Content by Amanda Bachmann

Red-brown colored weevil with bent antennae originating on the elongated mouthparts.

Is it Time to Spray Red Sunflower Seed Weevils?

Red sunflower seed weevil adult activity is well underway on sunflowers in South Dakota. Even though the red sunflower seed weevil numbers are down, we are still observing populations in South Dakota that are above threshold.

Green soybean leaf with small holes near the center and edges.

Redheaded Flea Beetles in Soybean

While scouting soybean this week, we noticed an uptick in redheaded flea beetle activity. In the fields that we scouted, defoliation levels were still very low at less than 5%.

Bergamot flower in a field being pollinated by a honey bee

Managing Forests for Pollinators

Fact sheet on the importance of managing Black Hills forests for pollinators.

Aug 26

Garden Hour

Make the most of your garden and landscaping with weekly insights and ideas from our team of experts.

Blue container with lid visible that has a label indicating it is only for pesticide contaminated clothing/PPE.

How to Properly Launder Pesticide Contaminated Clothing

Many types of personal protective equipment are intended for single use only and should be discarded after use, but how do you wash reusable equipment and clothing contaminated with pesticide residue?

Redlegged and differential grasshopper nymphs.

Grasshoppers Are Showing up in Large Numbers in Eastern South Dakota

While scouting spring wheat in Brookings County this week, we noticed grasshopper nymph populations that were close to threshold.

Grasshopper with red hind tibia. It’s sitting on a green grass stem.

Survey of Grasshoppers in South Dakota

Fact sheet on the abundance and species diversity of grasshoppers in South Dakota

Examples of three commonly used protective gloves used for pesticide applications.

Pesticide Personal Protective Equipment: Glove Selection

Safety gloves are one of the most-important pieces of pesticide personal protective equipment. Glove material is very important, as not all materials provide the same protection for different pesticide ingredients.

Variety of vegetables growing inside a high tunnel.

SDSU Extension 2025 Garden Hour series starts May 6

May 02, 2025

/garden-yard/problems-and-solutions

2025 Rangeland Grasshopper Hazard map. Photo Courtesy of USDA APHIS, PPQ. ALT TEXT: Map of South Dakota of Northern Great Plains and the Western United States. Colors indicate the number of grasshoppers per square yard in each of the sampled locations. For a detailed description, please call SDSU Extension at 605-688-4792.

South Dakota Grasshopper Prediction for 2025

In 2025, it is likely that grasshopper populations will once again reach levels capable of causing issues in some areas of the state. Scouting should begin shortly after planting in areas where they were problematic in 2024 and continue throughout the growing season.