South Dakota
South Dakota universities receive national grant for soil science
The National Science Foundation awarded $4 million dollars to several state colleges for a new collaborative research partnership.
Its goal – developing cheaper and more environmentally friendly fertilizers.
The Center for Climate-Conscious Agricultural Technologies is a research partnership between SDSU, the School of Mines, Sitting Bull College, and North Dakota State University.
SDSU is leading the partnership.
The center will research sustainable agriculture technologies. Researchers will focus on developing microbial biofertilizers. These could provide benefits over traditional synthetic fertilizers.
Synthetic fertilizers have been found to have negative human and environmental impacts and have become expensive. The center hopes to develop a cheaper, sustainable, purpose driven biofertilizer by adding microbes aimed at South Dakota’s prevailing crop, corn.
Prasoon Diwakar is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota Mines and a Co-Principal Investigator on the project. He said it takes a large collaboration of scientists to get this research done.
“So we have a group of about 20 scientists from different fields, who are working on making this project a success. So, we have biologists, we have chemical and biological engineers. We have precision agriculturalist, soil scientists, sensor development scientists, mechanical engineers, private modeling scientists, technoeconomic analyst, socioeconomic scientists to accomplish all of this that we achieve,” said Diwakar.
Tanvi Govil is an Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at South Dakota mines. She said a focus on microbes in soil is important for climate change mitigation.
“When they are thriving that is a vey good time for them to mitigate the emissions of nitroxide gases into the atmosphere. They can mitigate the emissions of butane gases. Even some microbes have the enzymes to sequester the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,” said Govil.
Another potential breakthrough – using biopolymer beads to hold the fertilizer. They’re made with naturally occurring cells instead of conventional plastic, making them safer for the environment.
The grant is part of a larger project by the National Science Foundation to build new and adaptive research across the country.
While education can lead to higher paying careers, it all starts with finding that first actual job. At the most recent Board of Technical Education meeting, the state’s education leaders dove into the latest job placement rates.
Advocates say institutional effectiveness, measured in terms of graduate outcomes, job placement, and pay rates for outgoing students, is a critical assessment for higher education institutions, including trade schools. Trade schools that focus on specialty careers like construction, welding, nursing, or IT.
Jenna Reis is the policy and data analyst of the Board of Technical Education. She said the state takes a close look when collecting data.
“Before I jump into the numbers, I want to provide some brief context into how this data is collected,” Reis said. “Our technical college will lead the process, surveying their students starting six months after they complete their programs. In addition, students can supplement information using the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulations reemployment assistance, or that unemployment assistance record to fill in any gaps.”
Reis said these numbers highlight the kind of return on investment students at South Dakota trade schools are getting.
“If we look at employment first, among graduates who are employable, this years’ data shows 99 percent are employed, 93 percent are employed in a program-related field, and 85 percent are employed within their field in South Dakota,” Reis said. “These are strong numbers, in fact, you may notice in the chart we have very few graduates who are not in the labor market or are still seeking employment.”
That combines with an average salary of $53,000 annually for full-time work for these graduates.
The full data breakdown can be found in an online report.
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at May 23, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 23 drawing
07-18-40-55-68, Mega Ball: 18
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from May 23 drawing
04-11-15-19-38, Lucky Ball: 04
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Opinion — Janet Crackerman: A response to Sam Bliss’ commentary on Food Not Cops
Gateway announces Virginia megachurch founder as new senior pastor
Justice Department urged to seek death penalty in Capital Jewish Museum murders
Wisconsin Badgers positional recruit snapshot: 2026 edge prospects
Where West Virginia is Projected to Land in Field of 64 Following Big 12 Tournament
-
Technology1 week agoMeta asks judge to throw out antitrust case mid-trial
-
World1 week agoCommissioner Hansen presents plan to cut farming bureaucracy in EU
-
News1 week agoVideo: Doctors Heal Infant Using First Customized-Gene Editing Treatment
-
News1 week agoNew Orleans jailbreak: 10 inmates dug a hole, wrote ‘to easy’ before fleeing; escape plan found
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoDevil’s Double Next Level Movie Review: Trapped in a punchline purgatory
-
Business1 week agoVideo: How Staffing Shortages Have Plagued Newark Airport
-
Business1 week agoConsumers Show Signs of Strain Amid Trump's Tariff Rollout
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago‘Nouvelle Vague’ Review: Richard Linklater’s Movie About the Making of Godard’s ‘Breathless’ Is an Enchanting Ode to the Rapture of Cinema