If you are interested in becoming certified as a private pesticide applicator in South Dakota or your private applicator license expires this year, choose one of the following options to obtain or renew your private pesticide applicator certification:

• Contact a testing center (see the entire list here) and set up a testing time for an in-person, proctored test. Online testing is no longer an option.
• Take the online course via SDSU Extension (available until Oct. 31). Instructions on how to attend the online training course can be found here.
• Join one of the two remaining live Zoom private applicator training sessions from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on either March 19 or April 16. Registration is available here.

In lieu of the previous in-person private applicator training model, the online course and Zoom webinar options are now available at no cost. Instructions on how to access and complete the online certification training can be found using the link above. If you prefer listening to testing or coursework, register and attend one Zoom webinar training in its entirety. For those who have limited/no access to internet, limited seating (to watch the live Zoom sessions) is available at SDSU Extension regional centers and some county offices across the state. Sign up early to ensure a seat; registration is available here or by calling the regional center closest to you. If you are unsure of your certification status, check here.

Understanding alfalfa winter hardiness

As winter (slowly) turns to spring, I get a lot of questions about alfalfa winter kill predictions. While it is still tough to tell, there are a few things to understand about alfalfa winter survivability before jumping to any conclusions this early. Winter survival is essentially the ability of the alfalfa plant to get through winter without injury or death after dormancy. This should not be confused with a fall dormancy rating, which is the measure of the plant’s ability to store up reserves enough to prepare for and recover from dormancy.

As temperatures begin to drop in the fall, alfalfa plants are triggered to move into dormancy. It takes about 500 uninterrupted growing degree-days to winterize, this roughly translates to about six weeks, depending on temperatures. Hence, why late fall alfalfa cuttings are discouraged as they can interrupt this process and harm your stand. Once the plant is dormant, one would hope it’s safe, but with our unpredictable winters, this is not always the case. Winter temperatures along with snow or ice cover play a big role in alfalfa winter kill. Considering the open winter much of the state has experienced until recently, alfalfa may be at risk of winter kill from the cold snaps that have occurred. Areas with traditionally long open winters and excessively cold temperatures typically have a higher risk of winter kill than others. Winter or early spring rains that cause ice sheets can also put alfalfa at risk of winter kill due to lack of oxygen — this type of winter kill can be quite severe.

Once spring rolls around and alfalfa fields are up, it’s good practice to perform a plant stand assessment. If a field contains less than 39 stems per square foot, stand replacement or modification is often recommended. In a newly seeded/younger alfalfa stand, we would expect a denser stand than in a well-established field. If a stand is mixed with grass or in a very arid area, lower stand counts are usually acceptable. Find more specifics on plant stand assessment here.

If you’re planning to plant alfalfa this spring, take the winter survival index of your seed into consideration as this can help determine your stand’s winter survivability and longevity. Rankings run from 1-6, with 1 being the most winter hardy. Generally, lower winter survivability ratings of 3 or less are more acceptable in our northern climate, with 2.5 and lower being common. Keep in mind that winter survivability index is not the only factor in stand survivability and longevity, several factors such as fall dormancy rating, seeding methods, and pest management all play a role in alfalfa stand health.