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Stream running through West River South Dakota rangeland.

Water Rights in a Time of Drought

During a drought, it is not surprising that the South Dakota Water Rights Program will see an increase in permit applications. In South Dakota, water is considered the property of the people of the state, and depending on your intended water use, a water right permit may be needed.

several small eastern red cedar trees growing in rangeland

‘Baa-d Cedars’ Field Day Examines Goat-Targeted Grazing on Cedars

September 17, 2021

South Dakota State University Extension invites the public to an interactive Eastern Red Cedar Management Field Day to see the impact goats can have in controlling the most widely distributed conifer across eastern North America.

Map: Temperature outlook for September 2022

2022 Fall Climate Outlook

Summertime is coming to an end soon, and September is right around the corner. The questions we hear this time of year are often about fall harvest weather for corn and soybeans, planting for winter wheat and our first fall frost.

Canada thistle growing in a pasture.

Noxious Weeds of South Dakota

Pictorial reference guide of noxious weeds in South Dakota

Storm water rushing down a street gutter.

South Dakota Water and Community Symposium to be Held July 26

July 22, 2022

SDSU Extension will host a one-day South Dakota Water and Community Symposium on Tuesday, July 26 from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. CDT at the Raven Precision Agriculture Center on the South Dakota State University campus in Brookings.

Rain gauge on a fence post along a well-managed rangeland area.

Five Range Management Principles: #5 Climate Ready

Understanding your ranching system is critical, and identifying anticipated soil-plant-animal responses during periods of dry, wet, or normal conditions will enable you to develop climate-ready practices. Learn how to get started today!

Color-coded map of South Dakota indicating the fiftieth percentile, for first fall occurrence of 32 degrees Fahrenheit. For assistance reading this graphic and data set, please call SDSU Extension at 605-688-4792.

First Fall Frost Dates

The first fall frost often marks the end of the growing season, and many garden plants may not survive the freezing temperatures. Learn about some available tools we can use to predict the first fall frost dates around the state.

Color-coded map of the United States showing October 2022 temperature outlook. Temperatures in South Dakota are leaning above average. For assistance reading this graphic and data set, please call SDSU Extension at 605-688-4792.

2022 Fall and Early Winter Climate Outlook

The warmth of September is likely to continue into October with odds leaning towards drier than average conditions according to the latest climate outlook released on September 15, 2022.

Color-coded temperature outlook map of the United States for February through April 2023. For an in-depth description of this graphic, please call SDSU Extension at 605-688-6729.

La Niña’s Third Year Concludes With Cold Temperatures

A rare, third consecutive year with La Niña conditions is coming to an end, but not without bringing cold temperatures in early February. See what to expect for the rest of winter and early spring with an analysis of the NOAA's latest climate outlook.

a graphic image showing drought in South Dakota

Water Conservation and Efficiency During Times of Drought

As drought conditions continue to expand across the state this year, more thought is given towards South Dakota’s limited water resources. We live in a state where weather conditions and rain patterns seem to comfortably exist at the extremes; we either have way too much or nearly not enough. While this isn’t always the case, it is important to keep in mind that our water resources are finite and all of us should be thinking about doing what we can to protect them.