Content by Sara Bauder
Managing Alfalfa Under Drought Stress
No one hopes for drought, but if the season should progress into a dry one, these are some considerations to make to ensure the best possible outcome for alfalfa crops.
Heavy Metals in Swine Manure
This fact sheet explains what heavy metals are, how they enter swine manure, how they behave in soil, and what practical steps producers can take to reduce long-term risks.
Using Swine Manure Phosphorus More Efficienlty in South Dakota Cropping Systems
This fact sheet explains how feeding strategies, especially the use of low-phytate corn and related diet adjustments, can reduce phosphorus excretion in swine manure.
Swine Manure and Nitrate Leaching
This fact sheet explains how nitrate leaching occurs, why swine manure increases risk under certain conditions, and what producers can do to keep nitrogen where crops can use it.
Best Practices for Swine Manure Application
This fact sheet summarizes research-based practices to help producers, consultants, and conservation professionals make practical decisions that protect both productivity and stewardship.
Impact of Swine Manure on Soil Organic Carbon
This fact sheet summarizes what research shows about how swine manure affects SOC and what that means for field-level decisions.
Southeast Research Farm Seminars @ Dakota Farm Show
Join SDSU Extension for a series of educational presentations during the Dakota Farm Show from January 6-7, 2026, at the USD DakotaDome (1101 N Dakota St, Vermillion, SD 57069).
SDSU Extension Crop Hour 2026 webinars start in January
November 24, 2025
South Dakota State University Extension’s Crop Hour webinar series for 2026 will return in January.
Learn about alfalfa weevil at Northern Plains Forage Association annual meeting
November 17, 2025
South Dakota State University Extension encourages producers to attend the Northern Plains Forage Association annual meeting and seminars, which will feature forage-related education and research.
Prussic Acid Poisoning
As the first frost date approaches, producers often have concerns about the risk of prussic acid poisoning in livestock. Certain forage plants, especially sorghums and related species are associated with an increased risk of death loss because of prussic acid poisoning.