SDSU Extension in collaboration with the Soil & Water Conservation Society will be hosting a workshop in Sioux Falls on Dec. 3 at the Taopi Hall (102 E. 3rd St., Colton, SD 57018).
![A green tractor planting seeds in a no-till field. Courtesy: United Soybean Board [CC BY 2.0] via Flickr](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/2019-10/W-00433-00-no-till-planting-soybeans-field.jpg?h=b2774bcf&itok=jiH6qh1t)
Implementing diverse crop rotations and no-till practices are common suggestions to reduce erosion, control pests, and improve yields. These practices can also improve soil health through an increase in soil carbon levels.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a tall, native, prairie grass that is often seeded on marginal lands in South Dakota. It has gained growing popularity over the past decade not only as a source of biofuel and feed, but also as a method to improve soil properties.
Planting cover crops and returning crop residues (stover) to the soil both adds nutrients and improves overall soil quality. These practices are common with producers across South Dakota and have been recently studied by researchers to identify how they impact the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
An integrated crop-livestock system can provide an alternative management strategy that benefits producer’s income, soil health, and the environment—all while increasing production.
Fallow syndrome received its name from the dry plains states, where fields routinely benefited from the additional moisture available after a year where the ground was fallowed. Corn sometimes had symptoms of phosphorus deficiency when grown on this previously fallowed ground, thus it received its current name, “fallow syndrome.”
Soil testing is your best way to evaluate the fertility status of a field or of areas within a field.
Driving around South Dakota, you can see the many acres that farmers were not able to plant. Now that fall soil-sampling season is well on its way, many people have questions regarding how different situations of prevented planting will affect soil sampling and fertilizer application needs.
SDSU Extension, the South Dakota Nutrient Research and Education Council and the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station at SDSU are interested in learning more about the nutrient management practices you use on your farm through a survey.
July 10, 2019
SDSU Extension will be hosting a drainage workshop Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, July 18 starting at 9:00 a.m. CDT at South Dakota State University’s Southeast Research Farm.