Soil health, fertility and pest control were highlighted at SDSU’s Southeast Research Farm Tour yesterday in Beresford. Farmers heard about early results of trails identifying the most effective herbicide programs, especially for control of resistant weeds in soybeans. SDSU Extension Weed Specialist Paul Johnson runs the WEED project and says South Dakota farmers are starting to get ahead of resistance issues.

NRCS Agronomist Eric Barsness cooperates on a project looking at the soil health and weed control benefits of adding cover crops to row crop rotations, including cereal rye.

Researchers are also studying the effect of foliar nutrient applications on beans, based on success in other states. Peter Kovacs, SDSU Assistant Professor of Ag Cropping Systems, says they are looking at mainly feeding sulfur and testing various application times.

Seminars were also conducted on precision planting, using a multi-hybrid planter and alfalfa and small grain variety trials.