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Late Summer 2020 Climate Outlook
Drought concerns in South Dakota may be relieved later this summer, according to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center’s seasonal outlook released this week.
Dakota Fresh Food Hub Continues Connecting Local Farmers With Local Consumers
Interest in local foods continues to soar among consumers nationwide. Here in South Dakota, the Dakota Fresh Food Hub in the southeastern corner of the state is helping meet that local demand by providing an array of local foods to wholesale and retail customers.
Grape Production Resources
Quality wine grapes can be grown in South Dakota with careful attention to growing site, cultivar selection and production techniques. View a collection of resources for getting started today.
Planting Spring Wheat Into Corn or Milo Residue: Considerations for Scab
Due to current grain prices and other reasons, growers may be considering planting spring wheat into fields that were planted to corn or milo last season. While this type of crop rotation is not generally recommended, economic and logistical challenges sometimes may dictate otherwise.
May 2020 Climate Outlook
On April 16, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center released their climate outlook for May and the coming three-month period of May through July. There is a lot of uncertainty in the temperature outlook for the next one-to-three months in the Northern Plains Region.
Fertilizing Forages in South Dakota
Spring is a busy time for South Dakota farmers and ranchers with planting, calving, and other field preparations. Soil sampling and fertilizing pastures, alfalfa, or other forages might be overlooked.
Black Grass Bug Activity Expected in Coming Weeks
Spring green-up is the time to be watching for black grass bug activity. Large populations of this early-season pest can cause severe damage to pasture (up to 90% forage reduction) and infest the edges of wheat fields.
Soil Temperature for Planting Spring Crops
Soil temperature is an important consideration for deciding when to begin planting spring crops. If producers in South Dakota would like a quick reference for soil temperatures in their area, the SD Mesonet network measures soil temperature at several weather stations throughout the state.
Chloride Fertilizers May Be Beneficial in Spring Wheat Production
Chloride, the ionic form of chlorine, although not considered an essential nutrient, has long been observed to be highly beneficial to field crops. Chloride is known to play an essential role in plant development and osmoregulation.
Temperature and Herbicide Performance
In South Dakota, the spring can come with a wide range of temperature fluctuations. This will affect the performance of burndown herbicides. Depending upon the target weed, type of herbicide and application rate, there will likely be decreased weed control in cooler temperatures.