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News & Events

Test grain for nitrates before using it as forage

By Stan Wise With the vast majority of South Dakota in a drought and experiencing high temperatures, grain producers are having to make some tough decisions about their crops. Will those grains produce enough yield to make harvesting them a financially viable option,...

Darling Creek Ranch Named 2026 SD Leopold Award Winner

Sand County Foundation Dan and Sharon Anderson’s Darling Creek Ranch has been selected as the 2026 South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award® recipient. The $10,000 award honors ranchers, farmers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil...

Building operational resilience with soil health

By Stan Wise South Dakota Soil Health Coalition PIERRE, SD – Resilience. It’s one of the prizes that keeps conservation-minded land managers striving for improved soil health. Operational resilience in the face of floods, market fluctuations, rising input costs,...

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307-217-1985
jarndt1@uwyo.edu

9:00a.m. - 2:00p.m. Sheridan Research and Extension Center (Watt Building) 1090 Dome Loop, Sheridan, WY 82801 Lunch Provided Classroom and Field Sections partners have surveyed and treated over 400,000 acres, invested nearly $30 million in management, and advanced research and monitoring to improve long-term rangeland health. August 12_Sheridan_Ventenata-Medusahead Workshop [post_title] => Ventenata and Medusahead Workshop [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => ventenata-and-medusahead-workshop [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-07-07 11:09:53 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-07-07 16:09:53 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=513750 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => tribe_events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw [event_date] => 2026-08-12 09:00:00 ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 513743 [post_author] => 28 [post_date] => 2026-07-07 11:04:14 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-07-07 16:04:14 [post_content] => Come join us for a field tour near you to discuss woody encroachment treatment options. Experts and producer testimonies will highlight practical woody plant control methods including prescribed fire, mechanical and chemical control of eastern red cedar and other problematic species invading South Dakota grasslands. For more information about each field day, visit extension.sdstate.edu/events July-Aug-Sept Woody Encroachment Field Tours [post_title] => 2026 Woody Encroachment Field Tours- Mitchell [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => 2026-woody-encroachment-field-tours-mitchell [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-07-07 11:04:14 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-07-07 16:04:14 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=513743 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => tribe_events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw [event_date] => 2026-08-12 17:30:00 ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 514254 [post_author] => 22 [post_date] => 2026-08-05 10:45:02 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-08-05 15:45:02 [post_content] =>

SDSU Extension High Tunnel and No-Till Vegetable Field Day Featuring Flat Rock Farms
Hosted by SDSU Extension, South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, South Dakota Specialty Producers Association, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and SD SARE
Date and Time: Monday, August 17 | 5:30-8:30 PM CDT
Address: 11774 386th Ave, Westport, SD 57481

Do you want to learn more about growing vegetables using high tunnels and no till production methods? If yes, join Flat Rock Farms, SDSU Extension, and multiple farm organizations on Monday August 17 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for a FREE specialty crop field day near Westport, SD. Chris and Lori Goldade and SDSU Extension are excited to partner with the SD Soil Health Coalition (SDSHC), South Dakota Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA), and the SD Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and SD Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) to showcase sustainable production practices to extend and improve commercial vegetable production in northern South Dakota. This event is for current and beginning farmers, technical service providers, gardeners, and anyone who would like to learn more about converting to no till, improving soil health, and using high tunnels on a diverse vegetable farm. This on-farm event will include a walking tour of the vegetable production fields and high tunnels highlighting the five soil health principles, many forms of mulch and compost, several forms of irrigation. Attendees will learn from Chris and Lori Goldade, owners of Flat Rock Farms, Kristine Lang of SDSU Extension. Chris and Lori are excited to teach more people about the importance of soil health and how they can begin to practice regenerative growing practices on their own land. Throughout the entire day participants will be encouraged to ask questions, share ideas with each other, and network with members of the SDSHC, SDSPA, NRCS, and SARE. After the tour concludes, light refreshments will be served. Attendees are invited to bring their favorite lawn chair and a water bottle. This event is open to all members of the public; children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian; please let all pets stay at home. Each attendee will be asked to sign a liability waiver at event check-in per Flat Rock Farms. This is a rain or shine event, but if there is an active storm warning or lightning the event will be canceled. This tour will include moderate distances of walking, so please wear proper footwear that can get dirty. If you have mobility concerns that would require accommodation please contact Kristine Lang prior to the event so arrangements can be made to assist you. Please look for signage that will direct visitors to parking upon arrival. If you have questions about this event please contact Kristine Lang, 605-688-5796, kristine.lang@sdstate.edu. Event Schedule 5:30 PM Event Check-in + Visit with Partner Organizations 5:45 PM Welcome + SDSU High Tunnel and Vegetable Research Updates 6:00 PM Farm Overview and Walking Tour of High Tunnel and Field 7:15 PM Large Group Question & Answer Session 7:45 PM Wrap-up Formal Tour, Light Refreshments, and Networking 8:30 PM Field Day Concludes About Flat Rock Farms For more than two decades, owners Lori and Chris Goldade have operated Flat Rock Farms with a foundational belief that high-quality food starts with a deep respect for the land. Located near Westport, South Dakota, this 19-acre property is managed with a strict commitment to sustainable soil health and environmental balance. Since purchasing the land over 20 years ago, Lori and Chris have carefully nurtured their original 10,000-square-foot garden into a thriving 2-acre production area. Their uncompromising standard for quality ensures that everything from peak-ripeness produce and winter preserves to small-batch artisan breads is rooted in integrity. Ultimately, this hard-working family operation remains deeply dedicated to expanding community access to fresh, handcrafted foods across the entire state. Learn more about Flat Rock Farms by visiting their website and social media pages: flatrockfarms-sd.com and facebook.com/FlatRockFarmsSD. Learn more about ongoing SDSU Extension vegetable and high tunnel research by visiting this website: extension.sdstate.edu/tags/horticulture-research. This event is supported by a Conservation Collaboration Cooperative Agreement NR226740XXXXC008 between the NRCS and SDSPA, to promote sustainable agriculture practices and environmental stewardship; the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, and a USDA North Central SARE Professional Development Program grant. [post_title] => High Tunnel and No-Till Vegetable Field Day [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => high-tunnel-and-no-till-vegetable-field-day [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-08-05 11:05:25 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-08-05 16:05:25 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=514254 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => tribe_events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw [event_date] => 2026-08-17 05:30:00 ) )

Physical Properties

Chemical Properties

Biological Properties

Soil Health Concerns

Five Principles of Soil Health

Soil Health Assessment Card

Download Now

The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition is working to create a Soil Health Assessment Card which agricultural producers of all types, ranchers, gardeners, and others can take into the field to assess their current level of soil health. Click on the button above to download the current version of the card, keeping in mind that it is an initial version and changes will be made as it is fully finalized.

Included below are images and descriptions which will assist you in identifying some of the soil health indicators included on the Soil Health Assessment Card. These helpful descriptions and photos are currently under final development. Check back regularly for updates to these resources!

A Spanish version of the card is now available and can be downloaded by accessing this link! ¡Ya está disponible una versión en español de la tarjeta y se puede descargar accediendo a este enlace!

Soil Health Indicators: Images & Descriptions

Use these images to help evaluate various levels of soil cover. Look straight down at the field as was done with these pictures and ask yourself what percent of the ground is covered with residue. Although the pictures show small grain residue on tilled ground, the same concept would apply regardless of crop/cover crop and tillage/no-tillage system.

Biological Activity – Earthworms: Earthworms are one of the easiest indicators to observe. However, they may not be present if the soil is too dry. In addition to worms, look for signs of worms such as holes (left photo) or their casts (right photo) in the form of little piles of soil, mineral particles or organic matter on or in the soil. Take a shovel-full of soil and break it apart carefully looking for earthworms or signs of earthworms.

Biological Activity – Fungal hyphae, etc.: Fungal hyphae will appear as white to light tan threads (left photo) or masses (right photo). Also, look for things that move like mites, springtails, millipedes, roundworms, beetles and termites.

Soil Structure– Crumbly soil (left photo) has developed over time by not tilling and subsequent biological activity. It will have pores and channels allowing air and water to move in the soil. Tilled soil may resemble this after the disturbance but will soon look more like the platty soil (right photo). Hard soil layers restrict air and water along with root growth.