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Producers surveying a rangeland site.

Five Range Management Principles: #1 Adaptive Management

Adaptive management is a process that livestock producers can incorporate into their operation to increase operation flexibility and adjust to changing conditions.

Woman delivering a bag food donations to a food bank manager.

Product Donations for Food Manufacturers

Interested in donating some of your slightly flawed food products to a food drive? View some food safety tips and donation considerations for food manufacturers in South Dakota.

black-colored snow in a ditch

“Snirt” and How To Minimize It

Blowing soils, dust storms and “snirt” (snow with dirt on it) are frequent challenges during dry, windy winters. Learn some soil health principles to limit erosion and minimize snirt on field edges this planting season.

Group of children eating school lunch in a cafeteria.

Farm to (More Than) School

Opportunities for local food procurement go beyond just school lunch! Learn about several child nutrition programs and settings that may accept local foods.

Three producers discussing a grazing plan in a pasture.

Five Range Management Principles: #2 Creating a Grazing Plan

Creating a grazing management plan can be overwhelming. Learn the basic steps for outlining a plan, along with several resources to help identify the right strategy for your operation.

Tilled field with signs of erosion along the field edge.

The Costs of Erosion: Topsoil’s Role in Food Security

The thin layer of topsoil covering our earth sustains almost all of the life we know. Learn some answers to common questions about protecting it from erosion.

Wireless Point of Sale Device dispensing a sales receipt at a farmers market.

SNAP EBT Devices for the Farmers Market or Direct Market Farmer

Interested in offering SNAP EBT as a form of payment at your direct market farm or farmers market? Get started today with this resource that explores how to apply and how to select a payment device that fits your market's needs.

Cattle grazing rangeland divided by a fence for rotational grazing.

Reading the Range: Range readiness, grazing timing and drought considerations

Grazing timing is key when managing rangelands during a drought. Learn how to determine grazing readiness for different plant communities found throughout pastures and rangelands.

Color-coded map showing average grazing readiness date for Western Wheatgrass in South Dakota. For assistance reading this graphic and data set, please call SDSU Extension at 605-688-4792.

South Dakota Grazing Readiness Spring Turnout Map

The South Dakota Grazing Readiness Map uses historical climate data to provide livestock producers with a range of spring turnout dates for their location based on grass type.

Two pastures separated by a fence. The right pasture is severely overgrazed, while the neighboring pasture has more cover, but has also developed an invasive weed problem.

The Lasting Effects of Overgrazing on Rangeland Ecosystems

Overgrazing can cause various detrimental effects on rangeland ecosystems. Most of the effects are seen in the short term, but some are unseen and can be lasting.