Department of Plant Science

Growing the Future

Plant sciences have been at the core of South Dakota State University and the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences since the University’s inception in 1881. Today’s Department of Plant Science includes soil science, genetics/breeding, entomology, plant pathology, weed science, and plant science.

Programs:  The Department of Plant Science provides strong undergraduate (leading to a B.S. in Agronomy) and graduate (leading to M.S. and/or Ph.D. in Plant Science) education, research, Extension programs, and technical services.

Commodity groups provide strong partnerships in Plant Science Department programs, providing significant funding and other resources.

Facilities: Our faculty offices and laboratories are located primarily in three buildings on campus: Agricultural Hall, the Northern Plains Biostress Laboratory, and the Plant Science Building. Additionally, the Department has several greenhouse complexes, a seedhouse, and also hosts South Dakota Foundation Seed facilities on campus. Research and Extension farms are located on or near campus, and also in the eastern and central parts of the state. The West River Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Rapid City offers research and extension programs adapted to the area west of the Missouri River.