Depending on the definitions you use, the residents of Kansas’s rural counties and small towns make up less than a third, and perhaps as little as a quarter, of the state’s total population. Despite our reputation as a rural farming state, Kansas is surprisingly urban.

For this reason, it’s important to do what hasn’t been done often enough, and think seriously about the fate of Kansas’s cites, both their limitations and their strengths.

Chase Billingham, a professor of sociology at Wichita State University, recently reviewed the effects covid-19 has had on cities across America, focusing on matters of particular concern to Kansans. Foremost among them is that our largest cities are in many ways both overbuilt and underfunded, making them more susceptible to the current financial crises than they ought to be.

That the pandemic has hit cities hard isn’t anything new–that’s where the people are, after all. But the economic importance of those cities isn’t simply because people are there: rather, it is because the people there can work and create and play in heterogeneous mixings which some scholars have seen as the root of the “creative class” economy. Entrepreneurship, investment, and experimentation in financial, technological, and service sectors, rather an manufacturing, is what has built most urban wealth over the past 30 years, and what continues to make cities attractive.

Obviously, social distancing rules, restrictions on large gatherings, and people choosing not to commute and working from home has halted much of that mixing. While some of it will likely return, much may not, especially since the tax revenues that paid for the services and amenities which enabled that mixing in the first place have been severely reduced.

Some speculate that the cities best positioned to adapt to the post-pandemic world will be small or mid-sized ones, since they might be able to re-create urban mixing in a safer context, and thus appeal to those who are doing their creative work remotely anyway. (Billingham mentioned Tulsa, OK, as an example; potentially Topeka or Lawrence could be the same.)

But that re-creation will depend upon having the resources to do so, and that will depend upon not having been overly burdened by financial liabilities–such as massive infrastructure and public works projects, which almost always increase in costs and almost never pay for themselves.

In Kansas’s two largest urban areas, Kansas City and Wichita, activists have long warned about the costs of the “just build something” mentality. Whether it be the Northland Sports Complex in KC or the Riverfront Legacy Plan in Wichita, both cities have grand–and incredibly expensive–ideas for attracting and holding onto “creatives.” Whatever the arguments for those plans, though, the debate over them has been happening while the governments of these same cities have been forced to re-allocate, delay, or just plain cut from the budget money for all sorts of urban basics--road maintenance, sewer repair, public transportation, and more

The solutions to these problems aren’t obvious. Charting alternative paths is difficult even in the best of times. But being serious about what can be achieved in Kansas’s cities today–by focusing on incremental and sustainable growth, rather than grand, top-down plans–is essential. We owe it to one another to not let the unique post-pandemic possibilities of Kansas’s small and mid-sized cities slip away from us, all because we were blind to the financial facts before our eyes.&nbsp;

Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583339056495.jpeg" alt="Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita.</figcaption>
 </figure>Depending on the definitions you use, the residents of Kansas’s rural counties and small towns make up less than a third, and perhaps as little as a quarter, of the state’s total population. Despite our reputation as a rural farming state, Kansas is surprisingly urban.For this reason, it’s important to do what hasn’t been done often enough, and think seriously about the fate of Kansas’s cites, both their limitations and their strengths.Chase Billingham, a professor of sociology at Wichita State University, recently reviewed the effects covid-19 has had on cities across America, focusing on matters of particular concern to Kansans. Foremost among them is that our largest cities are in many ways both overbuilt and underfunded, making them more susceptible to the current financial crises than they ought to be.That the pandemic has hit cities hard isn’t anything new–that’s where the people are, after all. But the economic importance of those cities isn’t simply because people are there: rather, it is because the people there can work and create and play in heterogeneous mixings which some scholars have seen as the root of the “creative class” economy. Entrepreneurship, investment, and experimentation in financial, technological, and service sectors, rather an manufacturing, is what has built most urban wealth over the past 30 years, and what continues to make cities attractive.Obviously, social distancing rules, restrictions on large gatherings, and people choosing not to commute and working from home has halted much of that mixing. While some of it will likely return, much may not, especially since the tax revenues that paid for the services and amenities which enabled that mixing in the first place have been severely reduced.Some speculate that the cities best positioned to adapt to the post-pandemic world will be small or mid-sized ones, since they might be able to re-create urban mixing in a safer context, and thus appeal to those who are doing their creative work remotely anyway. (Billingham mentioned Tulsa, OK, as an example; potentially Topeka or Lawrence could be the same.)But that re-creation will depend upon having the resources to do so, and that will depend upon not having been overly burdened by financial liabilities–such as massive infrastructure and public works projects, which almost always increase in costs and almost never pay for themselves.In Kansas’s two largest urban areas, Kansas City and Wichita, activists have long warned about the costs of the “just build something” mentality. Whether it be the Northland Sports Complex in KC or the Riverfront Legacy Plan in Wichita, both cities have grand–and incredibly expensive–ideas for attracting and holding onto “creatives.” Whatever the arguments for those plans, though, the debate over them has been happening while the governments of these same cities have been forced to re-allocate, delay, or just plain cut from the budget money for all sorts of urban basics--road maintenance, sewer repair, public transportation, and moreThe solutions to these problems aren’t obvious. Charting alternative paths is difficult even in the best of times. But being serious about what can be achieved in Kansas’s cities today–by focusing on incremental and sustainable growth, rather than grand, top-down plans–is essential. We owe it to one another to not let the unique post-pandemic possibilities of Kansas’s small and mid-sized cities slip away from us, all because we were blind to the financial facts before our eyes.&nbsp;Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Facing financial facts about urban Kansas

There is nothing like a new baby to put smiles on the faces of family and strangers alike. They are so darned cute. Their cherub faces immediately fill us with a moment of joy.&nbsp;

Tiger Nation is excited to announce yet another partnership with Hays Medical Center (we have many). Each beautiful baby delivered at HaysMed will now be sent home in the loving care of their parents with a Fort Hays State University onesie.

The program started this summer after HaysMed CEO Eddie Herrman approached FHSU Foundation CEO Jason Williby about the onesie idea.

“It seemed like a great way to give back to our community while building upon the strong ties of partnership between HaysMed and FHSU,” Williby said.

Over 100 babies have been sent home with their FHSU “Born to be a Tiger” onesie in the first month. The onesies are placed in a basket with a meal-to-go for Mom and Dad, another fantastic gesture from the HaysMed staff.&nbsp;

“Parents love the meal-to-go they receive on the day of discharge and have commented numerous times how great it is to go home and not have to worry about what’s for dinner,” said Kristy Schlaefli, director of Women Infant Care at HaysMed.

Nurses report that parents are loving the newly added FHSU onesie. Second-time parents have even commented how much they like the onesie and that they would have loved one when their first baby was born. The nurses are especially enjoying the HaysMed-delivered babies sporting their Tiger gear on social media – and so are we!

To our great delight, one such social media rock star is Drake Pilkington, son of FHSU softball coach Adrian Pilkington and her husband, Blake. Drake wore his FHSU onesie on his way home from the hospital – an extra special treat given that both Adrian and Blake graduated from FHSU.

"We were so excited&nbsp;to receive our FHSU onesie upon departure from HaysMed,” Adrian said. “Blake and I are both FHSU alumni so it was an awesome surprise and a great way to introduce our son, Drake, as the newest member to Tiger Nation."

“We often refer to FHSU as a community – or a family. When a member of the family has a baby, you send a baby gift,” Williby said. “It is never too early to begin recruiting the future freshman class of Tigers.”

A special thank you to Tiger alum Nate Meder of Redeem Designs for designing and executing Herrman’s idea. I would also like to thank Nate, a 2003 graduate, and his family for their commitment and generosity to the university. The “Born to be a Tiger” onsies are available for other Tiger fans to purchase at <a href="https://fhsutigeronesies.itemorder.com">https://fhsutigeronesies.itemorder.com</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president</figcaption>
 </figure>There is nothing like a new baby to put smiles on the faces of family and strangers alike. They are so darned cute. Their cherub faces immediately fill us with a moment of joy.&nbsp;Tiger Nation is excited to announce yet another partnership with Hays Medical Center (we have many). Each beautiful baby delivered at HaysMed will now be sent home in the loving care of their parents with a Fort Hays State University onesie.The program started this summer after HaysMed CEO Eddie Herrman approached FHSU Foundation CEO Jason Williby about the onesie idea.“It seemed like a great way to give back to our community while building upon the strong ties of partnership between HaysMed and FHSU,” Williby said.Over 100 babies have been sent home with their FHSU “Born to be a Tiger” onesie in the first month. The onesies are placed in a basket with a meal-to-go for Mom and Dad, another fantastic gesture from the HaysMed staff.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599246168011.jpeg" alt="Drake Pilkington" />
 <figcaption>Drake Pilkington</figcaption>
 </figure>“Parents love the meal-to-go they receive on the day of discharge and have commented numerous times how great it is to go home and not have to worry about what’s for dinner,” said Kristy Schlaefli, director of Women Infant Care at HaysMed.Nurses report that parents are loving the newly added FHSU onesie. Second-time parents have even commented how much they like the onesie and that they would have loved one when their first baby was born. The nurses are especially enjoying the HaysMed-delivered babies sporting their Tiger gear on social media – and so are we!To our great delight, one such social media rock star is Drake Pilkington, son of FHSU softball coach Adrian Pilkington and her husband, Blake. Drake wore his FHSU onesie on his way home from the hospital – an extra special treat given that both Adrian and Blake graduated from FHSU."We were so excited&nbsp;to receive our FHSU onesie upon departure from HaysMed,” Adrian said. “Blake and I are both FHSU alumni so it was an awesome surprise and a great way to introduce our son, Drake, as the newest member to Tiger Nation."“We often refer to FHSU as a community – or a family. When a member of the family has a baby, you send a baby gift,” Williby said. “It is never too early to begin recruiting the future freshman class of Tigers.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599246196955.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>I love this program. &nbsp;A special thank you to Tiger alum Nate Meder of Redeem Designs for designing and executing Herrman’s idea. I would also like to thank Nate, a 2003 graduate, and his family for their commitment and generosity to the university. The “Born to be a Tiger” onsies are available for other Tiger fans to purchase at <a href="https://fhsutigeronesies.itemorder.com">https://fhsutigeronesies.itemorder.com</a>.&nbsp;Go Tigers!

MASON: A one(sie) welcome for our littlest Tigers

Wheat is considered a highly responsive crop to band-applied fertilizers, particularly phosphorus (P). Application of P as starter fertilizer can be an effective method for part or all the P needs. Wheat plants typically show a significant increase in fall tillers and better root development with the use of starter fertilizer (P and N). Winterkill can also be reduced with the use of starter fertilizers, particularly in low P testing soils.

Phosphorus fertilizer application can be done through the drill with the seed. In-furrow fertilizer can be applied, depending on the soil test and recommended application rate, either in addition to or instead of, any pre-plant P applications. The use of dry fertilizer sources with air seeders is a very popular and practical option. However, other P sources (including liquid) are agronomically equivalent and decisions should be based on cost and adaptability for each operation.

When applying fertilizer with the seed, rates should be limited to avoid potential toxicity to the seedlings. Most fertilizer sources contain salts which can be toxic to seedlings. However, phosphorus (P) fertilizer contains little if any salt, conversely Nitrogen (N) &amp; Potassium (K2O) fertilizers contain salts. When placing fertilizer in direct contact with wheat seed, producers should use the guidelines listed below.&nbsp;

Suggested maximum rates of fertilizer in pounds (lbs.) per acre Nitrogen N + Potassium K2O to apply directly with the wheat seed (No urea containing fertilizers).

15-inch row spacing, medium-to-fine soil textures,16 lbs. on course textures or dry soils 11 lbs.&nbsp;

10-inch row spacing, medium-to-fine soil textures 24 lbs. on course textures or dry soils 17 lbs.

6-8-inch row spacing, medium-to-fine soil textures 30 lbs. on course textures or dry soils 21 lbs.&nbsp;

Air seeders that place the starter fertilizer and seed in a 1- to 2-inch band, rather than a narrow seed slot, provide some margin of safety because the concentration of the fertilizer and seed is lower in these diffuse bands. In this scenario, adding a little extra N fertilizer to the starter is less likely to injure the seed - but it is still a risk.

Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599599869236.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Wheat is considered a highly responsive crop to band-applied fertilizers, particularly phosphorus (P). Application of P as starter fertilizer can be an effective method for part or all the P needs. Wheat plants typically show a significant increase in fall tillers and better root development with the use of starter fertilizer (P and N). Winterkill can also be reduced with the use of starter fertilizers, particularly in low P testing soils.Phosphorus fertilizer application can be done through the drill with the seed. In-furrow fertilizer can be applied, depending on the soil test and recommended application rate, either in addition to or instead of, any pre-plant P applications. The use of dry fertilizer sources with air seeders is a very popular and practical option. However, other P sources (including liquid) are agronomically equivalent and decisions should be based on cost and adaptability for each operation.When applying fertilizer with the seed, rates should be limited to avoid potential toxicity to the seedlings. Most fertilizer sources contain salts which can be toxic to seedlings. However, phosphorus (P) fertilizer contains little if any salt, conversely Nitrogen (N) &amp; Potassium (K2O) fertilizers contain salts. When placing fertilizer in direct contact with wheat seed, producers should use the guidelines listed below.&nbsp;Suggested maximum rates of fertilizer in pounds (lbs.) per acre Nitrogen N + Potassium K2O to apply directly with the wheat seed (No urea containing fertilizers).15-inch row spacing, medium-to-fine soil textures,16 lbs. on course textures or dry soils 11 lbs.&nbsp;10-inch row spacing, medium-to-fine soil textures 24 lbs. on course textures or dry soils 17 lbs.6-8-inch row spacing, medium-to-fine soil textures 30 lbs. on course textures or dry soils 21 lbs.&nbsp;Air seeders that place the starter fertilizer and seed in a 1- to 2-inch band, rather than a narrow seed slot, provide some margin of safety because the concentration of the fertilizer and seed is lower in these diffuse bands. In this scenario, adding a little extra N fertilizer to the starter is less likely to injure the seed - but it is still a risk.Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578070283981.png" alt="Stacy Campbell&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Stacy Campbell&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>

CAMPBELL: In-furrow fertilizer for wheat 

By midday Tuesday, U.S. crude prices were down more than eight percent on the day, dropping to $36.38 per barrel. London Brent was down six percent. Oil on the Nymex closed below $40 a barrel Friday for the first time in weeks. The summer driving season came to a close over the Labor Day holiday, and that signals a big drop-off in demand. Refineries typically schedule required maintenance at this time of year. Kansas crude prices followed the national trends, with CHS in McPherson dropping prices by a dollar and a half on Friday. Kansas Common starts the week at $30 a barrel, but that could drop even more in response to national and international trading Tuesday. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports four active drilling rigs in eastern Kansas, down one for the week, and eight west of Wichita, an increase of three rigs. Baker Hughes reports 256 active drilling rigs across the U.S., an increase of one oil rig. The count in New Mexico was up one while Texas and North Dakota were each down one. Regulators approved 13 new drilling permits across Kansas last week, with two in the eastern half of the state and eleven in Western Kansas. That includes two new permits in Ellis County and one in Stafford County.&nbsp; There are 285 new permits on file so far this year, compared to nearly 650 by the end of August last year. Operators completed six new wells in Kansas last week. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports two new completions in eastern Kansas and four west of Wichita. Year-to-date that's 618 newly-completed wells, compared to 964 at this time last year. Regulators report one new intent-to-drill notice in Ellis County this month and one in Russell County. Statewide, the Kansas Corporation Commission reports a slight uptick to 38 new intents filed in August. That's down from 94 in August of last year. So far this year, operators have filed 343 new intents statewide, compared to 735 by this time last year.&nbsp; U.S. crude inventories dropped more than nine million barrels. At over 498 million barrels, American stockpiles are about 14% above the five-year seasonal average. For the sixth week in a row, average crude-oil production in the U.S. dropped below ten million barrels per day last week. That's the first time that's happened since January. The Energy Information Administration says output for the week ending August 28 dropped to about 9.7 million barrels per day, down from 10.8 million a week earlier. U.S. production is down nearly three million barrels per day from a year ago. The government says domestic crude-oil imports dropped to 4.9 million barrels per day last week, down a million barrels per day from the week before. EIA says the four-week rolling average is down more than 20% from the same period last year. A new federal report shows U.S. and Kansas crude production increased in June, but remain well below pre-pandemic levels. The Energy Information Administration reports Kansas output increased more than 200,000 barrels over the month before, to over 2.2 million barrels. That's over 73,000 barrels per day.&nbsp; Total U.S. production in June increased 300,000 barrels over the May total to 313 million barrels (10.43 million barrels per day). The Kansas Geological Survey released county production totals through May. Barton County operators in the first five months of the year pumped over 545,000 barrels of crude oil, down from over 679,000 barrels a year earlier. Ellis County produced more than 833,000 barrels, compared to over one million barrels a year ago. Russell County pumped just over half a million barrels, down from 625,000. And, operators in Stafford County produced over 373,000 barrels of crude oil through May, down from nearly 429,000 through May of last year. Saudi Arabia cut pricing for oil sales to Asia and the U.S. for October shipments. Bloomberg called that a sign that the world’s biggest exporter may see fuel demand wavering amid flare-ups in the coronavirus.&nbsp; Venezuelan crude exports have dropped to an average 270,000 barrels per day in the last three months, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence. That's about half the levels seen in May, just before the U.S. sanctioned four Greek tankers. Greek-owned tankers are still shipping Venezuelan crude, but in much smaller amounts, and only to specific refineries as part of diesel-for-crude swaps.&nbsp; The state treasury in Oklahoma has seen better days. The Tulsa World reports the state's August oil and gas production taxes fell by nearly half. Collections have dropped year-over-year in each of the past 12 months, as oil and gas revenue dropped by $430 million during that period. The State Treasurer said total tax collections for August in the Sooner State are down nearly five percent from a year ago.&nbsp; A railroad trade group reports U.S. freight deliveries dropped again in August, down 13 percent from July and nearly six percent lower than in August of last year. Rail shipments of petroleum and petroleum products dropped 14% last month, compared to a year earlier. By way of contrast, grain and other farm products both saw increases. The Association of American Railroads says the weekly total for oil-by-rail was down 17 percent year on year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592847975802.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBARBy midday Tuesday, U.S. crude prices were down more than eight percent on the day, dropping to $36.38 per barrel. London Brent was down six percent. Oil on the Nymex closed below $40 a barrel Friday for the first time in weeks. The summer driving season came to a close over the Labor Day holiday, and that signals a big drop-off in demand. Refineries typically schedule required maintenance at this time of year. Kansas crude prices followed the national trends, with CHS in McPherson dropping prices by a dollar and a half on Friday. Kansas Common starts the week at $30 a barrel, but that could drop even more in response to national and international trading Tuesday. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports four active drilling rigs in eastern Kansas, down one for the week, and eight west of Wichita, an increase of three rigs. Baker Hughes reports 256 active drilling rigs across the U.S., an increase of one oil rig. The count in New Mexico was up one while Texas and North Dakota were each down one. Regulators approved 13 new drilling permits across Kansas last week, with two in the eastern half of the state and eleven in Western Kansas. That includes two new permits in Ellis County and one in Stafford County.&nbsp; There are 285 new permits on file so far this year, compared to nearly 650 by the end of August last year. Operators completed six new wells in Kansas last week. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports two new completions in eastern Kansas and four west of Wichita. Year-to-date that's 618 newly-completed wells, compared to 964 at this time last year. Regulators report one new intent-to-drill notice in Ellis County this month and one in Russell County. Statewide, the Kansas Corporation Commission reports a slight uptick to 38 new intents filed in August. That's down from 94 in August of last year. So far this year, operators have filed 343 new intents statewide, compared to 735 by this time last year.&nbsp; U.S. crude inventories dropped more than nine million barrels. At over 498 million barrels, American stockpiles are about 14% above the five-year seasonal average. For the sixth week in a row, average crude-oil production in the U.S. dropped below ten million barrels per day last week. That's the first time that's happened since January. The Energy Information Administration says output for the week ending August 28 dropped to about 9.7 million barrels per day, down from 10.8 million a week earlier. U.S. production is down nearly three million barrels per day from a year ago. The government says domestic crude-oil imports dropped to 4.9 million barrels per day last week, down a million barrels per day from the week before. EIA says the four-week rolling average is down more than 20% from the same period last year. A new federal report shows U.S. and Kansas crude production increased in June, but remain well below pre-pandemic levels. The Energy Information Administration reports Kansas output increased more than 200,000 barrels over the month before, to over 2.2 million barrels. That's over 73,000 barrels per day.&nbsp; Total U.S. production in June increased 300,000 barrels over the May total to 313 million barrels (10.43 million barrels per day). The Kansas Geological Survey released county production totals through May. Barton County operators in the first five months of the year pumped over 545,000 barrels of crude oil, down from over 679,000 barrels a year earlier. Ellis County produced more than 833,000 barrels, compared to over one million barrels a year ago. Russell County pumped just over half a million barrels, down from 625,000. And, operators in Stafford County produced over 373,000 barrels of crude oil through May, down from nearly 429,000 through May of last year. Saudi Arabia cut pricing for oil sales to Asia and the U.S. for October shipments. Bloomberg called that a sign that the world’s biggest exporter may see fuel demand wavering amid flare-ups in the coronavirus.&nbsp; Venezuelan crude exports have dropped to an average 270,000 barrels per day in the last three months, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence. That's about half the levels seen in May, just before the U.S. sanctioned four Greek tankers. Greek-owned tankers are still shipping Venezuelan crude, but in much smaller amounts, and only to specific refineries as part of diesel-for-crude swaps.&nbsp; The state treasury in Oklahoma has seen better days. The Tulsa World reports the state's August oil and gas production taxes fell by nearly half. Collections have dropped year-over-year in each of the past 12 months, as oil and gas revenue dropped by $430 million during that period. The State Treasurer said total tax collections for August in the Sooner State are down nearly five percent from a year ago.&nbsp; A railroad trade group reports U.S. freight deliveries dropped again in August, down 13 percent from July and nearly six percent lower than in August of last year. Rail shipments of petroleum and petroleum products dropped 14% last month, compared to a year earlier. By way of contrast, grain and other farm products both saw increases. The Association of American Railroads says the weekly total for oil-by-rail was down 17 percent year on year.

News From the Oil Patch: Drop in demand takes toll on prices

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher As the summer begins to wind down, the fall crops filling the fields are slowly transitioning into their displays of color. For my family, the corn and soybeans that exhibited lush greens throughout the summer months have hit their peak in regard to their place on a color wheel and are beginning to dry down in time to gather the grain. While these two crops nearing harvest possess a beauty within the rich warm colors of fall, they are currently being outdone by two of our other crops. &nbsp; Our grain sorghum has transitioned into a sea of warm brick-red heads of grain. The berries have truly made it a photographer’s dream to capture the rich, warm colors of autumn. It’s no wonder many families in my area plan their Christmas card pictures around this time as the colors show a special beauty similar to the days leading up to ripened wheat. &nbsp; Earlier this summer, after wheat harvest ended, my husband Adam went back into the fields combines had just run through and planted fall crops. In our area, it’s known as double-cropping. When my husband double-crops, he generally plants either soybeans or grain sorghum to be harvested this fall.&nbsp;This year, however, he added another crop into the double-cropping plan: sunflowers! And boy, oh, boy are they showcasing their fall beauty right now. &nbsp; This is the first year since I’ve lived in Kansas sunflowers have been planted anywhere on our farm. It’s taken 10 years for me to experience the anticipation and excitement associated with a field of sunflowers blooming.&nbsp; &nbsp; For weeks I have stopped by this field to see how close the crop was to blooming. For days I have peeked at the sunflower heads to see if I could identify hints of yellow appearing. This crop has been a definite tease for me. There have been days I have wondered if the flower heads would ever bloom. In fact, I have caught myself talking to this field aloud asking things like, “Are you guys ever going to bloom this year?” &nbsp; But overnight, the field of green plants have now blossomed into a bright and wonderful yellow that absolutely, without a doubt catches one’s attention. These sunflowers have become the belle of the ball this fall. &nbsp; I can’t help but stop my car and get out to walk into the field of these “sunnies.” It’s as if you are surrounded by thousands of smiles that instantly brighten your day. &nbsp; I know these beautiful blooms are temporary and will soon begin to dry down, but I will enjoy these fall flowers in all of their beauty for the time they have. Yes, while they only showcase their welcoming warmth for all to enjoy for a brief period, I will remember the magic and beauty of this crop long after their colors fade.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575904358712.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher As the summer begins to wind down, the fall crops filling the fields are slowly transitioning into their displays of color. For my family, the corn and soybeans that exhibited lush greens throughout the summer months have hit their peak in regard to their place on a color wheel and are beginning to dry down in time to gather the grain. While these two crops nearing harvest possess a beauty within the rich warm colors of fall, they are currently being outdone by two of our other crops. &nbsp; Our grain sorghum has transitioned into a sea of warm brick-red heads of grain. The berries have truly made it a photographer’s dream to capture the rich, warm colors of autumn. It’s no wonder many families in my area plan their Christmas card pictures around this time as the colors show a special beauty similar to the days leading up to ripened wheat. &nbsp; Earlier this summer, after wheat harvest ended, my husband Adam went back into the fields combines had just run through and planted fall crops. In our area, it’s known as double-cropping. When my husband double-crops, he generally plants either soybeans or grain sorghum to be harvested this fall.&nbsp;This year, however, he added another crop into the double-cropping plan: sunflowers! And boy, oh, boy are they showcasing their fall beauty right now. &nbsp; This is the first year since I’ve lived in Kansas sunflowers have been planted anywhere on our farm. It’s taken 10 years for me to experience the anticipation and excitement associated with a field of sunflowers blooming.&nbsp; &nbsp; For weeks I have stopped by this field to see how close the crop was to blooming. For days I have peeked at the sunflower heads to see if I could identify hints of yellow appearing. This crop has been a definite tease for me. There have been days I have wondered if the flower heads would ever bloom. In fact, I have caught myself talking to this field aloud asking things like, “Are you guys ever going to bloom this year?” &nbsp; But overnight, the field of green plants have now blossomed into a bright and wonderful yellow that absolutely, without a doubt catches one’s attention. These sunflowers have become the belle of the ball this fall. &nbsp; I can’t help but stop my car and get out to walk into the field of these “sunnies.” It’s as if you are surrounded by thousands of smiles that instantly brighten your day. &nbsp; I know these beautiful blooms are temporary and will soon begin to dry down, but I will enjoy these fall flowers in all of their beauty for the time they have. Yes, while they only showcase their welcoming warmth for all to enjoy for a brief period, I will remember the magic and beauty of this crop long after their colors fade."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kan. Farm Bureau Insight: Fall flowers on the farm

While most Kansans were looking forward to the three-day Labor Day weekend, a small group of legislators last week in a quiet committee room on the 5th&nbsp;floor of the Statehouse moved forward with a plan to spend $5 million to bring nearly 2,500 new jobs to Kansas.

Those new jobs, and new buildings and such – and the taxes that will be paid by those businesses and their workers – are what fuel the Kansas economy that makes us all more prosperous.

That meeting? It was the Legislative Budget Committee, and it approved and will now urge the Legislative Coordinating Council to send $5 million in coronavirus recovery funds to the Kansas Department of Commerce to close deals that will bring $243 million of investment and construction and those jobs which are expected to pay an average of $48,000 a year to the state.

Kansas Secretary of Commerce David Toland told the panel that his agency is about out of money in its Job Creation Fund, which it uses to lure businesses and their positive effect on the Kansas economy to the state.

Most of us don’t think about the Department of Commerce much, and there are no support groups or GoFundMe accounts that provide the agency with the last few bucks, the little incidental costs to locating a business in Kansas, that close deals for new development and jobs.

That $5 million will help the state close those deals and provide jobs across the state. Mostly in central and eastern Kansas, though one deal that is in the air is in western Kansas. Nope, Toland isn’t naming those close-to-done deals for fear of competition from other states which also want new jobs and businesses, but they are getting close.

And, Toland said, Commerce access to that closing-the-deal money adds to the near sudden increase in interest by many companies to move facilities to Kansas, partly for its center-of-the-nation location and highway system which make the state a convenient and economic place to put down a plant or warehouse for national marketing.

Oh, and there are also those smart, reliable, and dedicated workers – that would be Kansans – who populate the state.

Now, the Legislature has been a little protective of the money it has appropriated to itself for response to wide ranges of COVID-19 effects, such as assistance to existing businesses struck by the pandemic, job losses, and the need to generate more jobs for Kansans.

Seem like a good use for the legislature’s rebuild-the-economy and protect Kansans money, doesn’t it?

Toland said that Kansas now has eco-devo prospectors on both coasts to urge businesses to relocate here. The nature of American commerce has changed through the pandemic with more on-line shopping that can be served from relatively low-cost mid-continent facilities. It’s the change from being a “fly over” state to one that has economic advantages for a wide range of companies for which Kansas can be a money-saver and profit-boosting place to put a business.

It’s just that little Job Creation Fund that can provide the services or few additional bucks to close those deals, which is where Toland and most Kansans want us to be.

Look for the Legislature to OK the money, and&nbsp; then we’ll see just what new businesses are coming to the state…and whether it means the kids can find work close to home instead of moving to the coast…

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hawvernews.com/">www.hawvernews.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592848178110.png" alt="Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report." />
 <figcaption>Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report.</figcaption>
 </figure>While most Kansans were looking forward to the three-day Labor Day weekend, a small group of legislators last week in a quiet committee room on the 5th&nbsp;floor of the Statehouse moved forward with a plan to spend $5 million to bring nearly 2,500 new jobs to Kansas.Those new jobs, and new buildings and such – and the taxes that will be paid by those businesses and their workers – are what fuel the Kansas economy that makes us all more prosperous.That meeting? It was the Legislative Budget Committee, and it approved and will now urge the Legislative Coordinating Council to send $5 million in coronavirus recovery funds to the Kansas Department of Commerce to close deals that will bring $243 million of investment and construction and those jobs which are expected to pay an average of $48,000 a year to the state.Not a bad investment, is it?Kansas Secretary of Commerce David Toland told the panel that his agency is about out of money in its Job Creation Fund, which it uses to lure businesses and their positive effect on the Kansas economy to the state.Most of us don’t think about the Department of Commerce much, and there are no support groups or GoFundMe accounts that provide the agency with the last few bucks, the little incidental costs to locating a business in Kansas, that close deals for new development and jobs.That $5 million will help the state close those deals and provide jobs across the state. Mostly in central and eastern Kansas, though one deal that is in the air is in western Kansas. Nope, Toland isn’t naming those close-to-done deals for fear of competition from other states which also want new jobs and businesses, but they are getting close.And, Toland said, Commerce access to that closing-the-deal money adds to the near sudden increase in interest by many companies to move facilities to Kansas, partly for its center-of-the-nation location and highway system which make the state a convenient and economic place to put down a plant or warehouse for national marketing.Oh, and there are also those smart, reliable, and dedicated workers – that would be Kansans – who populate the state.Now, the Legislature has been a little protective of the money it has appropriated to itself for response to wide ranges of COVID-19 effects, such as assistance to existing businesses struck by the pandemic, job losses, and the need to generate more jobs for Kansans.Seem like a good use for the legislature’s rebuild-the-economy and protect Kansans money, doesn’t it?Toland said that Kansas now has eco-devo prospectors on both coasts to urge businesses to relocate here. The nature of American commerce has changed through the pandemic with more on-line shopping that can be served from relatively low-cost mid-continent facilities. It’s the change from being a “fly over” state to one that has economic advantages for a wide range of companies for which Kansas can be a money-saver and profit-boosting place to put a business.It’s just that little Job Creation Fund that can provide the services or few additional bucks to close those deals, which is where Toland and most Kansans want us to be.Look for the Legislature to OK the money, and&nbsp; then we’ll see just what new businesses are coming to the state…and whether it means the kids can find work close to home instead of moving to the coast…Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hawvernews.com/">www.hawvernews.com</a>

HAWVER: 'Closing the deal' on economic development

&nbsp;It seems September 1st is the magic date when Kansas hunting seasons begin to flourish. Dove season is perhaps the best known and most popular, but Sept 1 also ushers in various archery, muzzle loader and special disabled hunting seasons for antelope, elk and deer; too many to list here, but view the whole lineup at the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) website, <a href="http://www.ksoutdoors.com">www.ksoutdoors.com</a>.

There are myriads of acres of sunflowers, both domestically grown and wild in which to hunt doves here in Kansas. A very popular and effective strategy employed by many hunters is to set up early-morning or late-evening near water sources that are in or around sunflower fields and patches, as birds will stop there to drink prior to and after feeding. When the countryside is dry like it has been around here recently, that works well, as those remaining water sources become choke points where doves congregate from miles around.&nbsp;

You may recall a recent column where I talked about a proposal to allow artificial lights, night vision and thermal imaging gear to be used when hunting coyotes. On June 25th, the commission voted in favor of that proposal. At that time, KDWPT Furbearer Biologist Matt Peak said that “Most other Midwest states already allow this activity in some form, with apparently no more legal or safety issues than other types of hunting, and pressure from hunters and livestock producers for us to allow this has really grown in recent years.” The regulation will be implemented to begin in 2021, and will require a special $2.50 Night Vision Equipment Permit allowing hunters to use artificial light, scopes and equipment that amplify visible light, and thermal -imaging equipment when hunting coyotes at night. The following restrictions will apply:

Use of this gear will be permitted from January 1 to March 1 only.

Use of this equipment will be allowed for hunting coyotes only.

Vehicles will not be allowed when using this gear.

Use of this equipment will NOT be allowed on KDWPT owned or managed lands or waters, including WIHA (walk-in hunting areas.)

Now before you do cartwheels down your driveway and begin planning late night coyote hunts, you better do some research on this equipment, some of which can cost the price of a good used car.

So, despite COVID, a so called “Pandemic,” big cities throughout the country seemingly self-destructing and on-fire, and people becoming increasingly afraid of their own shadows, Kansas hunting seasons will begin as usual, and what better place to be safe from a “Pandemic” than the Kansas Outdoors…continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;It seems September 1st is the magic date when Kansas hunting seasons begin to flourish. Dove season is perhaps the best known and most popular, but Sept 1 also ushers in various archery, muzzle loader and special disabled hunting seasons for antelope, elk and deer; too many to list here, but view the whole lineup at the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) website, <a href="http://www.ksoutdoors.com">www.ksoutdoors.com</a>.There are myriads of acres of sunflowers, both domestically grown and wild in which to hunt doves here in Kansas. A very popular and effective strategy employed by many hunters is to set up early-morning or late-evening near water sources that are in or around sunflower fields and patches, as birds will stop there to drink prior to and after feeding. When the countryside is dry like it has been around here recently, that works well, as those remaining water sources become choke points where doves congregate from miles around.&nbsp;---------You may recall a recent column where I talked about a proposal to allow artificial lights, night vision and thermal imaging gear to be used when hunting coyotes. On June 25th, the commission voted in favor of that proposal. At that time, KDWPT Furbearer Biologist Matt Peak said that “Most other Midwest states already allow this activity in some form, with apparently no more legal or safety issues than other types of hunting, and pressure from hunters and livestock producers for us to allow this has really grown in recent years.” The regulation will be implemented to begin in 2021, and will require a special $2.50 Night Vision Equipment Permit allowing hunters to use artificial light, scopes and equipment that amplify visible light, and thermal -imaging equipment when hunting coyotes at night. The following restrictions will apply:Use of this gear will be permitted from January 1 to March 1 only.Use of this equipment will be allowed for hunting coyotes only.Vehicles will not be allowed when using this gear.Use of this equipment will NOT be allowed on KDWPT owned or managed lands or waters, including WIHA (walk-in hunting areas.)Now before you do cartwheels down your driveway and begin planning late night coyote hunts, you better do some research on this equipment, some of which can cost the price of a good used car.So, despite COVID, a so called “Pandemic,” big cities throughout the country seemingly self-destructing and on-fire, and people becoming increasingly afraid of their own shadows, Kansas hunting seasons will begin as usual, and what better place to be safe from a “Pandemic” than the Kansas Outdoors…continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.&nbsp;

Exploring Outdoors Kan.: Fall hunting seasons, night-time coyote hunts

For several years, September has been designated as Food Safety Education Month. But in reality, food safety is important every day of every month! What are you doing to keep food safe? Many resources for safe food handling can be found at the K-State Research and Extension web site.

Of course, this year has brought challenges for everyone’s health. For Food Safety Education Month, emphasizing the importance of handwashing is key for overall health, and for food safety. One resource I had fun creating was an updated video about high-speed handwashing that works great when you have a small group of children or adults who need to wash their hands efficiently and thoroughly. I sent home participation slips with students who attended TLC Discoveries after school program this summer. I made three visits to TLC, first to practice and then to do the recording. The link to our finished product, which is a spark video, can be found on our Cottonwood Extension Facebook page. I would encourage you to take a minute and watch the video with your family.

As we follow the COVID19 protocol we understand the importance of frequent handwashing. Here are some key times to remember to wash your hands.

One final comment about handwashing relates to the hand sanitizer products that are available. They are OK to use when you do not have access to a sink, soap and paper towels. Washing with soap and warm water is best though.

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood Extension District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a> K-State Research &amp; Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578680101176.jpeg" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>For several years, September has been designated as Food Safety Education Month. But in reality, food safety is important every day of every month! What are you doing to keep food safe? Many resources for safe food handling can be found at the K-State Research and Extension web site.Of course, this year has brought challenges for everyone’s health. For Food Safety Education Month, emphasizing the importance of handwashing is key for overall health, and for food safety. One resource I had fun creating was an updated video about high-speed handwashing that works great when you have a small group of children or adults who need to wash their hands efficiently and thoroughly. I sent home participation slips with students who attended TLC Discoveries after school program this summer. I made three visits to TLC, first to practice and then to do the recording. The link to our finished product, which is a spark video, can be found on our Cottonwood Extension Facebook page. I would encourage you to take a minute and watch the video with your family.As we follow the COVID19 protocol we understand the importance of frequent handwashing. Here are some key times to remember to wash your hands.<ul>
 <li>Before, during, and after handling food</li><li>Before eating at home or at a restaurant</li><li>Before and after caring for someone who is ill or touching an open wound</li><li>After using the restroom or changing a diaper</li><li>After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing</li><li>After handling animals, animal waste or animal food</li><li>After taking out the garbage</li>
 </ul>One final comment about handwashing relates to the hand sanitizer products that are available. They are OK to use when you do not have access to a sink, soap and paper towels. Washing with soap and warm water is best though.Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood Extension District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a> K-State Research &amp; Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

KRUG: Food Safety Education Month

On Friday, Aug. 28, Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana introduced a bill called the <a href="https://banks.house.gov/uploadedfiles/peaceful_protest_act.pdf" target="_blank">“Support Peaceful Protest Act.”</a>
 Despite the cheery title, its very purpose appears to be to make 
individuals think twice before attending any sort of protest. If the 
bill were to pass, it would make it so that an individual “convicted of a
 federal offense related to their conduct at and during the course of a 
protest” policed by federal law enforcement officers would be required 
to pay the cost of that policing, and would be deemed ineligible for 
COVID-19 unemployment benefits. This would be on top of the penalty 
imposed on the protester for committing that federal offense in the 
first place.

<a href="https://banks.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1776" target="_blank">Rep. Banks’s rationale</a>
 for this piece of legislation? “Antifa thugs are descending on 
suffering communities, disrupting peaceful protests and leaving 
violence, looting and vandalism in their wake … Due to enhanced federal 
benefits, taxpayers are giving wages to jobless rioters that are 
destroying our communities. We need to cut them off from their funding 
and make them feel the full financial consequences of their actions.”

The handful of comments on the congressman’s website were mostly 
positive, with the general sentiment being, “What’s wrong with a law 
that holds people accountable for the damage they cause?”

To start with, some of the commenters might be surprised to learn about what, exactly, constitutes a federal offense.<a href="https://theprosecutionproject.org/2020/08/29/tracking-federal-cases-related-to-summer-protests-riots-uprisings/" target="_blank"> As documented by the Prosecution Project</a>,
 in many cases the charges that federal prosecutors are pursuing against
 protesters don’t involve violence or even property damage. For example,
 a <a href="https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/austin-man-charged-with-civil-disorder-during-houston-protest" target="_blank">Texas man was charged with “civil disorder”</a>
 for trying to barge through a police line and then passively resisting 
arrest by placing his arms underneath his body as he lay on the ground. 
Six individuals were charged with inciting riots, not because of actions
 they took at protests, but because of posts they made on social media. (<a href="https://www.lawfareblog.com/federal-governments-aggressive-prosecution-protestors" target="_blank">As the blog Lawfare reports</a>,
 the federal statute that they are charged with violating has long been 
criticized for infringing on First Amendment rights “because it broadly 
prohibits a class of speech without tying that speech to any imminent 
action.”)

But even when it comes to federal offenses that are truly violent and
 destructive, I have an instinctive skepticism about laws that do 
nothing but take acts that are already illegal and make them even more illegal.
 If you are convicted of, say, destroying government property because 
you vandalized a police car, you will already be facing jail time and/or
 heavy fines. So why should vandalizing a police car at a protest incur 
an extra layer of punishment over doing the exact same thing on a 
regular day? If anything, it’s a lot more difficult to ascertain who did
 what at a protest than it is at almost any other time — it’s very easy 
for peaceful protesters to be swept up in charges for violent acts they 
had nothing to do with. Interestingly, when a commenter in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wlwt5/posts/10157211698911852" target="_blank">Facebook discussion about the “Support Peaceful Protest Act”</a>
 pointed this out (“I see this going horrendously wrong and people being
 punished for something they didn’t do”), many of the responses implied 
that that’s simply the price one must pay for going to a protest in the 
first place (“if your [sic] there peacefully protesting and don’t do 
anything to stop the ones who are rioting then yes you are just as 
guilty”). In other words: if you want to exercise your First Amendment 
freedom to peacefully protest, you need to accept that you’re risking 
your federal employment aid should violence break out nearby.

Laws like the ones proposed by Congressman Banks create what we call a
 “chilling effect” on First Amendment rights. They don’t outright ban 
assembly, but create repercussions that intimidate and dissuade people 
from doing it. This law in particular seems aimed at keeping people who 
have suffered economic misfortune from politically participating.

The right to peacefully protest needs better supporters.

Lata Nott is a Freedom Forum Fellow. Contact her via email at <a href="mailto:lnott@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">lnott@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow her on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/latanott" target="_blank">@LataNott</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579206978168.png" alt="Lata Nott is chief content officer of the Freedom Forum." />
 <figcaption>Lata Nott is chief content officer of the Freedom Forum.</figcaption>
 </figure>On Friday, Aug. 28, Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana introduced a bill called the <a href="https://banks.house.gov/uploadedfiles/peaceful_protest_act.pdf" target="_blank">“Support Peaceful Protest Act.”</a>
 Despite the cheery title, its very purpose appears to be to make 
individuals think twice before attending any sort of protest. If the 
bill were to pass, it would make it so that an individual “convicted of a
 federal offense related to their conduct at and during the course of a 
protest” policed by federal law enforcement officers would be required 
to pay the cost of that policing, and would be deemed ineligible for 
COVID-19 unemployment benefits. This would be on top of the penalty 
imposed on the protester for committing that federal offense in the 
first place.<a href="https://banks.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1776" target="_blank">Rep. Banks’s rationale</a>
 for this piece of legislation? “Antifa thugs are descending on 
suffering communities, disrupting peaceful protests and leaving 
violence, looting and vandalism in their wake … Due to enhanced federal 
benefits, taxpayers are giving wages to jobless rioters that are 
destroying our communities. We need to cut them off from their funding 
and make them feel the full financial consequences of their actions.”The handful of comments on the congressman’s website were mostly 
positive, with the general sentiment being, “What’s wrong with a law 
that holds people accountable for the damage they cause?”Well… a few things.To start with, some of the commenters might be surprised to learn about what, exactly, constitutes a federal offense.<a href="https://theprosecutionproject.org/2020/08/29/tracking-federal-cases-related-to-summer-protests-riots-uprisings/" target="_blank"> As documented by the Prosecution Project</a>,
 in many cases the charges that federal prosecutors are pursuing against
 protesters don’t involve violence or even property damage. For example,
 a <a href="https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/austin-man-charged-with-civil-disorder-during-houston-protest" target="_blank">Texas man was charged with “civil disorder”</a>
 for trying to barge through a police line and then passively resisting 
arrest by placing his arms underneath his body as he lay on the ground. 
Six individuals were charged with inciting riots, not because of actions
 they took at protests, but because of posts they made on social media. (<a href="https://www.lawfareblog.com/federal-governments-aggressive-prosecution-protestors" target="_blank">As the blog Lawfare reports</a>,
 the federal statute that they are charged with violating has long been 
criticized for infringing on First Amendment rights “because it broadly 
prohibits a class of speech without tying that speech to any imminent 
action.”)But even when it comes to federal offenses that are truly violent and
 destructive, I have an instinctive skepticism about laws that do 
nothing but take acts that are already illegal and make them even more illegal.
 If you are convicted of, say, destroying government property because 
you vandalized a police car, you will already be facing jail time and/or
 heavy fines. So why should vandalizing a police car at a protest incur 
an extra layer of punishment over doing the exact same thing on a 
regular day? If anything, it’s a lot more difficult to ascertain who did
 what at a protest than it is at almost any other time — it’s very easy 
for peaceful protesters to be swept up in charges for violent acts they 
had nothing to do with. Interestingly, when a commenter in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wlwt5/posts/10157211698911852" target="_blank">Facebook discussion about the “Support Peaceful Protest Act”</a>
 pointed this out (“I see this going horrendously wrong and people being
 punished for something they didn’t do”), many of the responses implied 
that that’s simply the price one must pay for going to a protest in the 
first place (“if your [sic] there peacefully protesting and don’t do 
anything to stop the ones who are rioting then yes you are just as 
guilty”). In other words: if you want to exercise your First Amendment 
freedom to peacefully protest, you need to accept that you’re risking 
your federal employment aid should violence break out nearby.Laws like the ones proposed by Congressman Banks create what we call a
 “chilling effect” on First Amendment rights. They don’t outright ban 
assembly, but create repercussions that intimidate and dissuade people 
from doing it. This law in particular seems aimed at keeping people who 
have suffered economic misfortune from politically participating.The right to peacefully protest needs better supporters.Lata Nott is a Freedom Forum Fellow. Contact her via email at <a href="mailto:lnott@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">lnott@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow her on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/latanott" target="_blank">@LataNott</a>.

FIRST FIVE: The right to peacefully protest needs better supporters

Kansas voters have the power to protect their own votes. Plan ahead. Choose the voting method that works best for you. Act early. Act responsibly. Advocate for yourself.&nbsp;

In-person Election Day voting:&nbsp;&nbsp;Poll worker shortages could make lines longer this year, increasing your Covid exposure risk. Will your wait be mercifully short and sanitary, or long and uncomfortably crowded? In-person voting still has problems that threaten your ballot, but it’s familiar and comfortable for many voters. Plus, it avoids challenges unique to mail voting.&nbsp;

In-person early voting: You might have lower Covid risk here since early voting lines are often shorter than Election Day lines. Great option if you prefer the familiarity of in-person voting.&nbsp;

Voting by mail: Low Covid risk, secure, and convenient. However, mail voting introduces certain challenges.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2016, nearly 25% of voters nationally voted by mail, according to the US Election Assistance Commission. Election officials rejected nearly 320,000 of those ballots—about 1%. Already in 2020, over 500,000 mail ballots have been disqualified nationally in primaries, per&nbsp;National Public Radio.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Those rejections mostly stem from voter error, especially among first-time mail voters. Using the wrong color ink. Using a pencil if a pen is required. Stray ballot marks. Not signing the return envelope. Signing the ballot rather than the envelope. Using a different signature than the state has on file. Missing postmark and return deadlines.&nbsp;

Mail voting only works if done correctly. Following the directions is solely the voter’s responsibility, though in Kansas local election officials are supposed to help voters fix those signature issues.&nbsp;

How can Kansans mail vote confidently?&nbsp;

First, apply for your mail ballot now. The deadline is October 27. Apply at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksvotes.org/">www.ksvotes.org</a>, or print an application from the Kansas Secretary of State website. Election officials start mailing ballots to voters on October 14. Applying online before October 14 would be your best bet.&nbsp;

Second, vote your ballot immediately upon arrival. Read the directions. Mark your ballot. Prepare your signed return envelope. Use stamps if necessary.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Third, return your ballot on time. In Kansas, mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (November 3), and delivered to your county election office by the close of business on Friday, November 6. Procrastinating risks missing deadlines.&nbsp;

Beware: you are responsible for your ballot while the postal service has it. If it’s postmarked on time but arrives at the election office late, then your ballot won’t count. Returning your ballot immediately gives it three weeks to arrive. Plenty of time! To be safe, assume your ballot will take a week to reach the elections office. The latest that I would mail a ballot locally is Friday, October 30.&nbsp;

Luckily, Kansans who procrastinate can also return mail ballots in-person rather than mailing them. Google your county elections office. Ask them where to find secure ballot drop off boxes and how early they are accessible.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can also return mail ballots at any voting location in your county on Election Day itself or before at early voting locations in your county.&nbsp;

If you still have your mail ballot on October 31, return it in-person. Don’t risk mailing your ballot that late.&nbsp;

Also, ask if your county has an online ballot tracker. Use it to check that officials received your ballot.&nbsp;

Choose wisely and act responsibly, Kansas!&nbsp;

Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593101597372.png" alt="Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas. " />
 <figcaption>Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas. </figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas voters have the power to protect their own votes. Plan ahead. Choose the voting method that works best for you. Act early. Act responsibly. Advocate for yourself.&nbsp;What are your voting options?&nbsp;In-person Election Day voting:&nbsp;&nbsp;Poll worker shortages could make lines longer this year, increasing your Covid exposure risk. Will your wait be mercifully short and sanitary, or long and uncomfortably crowded? In-person voting still has problems that threaten your ballot, but it’s familiar and comfortable for many voters. Plus, it avoids challenges unique to mail voting.&nbsp;In-person early voting: You might have lower Covid risk here since early voting lines are often shorter than Election Day lines. Great option if you prefer the familiarity of in-person voting.&nbsp;Voting by mail: Low Covid risk, secure, and convenient. However, mail voting introduces certain challenges.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2016, nearly 25% of voters nationally voted by mail, according to the US Election Assistance Commission. Election officials rejected nearly 320,000 of those ballots—about 1%. Already in 2020, over 500,000 mail ballots have been disqualified nationally in primaries, per&nbsp;National Public Radio.&nbsp;&nbsp;Those rejections mostly stem from voter error, especially among first-time mail voters. Using the wrong color ink. Using a pencil if a pen is required. Stray ballot marks. Not signing the return envelope. Signing the ballot rather than the envelope. Using a different signature than the state has on file. Missing postmark and return deadlines.&nbsp;Mail voting only works if done correctly. Following the directions is solely the voter’s responsibility, though in Kansas local election officials are supposed to help voters fix those signature issues.&nbsp;How can Kansans mail vote confidently?&nbsp;First, apply for your mail ballot now. The deadline is October 27. Apply at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksvotes.org/">www.ksvotes.org</a>, or print an application from the Kansas Secretary of State website. Election officials start mailing ballots to voters on October 14. Applying online before October 14 would be your best bet.&nbsp;Second, vote your ballot immediately upon arrival. Read the directions. Mark your ballot. Prepare your signed return envelope. Use stamps if necessary.&nbsp;&nbsp;Third, return your ballot on time. In Kansas, mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (November 3), and delivered to your county election office by the close of business on Friday, November 6. Procrastinating risks missing deadlines.&nbsp;Beware: you are responsible for your ballot while the postal service has it. If it’s postmarked on time but arrives at the election office late, then your ballot won’t count. Returning your ballot immediately gives it three weeks to arrive. Plenty of time! To be safe, assume your ballot will take a week to reach the elections office. The latest that I would mail a ballot locally is Friday, October 30.&nbsp;Luckily, Kansans who procrastinate can also return mail ballots in-person rather than mailing them. Google your county elections office. Ask them where to find secure ballot drop off boxes and how early they are accessible.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can also return mail ballots at any voting location in your county on Election Day itself or before at early voting locations in your county.&nbsp;If you still have your mail ballot on October 31, return it in-person. Don’t risk mailing your ballot that late.&nbsp;Also, ask if your county has an online ballot tracker. Use it to check that officials received your ballot.&nbsp;Choose wisely and act responsibly, Kansas!&nbsp;Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: Kansans must protect their own votes this year 

September is National Food Safety Education Month, a great time to explore ways to promote safe food handling and prevent foodborne illnesses. If you are canning or preserving food, protect yourselves and your loved ones by using updated, scientifically research-based recipes found at your Extension Office, the USDA, the National Center for Home Food Preservation or from an updated Ball Blue Book.&nbsp; An excellent source of information can be found at K-State’s Rapid Response Center: <a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation/">https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation/</a>&nbsp;

I know that there were more gardens planted this year as compared to the past year and some gardens are producing great crops. When all those tomatoes are ripe at the same time, what do you do? Preserve them!

Karen Blakeslee with K-State’s Rapid Response Center shares that home canning of foods is done using two processing methods based on the type of food being canned. <a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation/canning.html#low">Low acid foods</a>, such as vegetables and all meats, must be pressure canned. <a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation/canning.html#high">High acid foods</a>, such as most fruits, <a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation/canning.html#tomato">tomatoes</a>, <a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation/pickling.html">pickled foods</a>, <a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation/jam-jelly.html">jams and jellies</a>, are processed using a boiling water bath. This is based on the acidity, or pH, of the food. The dividing point is a pH of 4.6. Any food above 4.6 is a low acid food. Any food below 4.6 is a high acid food.

A change from what you may remember from the past is that it is a requirement to add acid to home canned tomatoes. This used to be an unnecessary step in canning tomatoes, but tomatoes available in today’s market are not as acidic as they used to be. This is for water bath and pressure canned tomatoes. Tomatoes that are acidified for canning are done so to prevent the botulism poisoning and other bacterial concerns by a combination of heat and acid. The prevention control in vegetables, meat and other naturally low-acid foods is by heat alone.&nbsp;

Tomatoes can have a natural pH above 4.6 (at least up to 4.8). But rather than develop a pressure-only process as if they were all low-acid, since they are close to 4.6, USDA decided instead to recommend adding a small amount of acid so they can be treated as a food with a pH less than 4.6 for home canning. Therefore, they are suitable for boiling water when the acid is added.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tomatoes can be waterbathed, but you must add two tablespoons of bottled lemon juice or 1/2 teaspoon of citric acid per quart of tomatoes. For pints, use one tablespoon bottled lemon juice or 1/4 teaspoon citric acid. Acid can be added directly to the jars before filling with product. Add sugar to offset acid taste, if desired. &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One additional thing to remember is to adjust processing times for altitude. Many think Kansas is flatter than a pancake, but Kansas altitudes can range from below 1,000 feet to just over 4,000 feet.&nbsp;Not adjusting for altitude will lead to under-processed food because water boils at lower temperatures in higher altitudes.&nbsp;If you live over 1,000 feet, then you must adjust your canning recipe to compensate for the higher altitude. Information on elevation can be found at the website listed above.&nbsp;

You can always just search for Rapid Response Center at K-State and you will find the information you need. Karen has also produced a selection of videos that will help you through the food preservation process. Good luck with preserving your garden produce and if you have additional questions, call the Extension Office in Hays or Great Bend.&nbsp;

Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>September is National Food Safety Education Month, a great time to explore ways to promote safe food handling and prevent foodborne illnesses. If you are canning or preserving food, protect yourselves and your loved ones by using updated, scientifically research-based recipes found at your Extension Office, the USDA, the National Center for Home Food Preservation or from an updated Ball Blue Book.&nbsp; An excellent source of information can be found at K-State’s Rapid Response Center: <a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation/">https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation/</a>&nbsp;I know that there were more gardens planted this year as compared to the past year and some gardens are producing great crops. When all those tomatoes are ripe at the same time, what do you do? Preserve them!Karen Blakeslee with K-State’s Rapid Response Center shares that home canning of foods is done using two processing methods based on the type of food being canned. <a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation/canning.html#low">Low acid foods</a>, such as vegetables and all meats, must be pressure canned. <a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation/canning.html#high">High acid foods</a>, such as most fruits, <a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation/canning.html#tomato">tomatoes</a>, <a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation/pickling.html">pickled foods</a>, <a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation/jam-jelly.html">jams and jellies</a>, are processed using a boiling water bath. This is based on the acidity, or pH, of the food. The dividing point is a pH of 4.6. Any food above 4.6 is a low acid food. Any food below 4.6 is a high acid food.A change from what you may remember from the past is that it is a requirement to add acid to home canned tomatoes. This used to be an unnecessary step in canning tomatoes, but tomatoes available in today’s market are not as acidic as they used to be. This is for water bath and pressure canned tomatoes. Tomatoes that are acidified for canning are done so to prevent the botulism poisoning and other bacterial concerns by a combination of heat and acid. The prevention control in vegetables, meat and other naturally low-acid foods is by heat alone.&nbsp;Tomatoes can have a natural pH above 4.6 (at least up to 4.8). But rather than develop a pressure-only process as if they were all low-acid, since they are close to 4.6, USDA decided instead to recommend adding a small amount of acid so they can be treated as a food with a pH less than 4.6 for home canning. Therefore, they are suitable for boiling water when the acid is added.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tomatoes can be waterbathed, but you must add two tablespoons of bottled lemon juice or 1/2 teaspoon of citric acid per quart of tomatoes. For pints, use one tablespoon bottled lemon juice or 1/4 teaspoon citric acid. Acid can be added directly to the jars before filling with product. Add sugar to offset acid taste, if desired. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; One additional thing to remember is to adjust processing times for altitude. Many think Kansas is flatter than a pancake, but Kansas altitudes can range from below 1,000 feet to just over 4,000 feet.&nbsp;Not adjusting for altitude will lead to under-processed food because water boils at lower temperatures in higher altitudes.&nbsp;If you live over 1,000 feet, then you must adjust your canning recipe to compensate for the higher altitude. Information on elevation can be found at the website listed above.&nbsp;You can always just search for Rapid Response Center at K-State and you will find the information you need. Karen has also produced a selection of videos that will help you through the food preservation process. Good luck with preserving your garden produce and if you have additional questions, call the Extension Office in Hays or Great Bend.&nbsp;	Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

UNRUH: Canning food safely

By Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University&nbsp;

“Shoot for the stars.” That can be inspiring advice. Today we’ll meet a young woman from rural Kansas who followed that advice - not just as a dream, but as a career. Thanks to the K-Stater magazine, the K-State Alumni Association, and writer Ashley Pauls for this story.&nbsp;

Kristine Larson Davis is a spacesuit engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. She grew up at Galva in McPherson County. As a kid, she looked up at the stars and dreamed about exploring the universe.&nbsp;

Her parents would often take her to the Cosmosphere space museum in Hutchinson.&nbsp;&nbsp;That museum helped make the wonders of the universe feel just a little bit closer. In middle school, she had the opportunity to attend space camp and heard that one of the best ways to work at NASA was to become an engineer.&nbsp;

“I loved space and decided then I wanted to become a mechanical engineer to work for NASA one day,” Kristine said. “I carried that goal through high school and college, and it helped me get to where I am today.”&nbsp;

Kristine came to K-State where she earned a degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in leadership studies. She enjoyed participating in organizations such as the&nbsp;Society of Women Engineers and attended several of the society’s annual conferences across the country.&nbsp;“It was so inspiring to see so many successful women in engineering, and all the opportunities available to me,” Kristine said.&nbsp;

She also studied abroad at Czech Technical University her sophomore year. She said the experience opened her eyes to other cultures and really pushed her out of her comfort zone.&nbsp;

“I will never forget all the long hours spent in the College of Engineering Library, and mechanical engineering computer labs,” Kristine said. “I made lifelong friends during those late nights.”&nbsp;

While at K-State, she learned about NASA’s Pathways Program which provides an opportunity to work and explore space-related careers while still in school. Kristine did four internship rotations with&nbsp;Johnson Space Center and started full-time there after graduating in December 2015.&nbsp;

Today, Kristine Larson Davis is a spacesuit engineer at NASA, helping to prepare for the Artemis missions. The goal of the NASA Artemis program is to land the first woman and next&nbsp;man on the moon by 2024, eventually taking “the next&nbsp;giant leap,” which is sending astronauts to Mars.&nbsp;

Specifically, Kristine is working on elements of the pressure garment of the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit which will serve as the spacesuit for the Artemis missions.&nbsp;

“My tasks range from project management and systems engineering, to testing hardware and understanding how well it works for our future astronauts,” Kristine said. “I love that I get to work&nbsp;on the Artemis spacesuit, which will enable future exploration.&nbsp;My favorite days are when I get to be the test subject,&nbsp;and experience what it is like to be in a pressurized spacesuit.”&nbsp;

Recently, Davis had the opportunity to lead a test series of a prototype spacesuit in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL). The NBL is an astronaut training facility and neutral buoyancy pool that helps simulate the microgravity astronauts encounter in space.&nbsp;

“As test lead, I had to get all the support equipment ready, work through all the paperwork and safety reviews, schedule and then execute each test,” Kristine said. “It felt great when we finished up our last NBL run, and completed a safe, successful test series.”&nbsp;

“I hope that after the 2024 Artemis missions, NASA continues to grow humanity’s presence in our solar system with longer-term missions on the moon and one day, a mission to Mars,” she said.&nbsp;

It’s exciting to see such vision from a young woman from the rural community of Galva, Kansas, population 870 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more stories, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.k-state.com/">www.k-state.com</a>.&nbsp;

Shoot for the stars. That is inspiring advice to a young person such as Kristine Larson Davis. We commend Kristine for making a difference by pursuing this remarkable career in engineering and space science. She’s even helping make a spacesuit for the stars.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599055730808.png" alt="Kristine Larson Davis" />
 <figcaption>Kristine Larson Davis</figcaption>
 </figure> By Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University&nbsp;“Shoot for the stars.” That can be inspiring advice. Today we’ll meet a young woman from rural Kansas who followed that advice - not just as a dream, but as a career. Thanks to the K-Stater magazine, the K-State Alumni Association, and writer Ashley Pauls for this story.&nbsp;Kristine Larson Davis is a spacesuit engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. She grew up at Galva in McPherson County. As a kid, she looked up at the stars and dreamed about exploring the universe.&nbsp;Her parents would often take her to the Cosmosphere space museum in Hutchinson.&nbsp;&nbsp;That museum helped make the wonders of the universe feel just a little bit closer. In middle school, she had the opportunity to attend space camp and heard that one of the best ways to work at NASA was to become an engineer.&nbsp;“I loved space and decided then I wanted to become a mechanical engineer to work for NASA one day,” Kristine said. “I carried that goal through high school and college, and it helped me get to where I am today.”&nbsp;Kristine came to K-State where she earned a degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in leadership studies. She enjoyed participating in organizations such as the&nbsp;Society of Women Engineers and attended several of the society’s annual conferences across the country.&nbsp;“It was so inspiring to see so many successful women in engineering, and all the opportunities available to me,” Kristine said.&nbsp;She also studied abroad at Czech Technical University her sophomore year. She said the experience opened her eyes to other cultures and really pushed her out of her comfort zone.&nbsp;“I will never forget all the long hours spent in the College of Engineering Library, and mechanical engineering computer labs,” Kristine said. “I made lifelong friends during those late nights.”&nbsp;While at K-State, she learned about NASA’s Pathways Program which provides an opportunity to work and explore space-related careers while still in school. Kristine did four internship rotations with&nbsp;Johnson Space Center and started full-time there after graduating in December 2015.&nbsp;Today, Kristine Larson Davis is a spacesuit engineer at NASA, helping to prepare for the Artemis missions. The goal of the NASA Artemis program is to land the first woman and next&nbsp;man on the moon by 2024, eventually taking “the next&nbsp;giant leap,” which is sending astronauts to Mars.&nbsp;Specifically, Kristine is working on elements of the pressure garment of the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit which will serve as the spacesuit for the Artemis missions.&nbsp;“My tasks range from project management and systems engineering, to testing hardware and understanding how well it works for our future astronauts,” Kristine said. “I love that I get to work&nbsp;on the Artemis spacesuit, which will enable future exploration.&nbsp;My favorite days are when I get to be the test subject,&nbsp;and experience what it is like to be in a pressurized spacesuit.”&nbsp;Recently, Davis had the opportunity to lead a test series of a prototype spacesuit in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL). The NBL is an astronaut training facility and neutral buoyancy pool that helps simulate the microgravity astronauts encounter in space.&nbsp;“As test lead, I had to get all the support equipment ready, work through all the paperwork and safety reviews, schedule and then execute each test,” Kristine said. “It felt great when we finished up our last NBL run, and completed a safe, successful test series.”&nbsp;“I hope that after the 2024 Artemis missions, NASA continues to grow humanity’s presence in our solar system with longer-term missions on the moon and one day, a mission to Mars,” she said.&nbsp;It’s exciting to see such vision from a young woman from the rural community of Galva, Kansas, population 870 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more stories, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.k-state.com/">www.k-state.com</a>.&nbsp;Shoot for the stars. That is inspiring advice to a young person such as Kristine Larson Davis. We commend Kristine for making a difference by pursuing this remarkable career in engineering and space science. She’s even helping make a spacesuit for the stars.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Kristine Larson Davis, space engineer 

The Kansas Forest Service Conservation Tree and Shrub sale opened Sept. 1, providing landowners with a source for low-cost tree and shrub seedlings.&nbsp;

“Large conservation plantings can become very costly when several hundreds or thousands of plants are needed to meet the conservation goals of the landowner,” said Aaron Yoder, conservation trees specialist.&nbsp;

Conservation plantings may function as wildlife habitat, windbreaks, wood lots, timber plantations, or educational and riparian (streambank) plantings.&nbsp;

Yoder said species grown in the program are selected for characteristics that make them ideal candidates for conservation plantings. This year, Rusty Blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum), also known as Southern Blackhaw, and New Jersey Tea are two new shrub species offered. Both species are native to Kansas.&nbsp;

“Both species of shrub offer multiple benefits for wildlife, especially as nectar and pollen sources for bees, butterflies and other pollinators,” Yoder said.&nbsp;

Many other native and a few non-native species are offered through the conservation program that will thrive in Kansas and surrounding states.&nbsp;

Planting trees and shrubs in the fall presents several benefits over spring plantings, including less pressure from insects, disease and weeds. Additionally, seedlings planted in the fall have lower moisture demands than spring plantings and soils are typically drier in the fall as compared to wet or saturated soils in the spring, which restrict field preparation and planting activities, according to Yoder.&nbsp;

To provide the greatest chance of success for conservation plantings, seedlings will only be shipped to Great Plains states including Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa, Arkansas and Missouri. The KFS fall conservation seedling sales coincide with the ideal planting time for these states. Limiting the states served by the conservation program is a change for the 2020 fall season.&nbsp;

In addition to the new shipping limitations, all orders placed in the program must be shipped. The change to a shipping-only policy ensures the safety of KFS staff, their families and the public as the program continues to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

For more information on the Conservation Tree and Shrub program or to place an order beginning on Sept. 1, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasforests.org/conservation_trees/">https://www.kansasforests.org/conservation_trees/</a>.&nbsp;

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Forest Service Conservation Tree and Shrub sale opened Sept. 1, providing landowners with a source for low-cost tree and shrub seedlings.&nbsp;“Large conservation plantings can become very costly when several hundreds or thousands of plants are needed to meet the conservation goals of the landowner,” said Aaron Yoder, conservation trees specialist.&nbsp;Conservation plantings may function as wildlife habitat, windbreaks, wood lots, timber plantations, or educational and riparian (streambank) plantings.&nbsp;Yoder said species grown in the program are selected for characteristics that make them ideal candidates for conservation plantings. This year, Rusty Blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum), also known as Southern Blackhaw, and New Jersey Tea are two new shrub species offered. Both species are native to Kansas.&nbsp;“Both species of shrub offer multiple benefits for wildlife, especially as nectar and pollen sources for bees, butterflies and other pollinators,” Yoder said.&nbsp;Many other native and a few non-native species are offered through the conservation program that will thrive in Kansas and surrounding states.&nbsp;Planting trees and shrubs in the fall presents several benefits over spring plantings, including less pressure from insects, disease and weeds. Additionally, seedlings planted in the fall have lower moisture demands than spring plantings and soils are typically drier in the fall as compared to wet or saturated soils in the spring, which restrict field preparation and planting activities, according to Yoder.&nbsp;To provide the greatest chance of success for conservation plantings, seedlings will only be shipped to Great Plains states including Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa, Arkansas and Missouri. The KFS fall conservation seedling sales coincide with the ideal planting time for these states. Limiting the states served by the conservation program is a change for the 2020 fall season.&nbsp;In addition to the new shipping limitations, all orders placed in the program must be shipped. The change to a shipping-only policy ensures the safety of KFS staff, their families and the public as the program continues to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;For more information on the Conservation Tree and Shrub program or to place an order beginning on Sept. 1, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasforests.org/conservation_trees/">https://www.kansasforests.org/conservation_trees/</a>.&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

BOOR: Annual tree and shrub sale begins

BY JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher

Where is your favorite place that you have lived? It might not surprise you that Kansas isn’t usually my first response. Kansas is an acquired taste.

When I first moved here over a decade ago, I was not very excited about the landscape. I had spent most of my life in the northern United States with green, lush woodlands and lakes everywhere you look. Trees and lakes in Kansas seemed a joke to me. And the wind. It was wicked and vengeful; it never seemed to stop. I was not a fan.

At the time, I read a book about the early homesteaders in Kansas and those who survived the Dust Bowl. I remember wondering, “What did early homesteaders think when they got here? Is this it?”

After naming some great attributes of different places, my response to that question about favorites always ends up being, “I can be happy anywhere, there is something to love everywhere, you just have to decide you want to be happy.”

The people and strong agriculture industry in Kansas made it easy to love, and over the years, my appreciation of the state’s beauty has grown. There are two undeniably spectacular and quintessentially Kansas times of year I love.

In the north, late February and early March are filled with endless gray days and snowbanks or dirty slush everywhere you look. I think that is why it always feels like such a surprise to be driving through Kansas on a sunny day and realize the winter wheat has turned vibrant green overnight and grazing cattle suddenly appear across the countryside. It is a sight that stops me every year; renewing my joy and strengthening my soul.

Then in May and June, the Kansas sky becomes the star. As the wheat begins to turn golden and farm equipment rolls over the horizon sharing the stage with the setting sun, there is no way to accurately capture the beauty of colors that paint the sky. A wheat harvest sunset in Kansas makes fills me with awe every single time.

Enter 2020. The pandemic deleted so many a lot of events and activities that normally fill my calendar. This extra time allowed me to say yes to more time on the farm. I was available for daily activities like checking cattle and irrigators or riding along on a tractor during planting season. In addition, my back surgery in May required daily walking as part of my recovery and the pandemic encouraged social distance, I took advantage of the wide-open space available to me and began to walk the gravel roads near my house.

During those extra hours driving around the farm or walking the same gravel path, I started to notice little things I had never seen before while speeding past — all the animal tracks in the road, how crops grow and change every day, and where water gathers after a rain. I finally came to appreciate the wind’s cooling nature on humid, sunny days. My phone is now filled with pictures of the landscape because I was in constant awe of the beauty and power around me.

This summer when I slowed down, I figured out why homesteaders stayed and generations of farmers love this land. It’s a place where resilient crops and stout creatures withstand fierce weather conditions; a wide-open space that allows the most amazing views of the heavens.

Kansas doesn’t have big bold beauty that can be easily seen. It has subtle, detailed beauty that you have to stand in the midst of to feel. It takes patience to experience and time to appreciate.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575406519723.jpeg" alt="Jackie Mundt" />
 <figcaption>Jackie Mundt</figcaption>
 </figure>BY JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancherWhere is your favorite place that you have lived? It might not surprise you that Kansas isn’t usually my first response. Kansas is an acquired taste.When I first moved here over a decade ago, I was not very excited about the landscape. I had spent most of my life in the northern United States with green, lush woodlands and lakes everywhere you look. Trees and lakes in Kansas seemed a joke to me. And the wind. It was wicked and vengeful; it never seemed to stop. I was not a fan.At the time, I read a book about the early homesteaders in Kansas and those who survived the Dust Bowl. I remember wondering, “What did early homesteaders think when they got here? Is this it?”After naming some great attributes of different places, my response to that question about favorites always ends up being, “I can be happy anywhere, there is something to love everywhere, you just have to decide you want to be happy.”The people and strong agriculture industry in Kansas made it easy to love, and over the years, my appreciation of the state’s beauty has grown. There are two undeniably spectacular and quintessentially Kansas times of year I love.In the north, late February and early March are filled with endless gray days and snowbanks or dirty slush everywhere you look. I think that is why it always feels like such a surprise to be driving through Kansas on a sunny day and realize the winter wheat has turned vibrant green overnight and grazing cattle suddenly appear across the countryside. It is a sight that stops me every year; renewing my joy and strengthening my soul.Then in May and June, the Kansas sky becomes the star. As the wheat begins to turn golden and farm equipment rolls over the horizon sharing the stage with the setting sun, there is no way to accurately capture the beauty of colors that paint the sky. A wheat harvest sunset in Kansas makes fills me with awe every single time.Enter 2020. The pandemic deleted so many a lot of events and activities that normally fill my calendar. This extra time allowed me to say yes to more time on the farm. I was available for daily activities like checking cattle and irrigators or riding along on a tractor during planting season. In addition, my back surgery in May required daily walking as part of my recovery and the pandemic encouraged social distance, I took advantage of the wide-open space available to me and began to walk the gravel roads near my house.During those extra hours driving around the farm or walking the same gravel path, I started to notice little things I had never seen before while speeding past — all the animal tracks in the road, how crops grow and change every day, and where water gathers after a rain. I finally came to appreciate the wind’s cooling nature on humid, sunny days. My phone is now filled with pictures of the landscape because I was in constant awe of the beauty and power around me.This summer when I slowed down, I figured out why homesteaders stayed and generations of farmers love this land. It’s a place where resilient crops and stout creatures withstand fierce weather conditions; a wide-open space that allows the most amazing views of the heavens.Kansas doesn’t have big bold beauty that can be easily seen. It has subtle, detailed beauty that you have to stand in the midst of to feel. It takes patience to experience and time to appreciate."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Finding beauty in Kansas

Kansas faces many challenges and the 2021 legislative session will be one of the most consequential in our state’s history.&nbsp;

During August, we’ve seen lawmakers start the process for the 2021 session by convening a series of select committees that were formed to take testimony, study the issues and prepare recommendations for lawmakers to consider when they convene in regular session in January. This year’s select committees are looking at economic recovery, emergency management, foster care and mental health.&nbsp;

Select committees are a normal part of the legislative process and this year’s groups are starting early, which is good. Some of the past panels held their only meetings for a day or two in November and December, looking to cram testimony and thoughtful deliberation into what amounted to six to 12 hours of work in Topeka. Not a lot of time to study issues and leading to questions on how useful these panels are.&nbsp;

While it is good to see the select committees starting work now and laying out plans for more hearings to get a comprehensive view of the issues in their portfolio, the question is will these panels have a long-term impact. Hours of hearings and thoughtful deliberation cannot have any impact if the final report ends up collecting dust on some committee chair’s bookshelf.&nbsp;

Kansas cannot afford for this year’s select committees to issue recommendations that do not move our state forward and address our most pressing issues. Our state’s economic recovery will be one of our most important concerns in 2021 and the initial testimony shows how important it is.&nbsp;

This year showed a need to address our state’s emergency management system and its impact on all sectors of Kansas. While we have not spent much time thinking about this in the past, we have now seen a need to address this system.&nbsp;

Mental health plays a key role in many aspects of society and there are many advocates for mental health in Topeka. This committee is a good step and the panel does consist of many legislative advocates for mental health policy.&nbsp;

Our state’s foster care system has been in crisis for years and the issues facing our state’s most vulnerable children are immense. The foster care committee seems to be acknowledging this by spending the first two days of hearings just going through the issues and any pending work. This includes the work several years ago by a child welfare task force the Legislature created. The committee has also outlined an aggressive set of hearings to put a report together.&nbsp;

Our foster care system has been studied to death and at times there seems to be only baby steps to move forward. We need to make sure that this time we take steps to move forward to help our children.&nbsp;

Topeka has had too many examples of reports being commissioned and then just collecting dust. The government efficiency report is a prime example. There are also a few examples of studies that impacted good policy, like the 2018 transportation task force.&nbsp;

Time and effort are going into this year’s select committees. Taxpayer money is being spent on these meetings. As a state we need to make sure that this year’s efforts move our state forward and serve as a blueprint for 2021 and not as a decoration on a bookshelf.&nbsp;

Wink Hartman is the CEO of the Hartman Group of Companies in Wichita and the 2018 Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576860566850.jpeg" alt="Wink Hartman is the CEO of the Hartman Group of Companies in Wichita and the 2018 Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. " />
 <figcaption>Wink Hartman is the CEO of the Hartman Group of Companies in Wichita and the 2018 Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. </figcaption>
 </figure>By WINK HARTMANKansas faces many challenges and the 2021 legislative session will be one of the most consequential in our state’s history.&nbsp;During August, we’ve seen lawmakers start the process for the 2021 session by convening a series of select committees that were formed to take testimony, study the issues and prepare recommendations for lawmakers to consider when they convene in regular session in January. This year’s select committees are looking at economic recovery, emergency management, foster care and mental health.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Select committees are a normal part of the legislative process and this year’s groups are starting early, which is good. Some of the past panels held their only meetings for a day or two in November and December, looking to cram testimony and thoughtful deliberation into what amounted to six to 12 hours of work in Topeka. Not a lot of time to study issues and leading to questions on how useful these panels are.&nbsp;While it is good to see the select committees starting work now and laying out plans for more hearings to get a comprehensive view of the issues in their portfolio, the question is will these panels have a long-term impact. Hours of hearings and thoughtful deliberation cannot have any impact if the final report ends up collecting dust on some committee chair’s bookshelf.&nbsp;Kansas cannot afford for this year’s select committees to issue recommendations that do not move our state forward and address our most pressing issues. Our state’s economic recovery will be one of our most important concerns in 2021 and the initial testimony shows how important it is.&nbsp;This year showed a need to address our state’s emergency management system and its impact on all sectors of Kansas. While we have not spent much time thinking about this in the past, we have now seen a need to address this system.&nbsp;Mental health plays a key role in many aspects of society and there are many advocates for mental health in Topeka. This committee is a good step and the panel does consist of many legislative advocates for mental health policy.&nbsp;Our state’s foster care system has been in crisis for years and the issues facing our state’s most vulnerable children are immense. The foster care committee seems to be acknowledging this by spending the first two days of hearings just going through the issues and any pending work. This includes the work several years ago by a child welfare task force the Legislature created. The committee has also outlined an aggressive set of hearings to put a report together.&nbsp;Our foster care system has been studied to death and at times there seems to be only baby steps to move forward. We need to make sure that this time we take steps to move forward to help our children.&nbsp;Topeka has had too many examples of reports being commissioned and then just collecting dust. The government efficiency report is a prime example. There are also a few examples of studies that impacted good policy, like the 2018 transportation task force.&nbsp;Time and effort are going into this year’s select committees. Taxpayer money is being spent on these meetings. As a state we need to make sure that this year’s efforts move our state forward and serve as a blueprint for 2021 and not as a decoration on a bookshelf.&nbsp;Wink Hartman is the CEO of the Hartman Group of Companies in Wichita and the 2018 Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.&nbsp;

OPINION: Kan. legislative committees must move state forward

Roughly one in five of the manned oil and gas production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico are still evacuated, according to a report Sunday from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. The Bureau says personnel at 137 production platforms remain evacuated. The report also says personnel have not yet returned to two of the 12 moored drilling rigs working in the region. The unmoored, so-called "dynamically positioned" rigs have all returned to their working locations. The government estimates nearly 70% of the oil production and nearly 50% of the gas production in the Gulf remain shut in. Baker Hughes reported 254 active drilling rigs nationwide. That's a decline of three oil rigs but an increase of three seeking natural gas. The counts in Texas and New Mexico were each down one. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports five active rigs in eastern Kansas, down one from last week, and five west of Wichita, which is also down one.&nbsp; Operators in the Sunflower State completed seven wells last week, all of them west of Wichita. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports the total so far this year is just 612 completed wells, compared to 964 at this time last year. Regulators approved seven permits for drilling at new locations across Kansas last week, five of them east of Wichita and two in the western half of the state. Triple-A says the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline last week was $2.20. Kansas remains just a fraction below two dollars, among just ten states below that price. Most of the stations across Hays and Great Bend were at $1.999 on Thursday. Filling up your 15-gallon tank will cost you about four dollars less than a year ago at this time. The Energy Information Administration says U.S. crude-oil inventories dropped by nearly half a million barrels last week to 507.8 million barrels. EIA reports stockpiles are about 15% above the five-year average for this time of year. The government reported an increase in U.S. crude production for the third week in a row. The Energy Information Administration reports total output of over 10.8 million barrels during the week ending August 14. That's an increase of 143,000 barrels a day over the week before. The government said U.S. refineries imported 5.9 million barrels per day last week, an increase of 185,000 barrels per day. The four-week average shows we imported nearly 17% less than during the same four week period a year ago. Oil-by-rail in the United States slumped again last week, down nearly 14% compared to a year ago at 10,517 tanker cars. The Association of American Railroads says increases in shipments of grain and other farm products helped bolster the totals for intermodal traffic, but overall, freight train use is still three percent lower than last year at this time. The Bureau of Land Management is moving forward with energy lease sales along the northern coastal plain of Alaska. The Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge is listed in 2017's federal tax cut bill, which requires at least two lease sales of 400,000 acres each. A formal Record of Decision by the BLM last week set the standards for land use and bidding in an auction expected before December 21. State officials hailed the move, which has been blocked or delayed for nearly forty years due to concerns over wildlife in the area. The Alaska governor's office says there are between four and twelve billion barrels of crude oil there. Federal lease sales for parcels in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas netted more than eight million dollars last week. There were 113 parcels totaling more than 76 square miles in the offering. The government says about half of that will go to the states where the leases are located. One company paid more than $21,000 per acre for a 120-acre parcel in southeastern New Mexico. One of the largest brokerages in the U.S. is being sued by traders who lost money back in April when futures prices dropped below zero. Bloomberg reports the plaintiffs were unable to sell the worthless contracts due to a system failure. The lawsuit was filed August 18 in the Northern District of California. It alleges that E-Trade Securities did not properly test its online trading platform for the possibility of negative oil futures prices in advance. The plaintiffs also say the firm failed to disclose that futures prices could fall below the zero mark. That's exactly what happened April 20. The plaintiffs say they tried to mitigate their losses by selling their worthless futures contracts, but they say the system crashed. This is not the first lawsuit over negative futures prices. In June, a class action suit was filed against the United States Oil Fund, also known as USO, for allegedly not disclosing risks properly.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592847975802.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBARRoughly one in five of the manned oil and gas production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico are still evacuated, according to a report Sunday from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. The Bureau says personnel at 137 production platforms remain evacuated. The report also says personnel have not yet returned to two of the 12 moored drilling rigs working in the region. The unmoored, so-called "dynamically positioned" rigs have all returned to their working locations. The government estimates nearly 70% of the oil production and nearly 50% of the gas production in the Gulf remain shut in. Baker Hughes reported 254 active drilling rigs nationwide. That's a decline of three oil rigs but an increase of three seeking natural gas. The counts in Texas and New Mexico were each down one. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports five active rigs in eastern Kansas, down one from last week, and five west of Wichita, which is also down one.&nbsp; Operators in the Sunflower State completed seven wells last week, all of them west of Wichita. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports the total so far this year is just 612 completed wells, compared to 964 at this time last year. Regulators approved seven permits for drilling at new locations across Kansas last week, five of them east of Wichita and two in the western half of the state. Triple-A says the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline last week was $2.20. Kansas remains just a fraction below two dollars, among just ten states below that price. Most of the stations across Hays and Great Bend were at $1.999 on Thursday. Filling up your 15-gallon tank will cost you about four dollars less than a year ago at this time. The Energy Information Administration says U.S. crude-oil inventories dropped by nearly half a million barrels last week to 507.8 million barrels. EIA reports stockpiles are about 15% above the five-year average for this time of year. The government reported an increase in U.S. crude production for the third week in a row. The Energy Information Administration reports total output of over 10.8 million barrels during the week ending August 14. That's an increase of 143,000 barrels a day over the week before. The government said U.S. refineries imported 5.9 million barrels per day last week, an increase of 185,000 barrels per day. The four-week average shows we imported nearly 17% less than during the same four week period a year ago. Oil-by-rail in the United States slumped again last week, down nearly 14% compared to a year ago at 10,517 tanker cars. The Association of American Railroads says increases in shipments of grain and other farm products helped bolster the totals for intermodal traffic, but overall, freight train use is still three percent lower than last year at this time. The Bureau of Land Management is moving forward with energy lease sales along the northern coastal plain of Alaska. The Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge is listed in 2017's federal tax cut bill, which requires at least two lease sales of 400,000 acres each. A formal Record of Decision by the BLM last week set the standards for land use and bidding in an auction expected before December 21. State officials hailed the move, which has been blocked or delayed for nearly forty years due to concerns over wildlife in the area. The Alaska governor's office says there are between four and twelve billion barrels of crude oil there. Federal lease sales for parcels in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas netted more than eight million dollars last week. There were 113 parcels totaling more than 76 square miles in the offering. The government says about half of that will go to the states where the leases are located. One company paid more than $21,000 per acre for a 120-acre parcel in southeastern New Mexico. One of the largest brokerages in the U.S. is being sued by traders who lost money back in April when futures prices dropped below zero. Bloomberg reports the plaintiffs were unable to sell the worthless contracts due to a system failure. The lawsuit was filed August 18 in the Northern District of California. It alleges that E-Trade Securities did not properly test its online trading platform for the possibility of negative oil futures prices in advance. The plaintiffs also say the firm failed to disclose that futures prices could fall below the zero mark. That's exactly what happened April 20. The plaintiffs say they tried to mitigate their losses by selling their worthless futures contracts, but they say the system crashed. This is not the first lawsuit over negative futures prices. In June, a class action suit was filed against the United States Oil Fund, also known as USO, for allegedly not disclosing risks properly.

News From the Oil Patch: Storms wreak havoc on Gulf production

Are you thinking about purchasing an air fryer as your next small kitchen appliance? Or perhaps you have one but are unsure of its many uses. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, September 2nd and join us at the Great Bend Activity Center, 2715 18th Street, for a free educational program titled, “Healthy Air Fryer Cooking.” Jen Webster, Pawnee County Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent, will share her tips for using an air fryer successfully. This busy mom and Extension educator is excited about the versatility of this small appliance that can cut out some of the fat that is used in traditional cooking methods.

I have resisted purchasing an air fryer so far. After all, I have enough things taking up space on my kitchen counter without adding another small appliance. I have received numerous questions about using an air fryer, so I am happy that Jen accepted my invitation to share her experiences preparing food in an air fryer.&nbsp;

So what is an air fryer? An air fryer does not fry food like deep frying or pan frying does – it is more like oven fried. It is basically a little hot air chamber convection oven. It cooks a little faster, distributes heat more evenly, and suspends food in a perforated basket. It can really speed things up, allowing a person to prepare good food quickly.

Most air fryers do not need to preheat, so that saves time. They also cook food quickly, so in warmer climates, they won’t heat up the kitchen the way the oven can. Basically anything you can bake you can make in an air fryer. Various meats are cooked to a perfect temperature, and they remain juicy and tender. Air fryers are also great for cooking most vegetables. A light spritz of olive oil will help your veggies to brown and become crispy. Most veggies are done in under 10 minutes according to my sources.&nbsp;

I heard Jen share that air fryers are also great for reheating leftovers, especially pizza. It revives it and makes it crispy. Jen will share some of her favorite foods to prepare in her air fryer. Her presentation will also include features to keep in mind if you are in the market to purchase an air fryer.&nbsp;

The program Wednesday is free and open to everyone. I hope to see you there!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend office. You may reach her at: (620) 793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593016082485.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend office." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend office.</figcaption>
 </figure>Are you thinking about purchasing an air fryer as your next small kitchen appliance? Or perhaps you have one but are unsure of its many uses. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, September 2nd and join us at the Great Bend Activity Center, 2715 18th Street, for a free educational program titled, “Healthy Air Fryer Cooking.” Jen Webster, Pawnee County Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent, will share her tips for using an air fryer successfully. This busy mom and Extension educator is excited about the versatility of this small appliance that can cut out some of the fat that is used in traditional cooking methods.I have resisted purchasing an air fryer so far. After all, I have enough things taking up space on my kitchen counter without adding another small appliance. I have received numerous questions about using an air fryer, so I am happy that Jen accepted my invitation to share her experiences preparing food in an air fryer.&nbsp;So what is an air fryer? An air fryer does not fry food like deep frying or pan frying does – it is more like oven fried. It is basically a little hot air chamber convection oven. It cooks a little faster, distributes heat more evenly, and suspends food in a perforated basket. It can really speed things up, allowing a person to prepare good food quickly.Most air fryers do not need to preheat, so that saves time. They also cook food quickly, so in warmer climates, they won’t heat up the kitchen the way the oven can. Basically anything you can bake you can make in an air fryer. Various meats are cooked to a perfect temperature, and they remain juicy and tender. Air fryers are also great for cooking most vegetables. A light spritz of olive oil will help your veggies to brown and become crispy. Most veggies are done in under 10 minutes according to my sources.&nbsp;I heard Jen share that air fryers are also great for reheating leftovers, especially pizza. It revives it and makes it crispy. Jen will share some of her favorite foods to prepare in her air fryer. Her presentation will also include features to keep in mind if you are in the market to purchase an air fryer.&nbsp;The program Wednesday is free and open to everyone. I hope to see you there!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend office. You may reach her at: (620) 793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

KRUG: Healthy air fryer cooking program

I’m always raving about all the wildlife and outdoor adventures we have here in Kansas, but much like an inverse bucket list, there are also things I’m glad we DON’T have here. The other night I watched a TV show about the Florida Everglades. The host of the show was there to try and catch a monster everglades bull shark, and as sort of a rite-of-passage, his local guides made him first swim with alligators and then help them catch a huge python snake which are an invasive species to the everglades and are wreaking havoc with its fragile ecosystem. In years past, I’ve trapped muskrats in the McPherson Valley wetlands just outside Inman, which can involve wading around in marshes of cattails taller than I am that look a little like areas of the Everglades. I’m eternally grateful I don’t have to keep my eyes peeled for gators’ and pythons; geez, I’m glad we don’t have those in Kansas.

I think Joyce and I must have been storm chasers in a previous life; when the tornado sirens blare and the TV weathers guys are yellin’ at us to get in our storm cellars or go to the basement, we’re bustin’ out lawn chairs and watching for the twister. Some of the memories I’ll take with me to the grave are pictures and news footage showing cities and states ravaged by hurricanes like Katrina, and of the huge devastating walls of water produced by tsunamis as they wash cars and buildings through the streets of seaside countries like Haiti. So as much as I’d like to own some ocean front property outside Inman, I’ll take the occasional tornado that can wipe out parts of towns along its way over a hurricane or tsunami that can wipe out the entire state; geez I’m glad we don’t have those in Kansas.

The adventure that inspired this column came from a trip a few years ago to Mesa, Arizona where Joyce and I spent time with my late father who wintered there. He had a place in a nice “snowbird park” and one of the activities he enjoyed was picking oranges, lemons and grapefruits with other guys from the park. The Mesa and Scottsdale areas are havens for citrus fruit trees. There are acres of commercial orange groves within the Mesa city limits, plus many homeowners have citrus trees in their backyards like homeowners in Kansas have apple, apricot and pear trees. And like homeowners here, many people don’t want or don’t use most of the citrus fruit from those trees. Each February a crew of guys from dad’s park would go one day each week and pick unwanted fruit for homeowners, then bag the fruit and take it back to the park and put it out for any residents who wanted it. Many of the homeowners even gave the guys gas money for picking and taking their unwanted fruit. It was a win-win deal all the way around, but the homeowners there seemed much more serious about getting rid of their unwanted oranges, lemons and grapefruit than homeowners here are about getting rid of their unwanted fruit, and I often wondered why. I found out it’s because of a rodent called a “roof rat.”&nbsp;

Roof rats are also known as black rats (but are not really black) and are slightly distinguished from other rats by the length of their tails which are longer than their bodies. Roof rats are historically thought to be the vermin that spread the Plague or Black Death during the Middle Ages. They were first noticed in Phoenix AZ in 2001, and soon became a problem throughout the area because fresh fruit and especially citrus fruit is their favorite meal. I found a website maintained by Maricopa County AZ, which contains the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa, called www.roofrat.net. Its mission statement reads “To help neighborhoods work, donate quality fruit and eradicate roof rats.” On a list of roof rats preferred foods, the top 6 are citrus fruits, which according to the website they will even eat off the tree. To help eradicate roof rats, the website urges homeowners to “Promptly and completely pick all fruit (ripe or not) from citrus and other fruit and nut trees, and to pick up all fallen fruit every season.” I was told that Scottsdale residents may even incur a hefty fine for not doing so. Roof rats nest in attics, hedges and even in trees.

Maybe writing this column was a lesson in just how good we Kansans have it compared to some other states. Yes, we have ticks and brown spiders which both require our respect. It can turn terribly dry or we can have earth shattering thunderstorms and tornados, but not hurricanes. We have bull snakes, rat snakes and the occasional prairie rattler, but not gators’ and pythons. We have mice, rats and pack rats (which can be a problem if not discovered,) but not roof rats to eat the fruit right off our trees and infest our neighborhoods. Geez I’m glad we don’t have those in Kansas!&nbsp;

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>I’m always raving about all the wildlife and outdoor adventures we have here in Kansas, but much like an inverse bucket list, there are also things I’m glad we DON’T have here. The other night I watched a TV show about the Florida Everglades. The host of the show was there to try and catch a monster everglades bull shark, and as sort of a rite-of-passage, his local guides made him first swim with alligators and then help them catch a huge python snake which are an invasive species to the everglades and are wreaking havoc with its fragile ecosystem. In years past, I’ve trapped muskrats in the McPherson Valley wetlands just outside Inman, which can involve wading around in marshes of cattails taller than I am that look a little like areas of the Everglades. I’m eternally grateful I don’t have to keep my eyes peeled for gators’ and pythons; geez, I’m glad we don’t have those in Kansas.I think Joyce and I must have been storm chasers in a previous life; when the tornado sirens blare and the TV weathers guys are yellin’ at us to get in our storm cellars or go to the basement, we’re bustin’ out lawn chairs and watching for the twister. Some of the memories I’ll take with me to the grave are pictures and news footage showing cities and states ravaged by hurricanes like Katrina, and of the huge devastating walls of water produced by tsunamis as they wash cars and buildings through the streets of seaside countries like Haiti. So as much as I’d like to own some ocean front property outside Inman, I’ll take the occasional tornado that can wipe out parts of towns along its way over a hurricane or tsunami that can wipe out the entire state; geez I’m glad we don’t have those in Kansas.The adventure that inspired this column came from a trip a few years ago to Mesa, Arizona where Joyce and I spent time with my late father who wintered there. He had a place in a nice “snowbird park” and one of the activities he enjoyed was picking oranges, lemons and grapefruits with other guys from the park. The Mesa and Scottsdale areas are havens for citrus fruit trees. There are acres of commercial orange groves within the Mesa city limits, plus many homeowners have citrus trees in their backyards like homeowners in Kansas have apple, apricot and pear trees. And like homeowners here, many people don’t want or don’t use most of the citrus fruit from those trees. Each February a crew of guys from dad’s park would go one day each week and pick unwanted fruit for homeowners, then bag the fruit and take it back to the park and put it out for any residents who wanted it. Many of the homeowners even gave the guys gas money for picking and taking their unwanted fruit. It was a win-win deal all the way around, but the homeowners there seemed much more serious about getting rid of their unwanted oranges, lemons and grapefruit than homeowners here are about getting rid of their unwanted fruit, and I often wondered why. I found out it’s because of a rodent called a “roof rat.”&nbsp;Roof rats are also known as black rats (but are not really black) and are slightly distinguished from other rats by the length of their tails which are longer than their bodies. Roof rats are historically thought to be the vermin that spread the Plague or Black Death during the Middle Ages. They were first noticed in Phoenix AZ in 2001, and soon became a problem throughout the area because fresh fruit and especially citrus fruit is their favorite meal. I found a website maintained by Maricopa County AZ, which contains the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa, called www.roofrat.net. Its mission statement reads “To help neighborhoods work, donate quality fruit and eradicate roof rats.” On a list of roof rats preferred foods, the top 6 are citrus fruits, which according to the website they will even eat off the tree. To help eradicate roof rats, the website urges homeowners to “Promptly and completely pick all fruit (ripe or not) from citrus and other fruit and nut trees, and to pick up all fallen fruit every season.” I was told that Scottsdale residents may even incur a hefty fine for not doing so. Roof rats nest in attics, hedges and even in trees.Maybe writing this column was a lesson in just how good we Kansans have it compared to some other states. Yes, we have ticks and brown spiders which both require our respect. It can turn terribly dry or we can have earth shattering thunderstorms and tornados, but not hurricanes. We have bull snakes, rat snakes and the occasional prairie rattler, but not gators’ and pythons. We have mice, rats and pack rats (which can be a problem if not discovered,) but not roof rats to eat the fruit right off our trees and infest our neighborhoods. Geez I’m glad we don’t have those in Kansas!&nbsp;Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kan.: Geez, I’m glad we don’t have those here

We have had a number of contacts regarding lilacs that were virtually defoliated with leaves showing many spots on the leaves. Cercospora leaf spot appears to be the causal agent. This is one of those diseases that only shows up during wet, humid summers. Though the shrubs look bad, loss of leaves this late in the season will not harm otherwise healthy plants. Therefore, there is no need to apply a fungicide. Also, an application this late would not help anyway. However, cleaning up dead leaves will reduce the amount of inoculum for next year and is recommended. This disease is weather-dependent and requires wet, humid weather at certain times to flourish. Therefore, lilacs that were hammered this year may not become infected next. Even if we do have another wet summer that encourages this disease, we do not recommend a fungicide application as damage to the plant is negligible.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>We have had a number of contacts regarding lilacs that were virtually defoliated with leaves showing many spots on the leaves. Cercospora leaf spot appears to be the causal agent. This is one of those diseases that only shows up during wet, humid summers. Though the shrubs look bad, loss of leaves this late in the season will not harm otherwise healthy plants. Therefore, there is no need to apply a fungicide. Also, an application this late would not help anyway. However, cleaning up dead leaves will reduce the amount of inoculum for next year and is recommended. This disease is weather-dependent and requires wet, humid weather at certain times to flourish. Therefore, lilacs that were hammered this year may not become infected next. Even if we do have another wet summer that encourages this disease, we do not recommend a fungicide application as damage to the plant is negligible.Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions she can be contacted by e-mail at lfick@k-state.edu or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

Opinion