Skip to main content

Content by Stephen Robertson

Sprayer in a field with a blue sky and wispy clouds on the horizon
Apr 15

Private Applicator Training for Crops

SDSU Extension will host a free private applicator training for crops on April 15, 2026, from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. CT (12:30 - 3:30 p.m. MT). Participants have the option to attend online or at various locations across the state.

Spraying pesticides on vegetable plant
Mar 18

Private Applicator Training for Specialty Crops

SDSU Extension will host a free private applicator training for specialty crops on March 18, 2026, from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. CT (12:30 - 3:30 p.m. MT). Participants have the option to attend online or at various locations across the state.

Ground sprayer parked outside a field at sunset.
Feb 11

Private Applicator Training for Crops

SDSU Extension will host a free private applicator training for crops on February 11, 2026, from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. CT (12:30 - 3:30 p.m. MT). Participants have the option to attend online or at various locations across the state.

A sprayer applying liquid herbicides on corn
Jan 21

Private Applicator Training for Crops

SDSU Extension will host a free private applicator training for crops on January 21, 2026, from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. CT (12:30 - 3:30 p.m. MT). Participants have the option to attend online or at various locations across the state.

Beef cattle out at pasture at Cottonwood Field Station
Dec 17

Private Applicator Training for Rangelands

SDSU Extension will host a free private applicator training for rangelands on December 17, 2025, from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. CT (12:30 - 3:30 p.m. MT) focused on managing pests in rangelands. Participants have the option to attend online or at various locations across the state.

Producer loading pesticide into a sprayer tank.

SDSU Extension to host training for DOT pest control applicators

October 08, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension will host two recertification trainings in October for two categories of pesticide applicators.

Swarm of mosquitoes.

West Nile Virus Update: September 26, 2025

As of September 26, 2025, the South Dakota Department of Health (SD DOH) reported 74 human cases of West Nile Virus from Aurora, Beadle, Bon Homme, Brookings, Brown, Charles Mix, Clay, Codington, Corson, Douglas, Grant, Gregory, Haakon, Hamlin, Hand, Hughes, Hutchison, Hyde, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marshall, Meade, Miner, Minnehaha, Pennington, Roberts, Sanborn, Spink, Stanley, Union, Walworth, and Yankton counties.

Multi-rotor drone used for spray, spread and seeding

Required Licensing For Applying Pesticide Using Spray Drones

Fact sheet for South Dakota stakeholders wanting to get certified to apply pesticides with a spray drone.

Swarm of mosquitoes.

West Nile Virus Update: September 10, 2025

As of September 10, 2025, the South Dakota Department of Health (SD DOH) reported 59 human cases of West Nile virus from Beadle, Bon Homme, Brookings, Brown, Charles Mix, Codington, Corson, Grant, Gregory, Hamlin, Hand, Hughes, Hutchison, Hyde, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marshall, Meade, Miner, Minnehaha, Pennington, Sanborn, Spink, and Walworth counties.

Adult red sunflower seed weevil on sunflower leaf.

Did Malathion Effectively Manage Your Red Sunflower Seed Weevils?

Now that the August 31 deadline for the application of products containing malathion for red sunflower seed weevil management has passed, it is time to determine if the product was effective. South Dakota State University entomologists have received varying reports on this topic.