Search

A snowy farmyard with sunlight breaking through the clouds.

2018 Annual Climate Summary

In 2018, South Dakota saw the typical weather extremes of all kinds. New Year’s Day 2018 started out with record cold temperatures and wind chills; the year ended with a blizzard on December 31, with a lot of extremes in between.

A small herd of cattle grazing in a snow storm.

Dealing With Snowstorms for Cattle on Winter Range

Ranchers with cattle on winter pastures have a few management strategies to help them cope with the large snowstorms throughout the state.

A group of farmers and ranchers sitting at a meeting

Communication: Importance of Social Support in Agriculture

Maintaining open communication and seeking social support can help producers get through difficult times.

snow plow clearing a highway

Are you ready for winter? ¿Està listo para el invierno?

The first winter experience can be a challenge if you don’t know what is ahead, except for that there will be snow and cold. Some simple tips will help you survive the snow, ice and low temperatures.

cattle out on a snowy white day

Cold Weather Challenges

In the event of extreme cold weather snaps, even cattlemen who have experience calving in these conditions may benefit from a review of recommendations as the calving season continues.

Two young males participating in the robotics challenge at the South Dakota State Fair

South Dakota 4-H Robotics & Engineering 2019 Challenge Packet - Recycle Challenge

The South Dakota 4-H Robotics Challenge is an opportunity for youth who have been learning about robotics to demonstrate their learning, celebrate their accomplishments, and interact with others who share an interest in robotics.

A young man sitting at a laptop discussing a project with a 4-H leader.

Youth Research: Where to Begin

Whether working on a science fair project, writing a class report, or just looking for general information on a topic it is a good idea to become familiar with the basic practices of conducting research.

Poster display for research project.

Presenting Scientific Information: Display Boards

For youth participating in scientific discovery, posters and display boards are a very common form of communicating scientific information.

A notebook with a pen sitting on it.

Importance of Good Record Keeping: The Science & Engineering Notebook

Scientists and engineers use special notebooks or journals to make daily logs of what they are doing and what they have learned.

Young, black calf being bottle fed in a pen.

Managing Orphaned Calves

With careful management and proper nutrition, calves orphaned by challenging winter weather can perform similar to calves still on the cow.