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Color-coded map of South Dakota’s plant hardiness zones.

2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

Winter and spring are a great time for planning new garden and landscape designs. Learn how recent updates to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones may have South Dakota gardeners feeling extra adventurous when selecting new plants for their gardens this season!

Water flowing from a drain tile pipe.

Nutrient Loss Calculator

Trying to figure out the nutrient loss in your tile drainage system? The Nutrient Loss Calculator can help. This useful tool helps landowners collect a snapshot of nutrient loss in their drainage systems.

a strand of oats in a field

2020 Plant Disease Summaries for Small Grains

A number of field trials were implemented in the 2020 growing season with the general objective of assessing various disease management practices suitable for South Dakota growers and the Great Plains.

Female FSA employee reviewing paperwork with a male producer.

Counties Designated as Disaster Areas and Qualify for Other Programs

Five South Dakota counties have been given disaster declarations due to dry summer conditions. This declaration gives producers in these counties and those in contiguous counties access to USDA-FSA emergency loans.

Photo of corn planted two weeks apart. Early planted corn on the left much larger than the later planted corn on the right.

How Early Is Too Early to Plant Row Crops?

Although it can be tempting to get a head start with row crops, it is important to be mindful of soil temperatures and the associated risks with planting early.

A small black bug with tan margins on the wings. This insect is resting on a grass seed head.

Drought Conditions Magnifying Impact of Black Grass Bugs

With much of South Dakota continuing to experience moderate-to-extreme drought conditions, black grass bugs could become a concern in some areas. Large populations of black grass bugs can cause severe damage to pasture.

Winter wheat plants at the tillering growth stage with leaves yellowing as a result of wheat streak mosaic virus infection.

Wheat Streak Mosaic Developing in Winter Wheat Fields

A few winter wheat fields in central South Dakota have been found with wheat streak mosaic disease. Incidence of this disease varied from a few plants to large portions of the field with yellowing leaves.

Color-coded map of the United States showing the one-month temperature outlook for April 2021.

April 2021 Climate Update

As we look at March in the rear-view mirror, we look ahead to April and the potential for rain to return to South Dakota to reduce drought concerns across the state.

Young woman watering a drought-stressed flower garden.

Gardening Tips During a Drought

Drought conditions present challenges for gardeners, but it's still possible to grow things by modifying gardening techniques to keep established plants growing and provide a good environment for new plants.