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a leafey green plant with bright pink stems

Two Favorite Spring Vegetables

After a long winter with no fresh homegrown vegetables, many gardeners really look forward to that first spring harvest of asparagus and rhubarb.

Tim Schreiner at his food preservation booth at the Vermillion Area Farmers Market.

Schreiner Turns Backyard Hobby Into Community Support

Whether volunteering as a Master Gardener or a Master Food Preserver, Tim Schreiner says the interaction with people and seeing that “light bulb” moment after a conversation is really the fun part of the programs.

Cindy Jungman holding an award in front of an SDSU Extension Master Gardener Program banner.

Jungman Brightens Landscapes, Builds Lifelong Friendships

A Master Gardener for more than 20 years, Cindy Jungman says the continuous education the program offers has been valuable.

Color-coded map showing precent of normal forage production for South Dakota. For assistance reading this graphic and data set, please call SDSU Extension at 605-688-4792.

Herd Inventory Centers on Feed Available

With drought conditions continuing across the state, livestock producers will be making hard decisions on livestock inventory numbers as pasture and feed availability become an even more significant factor.

Mixed group of cattle in a winter pasture.

Ready, Set, Manage Hay Differently

Feed is expensive and sometimes hard to find. Pasture prices, harvest expenses, hauling and waste add to the total feed bill. Evaluate your forage situation this winter and make changes that improve your profitability.

A series of three creep feeders placed on an open range. Courtesy: Robin Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Creep Feeding Options: Will it Pay?

Creep-feeding should be evaluated on yearly basis to determine if it will provide production and economic benefits to the operation.

An aerial view of a series of swine finishing facilities.

Methods to Slow Finishing Pig Growth

In abnormal situations, like with the packing plant closure we’re currently dealing with, pork producers may need to “hold” their pigs past normal marketing dates in order for other processing options to open up. We can accomplish that in two ways: altering internal barn environment and changing diets.

Two blue feed buckets filled with distillers grains.

Evaluating Feedstuffs on Nutrient Cost-Comparison Basis

Feed costs in dairy diets typically make up half or more of the input expenses of a ration. Thus, it is imperative to keep a handle on input costs by comparing ingredients on an apples-to-apples basis when looking for cost-effective diet solutions.

A small group of black angus cattle in a feedlot.

Bigger Cattle. Warmer Weather. What Can Go Wrong?

The disruptions in the beef processing sector caused by COVID-19 continue to interfere with the orderly marketing of finished cattle. While we all hope that the situation is resolved quickly, the reality is that because the shipment of so many harvest-ready cattle has been delayed, there will be increased numbers of heavier cattle on feed for the foreseeable future.

Rancher holding a notepad beside a feed bunk.

Capitalizing on Cow Costs

Feeding cows is one area of consideration when analyzing the cost of keeping a cow through her production year. Through small management choices, we can decrease the cost of the cow while maximizing on opportunities.