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Hail-damaged corn field.

Are Fungicides Needed on Crops Damaged by Wind, Sand Blasting or Hail?

When extreme weather brings hail and sand blasting to fields, many growers wonder if a fungicide application is needed afterwards to protect wounded plants from bacterial diseases.

Wheat leaf showing the green and yellow mosaic streaking associated with WSMV.

Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus Showing Up in Fields

Wheat streak mosaic virus is a viral disease, which has been found in samples recently sent into the SDSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic. Learn how to identify it before it takes a toll on wheat crops.

Two producers inspecting freshly cut alfalfa in a field.

Alfalfa Harvest Timing and Objectives

Guessing when to make that first cutting can be difficult, as using plant maturity or calendar dates alone can be quite risky. Get the most out of your first cutting with some expert tips that consider the timing and objectives of alfalfa harvest.

Small white mites crawling on a blade of wheat.

Managing Wheat Curl Mite

Wheat curl mite is one of the more difficult pests to manage in wheat. This is in part due to the limited options available for preventing populations from infesting a field and rapidly reproducing.

Group of mixed cattle grazing drought-stressed pasture.

SDSU Extension Provides Drought Management Resources

June 08, 2022

The U.S. Drought Monitor continues to classify parts of South Dakota in some level of drought. SDSU Extension has a variety of tools and resources to assist producers with drought decision making.

Sunish Sehgal combining a field of wheat

Growth Stages of Wheat

Management decisions in wheat production are almost always based on growth stages of the crop. So it is important for wheat producers to be familiar with these growth stages.

A tall grassy warm season cover crop blend grown in South Dakota.

Using Annual Cover Crops and Forages in Lieu of Row Crops

Although there are many factors to take into consideration, annual forages and cover crops can be an excellent tool to mitigate challenging planting seasons.

Oat leaves covered in orange pustules.

Crown Rust of Oats

Crown rust continues to be the most economically damaging and important fungal diseases of oats in South Dakota. Learn how to recognize and manage it in oat fields this growing season.

Blades of green wheat in a wheat field.

Scouting Wheat Fields

Scouting is the process of monitoring fields and crops during a growing season. It can provide producers with field specific information on pest pressure and crop injury.