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A field of no-till soybeans and corn.

Crop Residue, Cover Crops Impact on Soil Health Parameters

Interest in no-till and cover crops has been on the rise among South Dakota crop producers. In 2019, half of South Dakota crop ground was under no-till management and about 900,000 acres were planted to cover crops.

e-cigarette kit with bottles of vaping liquid. Courtesy: U.S. Department of Defense

The Truth About Vaping

The use of e-cigarettes, more commonly known as vaping, is a trend that continues to rise in America. Contrary to what most young adults and adolescents may believe, e-cigarette aerosol is not harmless water vapor.

a young male 4-H youth showing a hamster to a judge

4-H Companion Animal Project

The 4-H companion animals project helps youth explore a wide variety of animals that can be used for companionship and do not require the same types of resources that livestock does.

Harvested tomatillos in a brown paper bag.

Tomatillos: Harvest and Storage

Tomatillos are an annual, warm-season crop with requirements similar to tomatoes. Learn how to select, grow, harvest and store them with this helpful guide!

Four common South Dakota ticks: American dog, Rocky Mountain wood, blacklegged and Lonestar.

Spring is here, and so are the ticks!

As spring continues to bloom, more arthropods will begin to emerge from winter dormancy. Ticks are among the first to appear, and statewide reports have already been flowing in.

plastic container with lid removed. several earwigs are floating in the oil inside.

Earwigs in the Garden: Less-Toxic Control Alternative

Since earwigs provide some ecological service as natural enemies, I hesitate to recommend a pesticide application to control it. As an alternative least-toxic solution, bait trapping the earwigs should work to reduce the insect’s population to the non-threatening levels.

Green cereal rye crop growing throughout a harvested corn field.

Thinking Cover Crops? Winter Rye Between Corn and Soybean

Although the 2021 growing season in has been impacted by widespread drought and record-high temperatures, recent rain events have brought planting cover crops back into the conversation.

Microscope analyzing a slide.

How the Veterinary Lab Diagnoses Anthrax in a Beef Herd

Anthrax is a serious disease of cattle that pops up somewhere almost every year in South Dakota. It’s caused by a bacteria that survives as a very tough spore form in the soil. Knowing whether a death on pasture has been caused by anthrax is important for several reasons.

Completed black soldier fly rearing bin sitting on a worktable.

Insect Bioconversion: How to Compost With Black Soldier Flies

Much like composting, black soldier flies can be used in a rearing container to convert organic matter into nutrient-rich food, which can then be used in your garden. Learn how to construct a rearing container with this step-by-step guide!

A dial pressure canner gauge

Testing Dial Pressure Canner Gauges

For accuracy before use, it is recommended that dial gauges get tested each year. Gauges that read high cause under-processing and may result in unsafe food.