News at SDState

The concept of knowing what the customer wants before plunging headfirst into a business venture can be applied to any industry, including agriculture. In fact, Great Plains I-Corps is beginning an eight-session program in August for teams that are developing agriculture or ag-related technologies. It is dubbed Great Plains I-Corps: Ag45 because teams will conduct 45 customer discovery interviews, engaging directly with stakeholders across the agriculture ecosystem to test and refine their assumptions. Six of the eight sessions are virtual with two sessions and two conferences in Fargo. Orientation (Aug. 13) and the next four three-hour sessions are virtual. In-person sessions are Sept. 15 and 18, sandwiching the Big Iron Farm and Construction Show Sept. 16 and the Autonomous Nation conference Sept. 17. The last session is Sept. 24.

The South Dakota State University Department of Animal Science hosted its annual Celebration of Animal Science Achievements and Excellence on April 23 at McCrory Gardens.

Isabel Dalton, a graduate student from the South Dakota State University Department of Natural Resource Management, has been accepted into the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

The South Dakota State University College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences will soon have an endowed position focused on swine production. The Rick Wahlstrom Endowed Chair in Swine Production will help support a faculty member whose research and leadership will elevate scholarly research productivity and advance teaching efforts within swine production at SDSU.

Bel Brands USA is making a major investment in Brookings, committing $200 million to expand its facility and double production of its iconic Babybel cheese. Production is increasing from about 1.5 million to 3 million cheeses per day — all made in Brookings, the only facility supplying Babybel cheese in the United States.

During the CAFES Prexy Council Ag Week Banquet April 15 at South Dakota State University, students, faculty, staff, alums and friends of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences were honored with awards recognizing their hard work and dedication to the agriculture industry.

Students are bringing agriculture into the spotlight during “Ag Week” at South Dakota State University.

CHS Chief Executive Officer and President Jay Debertin will visit SDSU on April 24 to speak at the ECON 319 Seminar with Industry Leaders class.

South Dakota State University’s annual Student Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Day will feature a wide range of student projects on April 14, including 14 undergraduate research projects funded by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences for the 2025-26 school year.

The South Dakota State University Department of Natural Resource Management invites the public to attend its 2026 International Year of Rangeland and Pastoralists seminar. All are welcome to attend the event on Friday, April 17, at McCrory Gardens in Brookings.