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A green tractor planting seeds in a no-till field. Courtesy: United Soybean Board [CC BY 2.0] via Flickr

Farm Practices That Improve Soil Health: Crop Rotations and No-Till

Implementing crop rotations and no-till practices are common suggestions to reduce erosion, control pests, and improve yields. These practices can also improve soil health through an increase in soil carbon levels.

Youth For The Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) logo in front of a black and white image of a young girl feeding a small animal with a bottle

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) in South Dakota 4-H resources

About YQCA – the national program
Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is a national multi-species quality assurance program for youth ages 8 to 21 with a focus on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development. The YQCA program is an annual certification created for youth producing and/or showing beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, meat goats, dairy goats, swine, poultry, and rabbits. The program has been designed by extension specialists and national livestock program managers to ensure it is accurate, current and relevant to the needs of the animal industry and shows, and is appropriate for youth learning levels.

Man negotiating lamb purchase with female producer.

Direct Marketing Lamb: Selling to the Ethnic Market

The ethnic market plays a big role in the lamb industry. Learn some keys to success for taking advantage of seasonal demand and price fluctuations in this growing market, including when and where to sell.

A herd of cattle grazing in a snowy pasture.

Nutritional Needs Prior to Calving

Nutrition during late gestation plays a large role on the future calf as well as the dam. It is during the last 60-90 days of gestation, or the pre-calving period, that impacts the calf’s survivability, long-term health and overall production.

Farmer standing in a no-till field at sunset.

Does the GREET Carbon Model Address Soil Health Principles?

Learn how the recent Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies (GREET) production model lines up with the Five Soil Health Principles.

A group of black Angus cows standing in spring pasture.

2021 Beef Heifer Synchronization Protocols

With the 2021 Artificial Insemination Beef Sire Directories now available, it is time to think about breeding season, especially if you will be using synchronization.

Granddaughter reviewing information on a laptop with her grandmother.

Public Health Resources in South Dakota

Public health services provide a framework to protect and promote the health of all people in all communities. Learn about some of the many public health resources and programs that the state of South Dakota offers to residents.

various meals packed in ziplock bags and stored in a freezer

Preparing Freezer Meals

With a little planning and meal preparation, you can have some healthful meals on hand for time crunches and drop in guests.

An aerial view of the town of Mobridge with the Missouri River in the background.

A Strategic Community-Based Survey of Water Resource Management in South Dakota

Understanding how residents value water is critical for effective resource management, and your insights can help us better understand community values and inform future strategies for sustainable water management across the state.

Person walking outdoors wearing a pair of comfortable walking shoes.

Choosing the Right Walking and Running Shoes

Choosing the right shoes for physical activity can be an overwhelming process with so many options available. Wearing a shoe that is designed to fit your feet, while also fitting the type of exercise you plan to engage in, is significant for many reasons.