Upcoming July 2026 Events
- SDACD
- Jun 30
- 7 min read
Looking for conservation-related events happening across South Dakota this month? From pasture walks and workshops to field days and Local Work Group meetings, here's a roundup of opportunities to learn, connect, and get involved.
📅 July Events at a Glance
Looking for a specific type of event? Browse the table below for a quick overview, then scroll down for full event details.
Date | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
July 7 | Excellence in Rangeland Management Tour | 🟨Grazing & Rangelands |
July 7 | Southeast Research Farm Field Day & Family Evening | 🟩Research & Field Day |
July 8 | Growing Smarter: Research for Resilient Farms | 🟩Research & Field Day |
July 9 | Oak Lake Field Station Field Day | 🟩Research & Field Day |
July 9 | Impact of Fire on Forage Quality, Livestock Performance & Plant Diversity | 🟨Grazing & Rangelands |
July 9 | Northeast Research Farm Field Day | 🟩Research & Field Day |
July 10 | Half-Day Pasture Walk (Midland) | 🟨Grazing & Rangelands |
July 15 | Rosebud Range Workshop | 🟨Grazing & Rangelands |
July 15 | Half-Day Pasture Walk (Onaka) | 🟨Grazing & Rangelands |
July 16 | Hamlin County Conservation District Local Work Group Meeting | 🟦Local Conservation |
July 16 | Cattle HQ Live: The Value of Plant Diversity for Land & Livestock | 🟪Webinar |
July 17 | West River Organic Farm Tour | 🟧Specialty Crops & Organic |
July 18 | Grassland Gravel | 🟥Community Event |
July 21 | Western South Dakota Specialty Crop Tour | 🟧Specialty Crops & Organic |
July 22–23 | Noble Land Essentials | 🟨Grazing & Ranch Management |
Last updated: June 30, 2026. Event details may change. Please visit the event website to confirm times and registration.
July 7
Excellence in Rangeland Management Tour 🌾
🕙 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CT (Rain date: July 8 at 10:00 a.m.)
📍 Hamilton Farms - 19575 382nd Ave., Wessington, SD 57381
Join Jeff and Scott Hamilton for a tour showcasing practical rangeland management strategies.
Topics include:
Marginal land usage and seeding tips
Full-season cover crops
Composting
Biological extracts
Regenerative grazing practices and cattle indicators
Lunch will be provided following the tour in the farm's air-conditioned shop.
Registration: No registration required.
Questions? Contact Shane Jordan at (605) 667-0020.
Southeast Research Farm Field Day & Family Evening 🌱
🕜 1:30–8:00 p.m. CDT
📍 Southeast Research Farm - 29974 University Road, Beresford, SD 57004
Join SDSU Extension, the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Southeast South Dakota Experiment Farm Corporation for an afternoon of field tours followed by an evening of family-friendly activities. This free event features research updates, agronomy demonstrations, educational exhibits, food trucks, and hands-on activities for all ages.
Field Day Topics:
Agritourism
Conservation
Crop rotation
Food preservation
Horticulture
Nutrient management
Precision agriculture
Small grains
Climate
Weed management
Family Evening (4:30–8:00 p.m.):
Food trucks
Kids' activities
Informational booths
SDSU Ice Cream
Field tours
Registration: Free, but registration is encouraged. Register in advance to help organizers plan for meals and materials. Register here.
Cost: Free
July 8
Growing Smarter: Research for Resilient Farms 🌱
🕤 9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CDT
📍 Eastern South Dakota Soil & Water Research Farm - 3714 Western Ave., Brookings, SD 57006
Join the USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) for its 32nd Annual Field Day exploring research that supports resilient farming systems and healthy soils. The morning includes a plot tour, research presentations, and lunch.
Featured Topics:
Growing sunflowers east of Miller
Pest and beneficial insects in sunflower production
Sunflowers in crop rotations and soil microbes
Building healthy cropping systems through research
Schedule:
9:30 a.m. – Sign-in
9:45 a.m. – Welcome
10:00 a.m. – Plot tour and research presentations
Noon – Complimentary lunch
Cost: Free
Registration: No advance registration is listed.
Questions?
(605) 693-5203
(605) 693-5242
July 9
Impact of Fire on Forage Quality, Livestock Performance & Plant Diversity 🌾
🕒 3:00 p.m. CDT
📍 Sacred Heart Hall - 513 Main Street, White River, SD
Join South Central RC&D and partners for an afternoon exploring how prescribed fire affects forage quality, livestock performance, and plant diversity. The program includes a bus tour of the Powers Dam Road Fire to view post-fire conditions and discuss management strategies with range professionals.
Featured Speaker
Kevin Sedivec, Professor and Extension Range Specialist, North Dakota State University
Highlights:
Bus tour (approximately 4:00 p.m.)
View areas of the Powers Dam Road Fire
Learn about prescribed fire and grassland management
Discussion on forage quality and livestock performance
🍽 Light meal provided.
To RSVP or for more information:
Jewell Bork — 605-669-2222
Jennifer Schoon — 605-530-9600
Hosted by: South Central RC&D in partnership with NRCS.
Northeast Research Farm Field Day 🌱
🕓 4:00 p.m.–Dusk CDT
📍 Northeast Research Farm - 15710 455th Ave., South Shore, SD 57263
Join SDSU researchers for an evening of field tours focused on crop production and natural resource management. The Northeast Research Farm conducts research tailored to the growing conditions of northeastern South Dakota, giving producers an opportunity to see current projects and ask questions directly with researchers.
Highlights:
Herbicide trials
Weed management
Soil health research
Disease and pest updates
Small grains variety trials
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available for Certified Crop Advisers
Registration: Registration is encouraged. Register here.
Cost: Free
Meal: Dinner and SDSU Ice Cream provided.
Oak Lake Field Station Field Day 🌱
🕘 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. CDT
📍 Oak Lake Field Station - 19862 483rd Ave., Astoria, SD
Spend the day learning about conservation research and natural resource management at SDSU's Oak Lake Field Station.
Highlights:
Native prairie conservation
Wetlands
Wildlife research
Field demonstrations
🍽 Lunch provided.
Registration: Registration encouraged. Register here.
Cost: Free
July 10
Half-Day Pasture Walk 🌾
🕘 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. CDT
📍 Doud Ranch - 23766 SD Hwy 34, Midland, SD
Walk the pasture with producers and conservation professionals while discussing grazing management and pasture recovery.
Topics include:
Plant recovery after grazing
Rest and recovery periods
New fencing and water infrastructure
Soil health
Producer discussion
RSVP requested
📞 308-201-0065
July 15
Rosebud Range Workshop 🌾
🕘 Adult Session: 9:00 a.m.–Noon
🕐 Youth Session: 1:00–3:00 p.m. CDT
📍 Rosebud Sioux Tribal Ranch in Rosebud, SD
Hosted by SDSU Extension, NRCS, South Central RC&D, and Rosebud Sioux Tribal Ranch.
Adults will learn about:
Proper stocking rates
Plant identification
Rainfall simulator demonstration
Participants receive:
Grazing stick
Educational range kit
Forage calculation materials
Youth activities include:
Plant identification
Grassland ecology
Interactive learning
Snacks
🍽 Free lunch provided.
Half-Day Pasture Walk 🌾
🕐 1:00–4:00 p.m. CDT
📍 Heinz Ranch34077 147th St., Onaka, SD
Topics include:
Adaptive grazing
Temporary fencing
Organic beef production
Grassland conservation
Succession planning
RSVP requested
📞 308-201-0065
July 16
Hamlin County Local Work Group Meeting 🤝
🕤 9:30 a.m.
📍 Hamlin Conservation District Shed, Hayti, SD
Help shape conservation priorities in your community. Join the Hamlin County Conservation District for a Local Work Group meeting to share what you're seeing on the land, discuss local resource concerns, and help identify conservation priorities that can guide future projects and funding opportunities. Producers, landowners, partners, and community members are all welcome!
Registration: No registration required.
Can't attend? You can still share your observations anytime through our Share What You're Seeing form. Your feedback is shared with your local conservation district to help identify conservation priorities across South Dakota.
The Value of Plant Diversity for Land and Livestock (Cattle HQ Live)
💻 2:00 p.m. CDT
📍 Online via Zoom
Join SDSU Extension's Beef Team for this month's Cattle HQ Live webinar featuring Kaylee Wheeler, SDSU Extension Range Field Specialist. Learn how plant diversity benefits pasture health, grazing livestock nutrition, and overall grassland resilience.
Highlights:
Benefits of plant diversity in pastures
How wildflowers and shrubs contribute to livestock nutrition
Grassland and soil health
Common misconceptions about non-grass plants
Practical grazing and pasture management insights
Registration: Required. Register once to receive the Zoom link and reminders for all future Cattle HQ Live webinars. Register here.
Cost: Free
Can't attend live? All Cattle HQ Live presentations are recorded and available to watch afterward on the Cattle HQ page
July 17
West River Organic Farm Tour 🥕
🕘 9:00 a.m.–5:15 p.m. MDT (10:00 a.m.–6:15 p.m. CDT)
📍 Begins at the SDSU West River Research Farm -13370 Alkali Road, Sturgis, SD 57785
Join SDSU Extension for a full-day tour showcasing organic farming and sustainable production practices across western South Dakota. Participants will visit several farms and learn from producers and specialists about organic crop production, soil health, cover crops, and local food systems.
Tour Stops
SDSU West River Research Farm
Bear Butte Gardens
Belle Valley Grains (Newell)
Cycle Farms (Spearfish)
Tentative Schedule:
9:00–9:30 a.m. – Welcome and refreshments
9:30–11:00 a.m. – Organic research plots and farm tour
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. – Bear Butte Gardens tour and lunch
1:45–3:00 p.m. – Belle Valley Grains
3:45–4:30 p.m. – Cycle Farms
5:15 p.m. – Return to the West River Research Farm
🍽 Lunch is provided.
Registration: Free, but registration is requested. Register and learn more here.
Cost: Free
July 18
Grassland Gravel 🚵
📍 Fort Pierre, SD
Experience the Fort Pierre National Grassland by bike during this gravel cycling event celebrating South Dakota's prairie landscapes.
The course travels through over 116,000 acres of mixed-grass prairie across three counties.
Registration: Advance registration required.
Learn More & Register: https://oahewheelmen.wixsite.com/oahewheelmen/grasslandgravel
July 21
Western South Dakota Specialty Crop Tour 🥕
🕘 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. MDT (10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. CDT)
📍 Magpie Farm - 24717 Coolidge Creek Drive, Hermosa, SD 57744
Join SDSU Extension for a tour of Magpie Farm and Bent Oak Ridge Flower Farm to learn how western South Dakota producers are successfully growing specialty crops on a small scale. Participants will explore sustainable production practices while hearing firsthand about the unique opportunities and challenges of specialty crop farming.
Highlights:
Vegetable, herb, tea, and cut flower production
High tunnel and field production systems
Soil health and sustainable growing practices
Food safety requirements
Regulatory considerations
Business and marketing strategies for specialty crop operations
Cut flower production and research updates
Question-and-answer session with producers and specialists
Tentative Schedule:
9:00 a.m. – Check-in at Magpie Farm
9:30 a.m. – Farm tour
11:00 a.m. – Bent Oak Ridge Flower Farm presentation
12:00 p.m. – Q&A and lunch
🍽 Lunch provided.
Registration: Free, but registration is requested. Register and learn more here.
July 22–23
Noble Land Essentials 🌾
🕣 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
📍 Miller Community Center - Miller, SD
A two-day hands-on workshop designed for producers interested in improving both land and business management. Learn what your land needs to grow the quality forage needed for today’s grazing herds to be healthy, productive and profitable.
Topics include:
Soil health
Grazing management
Ranch economics
Goal setting
Regenerative agriculture
Registration: Required.
Learn More & Register: https://shop.noble.org/products/noble-land-essentials-miller-sd-july-22-23-2026
Have an event to share?
Hosting a conservation-related workshop, field day, volunteer opportunity, or educational event? We'd love to help spread the word. Contact SDACD to have your event considered for an upcoming monthly events roundup.
