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Cow with an injured foot walking along side calf.

The Many Shades of Cattle Lameness

Lameness in cattle is a commonly encountered condition stemming from pain in one or more limbs, impacting how an animal moves. Learn some of the obvious and subtle symptoms to check for when lameness is suspected in your animal.

Outside entrance to a large-animal veterinary clinic.

COVID-19 and Livestock: Is there a connection?

When reports of the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the US, very few people had likely heard of coronaviruses—with some notable exceptions: cattle producers and their veterinarians.

Owners of a specialty crop farm smiling at each other in a small on-farm market as a customer shops in the background.

Resources to Stay Safe on Specialty Crop Farms

When was the last time you’ve thought about safety on your farm? View a collection of science-based safety resources for small and medium-scale commercial specialty crop farms from the field to the market.

Cattle using a fabricated windbreak in north western South Dakota.

Don’t Discount the Need for Vitamin A and E in Beef Cows During Winter

Supplying sufficient Vitamin A and Vitamin E to cows in late gestation is important every year. Vitamins A and E are plentiful in green forages, but tend to be much lower in hay and winter range and continue to decline as the fall and winter progress.

a fern plant growing in a mulched garden with tall, brown growths at its center

Ferns: A Classic Shade Garden Plant

When people think of a natural, shady area in the woods, they probably expect to see ferns growing there. Ferns are commonly found where they get at least some sun during part of the day, or where they receive dappled sunlight most of the day.

Winter wheat field.

Winter Wheat and Nitrogen: Decisions for 2026 Growing Season

With fertilizer representing one of the largest variable costs in wheat production, inefficient nitrogen use can quickly erode profit margins. This being said, an emphasis should be placed on how to improve nutrient management during the 2026 growing season.

Cover page of the USDA publication, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025

The 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans include dietary recommendations for all life stages, from birth to older adulthood, along with pregnant and lactating women.

rancher and employee discussing an issue near hay bales

Four Feedback Foes

While annual performance reviews are valuable to the productivity of your operation and communication with your employees, constant communication throughout the year is even more valuable.

Alternaria leaf spot symptoms appearing as brown, haloed cankers throughout the leaves of a cucurbit plant.

Cucurbit Diseases in South Dakota

Cucurbit crops grown in both the field and in high tunnels face disease pressure from many fungal and bacterial diseases. Learn how to identify and manage some of the most common ones.

Hand examining drought-stressed soybeans in the field.

Salvaging Drought-Stressed Soybeans as Feed

One of the more popular questions we’ve been receiving lately involves using soybeans as forage. Although the soybeans planted for grain are not typically bred for forage use, we can salvage the crop for said forage if need be.