Most people don't give much thought to the ground beneath their feet. But in South Dakota, that ground is kind of a big deal. A single teaspoon of healthy South Dakota soil contains more living organisms than there are people on Earth. It's not dirt. It's alive, and today we're celebrating it.

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Hugh Hammond Bennett Award Winner, Shane Jordan  Please join SDACD in congratulating Shane Jordan, Resource Conservationist with USDA-NRCS in Clark, SD, on being named the national winner of the 2025 Hugh Hammond Bennett Award for Conservation Excellence . This award recognizes exceptional conservation planning and the kind of steady, relationship-based work that creates real, lasting improvements on the land. Over the course of his career, Shane has helped producers turn the

Attention high school seniors! Are you planning a career in agriculture or conservation? The SDACDE Memorial Scholarship offers two $1,000 awards to support your education. Deadline:  All applications must be postmarked on or before March 1, 2026 Application:   SDACDE Scholarship Qualifications:  The recipient will be a current year graduate of a South Dakota High School. The recipient shall have a 3.0 or higher GPA. Students must be attending a school in an Agricultural/Con

Explore upcoming conservation events!

Landowners planning spring projects often overlook one of the best long-term improvements on working land: a well-designed windbreak. Winter is the ideal time to plan, explore species options, and connect with your local conservation district before tree orders and spring schedules fill up.