The Great Bend Farm and Ranch Expo is coming out to the Expo grounds April 10th-12th. The 3-day event will have programs, vendors, and a chance to meet up and see what’s new in farming and ranching. Together, with K-State Research and Extension, we will be giving informative lunch time programs, so come out, grab a good lunch, and listen to the various specialists discuss what is new in their fields of study.
On Wednesday, April 10 from 10:30 to noon, join KSRE along with the Great Bend Coop at the Research Plot tour. The plot is located north of the Expo grounds at Barton County Road and 50 AVE. Romulo Lollato, K-State Research and Extension’s Wheat and Forage Specialist will be present to discuss his five research projects that includes around 500 plots. He will discuss his current research on site that includes: different wheat varieties and how they respond to different management practices, growth regulators, seed treatments, seeding rates, and others. He will also be available to answer any questions that producers have about the 2019 wheat crop.
April 11, at noon will be a Farm Bill update by Monte Vandeveer, Southwest Area Extenstion Agricultural Economist for Kansas Farm Management. Monte grew up on a farm in south‐central Kansas with wheat and cow-calf enterprises. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees in agricultural economics from Kansas State University and a Ph.D. in ag economics from Purdue University. His program will highlight PLC and ARC programs and what you will need to know with the new Farm Bill.
On April 12, at noon, Mary Knapp will be at Expo 3 to talk about the K-State Mesonet, weather patterns, and forecasting the upcoming growing season. As part of the Weather Data Library and as service climatologist, Mary Knapp occupies a unique position in the Department of Agronomy. She is responsible for answering questions on climate and weather matters. She also maintains the web site that provides a constant update and complete archive of weather-related data for Kansas. Her program will cover an update on current conditions, and outlooks for the summer. She will also address the why, and the uncertainty associated with the outlooks.
Whatever your interests are when it comes to farming, there is a subject and specialist that can help you with information. Our specialists are happy to come out and share the latest information and research to help you be able to succeed at your farm. Join us during the lunch hour at the Great Bend Farm and Ranch show April 10 through the 12 for all of K-State Research and Extension’s programming.
Alicia Boor is the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. Contact her by email at aboor@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.
