Serve the American people

Ah, for those good old days when Uncle Sam lived within his income – and without most of ours.

Waste not – want not

During the last couple of decades, some environmental groups have been less than kind to agriculture. They have bombarded the public with figures on soil loss, pesticide-related mishaps and alleged failed attempts at using herbicides and other crop protectors. Their figures are oftentimes unverifiable.

Who owns this seed?

First, what a difference a little snow makes. Much of the area received a significant, heavy snowfall. This translated into over two inches of liquid moisture and in some areas about three inches for the month. So if you want to feel better, we are at about 200 percent of normal so far this year. Seriously, this moisture will really help the wheat crop and the way most of it fell and the way it is melting couldn't be better.

New Ysa class gathers in Topeka for first session

Twenty young livestock producers from across the state met in Topeka Feb. 18-19 for the first installment of the 2013 Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Young Stockmen's Academy (YSA). Merck Animal Health once again is partnering with the association to host these members for an in-depth look into KLA and the beef industry. A series of four seminars will be held throughout the year in various locations in Kansas.

American State Bank to sponsor ag seminar

American State Bank and Trust Company will sponsor a free day-long agriculture seminar featuring Randy Blach and Dr. David Kohl from 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20th at the Great Bend Convention Center, 3017 10th Street. Both speakers are nationally-known industry experts who are actively involved in ag marketing, economics and management.

Kansas State Clover Awards

150 years and counting

It is likely safe to assume many reading this headline already know what it signifies. This year K-State celebrates its 150th year as a land-grant institution. There are a multitude of celebrations and events planned over the year to commemorate this "birthday." If you are interested in events coming up simply visit k-state.edu/150/ on the web for details. So what do these 150 years mean to the state of Kansas. And not just Kansas since ...

Stretch your family’s food dollar

As many Americans continue to feel the economic squeeze, they may be eating out less and preparing more meals at home. So, it's more important than ever to grocery shop smart and buy healthy food that fits within a budget.

Kansas Farm Bureau honors tradition and heritage of family farms

MANHATTAN – Tradition and heritage is a big part of what makes agriculture such an attractive way of life for so many Kansans. The lifeblood of our existence, the farms and ranches in Kansas, provide food, fuel and fiber for the world.

Listening, learning, leading

Most people in agriculture know this time of year is meeting season. Everyone from seed and chemical companies to producer groups and government agriculture groups take advantage of this "down" period to educate, inform, and listen. Some meetings are designed to inform those attending while some are designed to listen to those attending. The best meetings do both. Several of these opportunities have occurred here at Barton recently.

Future leaders

Kansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Leaders Conference sees record attendance

More than 500 young farmers and gathered in Manhattan, Jan. 25-27 for the 2013 Kansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Leaders Conference.

Barton County producer attends KLA Leadership Conference

Evan Cooper of Great Bend attended the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Leadership Conference in Topeka. He was among 15 producers to participate in the event, which is designed to expose attendees to services provided by KLA and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the legislative process, industry advocacy and various aspects of beef marketing.

Crop Science 101 – Part 2

Last week's column discussed temperature and what it means for crop growth. This week will focus on moisture. While temperature determines the area of crop adaption, moisture determines the potential for growth and yield potential. However, it is not as simple as the amount of precipitation an area receives yearly and involves other factors besides rain or snow. And we are discussing the long-term average precipitation, not just one or two years.

Crop Science 101

In the Farm Crop Production class at Barton, students learn temperature has the greatest effect on a crop's adaptation to an area, ability to survive, and yield. Moisture is the most limiting climate factor for crop yield. Sounds simple but what does that really mean?

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.