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small group of cattle grazing on cover crops

Cover Crops & Livestock Integration: A Profit Opportunity for S.D. Farms

Cover crops have been gaining a reemerging acceptance over the last decade, with very few producers disagreeing about the potential soil health benefits of adding cover crops to their farming operation.

people shopping at a farmer's market

Requirements for Food Entrepreneurs Selling Food in South Dakota

Throughout the country and in the state of South Dakota, people are showing more interest in selling their own food products and starting their own business

blades of brome grass with a brown to black, thumbnail-shaped growth on one of the blades.

Ergot: A Potential Livestock Poisoning Problem

Cool, damp weather followed by warmer temperatures favors grasses becoming infected with ergot bodies, which can cause a certain kind of poisoning that can affect cattle on pasture.

spare rib with a bbq rub applied

Tips for Making a BBQ Rub

A rub is simply a blend of herbs, peppers, spices or seasonings that are blended to add flavor by coating the surface of meat.

group of cattle at feedbunk

Feeding Damaged Wheat to Cattle

Feeding damaged wheat to livestock is one way to salvage value from the crop. Wheat can work well in cattle diets with some limitations.

abandoned barn surrounded by flood waters. Photo by Jeannie Mooney, FEMA

Effects of Spring Flooding on Weed Seed Movement

How does spring flooding impact weed seed movement and dispersal? The flooding that is occurring from spring snow melt may cause weed seeds that are on the soil surface or eroded soil to move, and possibly long distances.

a mother and daughter putting labels on home-canned food products. Photo by Stephen Ausmus, USDA

Labeling of Prepared and Processed Foods in South Dakota

Labeling requirements vary in accordance with the type of food that is being sold and in several instances how or where it was prepared or processed.

wheat field

2018 Field Plot Summaries for Wheat Disease Management Trials

The wheat disease management field experiments conducted in the 2018 growing season evaluated several experimental and commercially available fungicides for managing foliar, head or root diseases of spring wheat. Foliar and spike/head diseases incidence and severity were assessed. The field experiments were implemented at Volga Research Farm and Northeast Research Farm (NERF) near South Shore, SD. Results of the same experiment may vary between Volga and Northeast due to environmental differences between the two locations.

A sprawling sorghum field ready for harvest

Sorghum Weed Control

Early competition, especially from grass, is critical for successfully controlling weeds in sorghum. There are preemergence as well as postemergence herbicides available for this crop. Early treatment provides the best control of broadleaved weeds with crop stage also being a critical factor for some postemergence treatments.

bottom part of a corn plant in soil with half of the roots exposed to show the seed trench (side-wall) compaction.

Planting Into Wet Soils

It is evident that there are high chances of planting into wet soils this spring. This is not a good decision when normal soil conditions appear to be attainable, but this year we may not have a choice.