January 13, 2020
SDSU Extension will host a Soil Health Workshop on February 13, at the Highland Conference Center in Mitchell. The event will focus on climate, weather, livestock integration, cover crops, carbon-to-nitrogen ratios and the benefits of manure for building organic matter and carbon in soil.
A guide of common dung beetles of South Dakota.
For decades scientists have known that a handful of soil contained more micro-biological organisms than the number of humans on earth. Science is just beginning to discover these organisms and learn about their functions and contribution to their soil ecosystem.
SDSU Extension will host a soil health meeting on Feb. 13 at 9:30 AM CST at the Highway Conference Center (2000 Conference Way, Mitchell, SD 57301).
December 11, 2019
Join us for a free event that will highlight building soil and integrating livestock to farm systems in western SD. Registration is requested, event is free.
November 19, 2019
SDSU Extension will host the “Managing Soil: Maximizing Profit” workshop in Colton on Dec. 3.
![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.