Grassland
You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure: Range Record Keeping
Range record keeping helps detect and demonstrate landscape changes that have a direct impact on your ability to maintain or grow your herd.
Does Water in Grass Change How Much Cattle Drink?
Ranchers know that cattle need clean drinking water every day. But the water already inside grass is easy to overlook. As grass grows older and dries out during summer, cattle may need more water from tanks or other sources.
Recent Rainfall Likely to Improve Fall Herbicide Applications for Noxious Weed Management
Under hot and dry conditions, weeds are stressed and herbicide activity decreases, leading to poor management. While recent rain events have impeded row crop harvest, the moisture is welcomed to improve the activity of fall herbicide performance for noxious weeds in pastures and rangelands.
Natural Resources & Conservation
South Dakota is home to many unique land, water and wildlife resources. Our experts and partners offer research-based information through to help people enjoy, preserve and profit from these natural resources.
Noxious Weeds Should Be Closely Monitored for Management
Pasture, rangelands and rights-of-way are starting to turn yellow, purple, or even a mix of both due to rapid growth of noxious weeds. Now is the time to implement management tactics to ensure the weeds do not outcompete desirable vegetation and invade adjacent land.
Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), A New Grass in the Black Hills: Friend or Foe?
Red fescue (Festuca rubra), a cool-season, dominate rhizomatous grass, has started showing up on disturbed ground near meadows and forests. While it is not a state noxious weed yet, its spread has raised questions from producers.
Keep Your Pastures Guessing: Why predictable grazing is costing you
Your cattle don't care which pasture they're in. Your pastures, on the other hand, care enormously. Give them something to work with, and keep them guessing.
Setting Stocking Rates With Flexibility in Mind: A decision framework for uncertain years
Setting stocking rates during years when moisture is unpredictable does not require perfect information. It requires a framework that protects both your land and your options.
South Dakota Grasshopper Prediction for 2026
Almost every year in South Dakota there is a risk that grasshopper populations will reach levels capable of causing issues for producers. Unfortunately, our prediction for the 2026 growing season won’t change the trend.
Drought Conditions Magnifying Impact of Black Grass Bugs
Black grass bugs are a common early-season pest of forage grasses. Drought conditions exacerbate their impact by stressing plants and reducing their ability to tolerate and recover from feeding injury.