August 31, 2026:
South Dakota State University Extension has locations around the state where farmers or ranchers can drop off samples of the forages they have to get them tested, for free.
Taylor Grussing, Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist, says nitrates accumulate in forages during dry conditions so having your forages tested helps ensure a safe feed supply for livestock.
High nitrate levels in hay and forage can pose serious health risks to livestock, particularly pregnant animals and ruminants such as cattle.
Grussing says when to test depends on what form your forage is in– actively growing, baled or silage.
Grussing says collected forage samples should be put into a gallon-size plastic bag or a small paper bag. She says at the drop off locations, submission forms are available so fill one and staple it to your sample bags.
Grussing says SDSU Extension staff will pick up samples weekly and the results will be communicated as soon as testing is done. She says proper sampling will increase the accuracy of your forage nitrate testing results.
Hear more from Grussing in this episode of the Agriculture In-depth podcast with DRG Media News and Farm Director Jody Heemstra.
Along with the SDSU Extension regional centers in Aberdeen, Lemmon, Mitchell, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Watertown and Winner, forage samples can be dropped off at livestock auction barns in:
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Kimball,
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Platte,
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Burke,
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Winner,
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Presho,
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Mobridge,
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Phillip,
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Faith,
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Martin,
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St. Onge,
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Belle Fourche,
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Worthing,
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Yankton,
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Mitchell, and
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Newell; as well as at
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Sioux Nation in Fort Pierre; and
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Berg Agricultural Hall and Raven Precision Agriculture Center on the SDSU campus in Brookings; and
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at the Bennett County, Butte County, Clay County, Fall River County and Haakon County Extension offices.
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.
For more drought resources, visit https://extension.sdstate.edu/drought.
For more information on nitrate testing, contact:
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Taylor Grussing, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist, at 605-995-7378 or Taylor.Grussing@sdstate.edu; or
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Kim Ricardo, SDSU Extension Forage Field Specialist, at 605-773-8120 or Kimberly.Ricardo@sdstate.edu; or
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Jaelyn Whaley, SDSU Extension Sheep Field Specialist, at 605-374-4177 or Jaelyn.Whaley@sdstate.edu; or
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Parker Witt, SDSU Extension Crop-Livestock Systems Field Specialist, at 605-882-5140 or Parker.Witt@sdstate.edu.
August 4, 2026:
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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