Content by Clarence Winter

A green field of winter wheat under a blue sky

SDSU Extension invites public to free Winter Wheat field tours

June 04, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension invites all wheat producers, agronomists and agricultural professionals to attend the upcoming Winter Wheat Variety Tours on June 9, 2026.

Road ditch near a crop field with noticeable soil deposited from wind erosion.

How to Maintain Soil Health During Dry Growing Conditions

Adopting soil health practices can help to reduce the loss of valuable topsoil by wind erosion during droughts. Learn how to manage your fields now or in the future to maintain soil health during periods of dry times.

Wheat growing in a field with rain clouds in the distance.

Optimizing Wheat Success for 2026

Whether it be winter wheat or spring wheat, there are many things to consider to help improve the health and success of these crops in the upcoming growing season.

A corn planter planting seeds into wheat residue in a no-till field.

The Economic Advantages of No-Till: Diesel Fuel

While no-till and conservation systems are often discussed for their soil health benefits, the economic advantages are becoming increasingly important in today’s farm economy, particularly when it comes to fuel costs.

Winter wheat field.

Winter Wheat and Nitrogen: Decisions for 2026 Growing Season

With fertilizer representing one of the largest variable costs in wheat production, inefficient nitrogen use can quickly erode profit margins. This being said, an emphasis should be placed on how to improve nutrient management during the 2026 growing season.

Two pictures; The left has yellow soybean plants with only brown dirt throughout. The right has yellow soybean plants with greenish weeds throughout.

Weed Management via Harvesting Order

Despite The warm and wet growing season that promoted continuous flushes of weed germination, weeds are usually present at the time of harvest. Careful consideration should be taken to determine the order of fields to be harvested.

Spring wheat field nearing harvest in June.

SDSU Extension to host spring wheat field tours

July 01, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to host tours of spring wheat variety field plots at SDSU Extension Crop Performance Testing program locations.

Green wheat plants with some yellowing throughout.

Keep Watch: Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus is Developing in South Dakota Fields

Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus has been reported in South Dakota wheat fields and is also a major wheat disease for Great Plains states in 2025. The virus is sweeping across the state and is rampant in winter wheat.

Young sunflower plants emerged in a vast field.

Overlapping Residual Herbicides May Be Necessary for Effective Weed Management

Weed management in sunflowers poses unique challenges. Compared with many other crops, there is a limited number of herbicides selections, especially postemergence herbicides.

Adult red sunflower seed weevil on a sunflower leaf.

Malathion receives special local needs approval to treat red sunflower seed weevils in South Dakota from July 15 to August 31, 2025

The request was submitted and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency due to the large populations of red sunflower seed weevil present in South Dakota that are resistant to pyrethroid insecticides.