Great Bend Chamber introduces new farm show promoter

On Thursday, July 28, the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development introduced Darren Dale to the Great Bend community for the second time. The first time Dale was publicly introduced was at the press conference in mid-July announcing his involvement in bringing the Great Bend Farm and Ranch Expo to the community on an annual basis starting next April. This time, however, he was introduced to a select group of community ...

Our Climate – What Defines It?

Dr. Victor L. Martin Before we can discuss our climate, there are several concepts and terms that will help it all make a little more sense. These are items that you likely know even if you don't know you know them. The first one not only explains climate but most of what we observe and deal with every day. · Energy, energy potential, and gradients – this is a concept that is the key ...

Animal Health, Conservation and Ag Marketing join Kansas Department of Agriculture

The Kansas Department of Agriculture is making positive changes to better serve Kansas agriculture and consumers. The Department of agriculture now includes a Division of Animal Health, Division of Conservation and Ag Marketing program. These changes, which became effective July 1, are the result of Gov. Sam Brownback issuing an Executive Reorganization Order to move the State Conservation Commission, the Animal Health Department and the Agriculture Marketing Division of the Department of Commerce into the ...

Women in Ag Program announced for August 24 in Tonganoxie

Women in Ag will be the focus of a program to be held in Tonganoxie on Aug. 24 at the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds, Hwy 16 and Fairgrounds Road. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., meal served at 6 p.m., and the program starts at 6:45 p.m.

Conservation Planning . . . More Than Just a Good Idea?

It is common knowledge that planning to conserve natural resources is a good idea and the right thing to do. But did you know that conservation planning also makes good business sense? If you develop and implement a conservation plan you may receive priority status when and if you decide to apply for certain Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs. Also, it is one of the best tools around to help you assess and ...

What goes around, comes around

By John Schlageck, Kansas Farm Bureau The word oasis comes to mind when describing northwestern Kansas this summer. Although within a few weeks if the 100-degree plus temperatures continue, it may turn a bit drier. But for now, in mid-July, the cattle graze in pastures with lush, tall grass. Each field of corn, beans or milo resembles a living green tapestry woven by the Master's hand. Dryland corn looks just like its irrigated cousin. Both ...

Weather vs. Climate

Dr. Victor L. Martin While this column isn't really long enough for a great deal of information, with the summer the area is having it might be informative to address what the terms "weather" and "climate" really define and what these words mean to us as we swelter through this summer. First let's start with a few definitions so we are all on the same page and go from there. What isn't covered today can ...

July Thoughts

I have been accused of being a bit of a pessimist from time to time. From an early age, many teachers and professors drilled into my head to "Hope for the best and prepare for the worst." If you have read these columns over the last few months I tried to objectively lay out what options were available, depending on the weather. My prognosis was that this was going to be one of those ...

Scorched, scalded and burnt up

By John Schlageck, Kansas Farm Bureau If you're a Kansas farmer you've probably jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. The fire in this case is the continuing scalding temperatures and lack of precipitation. Here's what I'm talking about. Ben McClure, Stevens County farms a few miles from the Oklahoma line and not far from the Colorado border. Here in far southwestern Kansas conditions are bone dry. McClure ...

Young Stockmen’s Academy tours Agribusiness and Retail Beef Industry

The 2011 KLA Young Stockmen's Academy (YSA) gathered for its second educational tour of the year June 27-29. The group of young KLA members from across the state spent three days in Kansas City learning more about the agribusiness and retail beef industries. Vista from Merck Animal Health is the exclusive sponsor of this program.

Safe food

By John Schlageck, Kansas Farm Bureau The conversations are endless. Consumers want and some demand to know the origin, safety and nutrition contained in the food they eat or feed to their families. Little more than a decade ago, seemed like most people could give a hoot about their food. Heck, 20 years ago the only time the media paid any attention to food was to tell consumers when prices went up. ...

Summertime -Dr. Victor Martin

It's pretty hard not to notice that summer came hard and fast this year. After several years of what for Kansas were cool, wet summers, Mother Nature has reminded us of what our summers can involve. After a brief respite, we are back under drought conditions and as I write this on July 7, there is a slight chance of rain with 100° temps back by Sunday. So where are we cropwise as we enter July?

Dr. Vic Martin

So What Happened? Well wheat harvest in our area is pretty much over. Some are pleasantly surprised. Some are dealing with the low yields they expected. Many are scratching their heads trying to figure out how things were way, way, better than they expected. Pretty much it's a typical wheat harvest in Kansas. We think we understand why the bad or abandoned fields were the way the were but why were so many ...

Silent sentinels on the High Plains

By John Schlageck, Kansas Farm Bureau Perched atop the weathered wooden posts, the western boots stretched nearly one mile into the horizon. Brown, black, green, gray and blue were the colors. Torn and frayed was their condition. All the boot heels pointed toward the blue, spring sky. Some of the toes still held their shape – jutting out from the fence post. Others dropped toward the grass like the tongues of cutting ...

Funding Available

Non-Point Source Pollution Management funding is available for individuals who are suffering with a failed septic system, or needing to plug an abandoned water well. Sign-up will be until July 31.

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 ...