U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) will speak at the Memorial Day ribbon cutting ceremony at the newly constructed South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls at 2 p.m. today and at 7 p.m.  Johnson will speak at the Memorial Day ceremony hosted by the Garretson American Legion.

Since South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Range Field Specialist Pete Bauman advises on grassland management for a living, his neighbors often approach him, asking about pasture management and his use of poly wire, grazing, fire and rest. Eventually, he says the conversation shifts from general grassland considerations to managing individual types of plants.

“Grasslands are comprised of individual plants. This sounds obvious, but we often don’t think too deeply about the types of plant categories in a pasture or grassland, such as exotic, cool season, warm season, broadleaf, grasses, sedges, etc.,” says Bauman, who is based out of the Watertown Regional Extension Center. “Nor do we necessarily consider the individual species, such as the brome, big bluestem or sunflower.”

One of Bauman’s neighbors recently commented to him that he has never really thought about “managing” his grass.

“I told him he wasn’t alone, and that most producers often focus attention on their cropland and give little thought to their grassland systems, which are much more complex,” Bauman says. “In a crop field we often focus on helping one plant survive and eliminating the rest. In a grassland, we have dozens of plants to consider, and our management actions can either help or hinder entire plant communities.”

So, where can producers begin the learning process? Baumann says one opportunity is to attend the upcoming “Good, Bad and Invasive Plant Tour.” Hosted by The Nature Conservancy; South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks; South Dakota County Weed and Pest Departments; and SDSU Extension, the annual tour in northeast South Dakota has become a widely-attended event.

“The tour is a one-day, free, public event, where anyone can come and learn about various plants and their function in the system,” Bauman says. “Over the years, the tour has been attended by farmers, ranchers, gardeners, county weed supervisors, agency staff, children and others that are just curious. Tour leaders are very knowledgeable about plants and their value and function, and often there are interesting tidbits about how any particular plant functions in the system for positive or negative impacts to livestock and wildlife.”

This year’s tour will take place on June 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (CST) at Sica Hollow State Park near Sisseton. The group will meet in the park’s east picnic area. For directions from Sisseton, attendees should head west on Highway 10 for two miles. Then turn north on 455th Ave. for seven miles. Finally turn west on 112th St. and go west until you reach the park.

RSVPs are required for planning logistics. Contact Joe Blastick at 605-880-6541 or jblastick@tnc.org or Owen McElroy at 605-520-1935 or owen.mcelroy@state.sd.us.

Governor Kristi Noem and five other governors wrote to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), asking them to continue their investigation into anti-competitive practices in the meatpacking industry. The DOJ had originally sent investigative demands to the nation’s four largest meatpackers in May 2020.

“Perhaps no person embodies the independent and untamable spirit of the United States better than the cattle producer,” wrote Governor Noem and the other governors. “But this way of life is under threat. Decades of consolidation in meatpacking has significantly limited the options that producers have to market their cattle and has created a situation where one segment of the beef industry has near total control over the entire market.”

The governors highlighted the threat to consumers as prices of meat at the grocery store continue to rise, all while beef producers are struggling to make ends meet.

“The consistently high prices realized on the boxed beef side are not being reflected on the producer side, forcing consumers to pay a premium for beef while threatening many of our producers with the loss of their business,” wrote the governors.

Governor Noem was joined in signing the letter by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. You can read the governors’ letter here.

Governor Kristi Noem asked the South Dakota Board of Regents to set policies that preserve honest, patriotic education throughout South Dakota’s institutions of higher learning. You can read the her letter, which was sent to each individual member of the Board, here.

“As governor, I have become increasingly concerned about a growing movement throughout the country to reject patriotic education and downplay the positive revolution in human affairs set in motion by our Founders,” wrote Governor Noem. “Our children and grandchildren should understand the full picture of our nation’s history – our fundamental values, our greatest achievements, and the long struggles to overcome injustice as well.  Our next generation must also learn about our triumphs as well as our mistakes, with those mistakes being examined in context.”

In the letter, Governor Noem urged the Board of Regents to consider:

1. Whether funds are being used to advance or promote the 1619 Project, Critical Race Theory, or any similar theory; or requiring, compelling, or otherwise directing students to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to any such beliefs or tenets;
2. Whether South Dakota’s post-secondary public institutions remain a place of learning, not indoctrination;
3. Whether diversity offices in post-secondary public institutions are still working within the scope of their original mission, or whether they have experienced inappropriate “mission creep.”

“I trust you will agree with me that we need to preserve honest, patriotic education throughout South Dakota – education that that cultivates in our next generation both a profound love of our country and a realistic picture of its virtues and challenges,” continued Governor Noem. “I look forward to working together with the Board of Regents on this goal.”

This past legislative session, Governor Noem advocated for and signed legislation to enhance civics curriculum at the K-12 level. She recently became the first officeholder in America to sign the “1776 Pledge to Save Our Schools.” Last week, Department of Education Secretary Tiffany Sanderson and State Historian Dr. Ben Jones wrote to the Biden Administration to push back on their proposed policies advocating for the teaching of the 1619 Project and Critical Race Theory.

South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension is launching additional virtual farm stress workshops to promote mental health awareness from May throughout the summer. The series will wrap up during the National Suicide Prevention Week in September. Krista Ehlert, Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Range Specialist, says anyone who is a producer, engaged in the agricultural industry or has close ties to a rural community is invited to attend.

Ehlert and Heather Gessner, SDSU Extension Livestock Business Management Field Specialist, officially kicked off the programming during SDSU Extension’s Drought Hour on May 10, with their presentation, “Weathering the Storm in Agriculture: How to Cultivate a Productive Mindset.” The webinar, which was recorded and can be viewed on SDSU Extension’s YouTube channel, covered what stress is, techniques for managing stress and what to do in times of a mental health crisis.

“As producers work to maximize their income through increased production, higher prices through better marketing and improved grazing practices, they have a lot of time to evaluate and look back on every decision they make,” Gessner says. “Which, when done in a realm of adaptive management is informative; however, human nature kicks in and many times this ‘look back’ provides negative feedback that leads to self-doubt, thus increasing the stress a producer deals with.”

“Ultimately, SDSU Extension hopes that this farm stress series continues to carry forward the conversation surrounding the importance of rural behavioral health and puts tools and resources in front of farmers, ranchers, their families and local communities,” Ehlert says.

The farm stress webinar series will continue in June and will be held at noon CST/11 a.m. MT the first Tuesday of each month. The program will cover the following topics throughout the summer:

• June 1: “Intro to Mental Health First Aid,” Lorna Saboe-Wounded Head, SDSU Extension Family Resource Management Field Specialist, and Olivia Amundson, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist
• July 6: “Mindfulness,” Amber Letcher, Associate Professor and SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Development Specialist
• Aug. 3: “Achieving Optimal Wellness,” Hope Kleine, SDSU Extension Health Education and Food Safety Field Specialist
• Sept. 7: “Suicide Prevention,” Andrea Bjornestad, Associate Professor and SDSU Extension Mental Health Specialist

“Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) helps South Dakotans understand the signs, symptoms, possible risk factors and possible warning signs of mental health problems. Participants will learn the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan and how it fits within the array of interventions available to address mental health problems,” Ehlert says.

“During the July 6 and Aug. 3 webinars, producers and their families can expect to learn what mindfulness and wellness are, how they connect to a general state of wellbeing and the importance of both [in] cultivating a productive mindset to help themselves and their operations be resilient in the face of farm stress,” Gessner says. “Finally, during the last webinar, participants will learn the warning signs of someone experiencing a mental health crisis, how to intervene and where to go for help.”

SDSU Extension is also part of the North Central Farm and Ranch Assistance Center, a 12-state collaborative based at University of Illinois that works to expand access to and knowledge of mental health resources. The center has recently launched the website, FarmStress.org, to provide the agricultural community with resources and support by state and topic, including crisis numbers, telephone hotlines and training.

Bjornestad says the site is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment; however, the new tool will help those in agricultural communities connect with critical information to help themselves, their family members or co-workers.

“Farming and ranching is undoubtedly stressful for our South Dakota producers,” says Bjornestad. “Self-doubt can start to creep in, leading to guilt and remorse about past decisions. All of these feelings can contribute to increased stress and pressure within the family. It is important that producers utilize effective coping strategies to be mentally resilient in the face of high stress. SDSU Extension offers these programs to initiate conversations on farm stress and self-care strategies to become more resilient.”

There is no fee to attend, but participants will need to register for the monthly webinars on the SDSU Extension Events page. Confirmation Zoom links and reminders will be emailed to attendees.

Dr. Duane Wulf received the 2021 South Dakota State University Department of Animal Science Distinguished Alumni Award on April 16, 2021, at the department’s annual awards program.

The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni of the department whose accomplishments have impacted the agriculture industry, communities and individuals across the state, nation and world. Contributions of Distinguished Alumni include outstanding professional accomplishment, sustained service to agriculture or distinguished leadership.

Originally from Morris, Minnesota, Wulf graduated from SDSU with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science in 1989 and 1993, respectively. While an undergraduate student, Wulf was a member of the 1987 meat judging team, academic quadrathlon team and Block and Bridle. He later received his doctorate from Colorado State University before accepting a position as an assistant professor and state meat extension specialist at The Ohio State University. Three years later, Wulf transitioned back to SDSU as a professor of animal science with teaching and research appointments.

During his 10 years as a faculty member at SDSU, Wulf was recognized for his strong teaching ability through his numerous accolades, including the 2001 and 2007 College of Agricultural and Biological Sciences Teacher of the Year Award and the 2007 American Meat Science Association Distinguished Teaching Award.

In 2009, Wulf and his family moved to Mexico to pursue mission work. His mission’s goal included providing practical education, training and career opportunities to fatherless and underprivileged youth, which he accomplished by establishing The Fatted Calf, a nonprofit organization dedicated to glorifying and obeying God by providing training and career development to underprivileged youth. Through the organization, Wulf and his team created three businesses to provide an avenue for youth to develop these career-essential skills: Carnisimo, a value-added meat processing company, Rancho Agua Viva, a cattle ranch and seedstock company, and Carnisimo Burgers, a restaurant. He was also part of a group that established Expo Esperanza, a youth summer program and exposition similar to county fairs in the U.S.

After dedicating 10 years to mission work in Mexico, Wulf moved back to the U.S. and currently serves as an associate professor at the University of Arizona.

Wulf attributes being on the meat judging team and later coaching the team as a graduate student at SDSU for leading him to his career in meat science and teaching. Having numerous former students become leaders in the industry, making their own impact and improving the lives of those around them has proven to be one of his biggest accomplishments throughout his career.

“I can think of no one that practices the core values of SDSU’s current mission and vision any better than Duane and Ann Wulf,” Dr. Rosie Nold, Department of Animal Science assistant department head, said. “Dr. Wulf has been and continues to be people-centered, inclusive and innovative. He has used his animal and meat science skills to help bring life-changing improvements to the quality of life of youth and others. We are very proud to have him as a Distinguished Alumni of the Animal Science Department.”

About the South Dakota State University Animal Science Department

Tomorrow’s animal industries leaders gain the educational foundation they need in the South Dakota State University Animal Science Department. Future leaders study under a dynamic, award-winning faculty who not only teach, but also set the pace with important research and aggressive outreach via SDSU Extension. The department’s multidisciplinary approaches toward production efficiency, product enhancement and natural resources management, built on a strong foundation in basic sciences, provide undergraduate and graduate students with strong skill sets. Students are provided hands-on learning opportunities through the in-house meats laboratory and livestock teaching units located near campus, including state-of-the-art facilities for beef cattle and swine. Graduates of the program see career options unfold in a diverse and growing range of employment areas in animal and animal products industries.

The Chamberlain School Board will hold their regular meeting of the Chamberlain School District #7-1 Board of Education at 7:00 P.M. at the High School Media Center .  The Chamberlain School Board meets the second and fourth Monday of each month.

Fifty-seven billion dollars.

That’s the annual monetary value a 2006 economic study published in BioScience attributed to just four services performed by wild insects in the United States – pest control, pollination, dung burial and wildlife nutrition.

How can agricultural producers increase their share of the value provided by insects and protect them as an economically important natural resource?

The answer lies in regenerative agricultural practices.

Types of beneficials

“There’s certainly a lot of beneficial insects,” Agricultural Research Service Research Entomologist Louis Hesler said. “There’re predators out there, so they provide natural biological control of pest insects. There are pollinators. There are what we call the recyclers or the detritivores.”

Hesler said recyclers also include micro-insects that live in the soil and other invertebrates like earthworms and beneficial nematodes. They help to break down and recycle material in the soil.

All of these insects – the predators, the pollinators, and the recyclers – provide crucial services on farms and ranches. Some of the most important insects on the farm, however, might be considered pests, but they also provide the basis of the food pyramid for the entire insect community.

“In terms of abundance, springtails, mites, thrips, and aphids are probably some of the most important invertebrates. They are like plankton in the sea,” said Jonathan Lundgren, agroecologist, producer, Ecdysis Foundation director, and owner of Blue Dasher Farm near Estelline, SD.  “These things – mites and (springtails) in the soil – are foundational to everything else. It’s like the base of the pyramid.”

That abundance and diversity of insect life is what will lead to better outcomes for producers, Lundgren said. “It’s about the number of species and the life on your farm,” he explained. “It’s diversity. Predators, pollinators, granivores that eat weed seed, herbivores that help to regulate weeds – all of these things are really important.”

Why are they important?

“The number of insect species on your farm correlates directly with how much profit you generate. We’ve got the data,” Lundgren said. “The more bugs, the more water infiltration, the more soil carbon and organic matter, the more plant diversity – that’s at the base of the whole thing – but it scales with just about every positive regenerative outcome that you can think of. Soil genesis happens because of bugs. Most soil is insect poop or invertebrate poop. If you want to raise organic carbon, the organic matter in your soil, thank a bug.”

This idea of increasing insect life to benefit agricultural operations is paying off for producer Bryan Jorgensen, partner and chief agronomy operations officer at Jorgensen Land & Cattle near Ideal, SD. His operation has about 900 Angus cows and markets 4,000 Angus bulls every year through a multiplication system. He also farms 12,000 acres, growing corn, milo, soybeans, spring wheat, winter wheat, oats, alfalfa, forage sorghum, and cover crops.

For the most part, he relies on Mother Nature and regenerative ag practices to handle his insect problems.

“In nature there tends to be a balance of predators and prey,” Jorgensen said. “We try and promote a balanced system throughout by the use of cover crops, diverse rotations, livestock integration. All the five principles of soil health are going to promote a much more balanced insect community.”

It seems to be working because his operation seldomly applies insecticides.

“The only instance that we may now use insecticide – and it happens maybe once out of four or five years – is a little bit of insecticide on our alfalfa crop. If we acquire an infestation of alfalfa weevils, we’re kind of at the mercy of having to spray for those,” Jorgensen said. “In any other crop we grow, we do not use any soil-applied or surface-applied insecticide.”

Jorgensen credits his six-year crop rotation for this reduction in insect pest problems.

“The corn rootworm, of course, is a pretty a devastating critter across the Corn Belt,” he said. “We don’t see that here primarily because our rotation is so long. We don’t have a monoculture type system where you have just corn and beans. Some of those insects have learned that pattern, learned how to lay eggs in the season before so that they’re there when the corn germinates. So, we avoid a lot of those types of infestations of insects purely because of the long rotation that we have.”

In addition to reducing pest insects, Jorgensen’s rotation promotes pollinator health with flowering plants in his diverse cover crop mixes.

“We happen to have several bee companies around this part of the world that raise bees for honey. We have a pretty rich environment for them, and they tend to like to place a lot their hives in pretty close proximity or on our property because of the numerous flowering plants that we have in the cover crops,” he said.  “It’s not just bees. We’re getting all kinds. We’re getting some butterflies, getting some moths, some beneficial ones, in fact.”

Protecting diversity

One way to help ensure a diverse and balanced insect community on your operation is to limit tillage.

“Tillage is a disturbance,” Hesler said. “It disrupts where insects overwinter, or a disk or plow can directly kill insects. It’s a disturbance that has direct and indirect impacts on those beneficial insect populations in the soil.”

Hesler also said producers wishing to increase their beneficial insect populations should avoid fencerow-to-fencerow planting. “You’re leaving these islands or pockets out there of undisturbed land along the fencerows,” he said. “Leaving that is a refuge habitat for these insects to overwinter, to have a place where they can go to avoid some of the disturbance.”

Hesler agreed with Jorgensen that avoiding unwarranted pesticide applications is the best approach. He said producers should limit “calendar sprays” or prophylactic use of pesticides, whether they be seed treatments or foliar sprays. “In the overwhelming majority of cases, they really need to rely on their scouting or their crop consultants to come out and scout their fields to know whether they have a particular pest and whether it’s there at economically damaging levels,” he said.

Producers should consider avoiding insecticide seed coatings, especially if they have no history of problems with early season pests, Hesler said. “Various studies have shown that it’s hard to realize a consistent benefit to these seed treatments in terms of economics in corn and soybeans in the Upper Midwest,” he said. “In a lot of instances, the seed treatments don’t provide enough benefit to justify their cost, and we know they’re having some type of negative aspects off-site that’s very difficult to quantify economically.”

The negative effects of insecticidal seed coatings can include harm to pollinators and other beneficial insects, harm to aquatic life, and harm to wildlife.

“Studies have shown there can be sublethal effects sometimes on beneficial insects, especially pollinators – sublethal meaning it doesn’t kill them outright but causes some disfunction or disorientation,” Hesler said.

Those insecticides are also ending up in streams and waterways where they affect aquatic insects and perhaps animals like fish and birds that feed on those insects, he said.

“We did a study recently – two studies, one on pheasants and one on white-tailed deer – and we ended up seeing very similar results where neonicotinoids were adversely affecting even these vertebrate animals that they were supposed to have no adverse effects on whatsoever,” Lundgren said.

It may be difficult for producers to source untreated seeds that have the latest genetics, but Hesler said they should speak to their seed dealers to request uncoated seeds.

Lundgren said that while uncoated seeds may not be at the local co-op, there are a growing number of South Dakota seed companies that are selling untreated seeds. “Sometimes you have to order them a little bit early, especially for corn, but that isn’t even true anymore,” he said.

Transition slowly

For producers who want to try a regenerative approach to pest control, Jorgensen has some important advice.

“I would recommend that they move out of (their system) slowly because, most likely, unless they have adopted the principles of soil health – if they haven’t yet – then it’s going to be a little bit risky to move out of the insecticide or fungicide realm quickly,” he said. “We have to rebuild what we destroyed. We have to allow nature to rebalance itself by way of the five principles of soil health. If it were somebody pretty heavily dependent on nutrients and insecticides and fungicides in order to grow a crop, then I would recommend they slowly implement some of those principles before they get too gung-ho about dropping out those components because they’d probably set themselves up for pretty much a disaster. It’s not something they can do or implement overnight unless they have at least four of those soil health principles in place.”

“Just through the five principles of soil health,” Jorgensen said, “you’re going to create a better environment for the insect communities.”

To learn more about the five principles of soil health and the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, visit www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org, call 605-280-4190 or email sdsoilhealth@gmail.com.