I have had several calls lately with producers asking questions about cutting their wheat for hay or silage. Below is an article from K-State Research and Extension’s eUpdate that discusses the forage quality and pricing if you decide to go that route. As always, if you have a question, you can always contact us by calling the office at 620-793-1910 or emailing at aboor@ksu.edu.

Freezing conditions during April over some parts of Kansas potentially caused some damage in winter wheat, and with the passage of time, the level of damage is becoming more clear.&nbsp; As a result, producers facing reduced grain yields must soon decide whether to keep the wheat crop for grain or make a forage such as wheat hay or silage.

Comparing net returns to grain versus forage at this stage, however, requires market prices for wheat hay and silage, which aren’t always readily available.&nbsp; So how do you put a value on these forage products?&nbsp; This article updates a 2018 eUpdate article to provide some current estimates of wheat forage values as producers consider their options moving forward.&nbsp; The earlier article has more details on harvest concerns and relative feedstuff values.

It must also be mentioned that insured wheat growers should check first with their crop insurance agent before harvesting a forage crop to determine insurance requirements and document potential grain yield losses.&nbsp; Sometimes producers may be required to leave small areas of uncut wheat to provide a way to estimate grain yields.&nbsp; Insurance agents can also inform producers of any other restrictions which may apply. &nbsp;

The approach for pricing these wheat forage products will be to derive a silage or hay price using feed value comparisons to a feedstuff for which more reliable price information exists.&nbsp; A good candidate for a proxy feedstuff in Kansas is alfalfa hay, with prices reported weekly across the entire state and for a range of quality levels.&nbsp;

Alfalfa hay rated as “good” quality will have 58-60 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN) and 18-20 percent crude protein. According to USDA Ag Marketing Service reports, “fair/good” grinding alfalfa in southwest Kansas is currently selling for around $150-170 / ton, as a reference point.&nbsp; Wheat silage made from wheat at “early-head stage” maturity contains just over 15% Crude Protein and 73% TDN, on a dry matter basis.

Using an alfalfa hay price of $160/ton and the value of energy in alfalfa hay, a comparable wheat silage price based solely on energy would figure out to about $70 per ton as fed ($199/ton dry matter basis, assuming the silage is 35 percent dry matter.&nbsp; A similar calculation based solely on protein content would suggest a wheat silage price of about $50/ton as fed (about $143/ton dry matter basis). These results, based on rather simplistic calculations, might be viewed as upper and lower bounds on wheat silage prices, from a feed value perspective.&nbsp;

For wheat hay, Watson, indicated that wheat hay harvested at the dough stage would have 56-62 percent TDN and 8-10 percent crude protein, on a dry matter basis.&nbsp; So, wheat hay has almost as high an energy content as alfalfa hay, but significantly lower protein.&nbsp; Wheat hay priced solely on energy, relative to alfalfa, would figure out to about $155 per ton as fed.&nbsp; However, a similar calculation based solely on protein content would suggest a wheat hay price of only about $69/ton as fed.&nbsp; This is a rather wide range and could be considered as upper and lower bounds on the wheat hay value.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Given this wide range, this same approach based on relative feeding values is also estimated with a comparison to forage sorghum hay, which is closer in nutrient content to wheat hay and may provide a more meaningful range of price estimates. Using a TDN value of 57% and a crude protein value of 8% for forage sorghum hay, along with an edge-of-the-field price of $110 ton, we get suggested wheat hay prices in the range of $110 to $124 per ton.

Ultimately, of course, market prices are determined by buyers and sellers.&nbsp; However, the discussion above provides a couple of perspectives on how interested parties might approach the problem.&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 aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

<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 for K-State Research and Extension." />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District for K-State Research and Extension.</figcaption>
 </figure>I have had several calls lately with producers asking questions about cutting their wheat for hay or silage. Below is an article from K-State Research and Extension’s eUpdate that discusses the forage quality and pricing if you decide to go that route. As always, if you have a question, you can always contact us by calling the office at 620-793-1910 or emailing at aboor@ksu.edu.Freezing conditions during April over some parts of Kansas potentially caused some damage in winter wheat, and with the passage of time, the level of damage is becoming more clear.&nbsp; As a result, producers facing reduced grain yields must soon decide whether to keep the wheat crop for grain or make a forage such as wheat hay or silage.Comparing net returns to grain versus forage at this stage, however, requires market prices for wheat hay and silage, which aren’t always readily available.&nbsp; So how do you put a value on these forage products?&nbsp; This article updates a 2018 eUpdate article to provide some current estimates of wheat forage values as producers consider their options moving forward.&nbsp; The earlier article has more details on harvest concerns and relative feedstuff values.It must also be mentioned that insured wheat growers should check first with their crop insurance agent before harvesting a forage crop to determine insurance requirements and document potential grain yield losses.&nbsp; Sometimes producers may be required to leave small areas of uncut wheat to provide a way to estimate grain yields.&nbsp; Insurance agents can also inform producers of any other restrictions which may apply. &nbsp;Pricing wheat silage and wheat hayThe approach for pricing these wheat forage products will be to derive a silage or hay price using feed value comparisons to a feedstuff for which more reliable price information exists.&nbsp; A good candidate for a proxy feedstuff in Kansas is alfalfa hay, with prices reported weekly across the entire state and for a range of quality levels.&nbsp;Alfalfa hay rated as “good” quality will have 58-60 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN) and 18-20 percent crude protein. According to USDA Ag Marketing Service reports, “fair/good” grinding alfalfa in southwest Kansas is currently selling for around $150-170 / ton, as a reference point.&nbsp; Wheat silage made from wheat at “early-head stage” maturity contains just over 15% Crude Protein and 73% TDN, on a dry matter basis.Using an alfalfa hay price of $160/ton and the value of energy in alfalfa hay, a comparable wheat silage price based solely on energy would figure out to about $70 per ton as fed ($199/ton dry matter basis, assuming the silage is 35 percent dry matter.&nbsp; A similar calculation based solely on protein content would suggest a wheat silage price of about $50/ton as fed (about $143/ton dry matter basis). These results, based on rather simplistic calculations, might be viewed as upper and lower bounds on wheat silage prices, from a feed value perspective.&nbsp;For wheat hay, Watson, indicated that wheat hay harvested at the dough stage would have 56-62 percent TDN and 8-10 percent crude protein, on a dry matter basis.&nbsp; So, wheat hay has almost as high an energy content as alfalfa hay, but significantly lower protein.&nbsp; Wheat hay priced solely on energy, relative to alfalfa, would figure out to about $155 per ton as fed.&nbsp; However, a similar calculation based solely on protein content would suggest a wheat hay price of only about $69/ton as fed.&nbsp; This is a rather wide range and could be considered as upper and lower bounds on the wheat hay value.&nbsp; &nbsp;Given this wide range, this same approach based on relative feeding values is also estimated with a comparison to forage sorghum hay, which is closer in nutrient content to wheat hay and may provide a more meaningful range of price estimates. Using a TDN value of 57% and a crude protein value of 8% for forage sorghum hay, along with an edge-of-the-field price of $110 ton, we get suggested wheat hay prices in the range of $110 to $124 per ton.Ultimately, of course, market prices are determined by buyers and sellers.&nbsp; However, the discussion above provides a couple of perspectives on how interested parties might approach the problem.&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 aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Grain versus silage

By GREG DOERING, Kansas Farm Bureau

Over the past few weeks, my colleagues at Kansas Farm Bureau have seen more of my basement than either I or they ever envisioned they would. Their riveting view consists of two doors, one to the laundry room and one to a spare bedroom. Between the two hangs a painting from my grandmother.

It’s a fall scene of a barn with hay bales stacked next to it. The sky is blue with fluffy, white clouds. Autumn has turned the grass reddish brown and yellowed the leaves on the oak trees. It’s a scene taken from countless farms across the country. It’s also one of several family heirlooms surrounding me in my new workspace.

Most of my work is done at a desk that once belonged to my great-grandfather. According to family lore, it resided in the office of the movie theatre he owned and operated through the Great Depression until he died in the early ‘70s. My father used it in his office at my childhood home until I took possession of it.

The desk has been in my basement for just shy of a decade now, mostly accumulating the junk flat surfaces tend to attract. Built of solid red oak, it’s still plenty capable of serving its intended function, even though a laptop has replaced the inkwell and typewriter.

I’ve also rediscovered an open-faced Waltham pocket watch. I’ve kept it nearby, winding it periodically to hear the rhythmic ticking. It’s older than the desk, dating to at least my great-great-grandfather, Artemas L. Barton. There’s an outside chance the watch originally belonged to his father who had the same initials.

The case is made of brass and is engraved with ALB in the center of the back cover, which is dented in a couple of spots. A semi-circle of polished metal is evidence it slid in and out of its owner’s pocket. It’s missing the second hand and the face is a little faded, but it still keeps time.

All of these are amusing distractions that allow my mind to wander.

I ponder if my great-grandfather leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on the same corner I do. I wonder if Artemas checked the watch before an important meeting. And I ask myself what item of mine might one day spark such questions from my descendants.

My grandmother probably didn’t set out to create an heirloom when she crafted her painting. My great-grand-father would have never envisioned his office desk from a cinema holding a computer capable of streaming endless movies and TV shows. I doubt my great-great-grandfather imagined his everyday watch becoming an inheritance spanning generations.

These items are connections to just a fraction of my ancestors. Others include a Lutheran minister in Germany at the beginning of the European Reformation and an accused witch in Salem, Massachusetts. She eventually fled to Framingham, which is just west of Boston. Between the two is Waltham, birthplace of the pocket watch now ticking away on my desk.

Everyone comes from somewhere, and that’s why I find these items fascinating. I think about what small items of mine might find their way to my descendants long after I’m gone.

It’s also a reminder that life will continue without you. And the most inconsequential decisions — creating a painting, choosing a desk, buying a pocket watch — become the little legacies we leave.

"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/2019/11/1574694508756.jpeg" alt="Greg Doering" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING, Kansas Farm BureauOver the past few weeks, my colleagues at Kansas Farm Bureau have seen more of my basement than either I or they ever envisioned they would. Their riveting view consists of two doors, one to the laundry room and one to a spare bedroom. Between the two hangs a painting from my grandmother.It’s a fall scene of a barn with hay bales stacked next to it. The sky is blue with fluffy, white clouds. Autumn has turned the grass reddish brown and yellowed the leaves on the oak trees. It’s a scene taken from countless farms across the country. It’s also one of several family heirlooms surrounding me in my new workspace.Most of my work is done at a desk that once belonged to my great-grandfather. According to family lore, it resided in the office of the movie theatre he owned and operated through the Great Depression until he died in the early ‘70s. My father used it in his office at my childhood home until I took possession of it.The desk has been in my basement for just shy of a decade now, mostly accumulating the junk flat surfaces tend to attract. Built of solid red oak, it’s still plenty capable of serving its intended function, even though a laptop has replaced the inkwell and typewriter.I’ve also rediscovered an open-faced Waltham pocket watch. I’ve kept it nearby, winding it periodically to hear the rhythmic ticking. It’s older than the desk, dating to at least my great-great-grandfather, Artemas L. Barton. There’s an outside chance the watch originally belonged to his father who had the same initials.The case is made of brass and is engraved with ALB in the center of the back cover, which is dented in a couple of spots. A semi-circle of polished metal is evidence it slid in and out of its owner’s pocket. It’s missing the second hand and the face is a little faded, but it still keeps time.All of these are amusing distractions that allow my mind to wander.I ponder if my great-grandfather leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on the same corner I do. I wonder if Artemas checked the watch before an important meeting. And I ask myself what item of mine might one day spark such questions from my descendants.My grandmother probably didn’t set out to create an heirloom when she crafted her painting. My great-grand-father would have never envisioned his office desk from a cinema holding a computer capable of streaming endless movies and TV shows. I doubt my great-great-grandfather imagined his everyday watch becoming an inheritance spanning generations.These items are connections to just a fraction of my ancestors. Others include a Lutheran minister in Germany at the beginning of the European Reformation and an accused witch in Salem, Massachusetts. She eventually fled to Framingham, which is just west of Boston. Between the two is Waltham, birthplace of the pocket watch now ticking away on my desk.Everyone comes from somewhere, and that’s why I find these items fascinating. I think about what small items of mine might find their way to my descendants long after I’m gone.It’s also a reminder that life will continue without you. And the most inconsequential decisions — creating a painting, choosing a desk, buying a pocket watch — become the little legacies we leave."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;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Little legacies

In 1976, President Gerald Ford proclaimed May as Older Americans Month. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys also recognizes and celebrates May as National Elder Law month. I am an elder law attorney, and it is my great pleasure and honor to get to work with older Americans. &nbsp;

I don’t know that this month has been more important than this year. While COVID-19 has greatly impacted our community, our lives, and our economy, no group of people have been more impacted than older Americans. The death rate of older Americans due to COVID-19 has been nothing short of staggering. The number of elderly and chronically ill in nursing homes that have been affected by COVID-19 takes my breath away. Not only have older Americans died at a higher rate than any other population group, they, more than any group, are more isolated. Much of that is because of the dictates of the law, regulations, and executive orders.&nbsp; Much of it is by “necessity.” Many older Americans are sheltering in place, fearing infection even if they just go to the store to buy food. Many feel abandoned, even forgotten. Adult children are afraid to visit their parents and grandparents, fearing the possibility of infecting them. &nbsp;

My middle son, Ben, works at a COVID-19 ICU outside of California. He told me of his heartbreaking experiences of being the go-between between elderly couples who had never been separated until isolation in an ICU unit, while one of their lives slipped away. &nbsp;

It’s something that Ben thought he would never have to experience. &nbsp;

Our older Americans are our most treasured assets. Many represent what is good about our country and our society. They’ve worked and toiled to make us what we are today. They possess unfathomable reserves of knowledge of right and wrong, of goodness, and of how to love.

My own life was immensely impacted by my parents and my grandparents. They showed me what is good in the world: work hard; treat people as you want to be treated; love God with all your heart; love your children and grandchildren as if it’s your last day to be with them; help those that need it, and one day when you are in need, it will be returned.

They taught me about how to enjoy life’s simple things: sitting on the porch; holding hands; spending time around the dinner table, just visiting; playing dominos as another opportunity and excuse just to be together; traveling distances to share holidays and celebrations; and being there when someone passes away. &nbsp;

My life would be incredibly shallow, empty, and rudderless without the influence of those older Americans – yes, those elders. &nbsp;

Help me celebrate Older Americans Month and Elder Law Month. Reach out to honor, or just even visit, with those older Americans and those elders in your life, in your neighborhood, and in your community. To all the elders in my life, from the past to the present, I thank you for all you’ve done for me and for others.

Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, 
Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To 
contact him, please send an email to randy@clinkscaleslaw.com. 
Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information 
purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different 
and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable 
law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578498921842.png" alt="Randy Clinkscales" />
 <figcaption>Randy Clinkscales</figcaption>
 </figure>In 1976, President Gerald Ford proclaimed May as Older Americans Month. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys also recognizes and celebrates May as National Elder Law month. I am an elder law attorney, and it is my great pleasure and honor to get to work with older Americans. &nbsp;I don’t know that this month has been more important than this year. While COVID-19 has greatly impacted our community, our lives, and our economy, no group of people have been more impacted than older Americans. The death rate of older Americans due to COVID-19 has been nothing short of staggering. The number of elderly and chronically ill in nursing homes that have been affected by COVID-19 takes my breath away. Not only have older Americans died at a higher rate than any other population group, they, more than any group, are more isolated. Much of that is because of the dictates of the law, regulations, and executive orders.&nbsp; Much of it is by “necessity.” Many older Americans are sheltering in place, fearing infection even if they just go to the store to buy food. Many feel abandoned, even forgotten. Adult children are afraid to visit their parents and grandparents, fearing the possibility of infecting them. &nbsp;My middle son, Ben, works at a COVID-19 ICU outside of California. He told me of his heartbreaking experiences of being the go-between between elderly couples who had never been separated until isolation in an ICU unit, while one of their lives slipped away. &nbsp;It’s something that Ben thought he would never have to experience. &nbsp;Our older Americans are our most treasured assets. Many represent what is good about our country and our society. They’ve worked and toiled to make us what we are today. They possess unfathomable reserves of knowledge of right and wrong, of goodness, and of how to love.My own life was immensely impacted by my parents and my grandparents. They showed me what is good in the world: work hard; treat people as you want to be treated; love God with all your heart; love your children and grandchildren as if it’s your last day to be with them; help those that need it, and one day when you are in need, it will be returned.They taught me about how to enjoy life’s simple things: sitting on the porch; holding hands; spending time around the dinner table, just visiting; playing dominos as another opportunity and excuse just to be together; traveling distances to share holidays and celebrations; and being there when someone passes away. &nbsp;My life would be incredibly shallow, empty, and rudderless without the influence of those older Americans – yes, those elders. &nbsp;Help me celebrate Older Americans Month and Elder Law Month. Reach out to honor, or just even visit, with those older Americans and those elders in your life, in your neighborhood, and in your community. To all the elders in my life, from the past to the present, I thank you for all you’ve done for me and for others.Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, 
Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To 
contact him, please send an email to randy@clinkscaleslaw.com. 
Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information 
purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different 
and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable 
law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.

CLINKSCALES: Older Americans Month

Weekly numbers from the Kansas oil patch reflect a dramatic slowdown across the industry, which reflects Kansas crude prices at historic lows. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reported two active drilling rigs in eastern Kansas, up one for the week, and eight west of Wichita, which is also up one. 

The number of inactive rigs in Kansas last week increased from 194 to 203. Operators in Pratt and Morton counties received the only two new drilling permits in the state, and operators completed just 16 new wells. Independent Oil &amp; Gas identifies them as one dry hole, seven "re-completions" and eight abandoned locations. Year-to-date permits total 179, compared to 318 a year ago. Completions this year total 351, compared to 562 last year at this time.

Your 15-gallon fillup will cost you $2 less than last week, a little more than last month, $13 less than six months ago, and $17 less than a year ago. We see a gallon of regular as low as $1.49 at one station in Great Bend, and $1.46 at several stations in Hays.

Pump prices are going up in some areas as states reopen. AAA says big price increases in just a few states are fueling an increase in the national average ($1.84/gallon) The average across Kansas is $1.50 a gallon, up more than six cents from a week ago.

Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $15 a barrel, after gaining $1.25 on Friday. Kansas prices are $5 higher than a week ago, but $36 a barrel less than at the beginning of the year.

Baker Hughes noted another big drop in its weekly Rotary Rig Count. Nationwide, there are 374 active drilling rigs, down 33 oil rigs and down one seeking natural gas. The count in Texas dropped 28 rigs. North Dakota was down six, and Oklahoma dropped by two rigs. The count in New Mexico was up four rigs from the week before. Canada reported 26 active drilling rigs, down one from the week before.

Oil-by-rail shipments continue to decline amid a downturn in all freight train traffic. The latest weekly totals from the Association of American Railroads show the energy industry originated just 9,544 cars hauling petroleum and petroleum products during the week ending May 2, down 28% from the same week a year ago. Total rail traffic was down 22% for the week, and was 25% lower during the month of April.

The Energy Information Administration reported a nearly five-million barrel increase in U.S. crude-oil inventories at more than 532 million barrels. Stockpiles are about 12% above the five-year seasonal average. The government report undercut a report from the American Petroleum Institute a day earlier, which predicted a much larger build in U.S. stockpiles.

The government reported a drop in U.S. crude production for the sixth week in a row.&nbsp; The EIA said weekly output dropped below 12 million barrels per day for the first time since July of last year. U.S. crude imports increased 410,000 barrels per day last week. The four week average for imports is still more than 20% below that same four-week average a year ago.

U.S. crude-oil storage capacity continues to dwindle, but not as quickly as it was earlier. The EIA reported net stockpiles accounted for 61% of our working storage capacity during the week ending April 24. That's an increase of one percent from the week before. Storage usage jumped from 50% to 61% in just five weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Proration is now dead." So says the one Texas energy regulator willing to put the prospect of statewide production limits on the table, outgoing Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton in an interview with Bloomberg TV.&nbsp; Sitton's proposal to consider OPEC-style production caps in the Lone Star State divided the energy industry there. New numbers from Bloomberg show producers didn't really need a government order, with fracking down 82% and oil drilling is down 54% in the last seven weeks.

Colorado will delay hearings on a major revamp of its oil and gas regulations, even as concerns mount about how much of the state’s petroleum industry will be left to regulate. The Denver Post reports a 96% drop in drilling permits across Colorado, from 522 in April of last year, to just 21 last month.

Regulators in the number-two crude-oil producing state say demand shock has forced North Dakota to shut in 6,800 wells oil wells, amounting to 450,000 barrels per day of production. Hoping to jump-start the industry's recovery, regulators announced formation of the "Bakken Restart Task Force." &nbsp;The group of government, business and industry leaders will focus on regulatory relief, economic stimulus, and the long-term recovery of the oil patch in North Dakota.

Oil field services giant Halliburton continues to shed employees, with nearly three thousand announced this week in Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. That comes in addition to 3,500 mandatory furloughs earlier. Local media in Houston report a thousand layoffs at the firm's corporate headquarters there.

OPEC’s crude production surged by the most in almost 30 years last month as its biggest member engaged in a price war with Russia. Saudi Arabia pumped a record of more than 11 million barrels a day in April according to a Bloomberg survey. Though they reached a truce by the middle of the month, the Saudis continued to keep production high, even with demand went into an unprecedented free-fall. The brief price war adding almost 100 million barrels of additional supply into an already oversupplied market.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574099516454.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBARWeekly numbers from the Kansas oil patch reflect a dramatic slowdown across the industry, which reflects Kansas crude prices at historic lows. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reported two active drilling rigs in eastern Kansas, up one for the week, and eight west of Wichita, which is also up one. The number of inactive rigs in Kansas last week increased from 194 to 203. Operators in Pratt and Morton counties received the only two new drilling permits in the state, and operators completed just 16 new wells. Independent Oil &amp; Gas identifies them as one dry hole, seven "re-completions" and eight abandoned locations. Year-to-date permits total 179, compared to 318 a year ago. Completions this year total 351, compared to 562 last year at this time.Your 15-gallon fillup will cost you $2 less than last week, a little more than last month, $13 less than six months ago, and $17 less than a year ago. We see a gallon of regular as low as $1.49 at one station in Great Bend, and $1.46 at several stations in Hays.Pump prices are going up in some areas as states reopen. AAA says big price increases in just a few states are fueling an increase in the national average ($1.84/gallon) The average across Kansas is $1.50 a gallon, up more than six cents from a week ago.Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $15 a barrel, after gaining $1.25 on Friday. Kansas prices are $5 higher than a week ago, but $36 a barrel less than at the beginning of the year.Baker Hughes noted another big drop in its weekly Rotary Rig Count. Nationwide, there are 374 active drilling rigs, down 33 oil rigs and down one seeking natural gas. The count in Texas dropped 28 rigs. North Dakota was down six, and Oklahoma dropped by two rigs. The count in New Mexico was up four rigs from the week before. Canada reported 26 active drilling rigs, down one from the week before.Oil-by-rail shipments continue to decline amid a downturn in all freight train traffic. The latest weekly totals from the Association of American Railroads show the energy industry originated just 9,544 cars hauling petroleum and petroleum products during the week ending May 2, down 28% from the same week a year ago. Total rail traffic was down 22% for the week, and was 25% lower during the month of April.The Energy Information Administration reported a nearly five-million barrel increase in U.S. crude-oil inventories at more than 532 million barrels. Stockpiles are about 12% above the five-year seasonal average. The government report undercut a report from the American Petroleum Institute a day earlier, which predicted a much larger build in U.S. stockpiles.The government reported a drop in U.S. crude production for the sixth week in a row.&nbsp; The EIA said weekly output dropped below 12 million barrels per day for the first time since July of last year. U.S. crude imports increased 410,000 barrels per day last week. The four week average for imports is still more than 20% below that same four-week average a year ago.U.S. crude-oil storage capacity continues to dwindle, but not as quickly as it was earlier. The EIA reported net stockpiles accounted for 61% of our working storage capacity during the week ending April 24. That's an increase of one percent from the week before. Storage usage jumped from 50% to 61% in just five weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Proration is now dead." So says the one Texas energy regulator willing to put the prospect of statewide production limits on the table, outgoing Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton in an interview with Bloomberg TV.&nbsp; Sitton's proposal to consider OPEC-style production caps in the Lone Star State divided the energy industry there. New numbers from Bloomberg show producers didn't really need a government order, with fracking down 82% and oil drilling is down 54% in the last seven weeks.Colorado will delay hearings on a major revamp of its oil and gas regulations, even as concerns mount about how much of the state’s petroleum industry will be left to regulate. The Denver Post reports a 96% drop in drilling permits across Colorado, from 522 in April of last year, to just 21 last month.Regulators in the number-two crude-oil producing state say demand shock has forced North Dakota to shut in 6,800 wells oil wells, amounting to 450,000 barrels per day of production. Hoping to jump-start the industry's recovery, regulators announced formation of the "Bakken Restart Task Force." &nbsp;The group of government, business and industry leaders will focus on regulatory relief, economic stimulus, and the long-term recovery of the oil patch in North Dakota.Oil field services giant Halliburton continues to shed employees, with nearly three thousand announced this week in Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. That comes in addition to 3,500 mandatory furloughs earlier. Local media in Houston report a thousand layoffs at the firm's corporate headquarters there.OPEC’s crude production surged by the most in almost 30 years last month as its biggest member engaged in a price war with Russia. Saudi Arabia pumped a record of more than 11 million barrels a day in April according to a Bloomberg survey. Though they reached a truce by the middle of the month, the Saudis continued to keep production high, even with demand went into an unprecedented free-fall. The brief price war adding almost 100 million barrels of additional supply into an already oversupplied market.

News from the Oil Patch: Dramatic slowdown continues

This will be the week that we learn, or at least get our first hints, just how broad a political issue that the coronavirus is going to be about…let’s say…August, when we have our first pandemic-era elections.

Now they’re just primary elections in August when the parties have their primary elections to determine who is going to wind up on the November election ballot for their chance to represent us for the upcoming two years in the House and four years in the Senate.

But the May 21 one-day meeting of the Legislature that ends this session may become a key to just who runs the House and Senate next session, and what happens in the two-year-away gubernatorial election.

And, that presents a lot of opportunity for lawmakers to seek that headline on their campaign palm cards to show that they are the ones Kansans should vote for this fall.

There are some issues that have arisen because of COVID-19 that most of us never really thought about and which aren’t just party-line votes.

If you own or work in a store, should you be able to prohibit folks who don’t wear masks to enter your business? Now the simple answer is, of course. It’s your store, and there are well-thought-out antidiscrimination measures that we’ve lived with for generations. But this isn’t a simple antidiscrimination issue.

It’s safety. Both for the employees who work at the store and the customers who visit it. That’s an issue that lawmakers may find themselves dealing with—for one day.

But it goes further. If a store owner lets in customers who are without a mask, have they put their employees at risk? Probably. But what about an employee who believes he/she is protecting his/her own health, and the health of customers and the employee’s family? Can that worker be told to work or be fired? Or laid off during the pandemic?

You can’t make a stocker or a butcher or a clerk work in a building that is on fire., And that store owner is in most circumstances responsible for the safety of customers, and maybe those masks are a way to make sure that customers are safe.&nbsp;

Of course, there are the lawyers for those injured or even killed as a result of the coronavirus. Is that responsibility for the safety of customers and employees legally enforceable? Lawyers—for&nbsp; those injured or rendered ill because of store policies—believe that the store owners are. And lawyers for the owners, well, they and their clients don’t think so.

If signs outside a store say “no guns,” that’s one thing. If the signs say “no admittance without a mask,” is that a problem?&nbsp; Doesn’t seem like quite the same deal, but there are voters out there who are going to believe those mask restrictions are a big enough lifestyle/constitutional issue that they may just vote against a lawmaker over it.

And while legislative candidates have become accustomed to campaigning through a screen door, or a storm door that is opened just a crack so they can hand a campaign brochure to the voter, is it different if everyone has to be six feet away?&nbsp;

This upcoming one-day legislative session and the campaigning that follows will tell us something about the lawmakers seeking re-election. Or will voters even open that screen door to talk to a candidate wearing a mask? Or, not wearing a mask?

We may find out something at this short session next week…just what a pandemic does to rights, or at least courtesy—or the Kansas Legislature.

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/2019/11/1573590596307.png" alt="Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report." />
 <figcaption>Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report.</figcaption>
 </figure>This will be the week that we learn, or at least get our first hints, just how broad a political issue that the coronavirus is going to be about…let’s say…August, when we have our first pandemic-era elections.Now they’re just primary elections in August when the parties have their primary elections to determine who is going to wind up on the November election ballot for their chance to represent us for the upcoming two years in the House and four years in the Senate.But the May 21 one-day meeting of the Legislature that ends this session may become a key to just who runs the House and Senate next session, and what happens in the two-year-away gubernatorial election.And, that presents a lot of opportunity for lawmakers to seek that headline on their campaign palm cards to show that they are the ones Kansans should vote for this fall.There are some issues that have arisen because of COVID-19 that most of us never really thought about and which aren’t just party-line votes.If you own or work in a store, should you be able to prohibit folks who don’t wear masks to enter your business? Now the simple answer is, of course. It’s your store, and there are well-thought-out antidiscrimination measures that we’ve lived with for generations. But this isn’t a simple antidiscrimination issue.It’s safety. Both for the employees who work at the store and the customers who visit it. That’s an issue that lawmakers may find themselves dealing with—for one day.But it goes further. If a store owner lets in customers who are without a mask, have they put their employees at risk? Probably. But what about an employee who believes he/she is protecting his/her own health, and the health of customers and the employee’s family? Can that worker be told to work or be fired? Or laid off during the pandemic?You can’t make a stocker or a butcher or a clerk work in a building that is on fire., And that store owner is in most circumstances responsible for the safety of customers, and maybe those masks are a way to make sure that customers are safe.&nbsp;Of course, there are the lawyers for those injured or even killed as a result of the coronavirus. Is that responsibility for the safety of customers and employees legally enforceable? Lawyers—for&nbsp; those injured or rendered ill because of store policies—believe that the store owners are. And lawyers for the owners, well, they and their clients don’t think so.If signs outside a store say “no guns,” that’s one thing. If the signs say “no admittance without a mask,” is that a problem?&nbsp; Doesn’t seem like quite the same deal, but there are voters out there who are going to believe those mask restrictions are a big enough lifestyle/constitutional issue that they may just vote against a lawmaker over it.And while legislative candidates have become accustomed to campaigning through a screen door, or a storm door that is opened just a crack so they can hand a campaign brochure to the voter, is it different if everyone has to be six feet away?&nbsp;This upcoming one-day legislative session and the campaigning that follows will tell us something about the lawmakers seeking re-election. Or will voters even open that screen door to talk to a candidate wearing a mask? Or, not wearing a mask?We may find out something at this short session next week…just what a pandemic does to rights, or at least courtesy—or the Kansas Legislature.Yes, let’s watch…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: Pandemic creates new questions for Kan. lawmakers

So, it looks as though the 2020 Summer Olympics have become collateral damage from the corona virus “pandemic;” a shame, I think. But not to worry, cause’ I have a few suggestions for summer Olympic events we can hold right here in the heartland of the good ole’ USA.&nbsp;

	 The half-acre pond in the middle of the farm where I grew up was often a gathering spot for the family. Back then I owned a big old prehistoric aluminum canoe with a ridge formed into the hull at the water line, making it extra stable and easy to fish from. This ridge also stabilized the canoe during rounds of “bluegill batting.”&nbsp;

	Back in the day, the Ohio wildlife and parks guys thought the perfect formula for stocking every farm pond was a combination of largemouth bass and bluegills. Bluegills seem to reproduce like rabbits, but after a few years, a pond will contain enough big bass to keep the bluegill population in check. Until then, however if enough bluegills aren’t regularly removed, they can quickly fill a pond with dinky, undersized fish.

Dad’s pond was loaded with tiny, pesky bluegills that flew quite nicely into the nearest fencerow when thrown into the air and hit with a canoe paddle; a farmer’s sport invented by us and possibly a good candidate for an Olympic sport, known as “Bluegill Batting.”&nbsp; The event will be divided into two categories; land batting in which each contestant will bat his or her bluegill from the bank, and water batting where the batting will take place from a canoe. The batters can choose to have their bluegills pitched to them or they can choose the freestyle delivery where they throw it up in the air themselves before whacking it. Winners will be chosen for both longest distance and for highest flight, and naturally canoe paddles will be provided so that no one has an unfair advantage.

&nbsp;	The diving board at dad’s pond was an old steel frame with a big old barn plank for a board. We welded the frame from stuff dug out of the usual farmer’s scrap pile and carried it to the pond with the tractor and manure loader. It was on the dam, so the frame was made to be as tall as the dam. One end of the old barn plank lay across the steel frame and hung out over the water and the other end rested on top of the dam and was held there with a huge rock. It did little good to bounce on the board when diving because the old plank had zero spring to it. I remember going to a nice swimming pool once with the church youth group and running out onto the diving board and pouncing on it like I did at the pond. The thing flung me so high I had a nose bleed when I hit the water! I once watched my buddy Ralph bounce off the end of the board as usual, then looked-on as the plank followed him end-over-end into the pond cause’ the rock had somehow gotten moved. Anyway, the next event in the Farm Pond Olympics would be farm pond diving. The degree of difficulty will always be high no matter what dive they choose, and the chunkier divers will have a definite advantage in the event. We’ll probably have to employ an extra person at the judges table to keep an eye on the rock.

&nbsp;	When anchored from one end, a canoe pivots and swings back and forth in the wind, so to prevent that, I had rigged an anchor at each end of mine; one was a conventional boat anchor, and the other was a big, heavy, round, steel ball of some sort. As I remember it, this particular evening my sister’s husband and I were anchored out in the pond fishing from my canoe, and the rest of the family were fishing from the bank. The old canoe was extra wide and roomy, so we had tackle boxes sitting open on the seats, maybe to give the impression we were contenders on the professional bluegill circuit. Come dusk, given the absence of stadium lights around the pond, both the fishing and bluegill batting events were over for the evening, so we pulled the anchors to head for shore. I lifted the boat anchor with no problem, but the big steel ball on my brother-in-law’s end of the craft seemed to have gotten sucked into the black, oozy mud on the bottom of the pond. In an attempt to dislodge the thing, he leaned forward nearly to the water, got several wraps of the rope around his hand then leaned backwards, putting all his weight into the extraction. He was built like a dump-truck, short and stocky, so when the ball suddenly came free, he hit the other side of the canoe like a rodeo bull! The sudden weight shift was too much for even my old canoe with the ridge at the water line, and we were soon in the drink next to the overturned canoe and amidst a sea of floating fishing tackle. Welcome to the next farm pond Olympics event, the freestyle lure swim.&nbsp; Sure, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte can swim like the wind, but how would they fare after being unceremoniously flung from a capsized canoe into a floating bed of razor-sharp treble hooks? The score can be tallied two ways; most lures on their body or fewest lures on their body when they exit the water. The event could be made even more life-like by unceremoniously flinging each swimmer from a sinking canoe to start the race. Heaven help the swimmer with a hairy back; when they climb out of the pond on the other side, they’ll look like a lure display board at Cabela’s.&nbsp;

&nbsp;So, there you have my recommendations for our very own USA farm pond summer Olympics; bluegill batting, farm pond diving and whatever you’d call being forced to swim through a floating fishing tackle flotilla after being thrown from a sinking canoe. Good stuff!&nbsp; By the way, I’ll be available to coach the bluegill batting squad. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors

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 Gilliland&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>So, it looks as though the 2020 Summer Olympics have become collateral damage from the corona virus “pandemic;” a shame, I think. But not to worry, cause’ I have a few suggestions for summer Olympic events we can hold right here in the heartland of the good ole’ USA.&nbsp;	 The half-acre pond in the middle of the farm where I grew up was often a gathering spot for the family. Back then I owned a big old prehistoric aluminum canoe with a ridge formed into the hull at the water line, making it extra stable and easy to fish from. This ridge also stabilized the canoe during rounds of “bluegill batting.”&nbsp;	Back in the day, the Ohio wildlife and parks guys thought the perfect formula for stocking every farm pond was a combination of largemouth bass and bluegills. Bluegills seem to reproduce like rabbits, but after a few years, a pond will contain enough big bass to keep the bluegill population in check. Until then, however if enough bluegills aren’t regularly removed, they can quickly fill a pond with dinky, undersized fish.Dad’s pond was loaded with tiny, pesky bluegills that flew quite nicely into the nearest fencerow when thrown into the air and hit with a canoe paddle; a farmer’s sport invented by us and possibly a good candidate for an Olympic sport, known as “Bluegill Batting.”&nbsp; The event will be divided into two categories; land batting in which each contestant will bat his or her bluegill from the bank, and water batting where the batting will take place from a canoe. The batters can choose to have their bluegills pitched to them or they can choose the freestyle delivery where they throw it up in the air themselves before whacking it. Winners will be chosen for both longest distance and for highest flight, and naturally canoe paddles will be provided so that no one has an unfair advantage.&nbsp;	The diving board at dad’s pond was an old steel frame with a big old barn plank for a board. We welded the frame from stuff dug out of the usual farmer’s scrap pile and carried it to the pond with the tractor and manure loader. It was on the dam, so the frame was made to be as tall as the dam. One end of the old barn plank lay across the steel frame and hung out over the water and the other end rested on top of the dam and was held there with a huge rock. It did little good to bounce on the board when diving because the old plank had zero spring to it. I remember going to a nice swimming pool once with the church youth group and running out onto the diving board and pouncing on it like I did at the pond. The thing flung me so high I had a nose bleed when I hit the water! I once watched my buddy Ralph bounce off the end of the board as usual, then looked-on as the plank followed him end-over-end into the pond cause’ the rock had somehow gotten moved. Anyway, the next event in the Farm Pond Olympics would be farm pond diving. The degree of difficulty will always be high no matter what dive they choose, and the chunkier divers will have a definite advantage in the event. We’ll probably have to employ an extra person at the judges table to keep an eye on the rock.&nbsp;	When anchored from one end, a canoe pivots and swings back and forth in the wind, so to prevent that, I had rigged an anchor at each end of mine; one was a conventional boat anchor, and the other was a big, heavy, round, steel ball of some sort. As I remember it, this particular evening my sister’s husband and I were anchored out in the pond fishing from my canoe, and the rest of the family were fishing from the bank. The old canoe was extra wide and roomy, so we had tackle boxes sitting open on the seats, maybe to give the impression we were contenders on the professional bluegill circuit. Come dusk, given the absence of stadium lights around the pond, both the fishing and bluegill batting events were over for the evening, so we pulled the anchors to head for shore. I lifted the boat anchor with no problem, but the big steel ball on my brother-in-law’s end of the craft seemed to have gotten sucked into the black, oozy mud on the bottom of the pond. In an attempt to dislodge the thing, he leaned forward nearly to the water, got several wraps of the rope around his hand then leaned backwards, putting all his weight into the extraction. He was built like a dump-truck, short and stocky, so when the ball suddenly came free, he hit the other side of the canoe like a rodeo bull! The sudden weight shift was too much for even my old canoe with the ridge at the water line, and we were soon in the drink next to the overturned canoe and amidst a sea of floating fishing tackle. Welcome to the next farm pond Olympics event, the freestyle lure swim.&nbsp; Sure, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte can swim like the wind, but how would they fare after being unceremoniously flung from a capsized canoe into a floating bed of razor-sharp treble hooks? The score can be tallied two ways; most lures on their body or fewest lures on their body when they exit the water. The event could be made even more life-like by unceremoniously flinging each swimmer from a sinking canoe to start the race. Heaven help the swimmer with a hairy back; when they climb out of the pond on the other side, they’ll look like a lure display board at Cabela’s.&nbsp;&nbsp;So, there you have my recommendations for our very own USA farm pond summer Olympics; bluegill batting, farm pond diving and whatever you’d call being forced to swim through a floating fishing tackle flotilla after being thrown from a sinking canoe. Good stuff!&nbsp; By the way, I’ll be available to coach the bluegill batting squad. Continue to Explore Kansas OutdoorsSteve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Farm Pond Olympics

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

Let’s go to a farm show. We’ll see lots of vendors, hear speakers with the latest information, and learn about various products. But wait, we can’t do that. There’s a pandemic and a stay-at-home order in place.

What if we could participate in a farm show and do so virtually and safely, from the comfort of our homes? Today we’ll learn about a community which accomplished exactly that.&nbsp;

Alicia Boor is one of the agriculture and natural resources agents for the K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District, serving Barton and Ellis counties. She grew up in Dodge City, earned an animal science degree, and got a job as a zookeeper for rare breeds of livestock at the Sedgwick County Zoo before joining extension. Her extension position enabled Alicia and her husband to move to her husband’s hometown of Hoisington in Barton County. Hoisington is a rural community of 2,706 people. Now, that’s rural.

Alicia’s duties included lining up speakers for the annual Great Bend farm and ranch show which attracts thousands of people to Great Bend each spring. She was assisted by Jared Petersilie, the agriculture extension agent in the neighboring Walnut Creek District. Because of the interest in growing industrial hemp, the name of the 2020 show was changed to the Great Bend Farm, Ranch &amp; Hemp Expo.

Then came the coronavirus, followed by stay-at-home orders. Alicia and Jared had already lined up the speakers but reluctantly notified the planners that they could no longer participate.

In March, two weeks before the scheduled beginning of the expo in early April, Alicia got another request. The expo organizers wanted to make this a virtual expo. Could the speakers present their programs after all? Alicia decided to give it a try.

How in the world does someone conduct a virtual expo? The planners in Great Bend worked with a company with the domain name,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.virtualfarmexpo.com/">www.virtualfarmexpo.com</a>. In a matter of a couple of weeks, they managed to organize the event so that it could function online.

Alicia contacted her K-State speakers and found that they were willing. The original idea was that they would pre-record presentations to be presented during the expo, but it turned out that live Zoom presentations worked even better. This allowed for real-time interaction with the participants.

On April 8, 9 and 10 – the originally scheduled dates – the Great Bend Farm, Ranch &amp; Hemp Expo was conducted virtually. Participants got online, viewed the exhibits, and interacted with the speakers through their electronic devices.

The K-State speakers included Jason Griffin, an industrial hemp researcher at the John C. Pair Horticulture Center near Haysville; wheat specialist Romulo Lollato in Manhattan; and grain marketing economist Dan O’Brien in Colby. All were able to present their research results, share their screens with viewers, and respond to questions.

The presentations were live and also recorded. “We broke these into segments by crop,” Alicia said. “That way if a producer was interested specifically in grain sorghum, for example, they didn’t have to listen to an hour on other crops to get the 10 minutes that they wanted.”

What about the exhibits? The organizers created a screen image which looked like a booth one would see at the farm show. Exhibitors were able to populate that screen with their own pictures, information and videos, which rotated online during the show. It was an ingenious way to share the information while doing so safely and remotely. The K-State booth, for example, included links to extension publications and generated more than 1,000 views.

This was accomplished in a remarkably short time frame. “It was stressful, but it was fun,” Alicia said.

“At last year’s state extension conference, we were asked to innovate. I didn’t realize we would be forced to do it so quickly," she said with a smile. “We do have to find new ways to reach the public.”

It’s time to leave this virtual farm show. We commend Alicia Boor and all those who made a difference by using technology in this way. They were able to make “virtual” a reality.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588772194734.png" alt="Screen Shot 2020-05-06 at 8.36.17 AM.png" />
 <figcaption>Screen Shot 2020-05-06 at 8.36.17 AM.png</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural DevelopmentLet’s go to a farm show. We’ll see lots of vendors, hear speakers with the latest information, and learn about various products. But wait, we can’t do that. There’s a pandemic and a stay-at-home order in place.What if we could participate in a farm show and do so virtually and safely, from the comfort of our homes? Today we’ll learn about a community which accomplished exactly that.&nbsp;Alicia Boor is one of the agriculture and natural resources agents for the K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District, serving Barton and Ellis counties. She grew up in Dodge City, earned an animal science degree, and got a job as a zookeeper for rare breeds of livestock at the Sedgwick County Zoo before joining extension. Her extension position enabled Alicia and her husband to move to her husband’s hometown of Hoisington in Barton County. Hoisington is a rural community of 2,706 people. Now, that’s rural.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="Alicia Boor" />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor</figcaption>
 </figure>Alicia’s duties included lining up speakers for the annual Great Bend farm and ranch show which attracts thousands of people to Great Bend each spring. She was assisted by Jared Petersilie, the agriculture extension agent in the neighboring Walnut Creek District. Because of the interest in growing industrial hemp, the name of the 2020 show was changed to the Great Bend Farm, Ranch &amp; Hemp Expo.Then came the coronavirus, followed by stay-at-home orders. Alicia and Jared had already lined up the speakers but reluctantly notified the planners that they could no longer participate.In March, two weeks before the scheduled beginning of the expo in early April, Alicia got another request. The expo organizers wanted to make this a virtual expo. Could the speakers present their programs after all? Alicia decided to give it a try.How in the world does someone conduct a virtual expo? The planners in Great Bend worked with a company with the domain name,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.virtualfarmexpo.com/">www.virtualfarmexpo.com</a>. In a matter of a couple of weeks, they managed to organize the event so that it could function online.Alicia contacted her K-State speakers and found that they were willing. The original idea was that they would pre-record presentations to be presented during the expo, but it turned out that live Zoom presentations worked even better. This allowed for real-time interaction with the participants.On April 8, 9 and 10 – the originally scheduled dates – the Great Bend Farm, Ranch &amp; Hemp Expo was conducted virtually. Participants got online, viewed the exhibits, and interacted with the speakers through their electronic devices.The K-State speakers included Jason Griffin, an industrial hemp researcher at the John C. Pair Horticulture Center near Haysville; wheat specialist Romulo Lollato in Manhattan; and grain marketing economist Dan O’Brien in Colby. All were able to present their research results, share their screens with viewers, and respond to questions.The presentations were live and also recorded. “We broke these into segments by crop,” Alicia said. “That way if a producer was interested specifically in grain sorghum, for example, they didn’t have to listen to an hour on other crops to get the 10 minutes that they wanted.”What about the exhibits? The organizers created a screen image which looked like a booth one would see at the farm show. Exhibitors were able to populate that screen with their own pictures, information and videos, which rotated online during the show. It was an ingenious way to share the information while doing so safely and remotely. The K-State booth, for example, included links to extension publications and generated more than 1,000 views.This was accomplished in a remarkably short time frame. “It was stressful, but it was fun,” Alicia said.“At last year’s state extension conference, we were asked to innovate. I didn’t realize we would be forced to do it so quickly," she said with a smile. “We do have to find new ways to reach the public.”It’s time to leave this virtual farm show. We commend Alicia Boor and all those who made a difference by using technology in this way. They were able to make “virtual” a reality.

Now That’s Rural: Alicia Boor, Great Bend virtual farm show

Since we are still limiting our contact with larger groups I am postponing our Healthy Community Potluck that should have been scheduled this month. But I can still bring you the message that I was planning to share and that is “Med instead of Meds.” I had the opportunity to participate in a professional development class on the K-State campus back in February by the same title. A vivacious instructor from North Carolina, shared her passion for healthy cooking in our hands on lab.&nbsp;

So what exactly is “Med Instead of Meds”? The first Med stands for the Mediterranean Diet and lifestyle. With an emphasis on vegetables, fruits, legumes, beans, whole grains, nuts and unsaturated fat, you can imagine consuming a plate of food that is both colorful and full of fiber. Lifestyle choices related to the Mediterranean way of life include: eating a light breakfast, long extended lunch including a nap, daily physical exercise, and consuming fresh plant based foods that are grown locally.

Combining this approach to a healthy diet with lifestyle choices that also support health is our goal. By consuming more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and nuts, we are providing the nutrients our bodies need to maintain and even regain health. That is where the word “Meds” comes into play. Meds, short for medicine, can save our lives in some cases. However, if the underlying cause of a health concern is related to consuming a diet high in fat or added sugar, perhaps we need to take a closer look at what we put on our plates.&nbsp;

Are we consuming five to nine servings of vegetables and fruits every day? Are we choosing to eat at least three ounces of whole grains and is our source of protein lean? An easy way to follow the Mediterranean diet is to shop the perimeter of the grocery store where all of the fresh foods are found. Less time spent in the aisles that have highly processed food choices is another good rule to follow.

Consider preparing this Mushroom Brown Rice Pilaf as a nutritious dish to complement your healthy menu. Ingredients:

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and brown onion and mushrooms for about five minutes. Add one cup brown rice and stir to coat grains in the oil. Add two cups broth, bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer. Simmer for about 45 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. Cooking time for whole grain rice varies according to the variety of rice; check package directions. You can make a pilaf like this with any grain – not just rice. Simply vary the amount of broth and the cooking time according to the different grain. In a hurry? Try bulgur or quinoa, which both cook in under 15 minutes.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574802720194.jpeg" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Since we are still limiting our contact with larger groups I am postponing our Healthy Community Potluck that should have been scheduled this month. But I can still bring you the message that I was planning to share and that is “Med instead of Meds.” I had the opportunity to participate in a professional development class on the K-State campus back in February by the same title. A vivacious instructor from North Carolina, shared her passion for healthy cooking in our hands on lab.&nbsp;So what exactly is “Med Instead of Meds”? The first Med stands for the Mediterranean Diet and lifestyle. With an emphasis on vegetables, fruits, legumes, beans, whole grains, nuts and unsaturated fat, you can imagine consuming a plate of food that is both colorful and full of fiber. Lifestyle choices related to the Mediterranean way of life include: eating a light breakfast, long extended lunch including a nap, daily physical exercise, and consuming fresh plant based foods that are grown locally.Combining this approach to a healthy diet with lifestyle choices that also support health is our goal. By consuming more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and nuts, we are providing the nutrients our bodies need to maintain and even regain health. That is where the word “Meds” comes into play. Meds, short for medicine, can save our lives in some cases. However, if the underlying cause of a health concern is related to consuming a diet high in fat or added sugar, perhaps we need to take a closer look at what we put on our plates.&nbsp;Are we consuming five to nine servings of vegetables and fruits every day? Are we choosing to eat at least three ounces of whole grains and is our source of protein lean? An easy way to follow the Mediterranean diet is to shop the perimeter of the grocery store where all of the fresh foods are found. Less time spent in the aisles that have highly processed food choices is another good rule to follow.Consider preparing this Mushroom Brown Rice Pilaf as a nutritious dish to complement your healthy menu. Ingredients:<ol>
 <li>½ large onion, chopped</li><li>1 cup sliced mushrooms (4-5 mushrooms)</li><li>1 Tablespoon olive oil</li><li>1 cup brown rice</li><li>2 cups vegetable broth</li>
 </ol>Heat the oil in a large saucepan and brown onion and mushrooms for about five minutes. Add one cup brown rice and stir to coat grains in the oil. Add two cups broth, bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer. Simmer for about 45 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. Cooking time for whole grain rice varies according to the variety of rice; check package directions. You can make a pilaf like this with any grain – not just rice. Simply vary the amount of broth and the cooking time according to the different grain. In a hurry? Try bulgur or quinoa, which both cook in under 15 minutes.Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp; K-State Research &amp; Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

KRUG: Med instead of meds

The COVID-19 pandemic is not under control in the United States. The 
disease is still deadly, especially for those who are elderly or 
immunocompromised. The Trump administration <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/04/us/coronavirus-updates.html" target="_blank">projects</a>
 deaths per day will nearly double in the United States between now and 
June 1. Yet some states are starting to lift restrictions on in-person 
gatherings for religious communities.

In Texas, for example, <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Faithful-Texans-rejuvenated-hopeful-after-15243953.php" target="_blank">an order</a> by Gov. Greg Abbott
 allows in-person religious services to resume at 25 percent capacity — 
though congregants have to wear masks and practice social distancing. 
About 250 congregants gathered on Sunday, May 3 at a church in Houston 
to celebrate communion. (That Sunday was the fourth straight day that 
Texas saw <a href="https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/coronavirus/for-fourth-straight-day-texas-surpasses-1000-new-cases/2362536/" target="_blank">more than 1,000</a> new confirmed coronavirus cases).

In other parts of the country, members of religious communities are 
challenging state stay-at-home orders in court. Last week, for example, a
 New Jersey Catholic priest <a href="https://nj1015.com/nj-priest-suing-gov-over-pandemic-order-as-unconstitutional/" target="_blank">filed suit</a> to challenge New Jersey’s stay-at-home order, which has prohibited in-person religious gatherings. (On Sunday, New Jersey had <a href="https://www.njtvonline.org/news/uncategorized/tracking-the-coronavirus-in-new-jersey/" target="_blank">more than 3,000</a> new confirmed cases and 129 deaths).

And many Americans live in states that have exempted religious 
gatherings either completely or in part from stay-at-home orders 
throughout the pandemic. In fact, <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/04/27/most-states-have-religious-exemptions-to-covid-19-social-distancing-rules/" target="_blank">a study</a> of religious exemptions published by the Pew Research Center on April 27 found that most
 states have religious exemptions to social distancing rules. Florida, 
for example, deemed religious worship essential, like shopping for food 
or prescription drugs, and therefore offered exemptions from rules 
restricting large gatherings. (From Sunday to Monday, Florida reported <a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/05/04/florida-reports-20-deaths-819-new-cases-of-coronavirus-as-state-begins-reopening/" target="_blank">more than 800</a> new confirmed cases and 20 new deaths).

In the coming weeks, more Americans will likely see fewer 
restrictions on their right to gather in person. But Americans who have 
the right to congregate in large groups — whether in houses of worship 
or non-religious spaces like gyms, restaurants and shopping malls — 
should avoid exercising that right. In fact, they have a responsibility 
to stay home whenever possible to protect the most vulnerable among us.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently said as 
much. In a case from Kentucky, the court prohibited the state from 
enforcing a ban on drive-in religious services. The injunction is 
pending appeal. In its <a href="http://lc.org/PDFs/Attachments2PRsLAs/2020/050220MaryvilleBaptistIPA.pdf" target="_blank">opinion</a>, the court sympathized with an approach taken by Gov. Mike DeWine
 in the bordering state of Ohio: “As individuals, we have some sympathy 
for Gov. DeWine’s approach — to allow places of worship in Ohio to hold 
services but then to admonish them all (we assume) that it’s ‘not 
Christian’ to hold in-person services during a pandemic.” Notably, the 
opinion also recognized that federal judges should not tell individuals 
how to “comply with their own faith as they see it.”

Religious Americans who live in states that report an increasing or 
high number of new COVID-19 infections have a responsibility to forgo 
large in-person religious services in favor of safer alternatives that 
minimize physical contact. Why? Because elderly Americans, who are most 
at risk from COVID-19, are the backbone of many religious communities. 
For more than a dozen major Christian groups in the United States — 
including the Presbyterian Church of America, the United Church of 
Christ, the United Methodist Church, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod,
 the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the 
Southern Baptist Convention and the African Methodist Episcopal Church —
 <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/11/which-u-s-religious-groups-are-oldest-and-youngest/" target="_blank">50 percent of members or more</a> are older than 50. That is also true for Jews.

Clergy themselves are also at higher risk, on average, due to their age. <a href="https://www.barna.com/research/aging-americas-pastors/" target="_blank">One study</a>
 from 2017 commissioned by Pepperdine University and conducted by Barna 
found that more than 50 percent of pastors are over 55 years old. And of
 course some religious communities only allow men to serve as ordained 
clergy — and men are at <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/10/831883664/the-new-coronavirus-appears-to-take-a-greater-toll-on-men-than-on-women" target="_blank">higher risk</a> from COVID-19 than women.

Religious services can provide profound spiritual comfort and social 
connection. In states struggling to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, 
members of religious communities should identify religious activities 
that can provide spiritual comfort and social connection without direct 
physical contact. Religious leaders might live-stream their services. 
Members of religious communities might stand outside the windows of the 
elderly or infirm to sing hymns, read scripture, or simply check on 
their mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing. Drive-in religious 
services might be a viable option if people stay in their cars. These 
alternatives are not optimal, but they will save lives.

And in states that report few to no new cases for multiple 
consecutive days, people might choose to attend in-person services. 
Whether or not the state requires it, congregants should do what they 
can to prevent another outbreak by wearing masks, disinfecting 
high-touch surfaces and maintaining social distance. People with 
symptoms should stay home. Outdoor services might be preferable to 
services in small, confined spaces with poor circulation.

You might have the right to gather in person with your religious 
community during an uncontrolled pandemic, but you also have the freedom
 to act in the interest of our country as a whole. Exercise your rights 
responsibly.

Benjamin P. Marcus is religious literacy specialist at the Religious
 Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute. His email address is: <a href="mailto:bmarcus@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">bmarcus@freedomforum.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576172282950.jpeg" alt="Benjamin P. Marcus is religious literacy specialist at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute." />
 <figcaption>Benjamin P. Marcus is religious literacy specialist at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute.</figcaption>
 </figure>The COVID-19 pandemic is not under control in the United States. The 
disease is still deadly, especially for those who are elderly or 
immunocompromised. The Trump administration <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/04/us/coronavirus-updates.html" target="_blank">projects</a>
 deaths per day will nearly double in the United States between now and 
June 1. Yet some states are starting to lift restrictions on in-person 
gatherings for religious communities.In Texas, for example, <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Faithful-Texans-rejuvenated-hopeful-after-15243953.php" target="_blank">an order</a> by Gov. Greg Abbott
 allows in-person religious services to resume at 25 percent capacity — 
though congregants have to wear masks and practice social distancing. 
About 250 congregants gathered on Sunday, May 3 at a church in Houston 
to celebrate communion. (That Sunday was the fourth straight day that 
Texas saw <a href="https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/coronavirus/for-fourth-straight-day-texas-surpasses-1000-new-cases/2362536/" target="_blank">more than 1,000</a> new confirmed coronavirus cases).In other parts of the country, members of religious communities are 
challenging state stay-at-home orders in court. Last week, for example, a
 New Jersey Catholic priest <a href="https://nj1015.com/nj-priest-suing-gov-over-pandemic-order-as-unconstitutional/" target="_blank">filed suit</a> to challenge New Jersey’s stay-at-home order, which has prohibited in-person religious gatherings. (On Sunday, New Jersey had <a href="https://www.njtvonline.org/news/uncategorized/tracking-the-coronavirus-in-new-jersey/" target="_blank">more than 3,000</a> new confirmed cases and 129 deaths).And many Americans live in states that have exempted religious 
gatherings either completely or in part from stay-at-home orders 
throughout the pandemic. In fact, <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/04/27/most-states-have-religious-exemptions-to-covid-19-social-distancing-rules/" target="_blank">a study</a> of religious exemptions published by the Pew Research Center on April 27 found that most
 states have religious exemptions to social distancing rules. Florida, 
for example, deemed religious worship essential, like shopping for food 
or prescription drugs, and therefore offered exemptions from rules 
restricting large gatherings. (From Sunday to Monday, Florida reported <a href="https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/05/04/florida-reports-20-deaths-819-new-cases-of-coronavirus-as-state-begins-reopening/" target="_blank">more than 800</a> new confirmed cases and 20 new deaths).In the coming weeks, more Americans will likely see fewer 
restrictions on their right to gather in person. But Americans who have 
the right to congregate in large groups — whether in houses of worship 
or non-religious spaces like gyms, restaurants and shopping malls — 
should avoid exercising that right. In fact, they have a responsibility 
to stay home whenever possible to protect the most vulnerable among us.The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently said as 
much. In a case from Kentucky, the court prohibited the state from 
enforcing a ban on drive-in religious services. The injunction is 
pending appeal. In its <a href="http://lc.org/PDFs/Attachments2PRsLAs/2020/050220MaryvilleBaptistIPA.pdf" target="_blank">opinion</a>, the court sympathized with an approach taken by Gov. Mike DeWine
 in the bordering state of Ohio: “As individuals, we have some sympathy 
for Gov. DeWine’s approach — to allow places of worship in Ohio to hold 
services but then to admonish them all (we assume) that it’s ‘not 
Christian’ to hold in-person services during a pandemic.” Notably, the 
opinion also recognized that federal judges should not tell individuals 
how to “comply with their own faith as they see it.”Religious Americans who live in states that report an increasing or 
high number of new COVID-19 infections have a responsibility to forgo 
large in-person religious services in favor of safer alternatives that 
minimize physical contact. Why? Because elderly Americans, who are most 
at risk from COVID-19, are the backbone of many religious communities. 
For more than a dozen major Christian groups in the United States — 
including the Presbyterian Church of America, the United Church of 
Christ, the United Methodist Church, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod,
 the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the 
Southern Baptist Convention and the African Methodist Episcopal Church —
 <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/11/which-u-s-religious-groups-are-oldest-and-youngest/" target="_blank">50 percent of members or more</a> are older than 50. That is also true for Jews.Clergy themselves are also at higher risk, on average, due to their age. <a href="https://www.barna.com/research/aging-americas-pastors/" target="_blank">One study</a>
 from 2017 commissioned by Pepperdine University and conducted by Barna 
found that more than 50 percent of pastors are over 55 years old. And of
 course some religious communities only allow men to serve as ordained 
clergy — and men are at <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/10/831883664/the-new-coronavirus-appears-to-take-a-greater-toll-on-men-than-on-women" target="_blank">higher risk</a> from COVID-19 than women.Religious services can provide profound spiritual comfort and social 
connection. In states struggling to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, 
members of religious communities should identify religious activities 
that can provide spiritual comfort and social connection without direct 
physical contact. Religious leaders might live-stream their services. 
Members of religious communities might stand outside the windows of the 
elderly or infirm to sing hymns, read scripture, or simply check on 
their mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing. Drive-in religious 
services might be a viable option if people stay in their cars. These 
alternatives are not optimal, but they will save lives.And in states that report few to no new cases for multiple 
consecutive days, people might choose to attend in-person services. 
Whether or not the state requires it, congregants should do what they 
can to prevent another outbreak by wearing masks, disinfecting 
high-touch surfaces and maintaining social distance. People with 
symptoms should stay home. Outdoor services might be preferable to 
services in small, confined spaces with poor circulation.You might have the right to gather in person with your religious 
community during an uncontrolled pandemic, but you also have the freedom
 to act in the interest of our country as a whole. Exercise your rights 
responsibly.Benjamin P. Marcus is religious literacy specialist at the Religious
 Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute. His email address is: <a href="mailto:bmarcus@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">bmarcus@freedomforum.org</a>.

FIRST FIVE: You might have the right to gather, but you can choose otherwise

The Kansas Legislature will return on May 21 with final,&nbsp;sine die&nbsp;adjournment. In short, the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) decided to pull the plug, despite the huge public health and fiscal problems facing the state.&nbsp; This comes close to a dereliction of duty to the Kansans who elected them.

Meeting during the coronavirus pandemic is difficult to be sure, but both parties seem willing to hand immense power over to the governor, even as Republican leaders&nbsp; oppose the governor’s schedule to open up the state.

Folding the legislative tent may be understandable, but it is short-sighted. Kansans deserve some vision as they face the future.&nbsp; There are two major issues that the Legislature should have addressed.&nbsp;

First is expanding Medicaid. Right-wing Republican legislators will shout, “This is not the time for such expansion.”&nbsp; Wrong. It’s precisely the right time, as thousands of Kansans are losing their job-related medical coverage.&nbsp;

Second, lawmakers must fund counties’ efforts to encourage as much voting by mail as possible.&nbsp; Kansas already has a “no excuses” absentee-ballot policy that allows every voter to request such a ballot, with no reason needed. Thus, with adequate resources, county clerks can provide every registered voter with easy access to such a ballot in August and November.

What more could the Legislature do? A lot.&nbsp; Most notably, as Speaker Pro Tem Blake Finch has suggested, legislators could create several interim committees, each addressing &nbsp;an important issue-area affected by the corona virus. Possible subjects &nbsp;include:

1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Criminal justice reform.&nbsp; Kansas has begun to conduct a natural experiment over the past two months, releasing some low-risk prisoners into the general population.&nbsp; The state should fund follow-up research to assess the impact of these actions; implications for incarceration and prison construction could well follow.

2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Public health. Underfunded and divided into a patchwork of entities, the public health system needs complete overhaul from the most remote county to the national government.&nbsp; Kansas could be a leader here.&nbsp;

3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Higher education. The Kansas higher education system was already facing a near-crisis combination of declining enrollment, international student shortfall and tightening research funding before the pandemic; the crisis has emphasized that, for a small state, we support too much higher education. The question of filling the needs of state students is difficult, fraught and essential.

4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Workers.&nbsp; How do we protect workers in dangerous occupations, such as meat-packing?&nbsp; There are federal laws, of course, but the pandemic has demonstrated how problematic these are.&nbsp; Also, what occupations do we actually need to license?&nbsp; Almost all studies show that we over-regulate any number of jobs, from hair stylists to auto mechanics.&nbsp; Which ones do we need to regulate and why?

5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Spending priorities and funding government.&nbsp; Although the Legislature faces budget issues every year, the coronavirus crisis starkly delineates these problems.&nbsp; What should be our long-term priorities?

6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Home rule. The health crisis has powerfully demonstrated that we need to examine home rule for cities and counties. What level of government is appropriate for what policies?&nbsp; Many Republican legislators who decry federal overreach willingly impose restrictions on localities. Time for a re-examination.

Legislators could have done better this year. Still, &nbsp;the LCC should ensure that interim committees use the pandemic to seriously re-think our state’s priorities.&nbsp; If so, lawmakers will have fulfilled their responsibilities, and Kansans may well benefit.

Burdett Loomis is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574348610067.jpeg" alt="Burdett Loomis is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Kansas." />
 <figcaption>Burdett Loomis is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Kansas.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Legislature will return on May 21 with final,&nbsp;sine die&nbsp;adjournment. In short, the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) decided to pull the plug, despite the huge public health and fiscal problems facing the state.&nbsp; This comes close to a dereliction of duty to the Kansans who elected them.Meeting during the coronavirus pandemic is difficult to be sure, but both parties seem willing to hand immense power over to the governor, even as Republican leaders&nbsp; oppose the governor’s schedule to open up the state.Folding the legislative tent may be understandable, but it is short-sighted. Kansans deserve some vision as they face the future.&nbsp; There are two major issues that the Legislature should have addressed.&nbsp;First is expanding Medicaid. Right-wing Republican legislators will shout, “This is not the time for such expansion.”&nbsp; Wrong. It’s precisely the right time, as thousands of Kansans are losing their job-related medical coverage.&nbsp;Second, lawmakers must fund counties’ efforts to encourage as much voting by mail as possible.&nbsp; Kansas already has a “no excuses” absentee-ballot policy that allows every voter to request such a ballot, with no reason needed. Thus, with adequate resources, county clerks can provide every registered voter with easy access to such a ballot in August and November.What more could the Legislature do? A lot.&nbsp; Most notably, as Speaker Pro Tem Blake Finch has suggested, legislators could create several interim committees, each addressing &nbsp;an important issue-area affected by the corona virus. Possible subjects &nbsp;include:1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Criminal justice reform.&nbsp; Kansas has begun to conduct a natural experiment over the past two months, releasing some low-risk prisoners into the general population.&nbsp; The state should fund follow-up research to assess the impact of these actions; implications for incarceration and prison construction could well follow.2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Public health. Underfunded and divided into a patchwork of entities, the public health system needs complete overhaul from the most remote county to the national government.&nbsp; Kansas could be a leader here.&nbsp;3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Higher education. The Kansas higher education system was already facing a near-crisis combination of declining enrollment, international student shortfall and tightening research funding before the pandemic; the crisis has emphasized that, for a small state, we support too much higher education. The question of filling the needs of state students is difficult, fraught and essential.4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Workers.&nbsp; How do we protect workers in dangerous occupations, such as meat-packing?&nbsp; There are federal laws, of course, but the pandemic has demonstrated how problematic these are.&nbsp; Also, what occupations do we actually need to license?&nbsp; Almost all studies show that we over-regulate any number of jobs, from hair stylists to auto mechanics.&nbsp; Which ones do we need to regulate and why?5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Spending priorities and funding government.&nbsp; Although the Legislature faces budget issues every year, the coronavirus crisis starkly delineates these problems.&nbsp; What should be our long-term priorities?6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Home rule. The health crisis has powerfully demonstrated that we need to examine home rule for cities and counties. What level of government is appropriate for what policies?&nbsp; Many Republican legislators who decry federal overreach willingly impose restrictions on localities. Time for a re-examination.Legislators could have done better this year. Still, &nbsp;the LCC should ensure that interim committees use the pandemic to seriously re-think our state’s priorities.&nbsp; If so, lawmakers will have fulfilled their responsibilities, and Kansans may well benefit.Burdett Loomis is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Kansas.

INSIGHT KANSAS: 2020 Legislature — bad news, good possibilities

Have you wondered how much rain or snow has fallen? Have you noticed that what was reported at the official National Weather Service Cooperative site does not match what you observed at your location? There is a volunteer organization that is working to answer both questions: <a href="https://cocorahs.org/">CoCoRaHS</a>. Now is a great time to join this network as Kansans are spending more time at home due to COVID-19.

CoCoRaHS is an acronym for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. CoCoRaHS is a unique, nonprofit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail, and snow). By using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education, and utilizing an interactive website, the aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education, and research applications. CoCoRaHS has been active in Kansas since 2004. More observers are always very welcome.

Each time a storm — rain, hail, or snow — crosses your area, volunteers take measurements of precipitation from as many locations as possible. These precipitation reports are recorded on the website, <a href="https://cocorahs.org/">https://cocorahs.org/</a>. The data are then displayed and organized for the end users to analyze and apply to daily situations ranging from water resource analysis and severe storm warnings to neighbors comparing how much rain fell in their backyards. For example, Manhattan was able to document the highest rainfall amount during the Labor Day 2018 flood, thanks to a CoCoRaHS observer.

No rain is still an important observation

Volunteers also report when it DOES NOT rain. Documenting the fact that a part of the county missed a precipitation event helps improve our understanding of drought conditions. That information is also useful in improving radar and satellite rainfall estimates.

CoCoRaHS is used by a wide variety of organizations and individuals. The National Weather Service, other meteorologists, hydrologists, emergency managers, city utilities (water supply, water conservation, storm water, insurance adjusters, USDA, engineers, mosquito control, ranchers and farmers, outdoor &amp; recreation interests, teachers, students, and neighbors in the community are just some examples of those who visit the website and use the data.

One of the neat things about participating in this network is coming away with the feeling that you have made an important contribution that helps others. By providing your daily observation, you help to fill in a piece of the weather puzzle that affects many across your area in one way or another.

To join CoCoRaHS, just go to the website CoCoRaHS.org and click “Join Now."

If you have questions about the program, contact Mary Knapp at Kansas State University by email at mknapp@ksu.edu or phone at 785-313-1562.

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 aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

<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" />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District</figcaption>
 </figure>Have you wondered how much rain or snow has fallen? Have you noticed that what was reported at the official National Weather Service Cooperative site does not match what you observed at your location? There is a volunteer organization that is working to answer both questions: <a href="https://cocorahs.org/">CoCoRaHS</a>. Now is a great time to join this network as Kansans are spending more time at home due to COVID-19.<h2>What is CoCoRaHS?</h2>CoCoRaHS is an acronym for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. CoCoRaHS is a unique, nonprofit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail, and snow). By using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education, and utilizing an interactive website, the aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education, and research applications. CoCoRaHS has been active in Kansas since 2004. More observers are always very welcome.Each time a storm — rain, hail, or snow — crosses your area, volunteers take measurements of precipitation from as many locations as possible. These precipitation reports are recorded on the website, <a href="https://cocorahs.org/">https://cocorahs.org/</a>. The data are then displayed and organized for the end users to analyze and apply to daily situations ranging from water resource analysis and severe storm warnings to neighbors comparing how much rain fell in their backyards. For example, Manhattan was able to document the highest rainfall amount during the Labor Day 2018 flood, thanks to a CoCoRaHS observer.<h2>No rain is still an important observation</h2>Volunteers also report when it DOES NOT rain. Documenting the fact that a part of the county missed a precipitation event helps improve our understanding of drought conditions. That information is also useful in improving radar and satellite rainfall estimates.<h2>Who uses the CoCoRaHS data?</h2>CoCoRaHS is used by a wide variety of organizations and individuals. The National Weather Service, other meteorologists, hydrologists, emergency managers, city utilities (water supply, water conservation, storm water, insurance adjusters, USDA, engineers, mosquito control, ranchers and farmers, outdoor &amp; recreation interests, teachers, students, and neighbors in the community are just some examples of those who visit the website and use the data.One of the neat things about participating in this network is coming away with the feeling that you have made an important contribution that helps others. By providing your daily observation, you help to fill in a piece of the weather puzzle that affects many across your area in one way or another.To join CoCoRaHS, just go to the website CoCoRaHS.org and click “Join Now."If you have questions about the program, contact Mary Knapp at Kansas State University by email at mknapp@ksu.edu or phone at 785-313-1562.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 aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: CoCoRaHS helps gauge local weather

If you monitor the news about higher education, you know quite a few colleges and universities are considering or implementing unprecedented measures to stave off financial disaster – employee furloughs, position eliminations, and reducing, eliminating or merging programs.

Thankfully, we are not in this position thanks to our sharp focus on relationships that drive retention and our relentless focus on student success. The highest levels of academic excellence, student mentoring, care, and grace are hallmarks of an FHSU experience. But the concerns among those who question the value of a college education have only grown stronger over the past several months.

Recently, I began a project to learn more about the experiences and reflections of about a dozen of our soon-to-be graduates. I am excited about sharing some of their stories over the next few weeks. Today, I want to share the journey of one of our online, non-traditional students, Jonathan Jett, from Prattville, Ala.

My FHSU story starts about a year before I applied. I was seeing people all around me receive promotions when they had minimal experience and a college degree. I had many years of experience, but no degree. Finally, in what I would have described at the time as a “dream job,” I was one of only two candidates left. The other person had zero experience but landed the job. I asked what had set her apart from me, and was told that her college education did.&nbsp;

I was finally angry enough to do something, and I applied to FHSU's leadership studies program knowing nothing more than what it would cost me financially. I had zero intentions of applying myself, participating outside of minimum requirements or anything else. I was only pursuing a “piece of paper.”

As I was nearing my senior year, I started to sense a few changes in myself. My decision to not apply myself had changed to being on the dean’s list every semester (except the one where I took statistics). It was in the summer term of 2018 that I experienced a defining moment in not only my time as a student at FHSU, but in defining myself and who I wanted to be.&nbsp;

In LDRS 670: Leadership and Personal Development, one of the texts was “Life Entrepreneurs.” In the first chapter there is a chart where individuals can be placed into one of four quadrants based on their level of direction and drive. All my life I had been what the authors called a drifter in that I had low direction and low drive. I realized that I was increasing in drive and was becoming a seeker. I determined that I was going to make changes to my life so that I had both direction and drive. I was going to become a captain – a position that I had never taken before, even though I was what would appear to be a successful adult.&nbsp;

I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in May of 2019 and immediately began working harder as a graduate student. Soon I will complete the requirements for my master's degree from FHSU.

The student who applied to FHSU in 2017 no longer exists. That person was fearful of risks or applying himself, the epitome of lackadaisical, and saw zero potential in himself. Today’s Jonathan Jett has learned to take risks. To apply himself and learn more. To work with and rely on others. The student who was first accepted to this school and was only focused on “that piece of paper” has an undergraduate degree.

My professors somehow opened my eyes to what was going on around me, and I saw real change within myself – something that I am eternally grateful for.&nbsp;

But the story does not conclude here. Before FHSU, I had dropped out of college four times. I felt that a college degree was unattainable. Now I have a bachelor’s degree and, shortly, a master’s degree. In less than a month, I begin a Ph.D. program!

FHSU has, quite literally, changed who I am and prepared me for this next phase in my life. Four years ago, my dream job was an entry-level position with no hope of moving up. Today, I am embarking on a journey that will allow me to call myself Dr. Jett. The difference between these two people is FHSU.

There are so many Jonathans in our student body. We exist to serve those people who want a chance to change the course of their lives – and to do so at one of the most affordable universities in the nation. If you have ever thought about pursuing a college credential, I urge you to take action – like Jonathan. Let us help you imagine and achieve a new future.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575302014229.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>If you monitor the news about higher education, you know quite a few colleges and universities are considering or implementing unprecedented measures to stave off financial disaster – employee furloughs, position eliminations, and reducing, eliminating or merging programs.Thankfully, we are not in this position thanks to our sharp focus on relationships that drive retention and our relentless focus on student success. The highest levels of academic excellence, student mentoring, care, and grace are hallmarks of an FHSU experience. But the concerns among those who question the value of a college education have only grown stronger over the past several months.Recently, I began a project to learn more about the experiences and reflections of about a dozen of our soon-to-be graduates. I am excited about sharing some of their stories over the next few weeks. Today, I want to share the journey of one of our online, non-traditional students, Jonathan Jett, from Prattville, Ala.In his words:My FHSU story starts about a year before I applied. I was seeing people all around me receive promotions when they had minimal experience and a college degree. I had many years of experience, but no degree. Finally, in what I would have described at the time as a “dream job,” I was one of only two candidates left. The other person had zero experience but landed the job. I asked what had set her apart from me, and was told that her college education did.&nbsp;I was finally angry enough to do something, and I applied to FHSU's leadership studies program knowing nothing more than what it would cost me financially. I had zero intentions of applying myself, participating outside of minimum requirements or anything else. I was only pursuing a “piece of paper.”As I was nearing my senior year, I started to sense a few changes in myself. My decision to not apply myself had changed to being on the dean’s list every semester (except the one where I took statistics). It was in the summer term of 2018 that I experienced a defining moment in not only my time as a student at FHSU, but in defining myself and who I wanted to be.&nbsp;In LDRS 670: Leadership and Personal Development, one of the texts was “Life Entrepreneurs.” In the first chapter there is a chart where individuals can be placed into one of four quadrants based on their level of direction and drive. All my life I had been what the authors called a drifter in that I had low direction and low drive. I realized that I was increasing in drive and was becoming a seeker. I determined that I was going to make changes to my life so that I had both direction and drive. I was going to become a captain – a position that I had never taken before, even though I was what would appear to be a successful adult.&nbsp;I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in May of 2019 and immediately began working harder as a graduate student. Soon I will complete the requirements for my master's degree from FHSU.The student who applied to FHSU in 2017 no longer exists. That person was fearful of risks or applying himself, the epitome of lackadaisical, and saw zero potential in himself. Today’s Jonathan Jett has learned to take risks. To apply himself and learn more. To work with and rely on others. The student who was first accepted to this school and was only focused on “that piece of paper” has an undergraduate degree.My professors somehow opened my eyes to what was going on around me, and I saw real change within myself – something that I am eternally grateful for.&nbsp;But the story does not conclude here. Before FHSU, I had dropped out of college four times. I felt that a college degree was unattainable. Now I have a bachelor’s degree and, shortly, a master’s degree. In less than a month, I begin a Ph.D. program!FHSU has, quite literally, changed who I am and prepared me for this next phase in my life. Four years ago, my dream job was an entry-level position with no hope of moving up. Today, I am embarking on a journey that will allow me to call myself Dr. Jett. The difference between these two people is FHSU.There are so many Jonathans in our student body. We exist to serve those people who want a chance to change the course of their lives – and to do so at one of the most affordable universities in the nation. If you have ever thought about pursuing a college credential, I urge you to take action – like Jonathan. Let us help you imagine and achieve a new future.

MASON: A case for college

The Kansas Corporation Commission reports just 29 new intent-to-drill notices for the month of April, including one in Ellis County. The April total is down from 37 intents from the month before, and down from 106 in April of last year. There are 200 new intents on file so far this year, compared to 334 by the end of April last year.

Kansas crude prices gained a dollar on Friday. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts this week at $10 a barrel. The monthly average for Kansas Common crude in April was just over $10 a barrel, compared to nearly $21 a barrel in March and over $54 a barrel in April of last year.

Baker Hughes reported another big drop in its weekly Rotary Rig Count to 408 active rigs, down 53 oil rigs and four gas rigs. The count in Texas was down 30 rigs. Colorado dropped by seven rigs. Oklahoma was down five and New Mexico was down four. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports a slight uptick in the Rig Count in Kansas. There are seven active rigs in Western Kansas, up four from last week; and one active rig east of Wichita, up one.&nbsp;

Operators received six new drilling permits across the State of Kansas last week, three east of Wichita, and three in western Kansas. That's 177 permits for drilling at new locations so far this year, compared to 304 at this time last year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas reports just three new well-completions last week, two of them dry holes.

We could find out this week if regulators will place legal limits on oil and gas production in the top-producing state in the country. The Railroad Commission of Texas held a lengthy hearing on the matter last month, but a two-member majority voted to consult with the state attorney general and put off any decision on "proration." The board could take up the matter again in its next scheduled meeting Tuesday.

U.S. crude production dropped 23 million barrels from February of last year, according to the latest numbers available from the government. According to the new government report, Kansas production in February was just over two and a half million barrels. That's an average of 88,000 barrels per day, about the same as the month before, but down from 92,000 barrels per day in February of last year.

The government on last week said U.S. crude-oil inventories increased by nine million barrels, significantly less than expected. Stockpiles are about ten percent above the five year average. The Energy Information Administration reported another decline in weekly crude-oil production.&nbsp; U.S. output last week dropped by about 100,000 barrels per day from the week before. EIA reports imports of 5.3 million barrels per day, up 365,000 barrels per day over the week before. The four-week average is still nearly 20% less than last year. U.S. gasoline stockpiles dropped by nearly four million barrels, but remain about ten percent above the five-year seasonal average.

The Association of American Railroads says U.S. oil-by-rail traffic as down more than 30% for the week ended April 25 compared to a year earlier. Total freight traffic dropped more than 22%.

The government reported total U.S. energy production last year exceeded consumption for the first time in 62 years. The Energy Information Administration compared production and use of oil, gas, coal, nuclear power and renewable energy. The Monthly Energy Review indicates we produced eight trillion BTUs of energy more than we consumed.

Commodity regulators are looking into possible insider futures trading by brokers with inside information on Russia's production negotiations with OPEC. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is scrutinizing futures trades by market participants who may have had advanced word on the Russian strategy. The investigation reportedly does not involve any Americans or Russian officials. But, sources tell Bloomberg the trading entities involved do employ people with ties to the Kremlin.

The Interior Department is preparing to sell drilling rights in the 1.56-million-acre coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but that sale may already have gone bust. Morgan Stanley just ruled out financing for Arctic energy development. They join Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo in ending support for drilling in the refuge. Bloomberg reports activists have shifted their focus to the flow of the huge sums of money needed to exploit the region. Lending restrictions now pose another obstacle to oil companies hunting for the next big U.S. discovery, particularly after an epic collapse in prices, declining demand tied to coronavirus and a mounting glut of crude. The Interior Department is preparing to sell drilling rights in the 1.56-million-acre coastal plain of the Arctic refuge.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574099516454.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBARThe Kansas Corporation Commission reports just 29 new intent-to-drill notices for the month of April, including one in Ellis County. The April total is down from 37 intents from the month before, and down from 106 in April of last year. There are 200 new intents on file so far this year, compared to 334 by the end of April last year.Kansas crude prices gained a dollar on Friday. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts this week at $10 a barrel. The monthly average for Kansas Common crude in April was just over $10 a barrel, compared to nearly $21 a barrel in March and over $54 a barrel in April of last year.Baker Hughes reported another big drop in its weekly Rotary Rig Count to 408 active rigs, down 53 oil rigs and four gas rigs. The count in Texas was down 30 rigs. Colorado dropped by seven rigs. Oklahoma was down five and New Mexico was down four. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports a slight uptick in the Rig Count in Kansas. There are seven active rigs in Western Kansas, up four from last week; and one active rig east of Wichita, up one.&nbsp;Operators received six new drilling permits across the State of Kansas last week, three east of Wichita, and three in western Kansas. That's 177 permits for drilling at new locations so far this year, compared to 304 at this time last year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas reports just three new well-completions last week, two of them dry holes.We could find out this week if regulators will place legal limits on oil and gas production in the top-producing state in the country. The Railroad Commission of Texas held a lengthy hearing on the matter last month, but a two-member majority voted to consult with the state attorney general and put off any decision on "proration." The board could take up the matter again in its next scheduled meeting Tuesday.U.S. crude production dropped 23 million barrels from February of last year, according to the latest numbers available from the government. According to the new government report, Kansas production in February was just over two and a half million barrels. That's an average of 88,000 barrels per day, about the same as the month before, but down from 92,000 barrels per day in February of last year.The government on last week said U.S. crude-oil inventories increased by nine million barrels, significantly less than expected. Stockpiles are about ten percent above the five year average. The Energy Information Administration reported another decline in weekly crude-oil production.&nbsp; U.S. output last week dropped by about 100,000 barrels per day from the week before. EIA reports imports of 5.3 million barrels per day, up 365,000 barrels per day over the week before. The four-week average is still nearly 20% less than last year. U.S. gasoline stockpiles dropped by nearly four million barrels, but remain about ten percent above the five-year seasonal average.The Association of American Railroads says U.S. oil-by-rail traffic as down more than 30% for the week ended April 25 compared to a year earlier. Total freight traffic dropped more than 22%.The government reported total U.S. energy production last year exceeded consumption for the first time in 62 years. The Energy Information Administration compared production and use of oil, gas, coal, nuclear power and renewable energy. The Monthly Energy Review indicates we produced eight trillion BTUs of energy more than we consumed.Commodity regulators are looking into possible insider futures trading by brokers with inside information on Russia's production negotiations with OPEC. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is scrutinizing futures trades by market participants who may have had advanced word on the Russian strategy. The investigation reportedly does not involve any Americans or Russian officials. But, sources tell Bloomberg the trading entities involved do employ people with ties to the Kremlin.The Interior Department is preparing to sell drilling rights in the 1.56-million-acre coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but that sale may already have gone bust. Morgan Stanley just ruled out financing for Arctic energy development. They join Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo in ending support for drilling in the refuge. Bloomberg reports activists have shifted their focus to the flow of the huge sums of money needed to exploit the region. Lending restrictions now pose another obstacle to oil companies hunting for the next big U.S. discovery, particularly after an epic collapse in prices, declining demand tied to coronavirus and a mounting glut of crude. The Interior Department is preparing to sell drilling rights in the 1.56-million-acre coastal plain of the Arctic refuge.

News from the Oil Patch: New drilling notices dip

Yes, government and us folks who hang out under the Dome had heard the group of university economists called the Consensus Revenue Estimate Group (CRE) estimate just what the state’s revenues are going to be for the next 14 months, the end of this fiscal year and the year that starts July 1.

And when those CRE estimates predict millions of dollars of revenue shortfalls they are usually due to tax cuts, but not often a change in the entire landscape of the state, businesses shutting down, Kansans ordered to stay at their homes unless they had to grocery shop or pick up prescriptions or something “essential.”

Those CRE estimates were just that – estimates.

Well, Friday at about noon the Kansas Department of Revenue released its report on just how much in taxes the state received in April – first month of the real social and economic thunderstorm caused by the coronavirus pandemic – and those economists were right with their April 20, semi-annual estimate. Chillingly right.

Nearly every tax source that the state depends on to provide the services we all want from our state, ranging from highways to law enforcement to prisons to education for our children and the relatively grown-up university students, and social services so the poor have the food and housing and health-care that we want them to have, was shaken.

That Friday shockwave showed that the state took in $574.8 million in taxes in April. Last year in April, before all the economic effects of the pandemic, Kansas took in $1.18 billion. Yes, billion. That’s $612 million less this April than last. That shook the building. It meant that the economists, who we suppose spend most of their time reading the small type in the Wall Street Journal and economic newsletters, actually had the clear view of just what Kansans staying at home, closing nonessential businesses, seeing thousands of layoffs, having their tax payments delayed, would cause.

That put a whole new dollars-and-cents face on the coronavirus, and its effect on the economy and the state budget that is now law that is likely to be about $1.2 billion short of what it was based on when it was passed by lawmakers and signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly in March. Again, before the fiscal effects of the virus had been translated into dollars and cents.

Now, it’s waiting to see just how the Legislature responds to that shockwave, which has both fiscal and political fallout for Kansas where every member of the Legislature stands for re-election this year.

The GOP-controlled Legislative Coordinating Council will meet this week to decide whether to reconvene lawmakers – with a myriad of social-distancing issues that will probably make it as uncomfortable as a bad prom date – to deal with the real dollars and cents of the budget.

And you gotta wonder how many Kansas voters are going to see the real numbers and decide if the people who don’t want to fix it now will be going back to the&nbsp; Legislature next session.

Will legislative leaders decide in the wake of those hard-dollar April revenue losses that they can’t delay until next January the fiscal problems that will lead to an unconstitutional budget deficit? Or will they decide it is still too dangerous to convene a mass of legislators from across the state? Or will voters want this budget fire controlled now, before a possible second-round of economic damage to the state if the pandemic spikes this fall?&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141234707.png" alt="Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report." />
 <figcaption>Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report.</figcaption>
 </figure>Friday was shocking in the Statehouse.Yes, government and us folks who hang out under the Dome had heard the group of university economists called the Consensus Revenue Estimate Group (CRE) estimate just what the state’s revenues are going to be for the next 14 months, the end of this fiscal year and the year that starts July 1.And when those CRE estimates predict millions of dollars of revenue shortfalls they are usually due to tax cuts, but not often a change in the entire landscape of the state, businesses shutting down, Kansans ordered to stay at their homes unless they had to grocery shop or pick up prescriptions or something “essential.”Those CRE estimates were just that – estimates.Well, Friday at about noon the Kansas Department of Revenue released its report on just how much in taxes the state received in April – first month of the real social and economic thunderstorm caused by the coronavirus pandemic – and those economists were right with their April 20, semi-annual estimate. Chillingly right.Nearly every tax source that the state depends on to provide the services we all want from our state, ranging from highways to law enforcement to prisons to education for our children and the relatively grown-up university students, and social services so the poor have the food and housing and health-care that we want them to have, was shaken.That Friday shockwave showed that the state took in $574.8 million in taxes in April. Last year in April, before all the economic effects of the pandemic, Kansas took in $1.18 billion. Yes, billion. That’s $612 million less this April than last. That shook the building. It meant that the economists, who we suppose spend most of their time reading the small type in the Wall Street Journal and economic newsletters, actually had the clear view of just what Kansans staying at home, closing nonessential businesses, seeing thousands of layoffs, having their tax payments delayed, would cause.That put a whole new dollars-and-cents face on the coronavirus, and its effect on the economy and the state budget that is now law that is likely to be about $1.2 billion short of what it was based on when it was passed by lawmakers and signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly in March. Again, before the fiscal effects of the virus had been translated into dollars and cents.Now, it’s waiting to see just how the Legislature responds to that shockwave, which has both fiscal and political fallout for Kansas where every member of the Legislature stands for re-election this year.The GOP-controlled Legislative Coordinating Council will meet this week to decide whether to reconvene lawmakers – with a myriad of social-distancing issues that will probably make it as uncomfortable as a bad prom date – to deal with the real dollars and cents of the budget.And you gotta wonder how many Kansas voters are going to see the real numbers and decide if the people who don’t want to fix it now will be going back to the&nbsp; Legislature next session.Will legislative leaders decide in the wake of those hard-dollar April revenue losses that they can’t delay until next January the fiscal problems that will lead to an unconstitutional budget deficit? Or will they decide it is still too dangerous to convene a mass of legislators from across the state? Or will voters want this budget fire controlled now, before a possible second-round of economic damage to the state if the pandemic spikes this fall?&nbsp;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: State's revenue estimates 'chilling'

I’m not sure what canceling the “stay-at-home” order for our state accomplished, as everyone I know has been going everywhere they darn well pleased anyway. We wear masks, try to stay the “required” 6 feet away from each other in check-out lines, don’t hug aunt Bessie if we see her in the aisle at Walmart and don’t shake the preachers hand at the gas station, but we are not barricading ourselves inside and hanging out of third-floor balconies. 

Perhaps outdoorsmen and women have a “leg-up” so to speak on this whole social distancing thing, as when we’re in the woods or on the lake, many of us couldn’t give a rip less if another human being even exists at the time. So whether you are a seasoned, avid outdoorsman or just someone who is so fed up with all the hype and politics of this thing you’re ready to voluntarily let the dog lick you on the lips, allow me to offer some possible “productive pandemic past-times” to help keep you out of the loony bin.&nbsp;

Plant a garden. Even if your thumbs are completely black and you’ve killed every house plant and rose bush you’ve ever owned, try again. Have someone till you up a postage-stamp sized plot somewhere in the back yard, or gather some big flower pots or 5-gallon buckets and plant a mini garden. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and green beans are all easy to grow in decent soil in a sunny spot if you water them a couple times a week. A friend told me she visited a local garden center just last week, and the tomato plants were nearly gone already, so don’t wait any longer to go plant shopping.&nbsp;

Go fishing. Even if you don’t know a hook from a stringer, or a bobber from a jig, borrow a fishing rod, buy a dozen nightcrawlers at the local convenience store and find some water. Places to fish are innumerable. Besides our many state parks and state fishing lakes, every city park has a pond or ponds, private ponds dot the countryside and a little detective work and some driving around will find you one who’s owner will allow you to fish, and there is always the creek or river. Take an old camp chair, find a shade tree in a deserted spot, skewer a worm on the hook beneath a bobber and cast it out. I’m ready to check myself into the hospital psych ward when I don’t catch fish, but for everyone like me there are dozens like my wife who always take a book along and can somehow enjoy the trip whether a fish is landed or not.

Go to the woods. Now, I don’t mean you have to don full camo or a gilly suit, creep into the woods unnoticed and blend yourself into the foliage so that even God almost looses you. I mean find a secluded spot in Nature and spend a couple hours in your camp chair with your camera, a good book or just watching and listening. Last night I was turkey hunting in an out-of-the-way spot near the river. Yes, I heard and saw turkeys, but the highlight of the evening was getting serenaded by a pair of barred owls somewhere nearby as their crisp, distinctive “who cooks, who cooks for you” cries echoed through the woods. Escaping the drone of daily life helps calm us and clear our minds to think clearly about our circumstances, and to see, that for the most part, they’re not that bad.

Spend time with God. We can all speak to, and converse with God as if He’s sitting right beside us, for after all, He really is. Everything we see around us came to be because of Him. He’s also the one who keeps you from floating into outer space as you sit and appreciate Nature. Thank Him for Nature, thank Him for allowing you to live in this great country, and thanks Him for your freedoms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>I’m not sure what canceling the “stay-at-home” order for our state accomplished, as everyone I know has been going everywhere they darn well pleased anyway. We wear masks, try to stay the “required” 6 feet away from each other in check-out lines, don’t hug aunt Bessie if we see her in the aisle at Walmart and don’t shake the preachers hand at the gas station, but we are not barricading ourselves inside and hanging out of third-floor balconies. Perhaps outdoorsmen and women have a “leg-up” so to speak on this whole social distancing thing, as when we’re in the woods or on the lake, many of us couldn’t give a rip less if another human being even exists at the time. So whether you are a seasoned, avid outdoorsman or just someone who is so fed up with all the hype and politics of this thing you’re ready to voluntarily let the dog lick you on the lips, allow me to offer some possible “productive pandemic past-times” to help keep you out of the loony bin.&nbsp;Plant a garden. Even if your thumbs are completely black and you’ve killed every house plant and rose bush you’ve ever owned, try again. Have someone till you up a postage-stamp sized plot somewhere in the back yard, or gather some big flower pots or 5-gallon buckets and plant a mini garden. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and green beans are all easy to grow in decent soil in a sunny spot if you water them a couple times a week. A friend told me she visited a local garden center just last week, and the tomato plants were nearly gone already, so don’t wait any longer to go plant shopping.&nbsp;Go fishing. Even if you don’t know a hook from a stringer, or a bobber from a jig, borrow a fishing rod, buy a dozen nightcrawlers at the local convenience store and find some water. Places to fish are innumerable. Besides our many state parks and state fishing lakes, every city park has a pond or ponds, private ponds dot the countryside and a little detective work and some driving around will find you one who’s owner will allow you to fish, and there is always the creek or river. Take an old camp chair, find a shade tree in a deserted spot, skewer a worm on the hook beneath a bobber and cast it out. I’m ready to check myself into the hospital psych ward when I don’t catch fish, but for everyone like me there are dozens like my wife who always take a book along and can somehow enjoy the trip whether a fish is landed or not.Go to the woods. Now, I don’t mean you have to don full camo or a gilly suit, creep into the woods unnoticed and blend yourself into the foliage so that even God almost looses you. I mean find a secluded spot in Nature and spend a couple hours in your camp chair with your camera, a good book or just watching and listening. Last night I was turkey hunting in an out-of-the-way spot near the river. Yes, I heard and saw turkeys, but the highlight of the evening was getting serenaded by a pair of barred owls somewhere nearby as their crisp, distinctive “who cooks, who cooks for you” cries echoed through the woods. Escaping the drone of daily life helps calm us and clear our minds to think clearly about our circumstances, and to see, that for the most part, they’re not that bad.Spend time with God. We can all speak to, and converse with God as if He’s sitting right beside us, for after all, He really is. Everything we see around us came to be because of Him. He’s also the one who keeps you from floating into outer space as you sit and appreciate Nature. Thank Him for Nature, thank Him for allowing you to live in this great country, and thanks Him for your freedoms.Spending time outdoors, whether in your backyard, in the woods, or on the lake is a great way to clear your mind, and trust me, if your mind is like mine, its clears pretty quickly cause’ there’s not much there to start with. Anyway, Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email@stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Opinion