Search
New Technology for an Old Problem
One of the last projects I was involved with as coordinator for the Lower James River Watershed Project was the installation of a deep pit monoslope barn for a feedlot operation near Alexandria, SD. A deep pit confinement barn is a manure storage system that employs slatted flooring with pit manure storage underneath.
Nitrates and Livestock Water Quality
Nitrate poisoning is something we think about with forages such as millet, oats, corn, sorghum, sudan, kochia and others that have been fertilized or if there is a drought, but water can also be a contributing factor.
Blue-Green Algae and Livestock
With warmer temperatures, the conditions are right for blue-green algae blooms. Different species of blue-green algae contain various toxins, which can poison livestock, resulting in rapid death.
Local Foods: Whole Fresh Vegetables and Herbs
Fresh, whole raw fruits and vegetables grown in South Dakota can currently be sold without a food service license from the South Dakota Department of Health.
Training Gardens and Business Incubators
Community gardens are associated with urban areas and food production. However, community gardens can also be used as job training sites or small business incubators.
CSA Subscription ‘Box’
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions vary by producers; there is no set rule on the package size or box contents.
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.
Farmers Market Food Safety: At the Market
Displaying food and produce safely requires attention to reducing the risk of contamination.
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.
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.