State agricultural overview

South Dakota crop calendar.

Zone 4b
Range 3b to 5a
130-day season
Last frost May 15
First frost September 25

13 primary crops with planting windows for South Dakota. Calendar timing is anchored to 4b dominant hardiness zone and a 130-day growing season — verify against SDSU Extension for variety- and county-specific guidance.

Row Crop · South Dakota

Sunflowers
primary
Spring: May 22 – June 19
Corn
secondary
Spring: May 15 – June 5
Soybeans
secondary
Spring: May 29 – June 19
Winter Wheat
secondary
Fall: September 18 – October 9
Grain Sorghum
limited
Spring: June 5 – July 3
Cotton
trial
Spring: May 29 – June 19

Vegetables · South Dakota

Cucumbers
primary
Spring: May 29 – July 3
Peppers
primary
Spring: June 5 – June 26
Potatoes
primary
Spring: May 1 – May 22
Fall: July 12 – July 27
Pumpkins
primary
Spring: June 5 – July 3
Sweet Corn
primary
Spring: May 15 – June 19
Tomatoes
primary
Spring: May 29 – June 19

Forages · South Dakota

Alfalfa
primary
Spring: May 8 – June 5
Fall: July 27 – August 11
Clover
primary
Spring: April 24 – May 22
Fall: July 27 – August 11

Cover Crops · South Dakota

Brassicas
primary
Fall: July 12 – July 27
Buckwheat
primary
Spring: July 10 – August 7
Cereal Oats
primary
Spring: May 8 – June 5
Fall: July 27 – August 11
Winter Rye
primary
Fall: September 18 – October 9

Frost & extension reference

South Dakota climate anchors.

Last frost

May 15

First frost

September 25

Growing season

130 days

Hardiness zone

South Dakota county-level frost dates →SDSU Extension →

South Dakota planting timing. Live alerts.

Bield: Farm ties weather and soil-temperature stations in your county to crop planting thresholds — get notified the day soil temp clears your target window.

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