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Instructor leading a proctored exam in an agriculture classroom.

South Dakota Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification Testing

New commercial pesticide applicators and those that have allowed their licenses to lapse must pass commercial pesticide applicator exams to receive certification. Learn about some some helpful resources, contacts, and tips to help you be successful in your certification testing.

Weeds growing abundantly between rows of soybean in a research plot.

Suspect Herbicide Resistance in Your Fields? SDSU Can Help!

Submission form to screen weeds for herbicide resistance in South Dakota.

True armyworm caterpillar on a corn leaf.

Reports of Pyrethroid Failures for True Armyworm Caterpillar Management

True armyworm caterpillars reached thresholds in oats and wheat in many areas of South Dakota recently. Management efforts to reduce populations had varying levels of success, with SDSU Extension receiving numerous reports of pyrethroid insecticide failures.

Corn field with severe wind and hail damage.

Are Fungicides Needed On Hail-Damaged Crops?

Recent storms brought rain, severe wind, and hail. With the hail and wind damage that occurred, many growers are wondering if a fungicide application is needed to protect their hail or wind-damaged crops.

Two pictures of green soybeans with a blue sky in the background.

Strong, Effective Herbicide Programs Can Be Complimented With Narrow Row Spacing

While strong herbicide programs will result in effective weed management, a cultural tactic, such as row spacing can result in a complementary increase in effectiveness.

United States Environmental Protection Agency Sign plate outside the agency’s main office.

EPA Proposes a Decision to Approve Registration for Dicamba Labeling to Be Applied to Tolerant Soybean

Dicamba products previously labeled for overtop application to tolerant soybean are not registered for use during the 2025 growing season. However, the EPA has proposed to re-register these dicamba products for use in tolerant soybean starting in 2026.

Many green soybean plants within a field that has brown grass and residute.

Burnt Soybeans Look a Lot Better Than Weedy Beans!

Prior to the introduction of Roundup-Ready soybean, growers were accustomed to soybeans exhibiting short-lived herbicide injury. While soybean plants may look unsightly from a PPO-inhibiting herbicide application, a more unsightly view is a soybean field full of weeds.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offices in Washington, D.C.

Update on Chlorpyrifos Use in South Dakota

As of June 30, 2025, the labeled uses for chlorpyrifos products for food and feed are limited to alfalfa, soybean, and wheat in South Dakota. Chlorpyrifos can no longer be used to treat sunflowers.

Blue container with lid visible that has a label indicating it is only for pesticide contaminated clothing/PPE.

How to Properly Launder Pesticide Contaminated Clothing

Many types of personal protective equipment are intended for single use only and should be discarded after use, but how do you wash reusable equipment and clothing contaminated with pesticide residue?

Left: Kochia growing abundantly in an untreated soybean field. Right: Kochia weeds burned down in a soybean field managed with an herbicide mixture.

Glufosinate + lactofen is likely an effective mixture to manage kochia postemergence in soybean

Kochia is a difficult to manage weed that infests crops across South Dakota. Mixing effective herbicides is a tactic that can reduce selection pressure on resistant weeds and increase the effectiveness of weed management.