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Growing South Dakota (Fall 2026), College Of Agriculture, Food And, Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

[Page] 2 Support from donors helping set SDSU dairy graduates above the rest
[Page] 4 A decade of impact: Celebrating 10 years of cow-calf, swine education and research facilitates
[Page] 8 98-year-old donor keeps decades-long scholarship going in honor of late husband
[Page] 11 Looking back at Michele Dudash's tenure in academia
[Page] 12Giving students opportunities, experience to build their futures
[Page] 16 A Jackrabbit's journey in growing agricultural leadership
[Page] 18 Building South Dakota's next generation of rural veterinarians
[Page] 19 Conservation: A family affair
[Page] 20 South Dakota Water Resources Institute finds solutions to South Dakota's water challenges …

Van D. And Barbara B. Fishback Honors College Annual Report 2025-2026, Van D. And Barbara B. Fishback Honors College

Honors College Annual Reports

Table of Contents:

[Page] 4   Honors Engagement Showcase
[Page] 6   Honors by the Numbers
[Page] 8   College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences
[Page] 10 College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
[Page] 12 College of Education and Human Sciences
[Page] 14 College of Natural Sciences
[Page] 16 College of Nursing 
[Page] 18 College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions
[Page] 20 Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering
[Page] 22 Imagine Honors Progress Report
[Page] 26 Cultivating the Honors Community
[Page] 28 Study Abroad
[Page] 30 The Justice Challenge
[Page] 32 Celebrating Honors: Honors Convocation
[Page] 36 Honors Grads Going …

Animal Science Research And Extension Report 2026 (Complete Report), Department Of Animal Science

Animal Science Research Report 2026

This is the 2026 Animal Science and Extension Report. This highlights the research being generated within the department over the previous year.

Harnessing Nitrogen Fixing Plants For A Bio-Solar Nitrogen Economy, Taufiq Nawaz, Liping Gu, James Young, Riffat Latif, Mazhar Sher, Lan Xu, Shah Fahad, Ruanbao Zhou

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

The fossil fuel–driven chemosynthesis of ammonia for nitrogen fertilizers is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, releasing approximately 1130 million metric tons (MMT) of CO₂-equivalent annually. In addition, the extensive use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers (≈108 MMT annually) results in substantial emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O), while nearly 50% of applied nitrogen is lost through leaching and runoff, leading to widespread nitrate pollution and ecosystem degradation. In contrast, solar-powered biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by nitrogen-fixing plants offers a sustainable alternative that supports agricultural productivity and healthy ecosystem resilience. BNF by leguminous and non-leguminous plants …

Integrating Cover Crops To Enhance Abaca (Musa Textilis Nee) Production In Leyte, East-Central Philippines, Janet Moriles Miller, David Clay, S. A. Clay, D. E. Clay, R. Armecin

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Abaca (Musa textilis Nee) is a fiber crop, closely related to banana (Musa sp.). However, it requires 15–18 months from transplanting to first harvest, leaving the soil between plants vulnerable to erosion or weed infestation. Integrating cover crops into abaca plantations may help mitigate these issues. This study aimed to examine the influence of diverse cover crop species on abaca production during its early and late growth phases. Two experiments were conducted to assess the impacts of cover crops on abaca. First, the impact of forage peanut (Arachis pintoi) and koronivia grass (Brachiaria humidicola) …

Food System Science Lesson-2 For First Graders. Makhózula Etáŋhaŋ Wiyútapi Ke: From Planting To Eating, Arlene A. Abao, Madhav P. Nepal

iLEARN Teaching Resources

Feeding the Land That Feeds Us In this delicious adventure, kids will trace the journey of their food from the deep, dark soil all the way to their lunch forks! They will discover that the land is like a giant, magical kitchen called Makhózula, where plants cook up energy using sunlight and "vitamins" from the soil. Students will learn that when we eat a crunchy carrot or a sweet berry, we are actually tasting the strength of the Earth and the warmth of the sun. Through stories of Wopila (gratitude), they’ll see that the food system is a big, …

The Three Sisters And Soil Health (Lesson 1), Mara Johnson, Madhav P. Nepal, Jiyul Chang

iLEARN Teaching Resources

In this lesson, students will begin a week-long unit on soil health that is connected to the chapter The Three Sisters from the book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Students will begin the week by reading the chapter and answering discussion questions, and each subsequent day will build on this introduction with project-based learning activities. This module is designed to bridge traditional Indigenous knowledge with primary scientific inquiry, allowing students to explore soil nutrients, polycultures, and agricultural health in a way they can apply to their own lives and local food sovereignty efforts on the Rosebud Reservation.

Bison Health Network Newsletter, June 2026, Bison Health Network

Bison Health Network News

Newsletter Contents:

Updates
Network Demographics
Did you know? | Bison Calf Anatomy & Physiology
Health Highlight: Calf Survival and Early-Life Health

Using A Screening Tool Is Effective In Choosing Costly Nursery Ingredients, Kynna M. Crawford, Katlyn A. Mcclellan, Eric M. Weaver

Animal Science Research Report 2026

No abstract provided.

Elevate Ewe, Jaelyn Whaley

Animal Science Research Report 2026

No abstract provided.

Sdsu Youth Beef Summit, Christina Bakker, Erin Dehaan, Jessica Drum, Madison Kovarna, Tommy Norman, Warren Rusche, Robin Salverson, Logan Vandermark, Julie Walker

Animal Science Research Report 2026

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Partial Replacement Of Distillers Grains With Extruded Soybeans And The Effects On Growth And Immune Function, Garrett Meyer, Andrea Brandner, Federico Podversich, Steve Lawson, Manuel Manuel, Warren Rusche, Zachery Smith

Animal Science Research Report 2026

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Nutrient Restriction During Mid-Gestation On Calf Performance Through Weaning, Sydni Lammers, Logan Vandermark, Ira Parsons, Hector Menendez, Jameson Brennan, Zachery Smith, Kenneth Olson, Amanda Blair

Animal Science Research Report 2026

No abstract provided.

Observing Ph Of Grass-Fed Bison Heifer Gastrointestinal Tracts Postmortem, Ekaterina Lopez-Bondarchuk, Madison Higbee, Kallen Kafka, Ava Graham, Phillip Urso

Animal Science Research Report 2026

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Dietary Tribasic Copper Chloride Level And Duration In Growing-Finishing Pigs, Courtney L. Pohlen, Angel Martinez, Rafe Q. Royall

Animal Science Research Report 2026

No abstract provided.

Differentiating Nutritional Value (Energy And Amino Acids) Of Soybean Meal (Sbm) From Various Origins Fed To Swine, Bree A. Koepke, Alejandra Forero-Salamanca, Aryeri S. Barsdales-Castellanos, Andres F. Bolivar-Sierra, Crystal L. Levesque, Jorge Y. Perez-Palencia

Animal Science Research Report 2026

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Nutrient Restriction During Mid-Gestation On Beef Cow Metabolism And Composition, Sydni Lammers, Logan Vandermark, Ira Parsons, Hector Menedez, Jameson Brennan, Zachary Smith, Kenneth Olson, Amanda Blair

Animal Science Research Report 2026

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Partial Replacement Of Distillers’ Grains With Heat-Treated Full-Fat Soybeans On Growth And Carcass Characteristics In Finishing Beef Steers, Sean Robinson, Warren Rusche, Federico Podversich, Justin Delver, Zachary Smith

Animal Science Research Report 2026

No abstract provided.

Dairy And Food Science Student Newsletter, May 5, 2026, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy and Food Science Student Newsletter

No abstract provided.

State Of Discovery, 2026, Division Of Research And Economic Development

State of Discovery South Dakota State University's Research Magazine

[Page] 2 R1 Our Way Update
[Page] 2 SDSU Research Spinoff Companies
[Page] 3 The future of agriculture
[Page] 8 Addressing the rural nursing crisis
[Page] 9 Repurposing drugs to create cancers and other diseases
[Page] 10 South Dakota's rural firefighters
[Page] 11 Natural food coloring
[Page] 12 Raising the ROI of Research
[Page] 13 Can ancient bacteria help solve one of agriculture's biggest challenges?

College Of Natural Sciences Spring Newsletter, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

[Page 1] Dean's Message
[Page] 2 Awards & Recognitions // Student Spotlights
[Page] 3 Zhang Named to Landsat Science Team // The Power of Teaching
[Page] 4 “Science as Art” Competition Welcomes High School Artists
[Page] 5 Testing for “Forever Chemicals” in Surface Water // New Faculty Spotlight
[Page] 6 Ambassador Initiated Outreach
[Page] 7 57th Annual Geography Convention
[Page] 8 Twice the Impact on On Call with the Prairie Doc
[Page] 9 Making Staple Foods Healthier // Halaweish & Cole-Dai Retire
[Page] 10 Drone Day 2026
[Page] 11 Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Day (SRSCAD)
[Page] 12 Ceremony …

Dairy And Food Science Student Newsletter, May 1, 2026, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy and Food Science Student Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Exploring Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Frozen Produce Purchases Among U.S. Households, Joslyn Russell

Honors Capstone Projects

Frozen fruits and vegetables are convenient, cost-effective, healthful options that could help consumers meet national nutritional recommendations. However, there is a dearth of data regarding household sociodemographic factors associated with frozen food purchases. My two-fold honors capstone project involved conducting a secondary analysis of nationally representative data obtained from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Surveys to explore the sociodemographic factors associated with the likelihood of purchasing frozen fruits, frozen vegetables, and frozen meals. An exploratory analysis was also conducted with additional variables such as United States region, household area population size, and number of hours worked …

Dairy And Food Science Student Newsletter, April 16, 2026, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy and Food Science Student Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Dairy And Food Science Student Newsletter, April 8, 2026, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy and Food Science Student Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Bison Health Network Newsletter, April 2026, Bison Health Network

Bison Health Network News

Newsletter Contents:

Updates
Network Demographics
Health Highlight: Ruminal Acidosis

Growing South Dakota (Spring 2026), College Of Agriculture, Food, And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

[Page] 2 National heritage, statewide research, local impact
[Page] 7 About the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Stations
[Page] 14 Managing the mooo-ment: How SDSU researchers are looking to improve cow health during the Transition Period
[Page] 18 Discovering strength in science: How education through undergraduate research prepares students for the future
[Page] 20 From India to Brookings: One grad student’s path to make a world of difference in virology
[Page] 22 Solving a billion-dollar problem: Identifying disease-resistent wheat genes
[Page] 24 Unlocking manure’s potential: SDSU leads multistate study on the power of swine manure in growing better crops
[Page] 28 …

Dairy And Food Science Student Newsletter, January 21, 2026, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy and Food Science Student Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Dairy And Food Science Student Newsletter, January 13, 2026, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy and Food Science Student Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Genetic Determinants Associated With Persistence Of Listeria Species And Background Microflora From A Dairy Processing Environment, Vaishali Poswal, Sanjeev Anand, Jose L. Gonzalez-Hernandez, Brian Kraus

Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present

Listeria monocytogenes is a persistent foodborne pathogen capable of surviving in food processing environments, often in association with diverse environmental microflora. This study examines genomic determinants of persistence, specifically stress adaptation and biofilm-associated traits, in environmental Listeria species and other environmental microflora from a dairy processing facility by analyzing whole-genome sequences of 6 environmental Listeria isolates, 4 ATCC reference strains, and 22 air and floor swab cultures, annotated using the RAST platform. Subsystem analysis revealed that Listeria isolates carried a defined set of genes linked to biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, and stress response, though in lower abundance than environmental cultures. …