Technical resources
Guides, tools and programs from South Dakota and USDA organizations that fill in what this app does not cover. We link and describe; we do not copy their material.
Links go to other organizations' sites. Most are written for farms and ranches, and each says who it is for. Every link was opened and checked on 2026-10-23, but pages move, so tell us if one is broken. Recommendations vary by climate, soil and growing system.
For gardens and yards
Guides and help written for home gardens, yards and landscapes in South Dakota.
Healthy Soil at Home
Guide (PDF, 20 pages) Gardens and small farms
Applies the soil health principles South Dakota farmers and ranchers use to yards and gardens, with native landscaping, so the soil holds more rainfall and needs less water and upkeep.
Living Landscapes in South Dakota: A Guide to Native Plantscaping
Booklet (PDF, 45 pages) Gardens and small farms
How to plan, prepare and plant a yard with grasses, wildflowers, trees and shrubs native to South Dakota, with sections on water conservation, maintenance and rain gardens.
Published in 2007.
Garden Hour
Webinars Gardens and small farms
Live webinars on Zoom that answer gardening and landscaping questions from across the state, with recordings on the page and on YouTube. In fall and winter it runs every other month; the page lists November 24, 2026, February 2, 2027 and April 6, 2027.
Choosing and timing cover crops
Which plants to grow between crops, how much seed, how deep, and when.
Small Scale Ag Cover Crop Poster
Poster (PDF) Gardens and small farmsFarms
A table of cover crops for small-scale growers, with seeding rate, seeding depth and suitable seeding dates.
Its introduction mentions carbon. This app makes no carbon estimates, so use the poster for choosing and timing. Pair it with the seed calculator on the Calculators page.
Cover Crop Poster
Poster (PDF) Farms
A one-page planning and planting guide with cover crop benefits and examples of root systems.
Cover Crop Table
Table (PDF) Farms
A cover crop reference table for farm fields.
Check your own soil and weather
Ways to see how your soil is doing, and when it is ready for the next step.
Soil Health Assessment Scorecard
Scorecard (PDF) and mobile app FarmsGardens and small farms
Ten things to look at in the field, each scored 1 to 10: soil cover, biological activity, disturbance, living roots, crop diversity, fertility management, wind and water erosion, what happens after rain, and soil structure.
Written for farm fields, so some rows mention crop residue and tillage. Gardeners can use the rows that fit. The Coalition says its technicians can help interpret results.
South Dakota Mesonet
Weather network (website) Gardens and small farmsFarmsRanches
Automated weather stations across South Dakota that report soil temperature and moisture, among other measurements. SDSU Extension points to it for frost-date maps.
Data you download from the request page is marked as not quality-controlled.
Learn and connect
Books, an app and a network for people working on soil health in South Dakota.
South Dakota Healthy Soils Handbook
Online book FarmsRanches
A guide to soil health principles and practices for an operation. The Coalition says it can be read or downloaded online, and hard copies are available on request.
Growing Connections
Mobile app and website FarmsRanches
An app for producers to share soil health, land management and livestock information, search for mentors by location or topic, and see local events. The page does not state a cost or who may join.
Grazing and ranching
For people who graze livestock. The grazing steps in My Soil draw on several of these.
Reading the Range: range readiness, grazing timing and drought considerations
Article Ranches
When pastures are ready for turnout, judged by the leaf stage of the grasses rather than the date, and how a dry spring changes that.
Ranch Drought Planning
Fact sheet (PDF) Ranches
Making a drought plan in good years: trigger dates, alternative feed, water quality, nitrate testing, and programs to ask your Farm Service Agency about.
Test grain for nitrates before using it as forage
Article (July 2026) RanchesFarms
Why nitrates rise in drought, where to get forage tested, and nitrate guides for feeding livestock.
Grazing Cover Crops Worksheet
Worksheet, app and online calculator Ranches
Works out how much forage a cover crop acreage holds and how many grazing days it supports.
Structuring Grazing Leases
Guide (PDF) Ranches
A guide to writing a grazing lease, with sample language, for landowners and ranchers.
Virtual fencing
Information and decision tools Ranches
Information and tools for deciding about virtual fence collars, and a collar rental program.
South Dakota Grazing Exchange
Website Ranches
A place to find or list forage resources.
Rangeland Wildflowers: their value to livestock and pollinators (Northern Great Plains edition)
Field guide (PDF) Ranches
A field guide to rangeland wildflowers.
Help and funding
People and programs that can help in person.
Soil Health Improvement and Planning Project (319 Program)
Program FarmsRanches
Financial and technical help for adopting soil health practices on land in certain South Dakota watersheds. Check whether yours is eligible.
South Dakota Soil Health Coalition: contact
Contact form Gardens and small farmsFarmsRanches
The Coalition is based in Pierre. Phone (605) 280-4190.
Near Rapid City
The Directory lists the local places that can help in person, including the SDSU Extension office, the USDA Service Center and the Soil Health Coalition.