Cover Crops

All Cover Crops Content

a green tractor pulling a white manure spreader in a field

SDSU Extension February Crop Hour Series to Conclude with Focus on Forages

February 10, 2021

Forages are the foundation to many livestock feeding systems, providing nutrients, energy, protein, digestibility, fiber, minerals, vitamins and more.

A map of South Dakota with yellow and green circles indicating iverson risks at various locations throughout the state.

Use the SD Spray Tool for Inversion Detection and Weather for Pesticide Application

The SD Mesonet Spray Tool provides real-time weather data for pesticide applicators. This dedicated website for pesticide applicators uses the SD Mesonet weather data, which is updated every five minutes.

Earthworms on the soil surface inside a white hard-plastic ring, after mustard-vinegar solution was drained down through the soil profile forcing earthworms out onto the surface in order to be counted.

How’s Life in the Soil? Ask (Count) the Earthworms.

Earthworms are ‘very special’ creatures on earth, and their contribution in soil nutrient cycling and fertility management has been acknowledged from the beginning of agriculture. So, the question needs to be asked, how can we help improve earthworm populations?

Online Cover Crop Decision Tool Now Available

September 10, 2020

As interest in cover crops has grown significantly among crop and livestock producers in the region, species selection and establishment times have remained a major topic.

South Dakota soybean late plant date map. View pdf map: https://legacy.rma.usda.gov/fields/mt_rso/2018/final/sdsoybeans.pdf View text in Excel: https://legacy.rma.usda.gov/fields/mt_rso/2018/final/sdsoybeanstext.xlsx

Multi-Peril Crop Insurance: Delayed and Prevent Plant Choices

Crop insurance late plant dates are fast approaching for planting crops in South Dakota. The weather and soil conditions this spring will likely lead to some prevent plant situations for farm producers.

Bar Graph: South Dakota: Farm numbers by size in acres (1997-2017). For a complete description, contact Alvaro Garcia at 605-688-4940.

Farm Size in South Dakota: Where Are We Heading?

Agriculture is going through some difficult times not only in the United States, but globally as well. Aside from some short-lived price hikes for different products, the overall trend has been to higher costs of production and lower output prices.

Picture shows a dense and diverse cover crop mix grown after cereal grain. The cover crop is very green with many brassica and grass plants growing. The top third of the picture is the sky with some gray clouds.

South Dakota Land Use Trends (2012-2017)

Significant education efforts for natural resource conservation have occurred in South Dakota during the last five years. Many stakeholder groups have brought awareness for soil health and water quality to the forefront.

United States Environmental Protection Agency logo.

Cancellation of Several Neonicotinoids

On May 20, 2019, the United States Environmental Protection Agency announced the cancellation of registrations for 12 products that contain neonicotinoid insecticides. The cancellation of the product registrations was voluntarily requested by the companies that had registered the products.

small group of cattle grazing on cover crops

Cover Crops & Livestock Integration: A Profit Opportunity for S.D. Farms

Cover crops have been gaining a reemerging acceptance over the last decade, with very few producers disagreeing about the potential soil health benefits of adding cover crops to their farming operation.

a wet, snow-covered field with deep ruts in the soil

Stuck in a Rut: How to Deal With Field Ruts this Spring

As spring approaches, planting comes to mind, and for many, this means deciding what to do about last fall’s field ruts.