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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.

Beef

Home to more than 1 million head of cattle, South Dakota’s producers can rely on SDSU Extension for research-based information, best management practices and resources to support healthy and profitable herds.

Aerial view of flooding in Southeastern South Dakota.

Global and U.S. Perspectives on Flooding

In this article, we will explore the statistics and impacts of floods, both globally and within the United States, based on data from various studies and reports.

A woman with long brown hair smiles at the camera

SDSU Extension welcomes new beef nutrition specialist to Sioux Falls office

September 19, 2023

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Madison Kovarna as a new Beef Nutrition Field Specialist.

Winter wheat field with extreme soil erosion due to drought.

Impacts of Drought on Soil, Water, Forage and Livestock Grazing Systems

Grazing systems are complex, because soil, water, forage and livestock components are interconnected and affect each other. Producers can put themselves back in the driver’s seat by developing annual systems-level grazing plans for favorable and unfavorable situations.

beefSD

beefSD is an intensive educational program designed to take participants to the next level in beef enterprise management.

A farm yard near a sprawling field of recently planted crops.

Planting Projections 2020

South Dakota producers recently indicated they plan to plant 12.9 million acres of corn, soybeans and wheat in 2020, plus an additional 620,000 acres of sunflowers, 345,000 acres of oats and 45,000 acres of barley, as well as 270,000 acres of sorghum and 11,000 acres of dry edible peas.

Brown slug on a green leaf leaving behind a whitish trail of slime.

Slugs: The Slimy Defoliators

Have you noticed defoliation in your garden accompanied by distinct trails on plant leaves? The culprit could be slugs, a common pest that can be found during during cool, wet weather and in certain garden micro-climates.

Cost-effective and Balanced Cow Rations

Before buying "cheap" feed, it is important to ensure that it will be cost-effective when creating balanced rations for the winter. Learn some things to consider before purchasing.

Woman using a grazing stick to measure forage status.

Using the ‘Grazing Stick’ To Assess Pasture Forage

Assessing pasture forage is a key step in planning grazing strategies. A grazing stick is a tool that uses simple math and measurements to determine herd size, stocking rates and available grazing days. We will address how to use a grazing stick in this article.