AMES, Iowa — Good yields begin with proper seed emergence and stand, and to help producers understand how to check for both, the crops team at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has developed a new YouTube channel with timely updates.
BROOKINGS — The National Pork Board has recently announced the opportunity to offer and complete Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) Plus and/or Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) certifications virtually. Certified advisors may offer virtual PQA Plus or TQA trainings virtually via webinar to facili…
BROOKINGS — South Dakota FFA members were recognized at the 92nd South Dakota State FFA Convention for excellence in developing career-specific skills through their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Proficiency projects.
BROOKINGS — With alternating cool and warm weather patterns throughout the last few months and the summer season ahead, temperature continues to be a challenge for climate forecasters in South Dakota.
HURON — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced it will extend deadlines for project proposal submissions to May 29 for On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFAs).
BROOKINGS — One of the many challenges producers face each year is weed control. Leafy spurge, in particular, can be difficult to manage.
HURON — The next deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for funding in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 is May 29, 2020.
s a farmer, rancher or agricultural worker, you are part of the essential critical infrastructure workforce.
BROOKINGS — The South Dakota State University College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and the College of Education and Human Sciences announce that the Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community award program is canceled for 2020.
LINCOLN, Neb. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is currently accepting applications for enrollment in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the nation’s largest conservation program. Applications for funding this year need to be comple…
For cattle feeders who have cattle getting close to market, this is a scary time. We don’t know how long we will be backed up for, all we know is that it is nearly certain we won’t be able to market a sizeable number of our cattle in the near future. With this comes many questions about how …
MITCHELL — The results are in for the 2019 annual report which provides a summary of financial data from 78 farms enrolled in the South Dakota Farm/Ranch Management program.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has started making payments through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program — Plus (WHIP+) to agricultural producers who suffered eligible losses because excess moisture in 2018 and 2019. Signup for these causes of loss opened March 23, and prod…
COLUMBUS, Neb. — Now that spring is here and farmers are heading to the fields to plant crops, it’s important to remember to look up, and look out for overhead power lines.
BROOKINGS — The Every Acre Counts program through SDSU Extension has developed perennial plant mixture suggestions suited for various types of marginal land situations, including saline, sodic and wet soil areas.
BROOKINGS — Due to office closures as a result of COVID-19, commercial pesticide applicator testing is currently unavailable at the SDSU Extension Regional Centers and county offices. There are online options available through the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) for both commer…
HURON — The Northern Plains Water Quality and Wildlife Program is a new funding opportunity available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). When enrolled, producers are eligible for payment on cropped wetlands, two acres or less in size as identified on the National We…
AMES, Iowa — Although food and agriculture has been designated a critical industry by the federal government, those who work in these industries should plan ahead for how COVID-19 might impact operations.
HURON — The next deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for funding in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 is May 29, 2020.
BROOKINGS — Are you prepared to be gone from your operation for a month? Given the current situation and forecast for the number of people that will contract COVID-19 to some degree; farmers and ranchers need to be prepared make contingency plans.
BROOKINGS — One of the latest issues to result from the COVID-19 pandemic is the changes in the distillers grain marketplace. SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Associate Warren Rusche explained that COVID-19 mitigation efforts have dramatically reduced the amount of ethanol produced. Ma…
HURON — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced it will extend deadlines for project proposal submissions to May 29 for On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFAs).
HURON — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in South Dakota is holding a state-level sign-up for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) with the area of consideration in the James River Watershed and within the Prairie Pothole Working Lands Partnership.
There are days I wish I had a time machine where I could go back and put all my money in Apple, Inc., or stop my teenage self from doing something dumb. On the cattle side, I wish I could go back to 2019. No, not because I enjoyed it — far from that. Rather, if I could go back to June of las…
LYONS, Neb. — Applications are now being accepted for a new pilot-program being offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency.
MITCHELL — Cow/calf enterprises showed a negative return in 2019, according to annual report data recently released.
AMES, Iowa — As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact agricultural markets and supply chains, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has resources that can help.
PIERRE — Due to the spread of COVID-19, many commercial applicator testing locations remain closed throughout South Dakota. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) will offer an online commercial applicator test for commercial applicators who need certification and a temporary lice…
HURON — To sum up the outlook for Planting Season 2020, Jon Kleinjan, SDSU Extension Crop Production Associate had this to say on March 31. “It looks more promising than last year at this point in time.”
MITCHELL — In 2019, farms and ranches enrolled in the South Dakota Center for Farm/Ranch Management program experienced a decrease in net farm income from 2018, according to data compiled for analysis. The median net farm income in 2019 was $40,415 compared to $53,888 in 2018. This informat…
WASHINGTON — Agricultural producers now have more time to repay Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. The loans now mature at 12 months rather than nine, and t…
PIERRE — Gov. Kristi Noem is seeking nominations for the 2020 South Dakota Governor’s Ag Ambassador Award.
LYONS, Neb. — The Center for Rural Affairs has honored individuals with nine awards, including recognition for policy advocacy, food work, and small business.
HURON — You are not alone.
Don’t ignore the threat of Palmer amaranth.
WASHINGTON — USDA Rural Development has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Rural Development will keep our customers, partners, and stakeholders continuously updated as more actions are taken to better se…
AMES, Iowa — Extension specialists in Iowa and Minnesota are collaborating to provide a series of daily webinars for farmers, ag professionals, extension personnel and other interested parties during the week of April 6. The theme will be “Essential Row Crop Management for Spring 2020,” with…
AMES, Iowa — Iowa Learning Farms, a hands-on education and outreach program for Iowa landowners and agricultural producers based at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Practical Farmers of Iowa, a statewide organization working to equip farmers to build resilient farms and comm…
DELMONT — District 1 of the South Dakota Farmers Union will meet starting at 10 a.m. Saturday March 14, 2020, at Black Sheep Bar and Grill in Delmont.
LINCOLN, Neb. — The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has funding available through its Source Water Protection Initiative to help landowners install conservation practices. Interested landowners have until March 13, 2020, to apply.
SIOUX FALLS — South Dakota farm and ranch families who are interested in expanding their livestock operations or building new facilities face a number of questions about county and state permitting, barn construction, nutrient management plans and other topics.
Agricultural producers now can enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs — two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) safety net programs — for the 2019 and 2020 crop years.
SIOUX FALLS — The South Dakota Corn Growers Association’s 34th annual conference has been rescheduled for Friday, March 27, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. The event originally was to be held Jan. 18 but was postponed because of a snowstorm.
BROOKINGS — An environmental training session for operators of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), will be held Wednesday, March 4, 2020, in Huron at the Crossroads Convention Center.
HURON — Struggle is part of life. “It’s not so much the struggle, but how you act during the struggle that builds the character and strength necessary to get through the next struggle,” recalls Curtis Johnson, a Miller crop and cattle farmer of the valuable advice he discovered listening to …
The opportunity to advocate for the needs of South Dakota family farmers and ranchers is the main reason Gettysburg farmer and small business owner Gerri Eide is taking time away from her family, farm and business to attend the National Farmers Union Convention held in Savannah, Georgia, March 1-3.
BROOKINGS — The 2020 South Dakota Pest Management Guides are now available for free on the SDSU Extension website. The guides provide recommendations for controlling weeds, insects and diseases.
AMES, Iowa — Small farmers and specialty crop growers often receive a higher price for their products compared to commodity crops. Direct marketing and niche markets usually lead to higher returns per unit.
Will feedlot owners see increased profits in 2020?
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is currently taking applications to enroll environmentally sensitive agricultural land into perennial cover for 10 to 15 years through the federally funded Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
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