Remember pennies?

By John Schlageck, Kansas Farm Bureau Until recently, I would often stop by the corner convenience store after work to treat my sweet tooth. From the time I was four-years-old and walked barefoot down to Vern Wagner's little general store, I've always been forced to satisfy my craving for chocolate. Today, I wind up plunking down a buck plus tax for my favorite candy – either Reese's peanut butter cups or their mouthwatering chocolate sticks. ...

Remember pennies?

Until recently, I would often stop by the corner convenience store after work to treat my sweet tooth. From the time I was four-years-old and walked barefoot down to Vern Wagner's little general store, I've always been forced to satisfy my craving for chocolate.

Of precipitation and people

Curiously on one of the Wichita TV stations after the most recent precipitation, the weatherman spent time regarding the drought and if the drought was over. Most of us while very grateful for the moisture know we are still in a severe drought, especially when you consider that even after the last event many areas are still five or more inches behind normal compared to the long-term yearly average as of this date. So what exactly did we gain with this moisture?

Problems, Opportunities, and Challenges

Dr. Victor L. Martin One of the classes many students in the Agricultural Program at Barton take is titled, "Agriculture In Society." The purpose of this course is to explore not only the effects our agriculture heritage has had on the development of our country but how the country as a whole interacts with and views the industry and culture of agriculture today. This necessarily involves some history and background, from hunter-gatherers to today's modern ...

The future will be what it will be

Regardless of the location across Kansas, this fall has served up ideal harvest conditions. Many producers report they are ahead of schedule with the 2011 harvest. Seldom are the temperatures this mild, the humidity this low and the weather this dry during this time of year.

K-State researcher to present information on CRP

MANHATTAN – The Conservation Reserve Program will be the topic of a presentation by a Kansas State University agricultural economics researcher for the department of geography colloquium series.

Doing a lot with a little

This last Tuesday Barton Community College held the 8th Annual Jack Kilby Science Day (JKSD). Most everyone in the area is familiar with who Jack Kilby was and his huge contribution to our modern society and its reliance on computer technology. You likely have read about the JKSD in this paper. "Hands-on" topics ranged from Forecasting Severe Weather, Music, Physics and Technology, and Physics Magic to Crime Scene Analysis, Internet and World Wide Web history ...

Ag producers recognized

Once again it is that time of year to recognize agriculture producers that have done an outstanding job of conserving our natural resource. Producers are recognized thru the Kansas Bankers Awards. This program is sponsored by the Kansas Bankers Association. This year there are six categories that awards will be considered: Energy Conservation; Water Quality; Water Conservation; Soil Conservation; Windbreaks and Wildlife Habitat

Hunger in Kansas: Statewide programs make a difference

Each spring and early summer in Kansas, fields of golden wheat stretch their friendly wave to passers-by, providing stunning evidence of the state's historical supremacy in wheat production and research.

Wheat, weather, and winter

Normally by now, it wouldn't be unusual for area producers to be getting ready to turn out cattle on wheat and rye pasture, especially south of here and under irrigation. Wheat is behind where we would like it to be for the third week of October. Wheat is just emerging, or has emerged and is slowly starting to develop. Normally producers wouldn't be too happy but this isn't a "normal" year. When you consider ...

Fly your fanny flag high

By John Schlageck, Kansas Farm Bureau Kansas farmers have access to a safety tool that should always be used. The slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblem can save lives and machinery. A slow-moving vehicle emblem (fanny flag) is designed for one reason to notify the public that the vehicle motorists are approaching is not traveling more than 25 miles-per-hour, says Holly Higgins, Kansas Farm Bureau safety director. That in turn allows them to slow down and proceed ...

What does it takes to be a ‘farmer’?

Before getting to today's topic, let's discuss the weather a bit. The area received beneficial rains of 1.5 inches or so. The rain couldn't have fallen any more perfectly and seasonable temperatures should get most wheat off to a good start. Unfortunately the forecast is slim on the chance of rain so temperatures need to stay cool and it would help if winds weren't too strong. But at least we stand a chance now.

EQIP provides opportunities to improve your irrigation system

Gregory C. Bauer Supervisory District Conservationist This year many irrigation systems have been pushed to maximum capacity due to the extreme drought conditions we are experiencing. Many of the irrigation systems were not able to adequately irrigate the crops, due to inefficiency of the irrigation system. Other irrigation systems weren't able to provide adequate water due to limited the well capacity. Some irrigators have exceeded their annual water allocation and have used some of next ...

Women in Ag program scheduled in Salina

Women involved in agriculture are invited to the fall 2011 Women in Ag educational session on Nov. 3, in Salina. Topic for the session will be Crops, Cows and Cash Flows - What Does It all Mean?

Knowing more than you think

There really isn't much to add to the winter wheat planting conversation except that maybe Friday and Saturday some beneficial rains actually fell. Instead of beating the same old drum, let's discuss something a little different. One of the hardest things to convince students majoring in some aspect of agriculture is that they know a lot more than they think. This is true for most of us. We learn from observing, making mistakes, doing our ...

Divide remains in Congress over Farm Bill, food stamps

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House and Senate Agriculture Committees laid the groundwork this week for reducing the size of the federal food stamp program, approving farm bills that would shrink food aid and alter the way people qualify for it.

Kansas CRP meetings for landowners prior to signup hosted by PF

Pheasants Forever is hosting fifty-one informational meetings across Kansas for landowners and agricultural producers in advance of the USDA Farm Service Agency's Conservation Reserve Program general sign-up that runs May 20 through June 14. Led by Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologists, landowners can learn how to increase their farm or ranch income while creating wildlife habitat in the process.

Even Animal Lovers Prefer No Rabbits in the Garden

This week, I found a column from K-State's Mary Lou Peter about the rabbits that are out and about. They may be cute hopping around in a field, but when they get into your garden, their cuteness wears a little thin.

MILC, SURE, and NAP will restart on May 8

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia announced today that farm payments, which had been temporarily suspended due to sequestration, are scheduled to resume today, May 8th. This includes payments for the 2011 Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE), the Noninsured Crop Assistance Program (NAP) and the Milk Income Loss Contract Program (MILC).

Why Does It Matter?

This is finals week at Barton and many of the other colleges around the state. For instructors it's time to evaluate what students learned over the last semester. For students it's time for that one last push to maintain or raise their grades. While faculty see testing as a method to evaluate learning and adjust accordingly, students often see testing as a way to be tortured. Students focus on the grade while faculty focus on ...

Play safe on the farm

The dream of many young farm boys and girls is to ride on a tractor. For a youngster, the mammoth tractor epitomizes raw power, responsibility and coming of age.

FFA officers installed at banquet

Soil Stewardship Week

In 1955, the National association of Conservation Districts began a national program to encourage Americans to focus on stewardship. Stewardship Week is officially celebrated from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in May. It is one of the world's largest conservation-related observances.

Small raised garden

Do you have a small backyard? Do you wish you had the space for a garden, but don't want to sacrifice your entire yard to be able to grow your favorite vegetables? Well, an option for you is to garden is a small raised bed. When you garden in a raised bed system, one of the most important things to consider is the soil that you are going to use. One of the major reasons ...

The Law of the Minimum

There isn't much to say regarding the wheat crop right now but to wait so let's go in a different direction this week. First, the Crop Protection class at the college toured the area south of the college this past Wednesday travelling as far south as the Hudson area. Normally they can examine wheat, alfalfa, and newly emerged corn. Since the weather went south pretty quickly, the tour was a bit abbreviated. It's safe to ...