First as usual, a drought update is in order. Again, nothing after 8 a.m. this past Tuesday is included. The biggest change is the bullseye of extreme and exceptional drought in Northeast Kansas and part of Southeast Kansas. Our area is relatively unchanged and much of Northwest and a substantial portion of Southwest Kansas are no even abnormally dry. The rain late last week combined with moderate temperatures may ease conditions reported in this Thursday’s report. One other note is in order. These relatively moderate temperatures expected this week and the previous week should slow down grain fill for corn significantly and improve yields and test weights. Definitely better conditions than the area experienced last summer.
Does the K-State Research and Extension Service, including local Extension Units, matter? The obvious answer based on surveys and opinions is a resounding yes. Previous columns have discussed the history of the Land Grant System and the Extension Service and their invaluable contributions to not just crop and livestock production, but in many areas of our everyday lives. K-State was/is viewed as a source of objective, unbiased information. So why bring this up?
K-State, which is our Land Grant University and home to Research and Extension, has over the last twenty plus years had to make significant cuts to these services due to budget cuts. Since 2000, several agronomy experiment fields have closed as have fields from other areas. On July 23rd in the High Plains Journal, Bill Spiegel wrote a column explaining what has happened most recently including:
• After 25 years, Curt Thompson, state agronomy extension leader and state weed specialist in corn and grain sorghum is retiring. His position will probably not be filled. This would leave Kansas down to one state weed specialist.
• In Southeast Kansas, the area Extension agronomic specialist resigned and again, this position will probably remain vacant. As an aside, at one time there were six area specialists in agronomy with six area extension offices. This would leave three for the entire state.
• The Pecan Experiment Field is slated to be closed and sold. The John C. Pair Horticulture Center is slated for closure with some rumbling of finding funds to keep it open. The agronomy research field south of Pleasantville in Reno County is losing the PhD Agronomist-In-Charge to retirement and he is expected to be replaced with a manager with a B.S.
• As Bill reports, the budget has been reduced by 16% over the last ten years. This amounts to over eight million dollars. The budget not only impacts K-State at Manhattan and its outstate fields but also county and district Extension offices. The local offices receive monies from State and Federal sources in addition to the county or district. The county/district has had to absorb more and more of the costs over the last twenty years.
• There are many more reductions that could be cited but these are the most recent ones.
Many complain that K-State and the local offices don’t do as much as they used to for Kansas and that is often correct. They are doing what they can with what they have. Fortunately, or unfortunately, industry has moved in to fill the void. If this is of concern to people, it is extremely important to let your state officials and elected representatives know.

Dr. Victor L. Martin is the agriculture instructor/coordinator for Barton Community College. He can be reached at 620-792-9207, ext. 207.