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Content by Eric Jones

A green leafy spurge plant with small, yellow bracts at top. Various brown and green plants surround the green leafy spurge plant.

Leafy spurge has germinated and is growing rapidly in South Dakota: Scout carefully!

Leafy spurge can reduce the value and productivity of pasture and displace desirable vegetation. Now is the time to scout for infestations to determine which management tactics will be most effective.

Ten small green pots with brown dirt and green kochia plants within with a black background.

Saflufenacil-Resistant Kochia Confirmed in South Dakota

Saflufenacil is an herbicide that can be applied at a burndown timing before most South Dakota crops to effectively manage kochia. However, overreliance on saflufenacil has selected for resistant kochia in our region.

Bull thistle, Canada thistle, and absinth wormwood emerging in early spring.

Noxious Weeds Have Germinated in East River South Dakota

Seasonal conditions have been favorable for weed germination, including biennial thistle, Canada thistle, and absinth wormwood. Learn some tips for scouting, identifying, and managing these noxious weeds before they become a problem.

Farmer inspecting a no-till field before planting.

Early Preplant or Preemergence Applications for Weed Management in Corn: Which is better?

Preemergence herbicides should be a part of a successful weed management plan, as these applications limit the amount of early-season weed interference to limit yield loss and reduce selection pressure on herbicide-resistant weeds.

Scattered weeds emerge from a no-till corn field in Kennebec.

Watch Temperature Forecast Before a Burndown Herbicide Application

As planting season approaches, no-till fields will likely need a burndown herbicide application to manage the established winter annual and early emerging summer annual weeds.

Atrazine carryover injury to eastern redcedar seedling

Herbicide Carryover and Planting Bare-Root Tree Seedling in New Windbreaks

Guidelines on herbicide carryover when planting bare-root tree seedlings in new windbreaks

soybean pods

2,4-D (Enlist One) and Glufosinate (Liberty) Additively Control Common Weeds in South Dakota Soybean Production

Fact sheet on the experiment to determine how 2,4-D and glufosinate, when applied alone or mixed, control common weeds and affect soybean yield.

A sprayer applying liquid herbicides on corn

While Illegal in Tolerant Soybean, Dicamba Can Still Be Applied in Other Crops

While dicamba labels (i.e., Engenia, Tavium, and Xtendimax) for over-the-top applications for tolerant soybeans have been pulled for the 2025 growing season, the herbicide can still be applied in other crops. Below is a guideline for dicamba use in various crops.

Young farmer analyzing data on a tablet computer beside a crop sprayer.

Over-The-Top Dicamba Applications Are Not Legal in Soybean for 2025

The registration for dicamba labels for over-the-top applications in tolerant soybeans have been pulled for the 2025 growing season. Many producers are aware of the situation, but planning weed management strategies should start today.