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Grassland

All Grassland Content

Green plant with bright yellow flowers throughout.

Leafy Spurge Management in the Early Summer

Early summer and fall integrated management tactics are critical for leafy spurge management. Now is the time to consider implementing early summer management tactics for leafy spurge.

Tick that is dark brown to black in color with a reddish-orange abdomen.

Protecting Yourself From Ticks

During wet springs, tick populations tend to thrive in South Dakota. These parasitic arthropods require blood to fulfill their nutritional needs and commonly use humans as a host. Some ticks can also carry bacterial diseases that are a threat to human health.

Teardrop shaped tick with a dark brown body and legs and an elongate white patch behind its head.

Ticks Becoming Active in South Dakota

The arrival of spring in South Dakota means warmer weather and more outdoor activities. However, it also brings an increase in tick activity.

Tick that is dark brown to black in color with a reddish-orange abdomen.

An identification guide to common Ticks of South Dakota

A guide to identifying common ticks in South Dakota

Two headwater prairie streams in Butte County.

Ranching and Prairie Streams: What Healthy Riparian Areas Mean for Your Ranch

Prairie streams and their associated riparian areas can provide numerous ecosystem services to a ranching operation.

Cottonwood Creek on the SDSU Cottonwood Field Station.

Ranching and Prairie Streams: Why Riparian Areas Matter

For many producers, riparian pastures are essential to their operations. However, land managers need to balance grazing and utilization needs with riparian health for the long-term benefit of their operation.

Two pictures of bright, green plants with yellow flowers.

Leafy Spurge or an Imposter?

Leafy spurge is a statewide noxious weed that can be difficult to manage. However, are the recent yellow flowers appearing throughout South Dakota landscapes leafy spurge or another species?

Canada thistle growing in a pasture.

Current State of Noxious Weed Management in South Dakota

Results of an online survey to determine how South Dakota stakeholders are currently managing noxious weeds.

A green pasture with patches of bare soil under a blue sky containing several wispy white clouds.

Dying Patches in Your Pasture? Make Sure You Don’t Have White Grubs.

There have been an increasing number of reports of pastures with dead areas showing up this spring. A little digging into these areas has revealed that part of the problem is the presence of true white grubs, which are the larva of June beetles.

Gardener holding a handful of healthy soil.

Learn about your backyard’s natural resources with SDSU Extension

May 01, 2024

Lawn and garden enthusiasts are invited to attend Backyard Natural Resources, a new four-part webinar series from South Dakota State University Extension.