High nitrate levels in livestock feed can pose serious health risks, particularly for pregnant animals and ruminants such as cattle. Along with its regional centers and some county offices, South Dakota State University Extension is providing additional drop-off locations for livestock owners or forage growers who want to have forages tested for nitrate levels. In this episode of Agriculture In-depth, Extension Cow-Calf Field Specialist Taylor Grussing and DRG Media News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra discuss why the testing is important, how to properly take a sample and how to receive your results.
Collect a sample in a gallon-size plastic or small paper bag. Complete the submission form and staple it to the sample bag. The forms are available on the SDSU Extension website, https://extension.sdstate.edu/forage-sampling-procedures, or at the drop-off locations being offered in 2026.
The new drop-off sites in 2026 include livestock auction barns in Kimball, Worthing, Yankton, Mitchell, Platte, Burke, Winner, Presho, Mobridge, Phillip, Faith, Martin, St. Onge, Belle Fourche and Newell, as well as at Sioux Nation in Fort Pierre. SDSU Extension staff will pick up samples weekly and the results will be communicated as soon as testing is done.
Those interested in a forage test can learn how to take proper forage samples by visiting https://extension.sdstate.edu/forage-sampling-procedures.
For a free, how-to guide on using nitrate test strips at home, visit https://extension.sdstate.edu/how-test-hay-and-forage-nitrate-levels-using-test-strips.
Agriculture In-depth is brought to you by Kimball Livestock Exchange.
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