Grassland

All Grassland Content

two ducks swimming in a pond

SDSU Extension, SD Grassland Coalition sponsor Wallace Duck Day

June 27, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension and the South Dakota Grassland Coalition are excited to announce a conservation-focused bus tour as part of this year’s Duck Day in Wallace.

Green plant with bright yellow flowers throughout.

Leafy Spurge: Do I spray now or wait until fall?

In June, leafy spurge is one of our most problematic rangeland, pasture, and roadside weeds. It is also one of South Dakota’s noxious weeds that landowners are required by law to control. So should you spray it now or wait until fall?

Two pictures of two different species of thistle. Both pictures are filled with a green thistle plant and various green plants in the background.

Thistle Species Are Budding in South Dakota

Thistles are starting to bud across South Dakota. This is a critical growth stage for management, as the plants are beginning to produce seeds and herbicides are not effective.

Grasshopper with red hind tibia. It’s sitting on a green grass stem.

Survey of Grasshoppers in South Dakota

Fact sheet on the abundance and species diversity of grasshoppers in South Dakota

Green perennial sowthistle with yellow flowers at top in the foreground with blurred green, soybean plants in the background.

Perennial Sowthistle Management

Perennial sowthistle inhabits roadsides, pastures, rangelands, and croplands. It can be abundant in overgrazed, over-hayed, or over-mowed areas, as there is little desirable vegetation to compete against the weed.

A green leafy spurge plant with small, yellow bracts at top. Various brown and green plants surround the green leafy spurge plant.

Leafy spurge has germinated and is growing rapidly in South Dakota: Scout carefully!

Leafy spurge can reduce the value and productivity of pasture and displace desirable vegetation. Now is the time to scout for infestations to determine which management tactics will be most effective.

2025 Rangeland Grasshopper Hazard map. Photo Courtesy of USDA APHIS, PPQ. ALT TEXT: Map of South Dakota of Northern Great Plains and the Western United States. Colors indicate the number of grasshoppers per square yard in each of the sampled locations. For a detailed description, please call SDSU Extension at 605-688-4792.

South Dakota Grasshopper Prediction for 2025

In 2025, it is likely that grasshopper populations will once again reach levels capable of causing issues in some areas of the state. Scouting should begin shortly after planting in areas where they were problematic in 2024 and continue throughout the growing season.

A small black bug with tan margins on its wings resting on a grass seed head.

Black Grass Bug Activity Ramping Up

Black grass bugs feed on fresh green growth, which can result in stunted plants and decreased forage quality. Monitoring and potential management of black grass bugs will be of increased importance this spring, especially if drought persists.

Early germinating rosettes of common mullein and houndstongue.

Common Mullein and Houndstongue Have Germinated in the Black Hills and Surrounding Areas West River

Two biennial species, common mullein and houndstongue, have germinated and begun to grow in the Black Hills. Now is the time to scout and determine where areas need attention to manage these species and other weeds.

Two producers inspect the soil in a no-till field early in the growing season.

Gearing Up for the Grazing Season: Soil Health

Grazing season is around the corner and preparation before turning out is key. Understanding the intersection between soil health and grazing can help improve the function of your grazing system.