Search

Bison herd roaming a vast, rolling plain.

Show Me the Home Where the Buffalo Once Roamed

Have you ever wondered when and where bison were roaming during the colonial period in North America and before? Take an in-depth look at the historic extent of occurrence of bison to better understand their natural habitat.

Former cropland replanted with a variety of grasses and broadleaf plants.

Replanting Cropland Back to Grassland

Planting cropland back to grassland takes some planning regarding previous herbicide use, soil fertility and seed bed preparation. The first step is to identify what resources are currently available to help you reach your objectives and what problems may need to be addressed.

Left: Soil from long-term no-till field, exhibiting good soil aggregation through clumping and smaller pieces of soil. Right: Soil from conventionally managed field that included tillage and crop residue removal. Notice the soil is lighter brown, indicating lower organic matter, and the pieces of soil are in larger chunks with no visible indication of clumping or structure.

Organic Agronomy Starting to Impact

For decades scientists have known that a handful of soil contained more micro-biological organisms than the number of humans on earth. Science is just beginning to discover these organisms and learn about their functions and contribution to their soil ecosystem.

A metal high tunnel enclosed in plastic is in a field

SDSU Extension hosts hands-on high tunnel build experience

April 23, 2024

South Dakota State University Extension is offering a four-day workshop, How to Build a High Tunnel, on May 7-8 and 14-15, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Registration is required, and space is limited.

A group of people stands inside a high tunnel

SDSU Extension to host 4th annual Specialty Crop Field Day

August 28, 2024

This free, family-friendly event will feature a series of presentations and field tours related to small- to mid-scale commercial vegetable production research trials. Field tours will feature SDSU Extension research plots of cucumbers, tomatoes, melons, onions, peppers and broccolini.

grey to brown fly with large eyes and elongated mouthparts

What are Those Gigantic Flies?

As we progress later into the summer, we commonly see an increase in horse fly activity.

Aerial view of South Dakota wetlands.

Prairie Pothole Wetlands: Small Basins, Big Impact

The benefits of prairie wetlands extend far beyond wildlife. These wetlands filter pollutants and excess nutrients from agricultural and urban runoff, trap sediment, recharge groundwater, and store floodwater.

Adele Harty, Sara Bauder and Connie Strunk, pose with Pam Geppert, winner of the Friend of SDAAEP award.

South Dakota Agricultural Extension Professionals Present 2021 Awards

December 08, 2021

The South Dakota Association of Agricultural Extension Professionals announced the 2021 state and regional award winners at their annual meeting on Oct. 26. The association also presented its Friend of SDAAEP award to Dakota Farm Talk’s Pam Geppert.

A tall, grassy, warm-season cover crop blend grown in Central South Dakota.

Cover Crops 2019: What to Plant When

As many Midwest producers look to cover crops to build soil health and provide supplemental forage after a soggy spring, many questions are arising regarding management decisions, specifically, species selection and planting timing.

Group of producers attending a grassland management workshop.

South Dakota Grassland Management Resources

The South Dakota Grassland Coalition provides educational opportunities for producers and agency personnel alike and has a wealth of informational tools available to share with others seeking assistance.