Content by Amanda Bachmann
Garden Hour
Make the most of your garden and landscaping with weekly insights and ideas from our team of experts.
Springtails Are Active in South Dakota
Recent reports of seemingly millions of very small insects moving around on driveways and around homes was the result of a springtail population boom. Springtails typically become a nuisance during drought conditions or saturating rains.
West Nile Virus Update: July 2, 2026
On June 15, 2026, the South Dakota Department of Health released a press release that the first West Nile Virus positive pool of mosquitos was detected in Brown County. Although much of the state is still experiencing drought, recent heavy rains will promote already active mosquito populations.
Garden Hour
Make the most of your garden and landscaping with weekly insights and ideas from our team of experts.
Keep an Eye Out for Cut Soybean Plants: A Sign of Dingy Cutworm Presence
Dingy cutworms have been observed in South Dakota no-till soybean fields. Their activity will likely continue for at least another couple of weeks.
Various Grasshopper Species Are Active Across South Dakota
While scouting, we have noticed increased grasshopper nymph activity and in some areas these populations are close to threshold levels. Crops in areas that have had high populations should be regularly scouted to ensure that extensive defoliation doesn’t go unnoticed.
Pea Aphid Alert: Forecasted temperatures could result in rapid population increases
The temperatures during the last week and the forecasted temperatures for next week will potentially encourage rapid pea aphid population growth. Although many fields have been cut recently, pea aphids can still readily recolonize alfalfa.
South Dakota Pesticide Container Recycling
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources is again offering pesticide container recycling services across the state. View a complete list of 2026 dates and locations.
Research Report: Warm-Season Living Mulch Impacts on Cucumber Yield and Disease Symptoms
A 2025 trial in Brookings, South Dakota aimed to detect the influences of various warm-season cover crop living mulches on pest pressure in tomatoes and cucumbers and the interactions between both grafted and nongrafted tomatoes and cucumbers and the living mulch.
New season of SDSU Extension Garden Hour starts May 5
April 23, 2026
The latest season of Garden Hour, South Dakota State University Extension’s popular webinar series for gardeners, will start on May 5, 2026.