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Professional portrait of Jimmy Doyle

SDSU Extension welcomes new Diversified Ag Field Specialist to Winner office

September 29, 2023

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Jimmy Doyle as a new Diversified Agriculture Field Specialist.

a strand of oats in a field

Using Plant Growth Regulator in Oats Grown for Grain

With growers’ interest emerging, SDSU Extension and research faculty teamed up and initiated a study in 2016 in Northeast SD to evaluate the effects of plant growth regulator. The study was conducted at the SDSU Northeast Research Farm (NERF) near South Shore, SD.

Group of children eating fresh vegetables

SDSU Extension encourages eating locally produced food with 2025 Crunch Off

September 15, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension is excited to promote locally grown foods with the 2025 South Dakota Crunch Off.

Salts accumulate on the soil surface of a field with salinity issues.

Soil Salinity, Sodicity, and Alkalinity in South Dakota Soils

Salinity and sodicity are issues that negatively affect crop production and soil health in South Dakota.

Cover Crop Adoption: Farmers’ perceived benefits & barriers

Cover crops are generally defined as crops planted between cash crops to cover and protect the soil. Some demonstrated benefits of cover crops include: reduced soil erosion, increased soil organic matter, increased biological variety, increased nitrogen supply, and weed control. Depending on the farmers’ objectives, different species of cover crops can be planted. For example, if a farmer’s main objective is to increase nitrogen supply, then legume cover crops best suited to the farm area should be selected.

Three calving books on display: Rite in the Rain book, SDSU Extension IRM Redbook, and the K-State cow/calf record book.

Calving Books: Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

Calving books are an essential record-keeping component for cow-calf operations. Learn some expert tips for finding a book that best suits your operation and employees.

Two producers inspecting a dairy barn.

Emergency Preparedness on Dairies

Being prepared for an emergency on your dairy can significantly improve recovery time from an unexpected incident.

Herd of cattle grazing a flood-impacted pasture.

Management of Flood-Damaged Pastures

Receding flood water is just the start of recovering pasture ground following a flood event. Learn some expert tips for thoroughly evaluating damaged pastures before regrazing.

sun rising over South Dakota field

Strengthening the Heartland

Strengthening the Heartland (STH) developed through the collaborative efforts of faculty from SDSU Extension and North Dakota State University Extension. With generous grant support from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, STH is dedicated to providing services that prevent opioid misuse in rural communities across the Dakotas.

A meat packing facility.

Livestock Market Disruptions

COVID-19 has affected the market availability for finished cattle and hogs. Some beef and pork processing facilities have closed for cleaning and social distancing of their employees. While some of these facilities have scheduled a date to reopen at reduced capacity, others remain closed with no announced plans to resume operations.