Range

All Range Content

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.

Group of youth competing in a Rangeland and Soil Judging contest

New Ranger Guide to South Dakota Rangelands

This guide is for elementary age students (New Rangers) to learn more about rangelands in South Dakota.

Group of youth participants at rangeland and soil days.

SDSU Extension invites youth to 2026 Rangeland and Soil Days

March 24, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension invites youth interested in learning more about grasslands and soil health to the 2026 Rangeland and Soil Days in Belle Fourche.

A group of people in an open pasture wearing light blue shirts smile for the camera

SD youth present at National High School Youth Forum in California

March 23, 2026

Two high school students from South Dakota were selected to be delegates for the High School Youth Forum at the International Society for Range Management meeting.

SDSU Extension hosts risk management webinar series

March 20, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension is hosting a series of free Strong Minds, Strong Farms webinars for anyone involved in agriculture.

grass with field bindweed, a viny green weed with white flowers

Weed Control: Noxious Weeds

Weed control recommendations for noxious weeds in South Dakota.

Vast, rolling rangeland with spring plant growth.

SDSU Extension invites public to 2026 SD Grasslands Summit

February 05, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension is inviting everyone interested in grasslands to attend the 2026 South Dakota Grasslands Summit on March 3-4 in Mitchell.

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 many undesirable plants or invasive plant species in South Dakota's 24 million acres of native and tame pasture range. This guide provides a summary of different herbicide suggestions and uses.

Rolling Rangeland with patches of snow with a wire snow catch fence on the right.

Reading the Range in Winter: What Dormant Season Clues Reveal About Spring

For range and grazing management, winter is one of the most revealing times of the year. With a few hours in each pasture, managers can gather a season’s worth of insight and set themselves up for a more-resilient grazing year.

Black and white scan of Cottonwood Field Station soil map.

Range Roundup: Long-Term Grazing Records Can Guide Future Management

For nearly 80 years, researchers at the Cottonwood Field Station have monitored how different stocking rates have shaped plant communities. Today, these records are being compared with modern data to help us better understand how rangelands respond to long-term grazing management.