Dog heaven

"I wouldn't take any amount of money for that dog," were my dad's most often spoken words when referring to our family dog, Lady.

Dress the part

By John Schlageck, Kansas Farm Bureau If Billy Crystal's Fernando character were to visit a Kansas farm this spring you can be sure he wouldn't be telling too many farmers, "Darling, you look marvelous." You can also bet not too many farmers step into the cab of their tractors wearing any of the high fashions portrayed on the pages of GQ or Esquire. Looking good is great when you go to town, but safety and ...

Safety and agriculture go hand in hand

This past Wednesday, Batron Community College hosted the 13th-annual Barton County Farm Bureau Safety Day for area high school students. Topics ranged from safety around electricity and chainsaws to the potential dangers associated with flowing grain in grain bins. The Farm Bureau deserves credit for this event as do all the presenters for raising the awareness of these students to the everyday potential hazards faced by those is agriculture. Agriculture like any industry has associated ...

Soil –Why is it Important?

Jennifer Carr, Ag & Natural Resources Agent Barton County K-State Research and Ext People walk on it, plant gardens and crops in it and build foundations over it, yet do not give soil a second thought. To most it is just dirt. According to Chuck Rice, distinguished professor of soil microbiology at Kansas State University, "dirt is just soil out of place". "People need to think that soils are important," he said, "just ...

Local 4H’ers start air rifle competitions

On Saturday, Jan. 14, four Barton county 4H'ers traveled to Sedgwick county for the first 4H air rifle competition of the season. In the 12 year old and younger division, Katelyn Reh from Ellinwood finished 3rd. In the 13 and 14 year old division, Ryan Kohman from Great Bend finished 3rd and Lake Lyman from Ellinwood finished 5th. In the 16 to 18 year old division, Jake Kohman from Great Bend finished 6th. The Barton ...

Water proposals flowing fast

By John Schlageck, Kansas Farm Bureau It's decision making time on farms across Kansas. In approximately two months, the fields will be alive as farmers begin planting next fall's crops. In preparation for this upcoming planting season grain farmers need to decide soon which crops they'll plant, fertility and herbicide programs, plant populations, plant varieties and equally important, how much water they'll have available to irrigate specific crops. Another wrench in this production planning involves ...

Spring is almost here

Even though the area experienced a dose of winter last weekend, spring is just around the corner. Wheat in the area benefitted from the recent moisture and the forecast is predicting chances for precipitation over the next few days. As the days lengthen and the temperature warms more than wheat will become active. If temperatures stay mild, army cutworm, true armyworm, greenbugs, and the Bird Cherry-Oat Aphid will likely be making appearances. All but the ...

It’s That Time of Year Again!

Jenni Carr, Extension Agent Ag and Natural Resources, Barton County K-State Research and Extension

Coming attractions

Dr. Victor L. Martin Instructor/Coordinator Agricultural Program Barton Community College There is a lot of activity over the next few months in the area involving agriculture. Before we get to that, a comment is in order regarding the weather. Long-range modeling seems to indicate at least a temporary change in the weather pattern that has characterized winter so far. Unsettled weather is likely at least for the next 10 to 14 days. ...

2012 YF&R Leaders Conference

Stretch your grocery dollar

As many Americans continue to face economic hard times, there is no reason to compromise the welfare of your family's diet. The cost of eating healthy hasn't changed as much as some less-healthy alternatives. It does require strategic shopping however.

Lot of ag activity on the way

There is a lot of activity over the next few months in the area involving agriculture. Before we get to that, a comment is in order regarding the weather. Long-range modeling seems to indicate at least a temporary change in the weather pattern that has characterized winter so far. Unsettled weather is likely at least for the next 10 to 14 days. While not something we appreciate in terms of temperatures and travel plans, it ...

Barton County farmer wins $2,500 for St. Joseph Catholic School through America’s Farmers Grow Commu

Scott Klepper of Ellinwood has been selected as a winner in America's Farmers Grow CommunitiesSM, which gives farmers the opportunity to win $2,500 for their favorite local nonprofit organizations. The donations are available through the Monsanto Fund. Klepper has designated St. Joseph Catholic School, located in Ellinwood, to receive the award in Barton County.

The advantages of perfect competition

What is often frustrating to all students, not just those in agriculture, is many disciplines start out and describe "pure" systems or concepts. After students have mastered these ideas, they are then told that the "real" world isn't actually like what was just learned. In reality, the world is a complicated, messy place. However, these "ideal" concepts are still useful, provided you understand how reality alters the "ideal." Students in Agriculture Economics, all economics really, ...

Creamed peas and other historic items

One hundred fifty fortunate grade and high school youngsters attended the annual Kansas Day Celebration at the Logan City Building on Jan. 27. This celebration is designed to provide students and the public with knowledge about the heritage Kansans all have in common.

University team receives $9.6 million USDA grant to help develop solutions for beef cattle grazing s

Drought, flooding, extreme heat, subzero temperatures: All of these climatic events and more in Kansas can threaten the supply and affordability of the nation's beef supply. It's hard to do much about the weather, but a team of Kansas State University scientists will be trying to find solutions so cattlemen can better adapt to any future climate extremes in their grazing operations.

Wandering about wheat

Looking at wheat throughout the central region of Kansas during the first couple days of May, members of the Wheat Quality Council (WQC) labeled the crop in fairly average to slightly above average condition.

Barton County Farm Bureau awards scholarships

Trees need care through dry weather

The question that I seem to get most often right now is why are my trees dying? Most of the time, the answer is the drought. Even though we have had some moisture recently, we are still in a severe drought. Driving around the county, you will even see old, big Red Cedars dying in the tree rows. That is because we have had two summers that were extremely hot and dry which baked the ...

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.