Content by Clarence Winter

Jan 27

Commercial Applicator Training @ Rapid City

SDSU Extension will host commercial applicator training in Rapid City at the DoubleTree by Hilton (505 N 5th St, Rapid City, SD 57701) on January 27, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

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.

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.

Plastic bag containing numerous green larvae.

Alfalfa Weevil Populations Rapidly Increasing in Western South Dakota and Starting to Show up in Eastern South Dakota This Week

Recent degree day accumulations for alfalfa weevils in western South Dakota would suggest that alfalfa weevil larvae activity should be wrapping up for the 2025 season. However, recent scouting of alfalfa suggests otherwise.

Wheat growing in a field west of Martin, South Dakota.

Optimizing Wheat Success for 2025

With spring and warmer temperatures arriving in South Dakota, now is the ideal time to start planning your wheat crop for the upcoming growing season.