic pricing data, we can observe seasonal price fluctuations that may make holding onto lambs a little longer a more-profitable option.