SDSU Plant Science Extension

college of agriculture & biological sciences

Plant Science Extension

South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service is the major educational outreach arm of South Dakota State University, serving the people of South Dakota by helping them apply unbiased, scientific knowledge to improve their lives. Continuing partnerships with county, state, and federal governments are made possible by the land-grant mandate that empowers Extension to offer educational information, programs, and services in response to local issues and needs.

The Plant Science Department provides leadership in a variety of disciplines including crop production, agronomy, soil fertility, entomology, plant pathology and weed science to the citizens of South Dakota and is responsible for professional development and training of 26 Agronomy county-based Educators.

Plant Science Extension accomplishments:

· Corn mycotoxin survey and response (2007): With assistance from county-based agronomy educators, this program surveyed the extent of mycotoxin problems in eastern SD counties using samples provided by county producers. News releases, newspaper telephone interviews, and short radio programs were used to inform producers of the problem and what options were available.

· Reduced corn yields resulting from K and S-deficiencies (2004-2005): Educational materials, producer meetings, and field tours were used help producers identify K and S-deficiencies and how to correct them. In addition, EC 750 – Fertilizer Recommendation Guide was revised and published in 2005.

· Drought in western (2002) and in central and eastern (2006) South Dakota: This program involved specialists and educators from the Plant Science, Animal Science, and Agricultural Economics Departments along with CES staff from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. In Plant Science, the crop production, forage crops, soils specialists were the primary people involved during these drought events. Response to the public included providing pertinent information fact sheets and education meetings to cope with the drought. A Drought Call-in Show on Public TV and a state fair drought information booth were used to help farm families cope with the drought financially and psychologically.

· Education program response to Asian Soybean rust (2005): The Plant Pathology program conducted several educational meeting for soybean producers, including educational programs on Public TV. In additional, specialists from other disciplines were instrumental in publishing 20,000 copies of the Asian Soybean rust tabloid for producers. This tabloid, outlined the disease epidemiology, disease mobility, soybean growth and development, and how to control the disease.

· Educational program response to re-occurring West Nile virus in South Dakota since 2002: Program provided educational programs on Public TV, recertification programs for the control of the virus, and published several educational materials for both adults and children.

· Development of statewide manure management for Concentrate Animal Feeding Operations. (CAFO’s) beginning 2000: Regulations were developed for the management of CAFOs by soils specialists from the Plant Science Department along with SDSU specialists from Animal & Range Sciences and Engineering & Agricultural Bio-systems and with the cooperation of the SD Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) and the Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS). This multi-disciplinary group of people conducts CAFO training and certification meetings twice a year for SD livestock producers.