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Left: Fresh herbs preserved inside ice cubes. Right: Variety of fresh herbs hanging in bunches from a burlap string.

Preserving Herbs

Fresh herbs add amazing flavor to recipes during the summertime! Their great flavors can be carried over to cooler seasons through the preservation of the plants and leaves, and the two best ways to extend the life (and flavor) of herbs is through freezing or dehydrating.

Canning supplies arranged on a kitchen counter.

Canning With Less Sugar

As low and no-added-sugar food products have become increasingly popular, new alternative canning recipes have been created. It is possible to preserve fruits with little or no added sugar, which is great for those who prefer reduced calories.

Botulism testing supplies arranged in a lab.

Canners Beware: Botulism

Botulism is a serious, rare illness that is caused by a toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Botulism is a concern when it comes to canning and fermenting foods, as the anaerobic conditions can cause the Clostridium botulinum spores to create a harmful toxin.

Ranchers viewing USDA disaster assistance information on a computer in a home office.

Drought Assistance Questions Answered

Dry conditions persist across the state, and many new questions are being asked regarding the federal assistance programs available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency.

Two producers and a conservation agent moving cattle in a grassland area.

Drought Assistance From USDA: CRP Haying and Grazing

As this year’s drought intensifies, folks are quickly running short of forage. Due to the D2 Drought Monitor classification, most South Dakota counties qualify for Conservation Reserve Program haying and grazing for emergency and non-emergency use.

Three soybean fields with yellowing issues due to potassium deficiency, iron deficiency chlorosis and soybean cyst nematode.

What Is Causing Soybeans to Yellow at This Time?

Recently scouted soybean fields were observed with yellowing plants, and one field was found to have plants dying prematurely. Learn some of the factors that may cause soybean plants to yellow at this time in the growing season.

Green and brown grasshoppers on the leaves of a sunflower plant.

Grasshoppers Already Moving Into Sunflower Fields

With grassland food sources being depleted earlier than usual due to drought, grasshoppers are moving into nearby crops in search of vegetation. In parts of western South Dakota, grasshopper nymphs have already been observed feeding on young sunflower plants.

A woman preparing a jar of pickled cucumbers in a kitchen.

Modifying Canning Recipes

Understanding how swapping ingredients, adding ingredients, increasing or decreasing ingredients and making changes to processing plays a vital role in ensuring that home-canned products are safe.

Left: Large green leaves of hosta have white and yellow discoloration on the outside edge of the leaves. Right: A green pepper with a tan spot that appears mushy.

Leaf Scorch and Sunscald in the Garden

Long stretches of hot, dry weather will upset the growing habits of all plants and will lead to some unusual symptoms on leaves and produce in the garden. July and August are a prime time to watch for leaf scorch and sunscald.

Several bottles of different hot sauces arranged on a counter.

How to Make a Safe Hot Sauce

Hot sauces can be made to with a combination of several different ingredients to give unique flavors and heat that consumers enjoy. There are many considerations that should be made on how hot sauces are processed, formulated and packaged.