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Jars of home-canned peaches.

Choosing a Liquid for Home-Canned Fruit

Interested in canning fruit at home? Learn some expert tips for selecting the proper liquid for your canning objectives.

bunches of Aronia berries still on a bush

Soil Testing for Vineyards in South Dakota

Not all soils are conducive to growing quality grapes, so prospective vineyard sites should be tested before a decision is made to plant grapes. Tests can identify soils that are either too high in pH, salts, or salinity, or that are “too rich” (too high in organic matter and nitrogen) for grapes. In addition, testing before planting allows for the incorporation of nutrients—such as phosphorus—that do not move easily through the soil to plant roots.

Woman preparing fresh herbs for canning in glass jars.

SDSU Extension offers training on updated Cottage Food Laws

October 23, 2023

South Dakota State University is providing training for food processors who would like to sell food products from their homes following updates to the state’s cottage food laws earlier this year.

Five jars of canned stewed tomatoes sitting on a gray kitchen towel with a gray background.

Canning on Smooth Stovetop

Learn about the Dos and Don'ts of canning on a smooth stovetop.

A sprawling green field of field pea plantings

Field Pea Variety Trial Results

In 2023, field pea trials were planted at different locations in South Dakota.

A woman safely placing a can of salsa into a water bath canner.

A Guide To Water Bath Canning

Water bath canners have fitted lids and removable wire racks. While they come in many sizes, the canner must be deep enough to allow a minimum of 1-2 inches of briskly boiling water that covers the top of jars during processing.

dial on a pressure canner

A Guide To Pressure Canning

Pressure canners may have a weighted-gauge or dial-gauge, for indicating and regulating the pressure during processing.

grass with field bindweed, a viny green weed with white flowers

Lawn Weed Control

Cultural weed control practices must be included in weed management programs to optimize control and inhibit re-infestation. A healthy, dense turf cover is the best overall defense against weed invasion. Some common cultural weed control practices include planting the most adapted turfgrass species for your environment (i.e. shade, full sun, or hot, dry conditions), maintaining a mowing height of 2.5–3.5 inches, watering deeply but less frequently, and proper soil maintenance including fertilization and core aerification.

A field divided into two planting areas. The left area has young corn plants emerging from the soil. The right has no visible corn emergence yet.

Grassy Weeds

Grassy weeds are a problem in all field crops. They must be identified at early stages of growth so they can be controlled before crop yields are seriously threatened. Control measures are not the same for all grassy weeds, so accurate seedling identification is important.

A herd of cattle gather around a stock pond on a vast, lush grassland. Courtesy: USDA [CC BY 2.0]

2017 Weed Control: Pasture and Range

There are 24 million acres of native and tame pasture and range as well as 1.4 million acres of grass hayland in South Dakota.