Range

All Range Content

An orange plastic hoop placed around a portion of tall grass on a range to provide a measurement.

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure: Range Record Keeping

Range record keeping helps detect and demonstrate landscape changes that have a direct impact on your ability to maintain or grow your herd.

Herd of bison behind a fencline in a pasture.

Getting Started With Bison Ranching

While bison ranching has some similarities with cattle ranching, there are significant differences that must be accounted for to ensure long-term sustainability and profitability.

Two young woman inspecting plants growing on a vast, open range.
Jun 08

Women on the Range

SDSU Extension invites women in agriculture to attend a Women on the Range Workshop on June 8 and 9 at The Branding Iron restaurant (19079 US-85, Belle Fourche, SD 57717).

Rangeland and Soil Days attendees observing a grassland area.

39th annual Rangeland and 18th annual Soil Days set for June 14-15 in Watertown

March 20, 2023

SDSU Extension, Codington Conservation District and South Dakota Natural Resources Conservation Service are hosting Rangeland Days and Soil Days on June 14-15 in Watertown, South Dakota.

Rangeland and Soil Days attendees observing a grassland area.
Jun 14

Rangeland and Soils Days @ Watertown

Join SDSU Extension, the Codington Conservation District, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service South Dakota for the 2023 Rangeland and Soils Days Annual competitions on June 14 and 15 in Watertown.

Professional headshot of Sandy Smart

SDSU Extension program leader receives Society for Range Management Fellow Award

March 13, 2023

The Society for Range Management recently named SDSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Senior Program Leader Sandy Smart a 2023 Fellow Award winner.

Red angus cattle gathered in a feedlot in winter.

Livestock

South Dakota is home to a dynamic livestock industry.

Grassland with a large amount of dried brush and fuel for burning.

Removing Young Trees From Grasslands Will Save Money and Effort

Volunteer trees can hinder the development of desirable wildlife habitat and livestock resources. Early control of volunteer woody species is the simplest and most cost-effective option for maintaining open grassland habitats.

Prescribed burn taking place in a pasture.

Fire as a Management Tool

When planned for and implemented appropriately fire is a tool that can have tremendous benefits to your grassland community.

Vast, rolling rangeland near the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Pasture

Pastures and rangelands are a valuable resource for owners of equine and livestock.