Our Amazing South Dakota Resources
The “Our Amazing South Dakota Resources” campaign was created in 2018 with the goal of better communicating the importance and value of grasslands and soil resources throughout the state. This campaign strives to better show what South Dakota farmers and ranchers are doing to protect and enhance these resources. Each thirty second video was created utilizing footage from interviews with South Dakota farmers and ranchers and showcases footage of their farming and ranching operations.
Currently Available Videos:
Campaign Sponsors:
All footage utilized to create these short videos was originally recorded as part of two different projects organized by the SD Grassland Coalition and SD Soil Health Coalition and funded through an agreement with USDA-NRCS and the additional sponsors displayed below. These sponsors have shown their continued commitment to protecting and enhancing Our Amazing South Dakota Resources.
Companion Projects:
Grassland Stewardship Communications Project
The Grassland Stewardship Communications Project was created to communicate the importance of stewardship of South Dakota’s grassland resources and is organized by the SD Grassland Coalition. The 2018 project theme “Successful Grassland Conservationists- The People Managing Grasslands” features content from twelve different ranching operations located throughout the state. Each ranch is assigned its own month in the Grassland Planner and an accompanying video, photos and article have also been produced and will be distributed with each ranch as the subject. The video series is titled “Our Amazing Grasslands”.
SD Soil Stories and Profiles In Soil Health
The SD Soil Stories and Profiles In Soil Health videos are created to promote the use and adoption of soil health practices throughout the state of South Dakota. Their creation is organized by the SD Soil Health Coalition and features farmers sharing their first hand experiences with adopting and utilizing these practices on their operations. Accompanying articles are being created to highlight each farm operation interviewed.
Soil Health Conference Registration Open!
The 2025 Soil Health Conference will be held Jan. 15-16 at the Ramkota Hotel and Event Center in Watertown, a spacious venue which will allow for a full day and a half of speaker sessions, awards, producer panels, and time to engage with sponsors. This event will feature many speakers including Keith Berns, Nebraska no-till farmer, ag educator, and co-owner of Green Cover Seed; Paul Jasa, noted Extension egineer at University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Dr. Jon Lundgren, Ecdysis Foundation executive director and CEO of Blue Dasher Farm; and Joe Breker, an award-winning North Dakota producer who has been using regenerative agriculture practices for over 40 years!
News & Events
Noted rancher, author to explain ‘sweet spot’ of grazing at conference
By Janelle Atyeo For South Dakota Soil Health Coalition PIERRE, SD – Tom Krawiec found the sweet spot for grazing quite by accident. The Canadian rancher sought out the point where grass in his pasture was both established enough to stay healthy and nutritious enough...
Study finds soybean yields resilient following late rye termination
By Janelle Atyeo For South Dakota Soil Health Coalition PIERRE, SD – A cover crop of quick growing cereal rye can keep the soil in place over winter’s brown and blowing days. Its long roots soak up excess spring rains, and its straw helps block weeds. The more...
Restaurateur promotes local food for community security
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – When Sioux Falls restaurateur Tim Meagher purchases local food, he doesn’t do it because it’s trendy. For him, it’s about securing a future for his business and the community. “If somebody else has control of our food system – if you were a...