Pasture
All Pasture Content
Absinth Wormwood Spray Window Passed: Mow now and plan to treat the regrowth in the fall
Absinth wormwood is a statewide noxious weed that inhabits cropland, pasture, rangeland, right-of-ways, and waste sites. If not effectively managed, the species can displace desirable vegetation, reduce crop yield and decrease land value.
Summer Pasture Report: Discussing Rain, Pasture Recovery, and Preparing for Fall
Drought conditions across northern South Dakota have seen some relief due to the precipitation received in the past few months. Despite some decent rainfall occurring, most of the state is still behind normal for the water year.
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?
Grasshoppers Are Showing up in Large Numbers in Eastern South Dakota
While scouting spring wheat in Brookings County this week, we noticed grasshopper nymph populations that were close to threshold.
SDSU Extension offering livestock water testing across state
June 18, 2025
South Dakota State University Extension is encouraging producers to take advantage of its free, on-site livestock water testing services across the state.
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.
Survey of Grasshoppers in South Dakota
Fact sheet on the abundance and species diversity of grasshoppers in South Dakota
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.
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.
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.