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Cash prices are separated by region and a simple cash average price is then calculated for each specific region. The basis is calculated by subtracting the closing futures price of the nearby futures contract from the average cash price of grain in each of the six regions.

Heifer calves share the same economic benefits from implants as their steer mates but require a strategic approach to labeled implants and the timing of their use. At least three companies market products considered non-compromising with their use when it comes to heifers that later will enter the cowherd. However, utilizing these products according to label directions is extremely critical.

Corn is just beginning to emerge in several areas of South Dakota. There are a few pests that can damage young corn plants, and scouting for them should start as soon as corn can be rowed. Assessing the stands will quickly point you in the right direction to look for potential pest issues. Among insects that may be present right now are wireworms, seedcorn maggots, and cutworms.

How much sorghum will be planted in South Dakota this year? The preseason intentions were estimated to be 230,000 acres, which is 80,000 and 30,000 more acres than 2011 and 2012, respectively.

With many winter wheat acres zeroed out, some producers will be using what wheat they have for forage or planting other forage crops. Before making plans to apply herbicides, fungicides or insecticides to crop fields intended for forage, make sure to check label restrictions for haying or grazing. Pre-harvest intervals for fungicide products range from 7 to 45 days before cutting for hay. Pre-harvest intervals for insecticides applied to wheat range from 7 to 30 days.

Late planting period starts this weekend (May 25th) for corn in Northern counties of South Dakota. South Dakota producers routinely purchase crop insurance on corn, soybeans, wheat and sunflowers. The most commonly used insurance products have provisions for prevented planting, late planting, replanting, and planting of a second crop. In addition to agronomic considerations for how well a crop may recover or how late a crop could be planted with a reasonable chance of success, several dates are important from an insurance standpoint.

We are coming off a year that put a good deal of stress on cool-season grass lawns. The drought stress was obvious but we cannot forget that excessive heat across the region also was an additive stress to our lawn grasses. But now that spring weather is finally here, how can you work to get back to having, what I like to call, a “Lawn to Your Liking”?

SDSU Extension publishes the South Dakota Pest & Crop Newsletter each week to provide growers, producers, crop consultants, and others involved in crop production with timely news pertinent to management of pests, diseases, and weeds in South Dakota.

Dandelion has become much more of a problem as farming practices have changed. Less tillage and increased use of glyphosate resistant crops along with reduced use of residual herbicides have allowed some perennial weeds such as dandelion to prevail. The burn down program in row crops is important in keeping dandelion in check. The main goal is to prevent seed production and stopping the emergence of new seedlings. The more mature the dandelion plant is the more difficult it is to control with herbicides.