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ash leaves with orange to yellow gall-like spots

Tree Rust Diseases

Ash rust and crown rust are two common rust diseases that impact South Dakota trees.

Two rows of corn at V5 leaf growth stage looking down from above. Between the corn rows there are 3 separate cotton strips placed on the soil surface just before burial in a 2-inch-deep trench. The cotton strips are numbered for their identification after recovery at three different dates.

Cotton Strip Soil Test: Rapid Assessment of Soil Microbial Activity in the Field

Soil has always been considered as a living system due to its biological components: fungi, bacteria and plant roots. Under several ongoing research projects, we started researching how we can use ‘cotton strip assay’ to compare different cover crop mixes to optimize field soil activity and build up better soil health.

Older woman and her granddaughter smiling while they pose for a picture.

Dementia

Dementia is an umbrella term to refer to cognitive impairment of various types that interfere with a person’s day-to-day function. Researchers project that half of the adults over the age of 85 will be impacted by some form of dementia.

Two men walking near a drainage water recycling pond

SDSU Extension co-hosting regional water, drainage forum

August 08, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to announce the 2025 Tri-State Drainage Research Forum on Sept. 9-10 at McCrory Gardens in Brookings.

Two producers inspect the soil in a no-till field early in the growing season.

Gearing Up for the Grazing Season: Soil Health

Grazing season is around the corner and preparation before turning out is key. Understanding the intersection between soil health and grazing can help improve the function of your grazing system.

Color-coded map of the United States indicating precipitation probability for September through November 2021. Odds are leaning towards drier than average conditions in the three-month fall season.

Fall 2021 Climate and Drought Outlook

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seasonal Climate Outlook, released Aug. 19, 2021, projects drought conditions to continue through the fall season.

Woman delivering a bag food donations to a food bank manager.

Product Donations for Food Manufacturers

Interested in donating some of your slightly flawed food products to a food drive? View some food safety tips and donation considerations for food manufacturers in South Dakota.

two people holding hands

Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

Oat plants exhibiting crown rust symptoms.

Does Crown Rust in Oats Cause Problems for Livestock?

When wet, cool conditions predominate in the spring, crop producers may have to deal with crown rust in oats. When this crop disease is abundant, questions from livestock producers arise. Could crown rust in oats harm livestock if it’s present on pasture or in hay?

Several, U.S. fancy-grade peppers in a yellow bin.

Did the Deer Persevere? 2023 Evaluation of Clover Cover Crops as a Living Mulch for Pepper Production in Eastern South Dakota

Research report analyzing the relationship between four different clover species and four different soil management practices and their effects on pepper growth and yield as well as weed suppression.