Farm Business Management

SDSU Extension collecting custom farming rates through new survey

March 16, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension is collecting data on the state’s custom farming rates and inviting producers to participate.

Statewide Corn Production and County-Level Yield Variation in South Dakota

South Dakota’s corn production has experienced significant increase in both planted acres and production over the past decade.

Tribal Land Transfer or Individual Ownership of Reservation Land

There are two major types of Native American land. Trust land is held by the federal government, but the beneficial interest remains with the individual or tribe. Fee land is purchased by tribes, the tribe acquires legal title under specific statutory authority. To ensure the passing of your property to those whom you wish, learn how your land is held.

South Dakota Agricultural Land Soil Productivity Tool

The Ag Land Soil Tables Tool allows users to view soil data and download data by county to further understand the soil rating system. It can help appraisers make baseline agricultural land assessments and determine if adjustments from baseline are needed.

Live Cattle Basis

Futures prices are from organized trades that provide price information for buyers and sellers of commodities. Local cash prices can be compared to futures prices using a basis measure. With an expected basis measure, producers can observe futures prices and infer cash prices.

SDSU Extension to discuss estate planning at Sustaining the Legacy conferences

February 06, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension will continue to assist farmers and ranchers with estate and farm transition planning through its final Sustaining the Legacy conference in 2026.

35 years of the SDSU Extension Farm Real Estate Market Survey

January 09, 2026

When Larry Janssen learned that one of his most frequently used land sales databases was no longer available, the South Dakota State University Professor Emeritus of Economics and his colleague, Burton Pflueger, former SDSU Extension economist, launched their own survey in 1991.

SDSU Extension to discuss continuation plans at Sustaining the Legacy conferences

January 07, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension will continue to assist farmers and ranchers with long-term planning through its Sustaining the Legacy conferences across South Dakota this winter.

Three Parts to a Farm Plan: And you need all three

Farmers and ranchers need to create three plans to efficiently transfer the management and ownership of their operations to the next generation. These include: an estate plan, a transition plan, and a retirement plan.