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A house and tacks of coins with a clock representing savings growth.

12 Tips to Simplify Your Finances

With each passing day, the demands on our time and financial resources increase causing us to do more in less time or spend more money on fewer items.

stack of coins in a vice atop a calculator representing a tight budget

4 Tips for Managing Money on a Low-Income

The number of families in the United States whom are in poverty is increasing. Nearly one-third of all working families or 10.4 million families are considered low-income.

Stacks of children's clothing ready for donation.

Cleaning Out Your Closets: Donate to kids to help build creativity

If you have things you are unsure what to do with and don’t want to just throw them away, think about contacting daycares, preschools, or churches to see if they could use some of the items for their play areas or to make toys/projects for their kids.

A chalkboard with "debt" written on it. Hand erasing the writing.

Debt Management

Many people face a financial crisis at some point in their life that can make it difficult to pay bills.

bunches of Aronia berries still on a bush

Soil Testing for Vineyards in South Dakota

Not all soils are conducive to growing quality grapes, so prospective vineyard sites should be tested before a decision is made to plant grapes. Tests can identify soils that are either too high in pH, salts, or salinity, or that are “too rich” (too high in organic matter and nitrogen) for grapes. In addition, testing before planting allows for the incorporation of nutrients—such as phosphorus—that do not move easily through the soil to plant roots.

Penstemon digitalis plant.

Penstemon

Penstemon grandiflorus and Penstemon augustfolius are both native to South Dakota.

A bushy green plant with pink flowers throughout.

Phlox

This week’s native perennials are both phloxes: Phlox divaricata (Wild Blue Phlox, or Sweet William) and Phlox pilosa (Downy or Prairie Phlox)

A group of matureing swine in a group pen.

Is it Time to Reconsider Trace Mineral Levels in Pig Diets?

Growing pigs require trace minerals such as copper, iron, manganese and zinc for various biochemical functions, including cellular development and energy metabolism, which lead to optimal health and immunity.

produce growing in a collection of raised beds in a SDSU Extension community garden

Community Gardens

Community gardens, organized by SDSU Extension staff and community volunteers, bring fresh produce to many rural communities and designated food deserts across the state.

An organic garden with flowers, plants, land vegetables growing.

Organic Herbicides

Many gardeners across the state of South Dakota desire to have weed-free gardens, yards and flowerbeds. Many homeowners do not want to use inorganic herbicides due to their potential health effects.