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![Cover crops growing in a field of harvested corn.](/sites/default/files/2020-03/W-00528-00-cover-crops-corn-grazing-soil-rotation.jpg)
Utilizing Cover Crops for Grazing: An Assessment on Economic Benefits
Grazing cover crops by cattle provides an option to offset cover crop seed costs and increase farm revenue. To facilitate farmers’ decision making, this article will evaluate the economic profitability from grazing cattle on cover crops using a partial budgeting approach.
![A sump pump and emergency backup battery set up in a basement. Courtesy: Jeff Covey (CC BY-SA 2.0)](/sites/default/files/2020-04/W-00541-00-flooding-sump-pump-basement.jpg)
Flooding and Sump Pumps
For many homes with a basement or crawl space, a sump pump and drainage system can help reduce the risk of a basement flooding from high water table situations. Here are a few tips for making sure your sump pump is working as it should, and you are not causing problems for your neighbors downstream.
![a wordmark for the 2020 Soil Health Awareness Day](/sites/default/files/2020-02/MC-00801-01-soil-health-day-wordmark.png)
South Dakota Declares February 21 Soil Health Awareness Day
February 20, 2020
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has declared February 21, 2020 Soil Health Awareness Day. Agriculture contributes over 132,000 jobs and 32.5 billion dollars in total output to South Dakota’s economy.
![a map of the United States with different colors showing the precipitation outlook variations.](/sites/default/files/2019-09/W-00405-01-precip-map.gif)
Fall Frost and September Climate Outlook for 2019
September 2019 has been pleasantly warmer than usual, and our crops need every bit of that warmth to reach maturity before our first frost arrives. Fortunately, temperatures have cooled slightly this week but just to near average for this time of year.
![A map of South Dakota with several colored boxes indicating areas of increased flood risk. For a complete description, visit the National Weather Service website at: https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/long_range.php?wfo=fsd](/sites/default/files/2020-03/W-00497-01-figure-flood-risk-map_0.jpg)
Get to Know Your Local Emergency Management Director
The warmer weather and spring migration this March have us all thinking of better days ahead. Unfortunately, it also has us thinking about flooding again this spring.
![Two side-by-side fields. The left field is planted with perennial grass. The right field is bare with salty soil exposed.](/sites/default/files/2020-03/W-00513-00-salty-soils-vs-perennial-grass.jpg)
Managing Weeds While Transforming Marginal Land Into Perennial Forages Production
There are currently millions acres across South Dakota impacted by saline and sodic conditions. Research has shown that salt-tolerant perennial grasses are a possible way to bring land back into production.
![A man inspecting a field with salty soil.](/sites/default/files/2020-03/W-00521-00-salty-soils-saline-field-marginal-land-eac.jpg)
Perennial Solutions for Alkali Areas
Reclaiming marginal lands, especially those considered saline or sodic can be very challenging and may take many years to accomplish. The key to turning around salt or alkali areas in your fields, begins with getting a living root established in the affected area.
![A group of cattle grazing on crop residue.](/sites/default/files/2019-10/W-00430-00-crop-livestock-integration-cattle-corn-grazing.jpg)
Farm Practices That Improve Soil Health: Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems
An integrated crop-livestock system can provide an alternative management strategy that benefits producer’s income, soil health, and the environment—all while increasing production.
![A field with patches of soil exhibiting poor water infiltration.](/sites/default/files/2019-10/W-00431-01-cover-crops-field-water-infiltration.jpg)
Farm Practices That Improve Soil Health: Cover Crops and Crop Residues
Planting cover crops and returning crop residues (stover) to the soil both adds nutrients and improves overall soil quality. These practices are common with producers across South Dakota and have been recently studied by researchers to identify how they impact the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
![A patch of switchgrass growing at the edge of a field.](/sites/default/files/2019-10/W-00432-01-switchgrass-soil-health-field.jpg)
Farm Practices That Improve Soil Health: Planting Switchgrass on Marginal Lands
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a tall, native, prairie grass that is often seeded on marginal lands in South Dakota. It has gained growing popularity over the past decade not only as a source of biofuel and feed, but also as a method to improve soil properties.