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A woman rinsing vegetables off in an outdoor sink.

Food Safety Rules for Fruit & Vegetable Growers: FAQ

It seems rules and guidelines for growing fresh produce safely are constantly changing, as new laws and regulations are implemented each year.

A young man and woman holding a csa box filled with fresh vegetables.

CSA Subscription ‘Box’

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions vary by producers; there is no set rule on the package size or box contents.

A table at a farmers market filled with fresh vegetable displays.

Developing a Vision Statement for a Farmers Market

The Vision Statement is a picture of what the market organizers want the market to look and feel like in the future.

A table display of vegetables at a farmer's market.

Farmers Market Food Safety: At the Market

Displaying food and produce safely requires attention to reducing the risk of contamination.

A row of vendor tents at a farmers market.

Drafting Farmers Market Documents: Market Rules

It is strongly recommended that new and existing farmers markets draft rules to govern the daily operation of the market.

A young, freckled girl eating small, red tomatoes inside a greenhouse.

Agritourism

When a producer has decided to sell a product directly from the farm, entertainment or tourism-based activities could be incorporated to create larger appeal. Agritourism could add value to the farm visit though education, entertainment, outdoor recreation, dining, relaxation or other avenues, potentially drawing more customers in.

tall trees in the Black Hills

How to Identify an Ash Tree Infested by Emerald Ash Borer

This guide will help you determine whether an ash tree may be infested by the emerald ash borer.

herd of beef cattle grazing in a pasture

Pre-weaning Pneumonia in South Dakota Beef Herd: A Persistent Problem, Suddenly Gone

This case report describes a southeastern South Dakota cow-calf herd’s experiences with pre-weaning pneumonia. Unlike many beef herds that experience pneumonia in calves on pasture, this herd’s problems were consistent year after year: widespread calf illness was documented in each of 6 consecutive summers. Anecdotally at least, the occurrence of pre-weaning pneumonia in beef herds is more likely to be sporadic and unpredictable from year to year. This herd’s persistent problems were followed by a year in which, after a change in calf vaccination protocol (informed by herd diagnostics), very little pre-weaning pneumonia was observed.

A vast, open rangeland with a few patches of weeds.

An identification guide to common Rangeland Insect Pests of South Dakota

The insects listed in this guide can be pests of rangeland in South Dakota. The best approach for preventing these pests from reaching damaging populations involves routine scouting.

fruit and vegetable garden with raised beds

Fire Blight

Fire blight is a disease that can infect apples, pears, and certain ornamental species including crabapples, cotoneaster, and mountain ash. Occasionally it may also appear on cherries, plums, Juneberry (also called Serviceberry or Saskatoon), and raspberry. This disease, caused by the bacteria Erwinia amylovora, can damage blossoms, fruit, leaves, shoots, and branches. If it is not controlled, fire blight may kill the entire tree or shrub. Infected tissue cannot be cured, but will need to be removed from the tree to prevent further spread.