Pasture

All Pasture Content

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.

Tractor-mounted wick applicator applying herbicide to a pasture.

Low-Cost and Adaptable Plans to Build a Wick Applicator for Herbicides

From crop fields to home gardens, wick applicators can manage weeds by applying herbicides directly to weeds growing at a set height above desirable plants. Learn how to build one yourself in this article.

Two ranchers reviewing a checklist in a farm office.

Checklist to Pasture Turnout

When preparing to turn your herd out to pasture, there are a few management decisions that need to be made. Having a simple checklist is an easy way to make sure you are prepared.

Tan grasshopper with light colored stripes on its back sitting on the soil surface.

South Dakota Grasshopper Prediction for 2024

In 2024, grasshoppers are likely to cause problems in areas of South Dakota due to large populations that were present in 2023 and the relatively late first hard freeze date observed in much of the state.

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

Keep an Eye on Black Grass Bugs This Spring

In South Dakota, black grass bugs are a common spring pest of forage grasses. This native insect first appears in late April and May when grasses emerge from dormancy.

A herd of cattle gather around a stock pond on a vast, lush grassland. Courtesy: USDA [CC BY 2.0]

Weed Control: Pasture and Range

There are 24 million acres of native and tame pasture and range as well as 1.4 million acres of grass hayland in South Dakota.

Merino sheep grazing on grassy pasture.

Using Rangeland to Extend Lambs to Meet a More-Optimal Market

Coming off a year of record prices across all classifications of sheep, the current drop in prices has been a bit discouraging. Using historic pricing data, we can observe seasonal price fluctuations that may make holding onto lambs a little longer a more-profitable option.

Grazing exclosure constructed in a rangeland area.

End-of-Season Monitoring

The end of the grazing season is a great time to monitor your pasture/rangeland resources. Learn about some strategies and tools available to help assess where you stand at the end of the season.

Cattle using a fabricated windbreak in north western South Dakota.

Guidelines for Livestock Windbreaks

Livestock grazing open crop residue fields or large pastures can be left exposed during extreme bouts of cold. Ensuring that cattle and any other livestock being pastured in exposed areas have adequate access to shelter to escape the wind and cold is especially important.

Cattle grazing late-fall pasture.

Pasture Conditions and Grazing Opportunities

Fall rains across South Dakota have provided some much-needed soil moisture improvement. Learn some expert tips for taking advantage of late-season grazing opportunities on pasture and rangeland.