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Black angus bull and heifers.

Trichomoniasis: A Tricky Cause of Reproductive Failure in Beef Cattle

Trichomoniasis in cattle is caused by a protozoal organism that lives indefinitely in the sheath of infected bulls. Once transmitted to a cow or heifer, it causes an inflammation in the female reproductive tract that results in the eventual loss of the pregnancy.

Wildlife and the Bottom Line

As the fall harvest wraps up and this year’s calf crop is weaned, many producers may be nervous about what their paychecks will look like for 2016. In tough market conditions, it can be tempting to try to squeeze just a bit more production out of the land.

Gray beetle on a green alfalfa stem.

Blister Beetles Are Ramping Up

Within the past week, blister beetles have become a common appearance in South Dakota alfalfa. While we managed to avoid early infestations this year, fields should now be monitored prior to harvest for the remainder of the growing season.

Beef carcass prepped for evaluation in a meat lab.

SDSU Extension, USDA FSIS to co-host food safety summit

July 22, 2024

South Dakota State University Extension invites meat and poultry industry professionals to attend a virtual summit about federal meat regulations and current food safety issues.

A few small, green weed plants among a background of brown dirt, tan crop residue and green soybean plants.

Excess Moisture and Heat Will Likely Increase Weed Growth and Germination

With warmer temperatures on the horizon, crop growth and development is set to rapidly increase, and so is weed growth and germination. Learn some expert tips for scouting and managing later-emerging weeds.

Two pictures of green sunflower plants amongst brown dirt and tan crop residue. Taller, green corn plants can be seen in the distance.

Would you rather know or assume? A reminder to check varieties before spraying.

No matter how busy you are this growing season or in the future, you should never be too busy to stop and take a few minutes to double check herbicide types and crop varieties before spraying.

Plastic resealable bag containing larger ash gray blister beetles and smaller Dectes stem borer adults with long antennae.

Dectes Stem Borer Adults Are Active in Soybean

SDSU Extension is again surveying soybean in South Dakota for Dectes stem borer adults. After a slow start this growing season, large populations of beetles were observed in soybeans last week.

Numerous nymph grasshoppers feeding on corn.

Monitor Crops for Grasshopper Activity

Abundant precipitation throughout much of South Dakota has resulted in less grasshopper observations. However, in areas where grasshoppers were an issue in 2023, they are starting to show up again.

Flooded soybean field with tan, corn residue throughout.

Replanting in Flooded Soybean Fields

If you have large, flooded areas where soybeans have died this summer and herbicides are limiting your replant options, consider trying late-maturing soybeans as cattle feed this year.

Color-coded map of South Dakota showing Fusarium Head Blight risk throughout the state. For a detailed description, please call SDSU Extension at 605-688-4792.

Fusarium Head Blight Forecast

The warm and humid conditions prevalent in South Dakota throughout June 2024 have significantly favored Fusarium head blight disease development. As of this week, the risk for Fusarium head blight has begun to increase.