Grassland
All Grassland Content
Managing For Annual Swings in Forage Production
Being able to adapt your stocking rate and grazing intensity to fit forage conditions provides you with tangible management actions you can take to protect your pastures from overgrazing in any year.
Trigger Dates: Critical Decisions for Drought Management
Having a drought plan in place ensures that you can overcome the inhibitions surrounding a drought response, the basis of which is figuring out trigger dates.
Drought Planning
A drought plan will be an essential component to your overall grazing plan, as it provides guidance in making decisions during critical times when forage may be lacking.
38th Annual Rangeland and 17th Annual Soils Days Set for June 14 and 15 in Murdo
March 28, 2022
Rangeland and Soils Days offer a unique opportunity for youth and adults alike to learn more about South Dakota’s natural resources.
Management-Intensive Grazing Plays a Key Role in Expanding Grass-Based Agriculture
By improving livestock carrying capacity and reducing feed costs, grazing strategies at greater management intensity have the potential to improve grass-based livestock production profits.
Introduced Grasses and Forbs
While native grasslands contribute greatly to the integrity of the overall grassland community in South Dakota, the use of introduced grasses has proven a popular alternative for some producers.
Online Eastern South Dakota Water Conference set for Oct. 20
December 29, 2021
The theme for this year’s conference is “Ground Truth – Water Resource Management and Remote Sensing.”
Multi-Species Grazing as an Alternative to Pasture Spraying
Broadacre spraying of pastures is intended to reduce undesirable plants and increase grasses for livestock. This practice often results in unintended consequences, including damage and reduction of native forbs and reduced profitability. One approach to managing perceived “weedy” plants is incorporating different species of livestock into a grazing operation.
Structuring Grazing Leases
Fact sheet including ranch resource goals to improve landowner - lessee relationships.
Counties Designated as Disaster Areas and Qualify for Other Programs
Five South Dakota counties have been given disaster declarations due to dry summer conditions. This declaration gives producers in these counties and those in contiguous counties access to USDA-FSA emergency loans.