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Saving soil, saving money

Conservation tour highlights success of South Dakota farmers

Janelle Atyeo
May 13, 2025
May 13, 2025

1 of 5

Conservation in Action tour (74) - worked.jpg

A cover crop mix grows though the corn stubble in the field of Kurt Stiefvater near Salem, S.D.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

Cow-calf pairs at the Stiefvater farm near Salem, S.D., stand in a field of cover crops.

Tri-state Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

Kurt Stiefvater discuses his planting practices in a field of sorghum stubble at his farm near Salem, S.D.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

Conservation in Action tour (116) - worked.jpg

A soil pit on the Kurt Stiefvater near Salem, S.D., shows cover crops growing on corn stubble and root channels below the surface.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Janelle Atyeo

“Everything was against me.”

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Conservation in Action tour (10).JPG — Ryan Larson tells how regenerative practices helped his operation become more profitable while standing in a field of cover crops during the Conservation in Action tour on his farm near Garretson, S.D., May 7.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Conservation in Action tour (50).JPG — Carrie Vollmer-Sanders discusses how her family started in no till management at the Conservation in Action tour stop in Baltic, S.D.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Conservation in Action tour (41).JPG — Gov. Larry Rhoden addresses a lunch crowd at the Conservation in Action tour May 7 in Baltic, S.D.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Conservation in Action tour (28).JPG — Standing beside a strip till machine, Darren Hefty describes the benefits his farm has seen from the practice.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Conservation in Action tour (33).JPG — Ryan Larson added cattle to his operation near Garretson, S.D. They are able to utilize cover crops for forage, as well as crop experiments that didn't work out.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Conservation in Action tour (100).JPG — Kurt Stiefvater discuses his planting practices in a field of sorghum stubble at his farm near Salem, S.D.
Tri-state Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Raised in small town South Dakota, Janelle is enjoying her time as editor of Tri-State Neighbor and Midwest Messenger while raising kids, chickens and no till vegetables in central Sioux Falls. Reach her at janelle.atyeo@lee.net.