South Dakota
80 South Dakota farmers needed for nationwide soil health project: Enroll today
BROOKINGS – South Dakota State University Extension is inviting South Dakota farmers to participate in a new soil health survey.
The new nationwide project is called “Probing Our Country’s Soil Health” and is looking for 80 South Dakota farmers to participate. The project leaders are working to understand the status of soil health around the country and use that information to develop a new tool called Soil Health Assessment Protocol and Evaluation (or SHAPE). Once completed, the SHAPE tool can be used by farmers to better understand their soil health test results.
“In South Dakota we are often experiencing extreme weather conditions and are looking for ways to stabilize or even increase yields in these conditions. Improving our understanding of our soil’s health can better help us manage them,” said Jason Clark, SDSU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist, who is helping to lead the project in South Dakota.
SHAPE is an online tool designed to interpret soil health measurements, monitor soil health change and offer management practice alternatives for improving soil health. The goal of the project is to collect 13,000 soil samples across the U.S. from approximately 6,000 fields, sampling different soil, climate and management conditions. The SHAPE tool will be available as a free web-based app for easy soil health scoring.
To make the tool as useful as possible for South Dakota farmers, the goal is to attract a broad representation of South Dakota ag lands — crops, forages and pasture. Participants will be asked to share general information through an online survey for how two or three fields from their operation have been managed during the last 10 years. They will provide this information through a facilitator-led online Zoom meeting that takes about 45 to 60 minutes.
Participants will also need to grant access to their fields for hand-probe soil sampling, typically two or three sampling sites from each field. Sampling will typically occur within three to six months of the survey, and landowners will be notified prior to the date.
Each participant will receive a personalized soil health report of their fields (over $450 worth of soil test results), and a hard copy of “Probing Our Country’s Soil Health”, a photo book illustrating soil health across the country and the outcomes to this project.
To enroll as a landowner participant, select a time from one of the following facilitator schedule links:
For more information, contact Jason Clark, SDSU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist, or Hans Klopp, SDSU Extension Soil Health Specialist.
South Dakota
Former South Dakota National Guard adjutant general announces bid for state house of representatives
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) -The former top official of the South Dakota national guard under former Governor Kristi Noem has announced his campaign to become a state representative for district 33.
Jeff Marlett’s bid makes him a contender in the Republican primary for the district.
Marlett served for 36 years in the South Dakota National Guard which included combat service in Iraq and most recently spending three years as the commanding general of the national guard from 2019 to 2023.
“I’ve always considered that job, it’s not about me, it’s about the great men and women who served in the South Dakota national guard, and I got the opportunity to serve with them so, it was an honor to serve with them,” said Marlette.
Marlette also worked as the west river director under Senator Mike Rounds and served for numerous years as a superintendent of schools for districts in South Dakota. Now Marlette wants to spend his next chapter as a state representative. He explained that he thinks people are “tired of the noise” with politics. He blamed that exhaustion on people stepping away the two major parties.
“They want people that are willing to go, and, and not think they have all the answers and not be wrapped up about, well I’m more Republican thank you are or you’re a dem o.. no, it’s not about that. It’s about looking at meaningful policy, laws if needed, but governing by what’s really truly necessary and best for South Dakota,” said Marlette.
According to a press release for Marlette, he says he will support sensible restructuring of the property tax system, a strong education system and a vibrant environment for business. Marlette said during our interview that he has mixed reviews on the 19 property tax relief proposals out of the property tax task force.
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A multi-rotor drone and its fixed-wing, one-way attack counterpart that flanked a wall-sized American flag inside a northern Sioux Falls warehouse Friday weren’t the main attraction.
Rather, Pentagon officials and South Dakota dignitaries gathered for an invite-only ceremony at MMS Product, Inc. to get a look at a newly developed military advancement that will give South Dakota a front-row seat to the U.S. military’s race to drone warfare dominance.
BEEF HEIST: South Dakota cattleman accuses Missouri man of stealing wagyu cattle in fraud case
A cease and desist order and a national abortion-access organization told to stop advertising in South Dakota are testing both free speech and consumer protection laws.
Attorney General Marty Jackley this week issued notice to Mayday Health directing the nonprofit to halt a statewide gas station ad campaign launched earlier this month, spotlighting South Dakota’s near-total abortion ban, First Amendment protections and the reach of the Deceptive Trade Practices regulations.
BEEF HEIST: South Dakota cattleman accuses Missouri man of stealing wagyu cattle in fraud case
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