The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a significant and unexpected financial burden on rural health-care providers who were already struggling to maintain hospitals and clinics that help keep small-town residents — and their communities — alive and well.

For generations, the standard measure for corn growth was “knee-high by July 4th”, which meant that the corn plant should be able to produce a crop for that year. Of course, most farmers a couple of generations ago had much lower yield goals for their corn than the farmers of today. Today, “…

On the Fourth of July we celebrate the declaration of our nation’s independence with picnics and fireworks and with the great American tradition of going to furniture stores and taking advantage of their low, low prices on mattresses. The Fourth is essentially an all-you-can-eat potluck matt…

The South Dakota State University Southeast Research Farm will be hosting a virtual field day version of the farm’s annual field day online July 7, at 2:00 p.m. Due to health concerns surrounding COVID-19, this year’s field day will be held virtually via webinar with presentations and field …

Happy Independence Day! Thank you to all our veterans who have fought for our country and to all of the soldiers serving right now. Thank you to the families and friends who stand by their side and keep things going on the home front. Please have a fun and safe weekend. Enjoy time spent with…

South Dakota

Twenty-eight individuals have been selected to participate in Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (MARL), Class XI.

With more than 6,300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Dakota, there’s a chance you may know someone who has been impacted by the disease. But there’s also a good chance you don’t. So, South Dakota Farmers Union reached out to nurses who not only know rural community members impacted by C…

Powdery mildew, fusarium head blight and leaf rust were observed in a few winter wheat fields recently scouted. The recent rainfall showers and warm temperatures have favored these diseases to develop in winter wheat. However, the fact that winter wheat is past flowering and that these disea…

Most of the spring wheat is at or will soon be at flowering. One disease that can develop in wheat at this growth stage is Fusarium head blight (FHB or scab). The FHB pathogen infects the wheat head through the senescing flowers and can cause reduced yield and accumulation of mycotoxins, mai…

Reports of true armyworm infestations continue to come in (Figure 1). At this time the infestation is not as widespread as in 2018. Most reports have been in wheat, pasture roadsides, and other grasses.

Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, today announced an investment of $100 million in facility expansion and enhancement efforts in its U.S. manufacturing site in DeSoto, Kansas. Investments to the site include a technological expansion of the vacc…

The South Dakota State Fair anticipates a high volume of livestock entries this year. South Dakota residents will be given preference up to July 15, 2020. Livestock entries submitted after July 15 will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis (time and date of entry) until all spaces a…

Hunters, birders and stamp collectors across the United States join in celebrating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) as the 2020-2021 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp – commonly known as the Duck Stamp – is now on sale. Beginning today, the new Federal Du…

One of the oldest sayings in journalism reminds readers and writers alike that “It’s hard to argue with facts.”

According to the South Dakota Department of Health, only one in three South Dakotans have completed an advance directive, which is a document that states what kind of health care treatment an individual would want to receive, or not want to receive, if they could not speak for themselves.

Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar on Wednesday, July 1, at noon about the effect of a cereal rye cover crop on corn yield.

Have you ever been caught behind a slow-moving car that’s obviously sightseeing? It might be me.

As African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks sweep through China and other countries, swine producers and their leaders have become fixated on keeping it out of our national swine herd. Should the unthinkable happen and ASF breaks through our firewalls, however, rapid detection of the first infect…

South Dakota Livestock producers are encouraged to test their water sources as poor quality water is leading to blindness in some herds.

The American Soybean Association (ASA) wants to recognize exceptional soy volunteers and leaders—and we need your help. During ASA’s annual awards banquet, individuals will be recognized and honored for state association volunteerism, distinguished leadership achievements and long-term, sign…

The 2020 Brown County 4-H Special Foods Contest was held on Tuesday, June 24 in a virtual setting. Members got to have one-on-one interaction with each judge in a video interview online experience. Renee Marzahn and Audrey Rider were the judges. The following are the results of the contest:

Despite a higher average income in 2019, Iowa’s mid- to large-size farms actually saw a considerable decrease in farm liquidity and working capital over the past year.

The National FFA Organization announced today that the 2020 National FFA Convention & Expo will be held virtually. The organization also extended its contract with the host city of Indianapolis from 2031 to 2033.

North Dakota State University Extension, in conjunction with the University of Minnesota Extension, is hosting an online manure composting workshop.

Specialists from SDSU Extension, the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service will present sessions focused on land application, livestock feeding, air quality, soil conservation and more at the environmental training sessio…

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity for consumers to cook more meals at home and explore new products including lamb. The new retail data released by the American Lamb Board (ALB) quantifies the growth in retail sales for all lamb (domestic and imported) during the first quarte…

Teresa Jaskiewicz is a self-described "bird nerd," and after spending an hour walking around the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center on the outskirts of this Otter Tail County city it is difficult to argue.

Today, with Ashley Dean and Angie Rieck-Hinz, I met Warren Pierson at FEEL to look for corn rootworm larvae. I predicted peak corn rootworm egg hatch for central Iowa this week based on accumulating degree days. We had no trouble finding larvae in refuge corn, ranging from ¼ to ½ inches in l…

Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) forged a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by signing the National Programmatic Agreement among the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Programs, National Conference of State Historic Preservation Offi…

The Washington Pavilion unveiled the newest addition to Kirby Science Discovery Center (KSDC): “Grow It!” features 3,000 square feet of new agricultural-themed exhibits as part of the center’s third floor dedicated to the state of South Dakota. The new area of exhibits completes the final ph…

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds producers in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming that for the 2021 crop year a Fall Seeded Practice has been added for: 1) Irrigated Alfalfa Forage Seeding in all Montana and Wyoming counties; and 2) for Irrigated and Non-Irrigated Alf…

Registration is now open for a webinar that will help Kansas beef cattle producers prepare to manage and reduce the impacts of drought and reduced forage availability on cow herds.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency will now accept applications for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) through an online portal, expanding the options available to producers to apply for this program, which helps offset price declines and additional marketing costs because of the coronav…

The majority of North Dakota has experienced a precipitation deficit this growing season, with much of the western and central portion of the state receiving less than 50% of normal precipitation and some areas receiving only 20% to 30% of normal since April 1.

“My jars of homemade raspberry jam exploded in my cupboard!” my exasperated caller told me.

6/23/20 — Weather forecasts have improved recently, and markets that were rallying have stalled almost immediately. They are waiting to see how this more recent pattern of cooler and wetter weather will play out. Will it just be a temporary period in an otherwise dry summer? Or will it be a …

Sign-up for the Caronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments began on May 26 at local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices and will continue through Aug. 28. The amount of CFAP payments being processed has varied from state-to-state, as well as from county-to-county within states. This i…

South Dakota

There has been much talk lately about our nation’s flagging economy. To hear some say it, the economy is like a man crawling across a vast desert under a burning sun, mumbling through parched lips, “Water! Water! But first, can you tell me whether or not this store has been restocked with to…

As the season progresses, it’s a good time for pesticide applicators to review where sensitive crops and beehives are located. FieldWatch has tools such as DriftWatch, FieldCheck, and BeeWatch which allow specialty crop growers (fruits, vegetables, organic produce) and beekeepers to mark the…

When was the last time you walked in your windbreak or woodland? There may be invasive species plants or insects growing in these areas. You may also have high value trees that could be harvested for valuable timber products. These invasive species and profitable trees could be found in your…

While boredom may have set in for some teens remote schooling this spring, this wasn’t the case for Tyler Fastnacht. Tyler, his brother and stepbrothers spent the last eight weeks of the 2020 school year helping their dad, Shane, and grandpa with calving, feeding and starting to work with th…

Four youth have been selected to join the North Dakota 4-H Ambassador program.

CFAP – EIDL – PPP…Sure, there’s some relief available to agriculture producers, but figuring out which program or programs will work best for your operation can be confusing. To help farmers and ranchers understand what program(s) are right for them and their operation and to get their quest…

AMES, Iowa – A recent survey of dairy goat producers in Iowa shows the opportunities and challenges faced by this industry.

The South Dakota Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) is made up of a diverse group of specialty and niche producers in the state. The organization works to promote non-commodity products that include fruits and vegetables, specialty meats, wine, organic crops, specialty grains, honey and more.

Happy Independence Day! Thank you to all our veterans who have fought for our country and to all of the soldiers serving right now. Thank you to the families and friends who stand by their side and keep things going on the home front. Please have a fun and safe weekend. Enjoy time spent with…

South Dakota

Twenty-eight individuals have been selected to participate in Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (MARL), Class XI.

With more than 6,300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Dakota, there’s a chance you may know someone who has been impacted by the disease. But there’s also a good chance you don’t. So, South Dakota Farmers Union reached out to nurses who not only know rural community members impacted by C…

Powdery mildew, fusarium head blight and leaf rust were observed in a few winter wheat fields recently scouted. The recent rainfall showers and warm temperatures have favored these diseases to develop in winter wheat. However, the fact that winter wheat is past flowering and that these disea…

Most of the spring wheat is at or will soon be at flowering. One disease that can develop in wheat at this growth stage is Fusarium head blight (FHB or scab). The FHB pathogen infects the wheat head through the senescing flowers and can cause reduced yield and accumulation of mycotoxins, mai…

Reports of true armyworm infestations continue to come in (Figure 1). At this time the infestation is not as widespread as in 2018. Most reports have been in wheat, pasture roadsides, and other grasses.

Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, today announced an investment of $100 million in facility expansion and enhancement efforts in its U.S. manufacturing site in DeSoto, Kansas. Investments to the site include a technological expansion of the vacc…

The South Dakota State Fair anticipates a high volume of livestock entries this year. South Dakota residents will be given preference up to July 15, 2020. Livestock entries submitted after July 15 will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis (time and date of entry) until all spaces a…

Hunters, birders and stamp collectors across the United States join in celebrating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) as the 2020-2021 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp – commonly known as the Duck Stamp – is now on sale. Beginning today, the new Federal Du…

One of the oldest sayings in journalism reminds readers and writers alike that “It’s hard to argue with facts.”

According to the South Dakota Department of Health, only one in three South Dakotans have completed an advance directive, which is a document that states what kind of health care treatment an individual would want to receive, or not want to receive, if they could not speak for themselves.

Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar on Wednesday, July 1, at noon about the effect of a cereal rye cover crop on corn yield.

Teresa Jaskiewicz is a self-described "bird nerd," and after spending an hour walking around the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center on the outskirts of this Otter Tail County city it is difficult to argue.

Have you ever been caught behind a slow-moving car that’s obviously sightseeing? It might be me.

As African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks sweep through China and other countries, swine producers and their leaders have become fixated on keeping it out of our national swine herd. Should the unthinkable happen and ASF breaks through our firewalls, however, rapid detection of the first infect…

South Dakota Livestock producers are encouraged to test their water sources as poor quality water is leading to blindness in some herds.

The American Soybean Association (ASA) wants to recognize exceptional soy volunteers and leaders—and we need your help. During ASA’s annual awards banquet, individuals will be recognized and honored for state association volunteerism, distinguished leadership achievements and long-term, sign…

The 2020 Brown County 4-H Special Foods Contest was held on Tuesday, June 24 in a virtual setting. Members got to have one-on-one interaction with each judge in a video interview online experience. Renee Marzahn and Audrey Rider were the judges. The following are the results of the contest:

Despite a higher average income in 2019, Iowa’s mid- to large-size farms actually saw a considerable decrease in farm liquidity and working capital over the past year.

The National FFA Organization announced today that the 2020 National FFA Convention & Expo will be held virtually. The organization also extended its contract with the host city of Indianapolis from 2031 to 2033.

North Dakota State University Extension, in conjunction with the University of Minnesota Extension, is hosting an online manure composting workshop.

Specialists from SDSU Extension, the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service will present sessions focused on land application, livestock feeding, air quality, soil conservation and more at the environmental training sessio…

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity for consumers to cook more meals at home and explore new products including lamb. The new retail data released by the American Lamb Board (ALB) quantifies the growth in retail sales for all lamb (domestic and imported) during the first quarte…

Today, with Ashley Dean and Angie Rieck-Hinz, I met Warren Pierson at FEEL to look for corn rootworm larvae. I predicted peak corn rootworm egg hatch for central Iowa this week based on accumulating degree days. We had no trouble finding larvae in refuge corn, ranging from ¼ to ½ inches in l…

Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) forged a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by signing the National Programmatic Agreement among the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Programs, National Conference of State Historic Preservation Offi…

The Washington Pavilion unveiled the newest addition to Kirby Science Discovery Center (KSDC): “Grow It!” features 3,000 square feet of new agricultural-themed exhibits as part of the center’s third floor dedicated to the state of South Dakota. The new area of exhibits completes the final ph…

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds producers in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming that for the 2021 crop year a Fall Seeded Practice has been added for: 1) Irrigated Alfalfa Forage Seeding in all Montana and Wyoming counties; and 2) for Irrigated and Non-Irrigated Alf…

Registration is now open for a webinar that will help Kansas beef cattle producers prepare to manage and reduce the impacts of drought and reduced forage availability on cow herds.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency will now accept applications for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) through an online portal, expanding the options available to producers to apply for this program, which helps offset price declines and additional marketing costs because of the coronav…

The majority of North Dakota has experienced a precipitation deficit this growing season, with much of the western and central portion of the state receiving less than 50% of normal precipitation and some areas receiving only 20% to 30% of normal since April 1.

“My jars of homemade raspberry jam exploded in my cupboard!” my exasperated caller told me.

6/23/20 — Weather forecasts have improved recently, and markets that were rallying have stalled almost immediately. They are waiting to see how this more recent pattern of cooler and wetter weather will play out. Will it just be a temporary period in an otherwise dry summer? Or will it be a …

Sign-up for the Caronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments began on May 26 at local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices and will continue through Aug. 28. The amount of CFAP payments being processed has varied from state-to-state, as well as from county-to-county within states. This i…

South Dakota

There has been much talk lately about our nation’s flagging economy. To hear some say it, the economy is like a man crawling across a vast desert under a burning sun, mumbling through parched lips, “Water! Water! But first, can you tell me whether or not this store has been restocked with to…

As the season progresses, it’s a good time for pesticide applicators to review where sensitive crops and beehives are located. FieldWatch has tools such as DriftWatch, FieldCheck, and BeeWatch which allow specialty crop growers (fruits, vegetables, organic produce) and beekeepers to mark the…

When was the last time you walked in your windbreak or woodland? There may be invasive species plants or insects growing in these areas. You may also have high value trees that could be harvested for valuable timber products. These invasive species and profitable trees could be found in your…

While boredom may have set in for some teens remote schooling this spring, this wasn’t the case for Tyler Fastnacht. Tyler, his brother and stepbrothers spent the last eight weeks of the 2020 school year helping their dad, Shane, and grandpa with calving, feeding and starting to work with th…