Range

All Range Content

Variety of native plants growing in a healthy, well-managed grassland.

A Quick Start Guide to Selling Native Seeds

Guide that details what you need to know to sell seeds of native flowering plants (forbs) in South Dakota.

Three woody plants. From left: Ponderosa pine tree, chokecherry bush and greasewood.

Poisonous Plants on Rangelands: Woody Species

Several woody plant species that are poisonous to livestock are found throughout South Dakota rangelands, including ponderosa pine, chokecherry, greasewood and broom snakeweed.

Three photos of crested wheatgrass pastures in southwest South Dakota, showing the gradual effects of crested wheatgrass die-off.

Notes From the Range: Crested Wheatgrass Die-off

Crested wheatgrass die-offs occurred in South Dakota during the summer 2023. It was a noteworthy event and previously occurred in Montana several years prior. Learn where the die-offs occurred and what likely caused them.

Two pastures separated by a fence. The right pasture is severely overgrazed, while the neighboring pasture has more cover, but has also developed an invasive weed problem.

The Lasting Effects of Overgrazing on Rangeland Ecosystems

Overgrazing can cause various detrimental effects on rangeland ecosystems. Most of the effects are seen in the short term, but some are unseen and can be lasting.

Cattle grazing snow-dusted winter pasture.

Protecting Your Pastures While Winter Grazing

Winter grazing of stockpiled grass produced during the growing season can help extend the grazing season and reduce winter feed costs. Learn some strategies to successfully incorporate winter grazing into your operation.

Well-managed grassland area adjacent to a wetland.

Managing Livestock Attractants Near Water

In the event that your pasture includes riparian areas, such as streams, rivers, lakes or ponds, you’ll want to take special care of these habitats. A riparian area is the space immediately adjacent to the shore, where water and land interact.

Bee hives placed in a grassland property.

Grassland Goods and Services

Grasslands, whether in the form of pastureland, rangeland or various conservation program or habitat lands are important ecosystems that provide a variety of goods and services.

Herd of cattle grazing in a pasture rotation.

General Principals of Grazing Management

Grazing involves a number of variables, including land carrying capacity, type and distribution of the livestock, water distribution and number of pastures. A combination of proper grazing techniques and grassland management will improve harvest efficiency and lower production costs.

Small herd of mixed cattle grazing rangeland in late fall.

S.D. Producers’ Willingness To Adopt Patch Burn Grazing vs. Winter Patch Grazing

Patch-burn grazing and winter patch grazing are heterogenous rangeland management practices that aim to increase the variety of grass composition to benefit wildlife and maintain livestock production. To learn about producers’ desire to adopt these practices, we conducted an online survey between November 2019 and January 2020.

Small herd of mixed cattle grazing rangeland in late fall.

Producer Views on Patch Burn Grazing vs. Winter Patch Grazing in S.D.

Traditional rangeland management promotes uniform forage utilization, yet causes detrimental effects on the richness of plant species and wildlife habitat. Therefore, management practices that increase heterogeneity in vegetation play an important role in developing habitat types and preserving grassland wildlife species.