It may seem like major cities have the advantage on cutting-edge research, but for precision range and livestock research, look to South Dakota. The primary hub of that research is conducted at the Cottonwood Field Station, a 2,640-acre station in western South Dakota’s grasslands.
Part of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station at SDSU, Cottonwood Field Station recently completed upgrades and renovations, including a dry lot monoslope barn, precision feeding bunks, new chutes, and a gathering space – all designed to advance precision livestock technology vetting and application for research and production.
One of the biggest challenges for producers adapting to new technologies is cost. Producers may be wary of investing in a new product without being sure of its return on investment.
“SDSU Extension is answering these practical questions for producers, providing objective, science-based evidence regarding technology and its return on investment,” said Hector Menendez, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Livestock Grazing Specialist.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture, precision agriculture is defined as practices that “utilize technology to improve agricultural productivity or efficiency by connecting the practice to a digital environment for crop or livestock production.”
Some of those technologies include virtual fencing, GPS ear tags, calving cameras, emission monitoring systems, pasture-based weighing systems, drones, and water monitoring systems – all of which SDSU Extension is working with.
Menendez said people, businesses, and researchers from around the world, along with many U.S. companies, have visited Cottonwood to add support or request to be part of what SDSU is doing.
Source :