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A male producer analyzing records on an office computer.

What Kind of Records Are You Keeping?

Measurement of the actions and efforts of everyday life on the farm or ranch leads to better management and efficiency. Many farmers and ranchers keep many records. Utilization of the records for improved management would be the next step to take to improve efficiency.

Four people stand on the 20-yard line of a football field. There are two men on the far left and far right. In the middle is a man handing a woman a wooden plaque in the shape of South Dakota.

Rook named 2025 Friend of the Beef Industry

September 15, 2025

Michelle Rook has been named the 2025 Recipient of the South Dakota State University Friend of the Beef Industry award for her contributions to the South Dakota beef industry.

Corn

Nearly one out of every three dollars generated by South Dakota agriculture starts in a corn field. Two of every three rows of corn become ethanol.

SDSU Extension Seeks Information About Cow Death Losses Across South Dakota

October 16, 2020

A group of SDSU Extension professionals and veterinarians is seeking information on beef cow death losses occurring now through calving season.

stack of coins with faded chart lines showing in the foreground

Financial Measures for South Dakota Farms

Farm and ranch businesses have a sizeable investment in equipment, buildings, land, and livestock. These investments require their owners and managers to remain knowledgeable about the financial condition of their business. The information to calculate measures of financial performance can be found in their farm record books or accounting system.

Farmer signing a lease on the tailgate of a pickup.

SDSU Extension encourages switching to written land lease agreements when oral leases automatically renew on Sept. 1

August 22, 2025

Oral agricultural land lease agreements automatically renew on Sept. 1, 2025, and South Dakota State University Extension experts strongly encourage transitioning to written lease agreements.

pine tree damaged by mountain pine beetle

Insecticides for Protecting Pine Trees from Mountain Pine Beetle

There are no effective systemic pesticide treatments that will kill mountain pine beetle larvae inside the tree or adults as they emerge from an infested tree. Pesticide treatments are limited to protecting trees from becoming infested. These treatments are applied to the bark to kill the adult beetles as they land on the trunk and begin to burrow into the tree. This method of protection is highly effective and if the pesticides are applied at right time, losses may be as few as one or two trees for every hundred trees treated. However, only trees that are not infested should be treated. If a tree is already infested, pesticide application will not prevent the beetles from emerging and infested other trees.

Livestock guardian dog resting near a flock of sheep.

Livestock Guardian Dogs for Improved Protection

Most sheep producers will use a variety of methods to protect their flock, but one that has increased interest is the use of livestock guardian dogs.

Pregnant black angus cow standing in a dry pasture.

High Nitrates and Pregnant Cows

Drought poses many challenges to the beef cow herd. Nitrates in feed is one of the challenges that producers need to be aware of, especially in the reproductive herd.

A man in a pickup truck picking up a bag of farmers market food at a pickup table being serviced by two women in personal protective gear.

Farmers Markets and COVID-19

Farmers markets are a very important sector in South Dakota. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised a great deal of concern on trying to keep these markets open, while providing a safe environment for consumers to shop. This article is a guide to help farmers markets set up their operation in a manner that will best protect consumers and allow for continuation of operations.