Extension Agent, Horticulture opportunity in Cottonwood District.

Primary office location is negotiable between GREAT BEND and HAYS, KS. See&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs" target="_blank">www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs</a>&nbsp;for responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedure.

Application deadline: 8/31/22. K-State Research and Extension is an EOE of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Background check required.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659737809311.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Extension Agent, Horticulture opportunity in Cottonwood District.Primary office location is negotiable between GREAT BEND and HAYS, KS. See&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs" target="_blank">www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs</a>&nbsp;for responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedure.Application deadline: 8/31/22. K-State Research and Extension is an EOE of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Background check required.

Beran: All ribbons count

When the calendar turns to August, I&nbsp;find myself saying the same four words, “Where did summer go?” Families with kids adapted to a summer schedule filled with&nbsp;ball games, camp, swimming lessons, and&nbsp;4-H activities and now the schedule is about to change again! With the start of school just a few short weeks away it is the perfect time to call a family meeting and get everyone on board with the new routine.

​Research shows that kids ages 3 to 6 need ten to twelve hours of sleep each day.&nbsp;As youngsters begin pre-school or the early grades it is important to have a set bedtime with a routine that encourages success. Perhaps you want to target 8 p.m. as bedtime. If so you will want to begin the wind down process around 7. Perhaps a warm bath and bed time story help your child to relax. Planning what will be worn the next day or eaten for breakfast also encourages a less hectic morning when the alarm goes off. Whatever you want to adopt as a routine, now is a good time to start working toward your final goal.&nbsp;If the summer schedule has been lax, start moving the bedtime up a few minutes each day until your target is reached. That should help make the first day of school a success.

​One of the most important messages I like to share at this time of year is to “Eat breakfast every day.” &nbsp;As kids start back to school they need to start each day with some nutritious food in their stomachs. &nbsp;It’s really brain food. &nbsp;Countless studies have shown that kids perform better in school, and are less irritable, when their day starts with breakfast.

​There is no doubt about it: our bodies need to refuel after not eating for 10-12 hours. &nbsp;So why is it that breakfast is the meal most often skipped? &nbsp;The most common answers I hear are that “there isn’t time” or “my kids aren’t hungry in the morning.”&nbsp;

As you plan to start each day with breakfast, keep in mind the following tips. &nbsp;Breakfast does not have to be a big meal. &nbsp;Try to include something from the grain group as well as a fruit. &nbsp;Breakfast does not have to be traditional. &nbsp;Be creative; nutritious foods are healthy any time of the day. Last night’s leftovers can be reheated in a hurry. &nbsp;Peanut butter can be spread on a piece of whole grain toast and served with a glass of 100% fruit juice. &nbsp;Equal amounts of juice, milk and yogurt can be combined for a smoothie like treat. Get your day off to a great start and be a breakfast eater!

​And finally, if you live close enough to school can your children safely walk or bike to school? Research shows that starting your day with some physical activity (i.e. walking to school) encourages better concentration and behavior in the classroom.&nbsp;If your schedule allows it, do a trial run with your child; either walking or biking on a safe route to the front door of the school.​

Here’s hoping your school year gets off to a great start!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" 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>When the calendar turns to August, I&nbsp;find myself saying the same four words, “Where did summer go?” Families with kids adapted to a summer schedule filled with&nbsp;ball games, camp, swimming lessons, and&nbsp;4-H activities and now the schedule is about to change again! With the start of school just a few short weeks away it is the perfect time to call a family meeting and get everyone on board with the new routine.​Research shows that kids ages 3 to 6 need ten to twelve hours of sleep each day.&nbsp;As youngsters begin pre-school or the early grades it is important to have a set bedtime with a routine that encourages success. Perhaps you want to target 8 p.m. as bedtime. If so you will want to begin the wind down process around 7. Perhaps a warm bath and bed time story help your child to relax. Planning what will be worn the next day or eaten for breakfast also encourages a less hectic morning when the alarm goes off. Whatever you want to adopt as a routine, now is a good time to start working toward your final goal.&nbsp;If the summer schedule has been lax, start moving the bedtime up a few minutes each day until your target is reached. That should help make the first day of school a success.​One of the most important messages I like to share at this time of year is to “Eat breakfast every day.” &nbsp;As kids start back to school they need to start each day with some nutritious food in their stomachs. &nbsp;It’s really brain food. &nbsp;Countless studies have shown that kids perform better in school, and are less irritable, when their day starts with breakfast.​There is no doubt about it: our bodies need to refuel after not eating for 10-12 hours. &nbsp;So why is it that breakfast is the meal most often skipped? &nbsp;The most common answers I hear are that “there isn’t time” or “my kids aren’t hungry in the morning.”&nbsp;As you plan to start each day with breakfast, keep in mind the following tips. &nbsp;Breakfast does not have to be a big meal. &nbsp;Try to include something from the grain group as well as a fruit. &nbsp;Breakfast does not have to be traditional. &nbsp;Be creative; nutritious foods are healthy any time of the day. Last night’s leftovers can be reheated in a hurry. &nbsp;Peanut butter can be spread on a piece of whole grain toast and served with a glass of 100% fruit juice. &nbsp;Equal amounts of juice, milk and yogurt can be combined for a smoothie like treat. Get your day off to a great start and be a breakfast eater!​And finally, if you live close enough to school can your children safely walk or bike to school? Research shows that starting your day with some physical activity (i.e. walking to school) encourages better concentration and behavior in the classroom.&nbsp;If your schedule allows it, do a trial run with your child; either walking or biking on a safe route to the front door of the school.​Here’s hoping your school year gets off to a great start!Donna Krug is the&nbsp;District Director and&nbsp;Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension –&nbsp;Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Back to school tips

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call the new behavior health/suicide hotline at 988.

High Plains Mental Health Center's emergency after-hours telephone number is 1-800-432-0333.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Suicide rates among farmers in Kansas are up to seven times higher than state rates.

Members of a panel on Thursday said high stress among farmers combined with a reluctance of individuals to seek professional help has led to a mental health crisis.

Representatives of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture were in Hays Thursday to talk to local farmers and listen to the panel, which was assembled by High Plains Mental Health Center. 

Attendees included Joseph Palm, regional director, HHS Intergovernmental and External Affairs; Kimberly Nelson, regional administrator of Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration; Nancy Rios, regional administrator of Health Resources and Services Administration; Nickolas Clasen, HHS Intergovernmental and External Affairs; and Christy Davis, Kansas state director of USDA Rural Development.

Kansas' suicide rate is higher than the national average. It increased 65 percent between 2001 and 2020, said Dania Zolk, section director of injury and violence prevention at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Kansans ages 10 to 34. Suicide in 2020 cost the state $5.7 billion in medical expenses and work loss.

The highest rates are among white males. The suicide rates for rural and frontier counties were 58 percent higher than the state rate.

Duane Keller grew up on a farm in Trego County. He and his wife lost their home and all of his belonging in the Four Counties Fire in December. 

Nine hundred acres of farm ground and 50,000 bushels of corn also burned while the couple was visiting Kansas City.

The couple had built the home 40 years ago with the help of their children. 

"We got a call from our daughter, and she said you're home's gone," Keller said with a crack in his voice. 

"On the way home, I told my wife, 'Look in the back seat of the pickup.' She said there is nothing back there except a couple of bags. I said, 'Well, that's all we got.'"

He said it is therapeutic to talk about the loss and each time he tells the story, it gets easier. 

"Out of tragedy, I think comes opportunities," he said. "I think our family's stronger. I think our son and daughter appreciate us a lot more, and we appreciate what we had. 

"I tell people, on a happy side, how many people at 74 years of age get to build a brand new home and put all new crap in it," he said with a smile, "and the insurance company is going to pay for it."

&nbsp;The damage from the fire lingered. Initially, the wind blew away much of the topsoil from the barren land.&nbsp; The ash from the fire damaged the fertility of the soil. Keller planted and lost two rounds of crops on the burnt ground. A third planting of milo is finally growing.

Keller said farming has always been stressful.

"How many of you would check the markets in the afternoon and you've lost $200,000, but you still eat supper that night? You still move on," he said. "Or you go in to buy fertilizer and it's up four times what it was the year before, but you still write the check."

Brenda Seaman is a licensed clinical social worker at High Plains Mental Center but also comes from a multi-generation farm family.

"As has been said, we deal with things that are not in our control — commodity prices, input prices, weather, government policies that change. We are used to that," she said.

"What I have seen in recent years is a dwindling of resources that help us be resilient. What I mean by that is our communities, our connectedness and our growing isolation."

Many farmers are working additional jobs off the farm and rural populations are shrinking as farms consolidate. 

"There's no time to gather in those informal settings that we used to do, drink a cup of coffee at the local elevator or co-op and talk about the mutual stressors and mutual joys," she said.

She added, "Isolation in my view together with the difficult financial time can create despair hopelessness and a loss of shared purpose. When you are doing a really tough job, that's a big deal."

Farms used to be operated by multiple generations of a family — grandfathers, uncles, fathers and children.

"The weight of this now can be on the farmer alone," Seaman said, "because it is no longer financially viable sometimes to hand that farm down, so kids are working off the farm."

&nbsp;Jessie Wyrill, who lives on a farm in Phillips County, said separating work from home life is impossible on a farm.

Wyrill, holding back tears, talked about the heartbreak of losing a cow and her calf during birthing.

"Imagine moments like that building up day after day," she said. "Tomorrow it might be a bolt that breaks on the bailor and keeps them from finishing before supper and they lose out on spending time with their family. Then the guilt comes."

Wyrill, who is on the Phillips County Hospital Board, said wait times for mental health care are a barrier to many rural Americans. These wait times can be anywhere from two weeks to eight months.

"How is someone who is struggling expected to wait that long to get help and how do they feel if they are just put on the back burner," she said.

Farmers, who are subject to the needs of their livestock or the whims of the weather, can't commit to appointments set far in advance, she said.

This coupled with a desire for privacy makes telehealth a more viable option for many farmers, Wyrill said.

Panel members said high-speed internet is still lacking for many rural families. If you happen to be next to a fiber optic line and can access service with that provider, access is good.

However, panel members gave examples of families who couldn't access internet access when the fiber optic cable was as close as across the road from their homes. One company wanted to lay fiber across a farmer's land but refused to give him internet access because the farmer was not in their coverage area.

The panel members said expanding broadband is essential in expanding telehealth services to rural communities, but business models and regulations are getting in the way of access.

Dr. Christine Fisher, medical director of First Care Clinic in Hays, promoted the use of the integrated health approach that is used at First Care. All First Care patients are screened for both physical and mental health needs when they are seen for appointments.

"People don't like to come back and talk about I'm depressed. I have suicidal thoughts," she said. "But if this is just part of the visit — it's included in your visit — they will stay for that. We can do those suicide interventions."

The clinic hired a psychiatric telehealth nurse practitioner for medication management.

"If there is a hole in medical school teaching and nurse practitioner teaching, it is revolving around behavioral health and behavioral health medication management. Very, very poor teaching, unfortunately," she said.

Lauren Mack, is a veterinarian with The Animal Hospital, which has locations in Plainville and Phillipsburg. She works daily with farmers and ranchers.

She talked about the "weight of legends" in farm families.

"When you stand chute side. The legend is grandpa. ... Sometimes it was great-grandpa or it was the neighbor down the road. You not only have an obligation to your family to keep farming but to the whole region and your children. The list becomes vast."

That weight is paired with a lack of secession planning and substance abuse, she said. She said she sees many psychiatric issues and damaged marriages.

Mack added later the ranchers she works with tend to be very isolated, which she said she thought also contributed to mental health issues.

"If you have ever spent all day working by yourself, you have a lot of time to convince yourself of all the things you have done wrong and all of the things that are going wrong and there is a lot of time to get to a place you shouldn't," she said.

She said she has had ranchers break down into tears with her, but she said it took asking questions and reaching out as a friend to get someone to talk about their struggles.

Addressing needs, looking for solutions

Alicia Boor, Cottonwood Extension District agent, said her agency is trying to get as many people as possible training in Question, Pursue and Refer, which is also known as QPR. This one-hour training helps lay people learn techniques to deal with mental health emergencies. 

"Most farmers don't want to admit that they are struggling, but they will move mountains to save their buddy," she said.

Andrew Brown, commissioner of Behavioral Health Services for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, said the governor dedicated $1.5 million in her budget this year for suicide prevention.

On July 16, the new 988 mental health/suicide hotline launched. It will work much like 911. The majority of the calls to the line will be answered by workers in Kansas.

Kansas is also working to open crisis centers, as well as mobile crisis units, Brown said.

KDHE has applied for a grant from the Centers for Disease Control for mental health programs among youth in agriculture in frontier communities in Kansas, Zolck with KDHE said.

Cover photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659120294939.jpeg" alt="Representatives of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration and High Plains Mental Health Center talk with farmers on a farm southwest of Hays, which is owned by Dylan Bryant, center. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Representatives of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration and High Plains Mental Health Center talk with farmers on a farm southwest of Hays, which is owned by Dylan Bryant, center. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call the new behavior health/suicide hotline at 988.High Plains Mental Health Center's emergency after-hours telephone number is 1-800-432-0333. By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostSuicide rates among farmers in Kansas are up to seven times higher than state rates.Members of a panel on Thursday said high stress among farmers combined with a reluctance of individuals to seek professional help has led to a mental health crisis.Representatives of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture were in Hays Thursday to talk to local farmers and listen to the panel, which was assembled by High Plains Mental Health Center. Attendees included Joseph Palm, regional director, HHS Intergovernmental and External Affairs; Kimberly Nelson, regional administrator of Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration; Nancy Rios, regional administrator of Health Resources and Services Administration; Nickolas Clasen, HHS Intergovernmental and External Affairs; and Christy Davis, Kansas state director of USDA Rural Development.<h2>Suicide by the numbers in Kansas</h2>Kansas' suicide rate is higher than the national average. It increased 65 percent between 2001 and 2020, said Dania Zolk, section director of injury and violence prevention at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Kansans ages 10 to 34. Suicide in 2020 cost the state $5.7 billion in medical expenses and work loss.The highest rates are among white males. The suicide rates for rural and frontier counties were 58 percent higher than the state rate.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659121560317.jpeg" alt="Duane Keller, left, speaks will Walt Hill, director of High Plains Mental Health Center, during a panel Thursday on ag and mental health. Keller lost his home and his farm burned during the Four Counties Fire in December. Photo by Cristina Janney " />
 <figcaption>Duane Keller, left, speaks will Walt Hill, director of High Plains Mental Health Center, during a panel Thursday on ag and mental health. Keller lost his home and his farm burned during the Four Counties Fire in December. Photo by Cristina Janney </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Recovery after the 4-Counties Fire</h2>Duane Keller grew up on a farm in Trego County. He and his wife lost their home and all of his belonging in the Four Counties Fire in December. Nine hundred acres of farm ground and 50,000 bushels of corn also burned while the couple was visiting Kansas City.The couple had built the home 40 years ago with the help of their children. "We got a call from our daughter, and she said you're home's gone," Keller said with a crack in his voice. "On the way home, I told my wife, 'Look in the back seat of the pickup.' She said there is nothing back there except a couple of bags. I said, 'Well, that's all we got.'"He said it is therapeutic to talk about the loss and each time he tells the story, it gets easier. "Out of tragedy, I think comes opportunities," he said. "I think our family's stronger. I think our son and daughter appreciate us a lot more, and we appreciate what we had. "I tell people, on a happy side, how many people at 74 years of age get to build a brand new home and put all new crap in it," he said with a smile, "and the insurance company is going to pay for it."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659122582012.jpeg" alt="Mental Health and agriculture panel presented Thursday in Hays. Photo By Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Mental Health and agriculture panel presented Thursday in Hays. Photo By Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;The damage from the fire lingered. Initially, the wind blew away much of the topsoil from the barren land.&nbsp; The ash from the fire damaged the fertility of the soil. Keller planted and lost two rounds of crops on the burnt ground. A third planting of milo is finally growing. Keller said farming has always been stressful."How many of you would check the markets in the afternoon and you've lost $200,000, but you still eat supper that night? You still move on," he said. "Or you go in to buy fertilizer and it's up four times what it was the year before, but you still write the check."<h2>Isolation pervasive for farm families</h2>Brenda Seaman is a licensed clinical social worker at High Plains Mental Center but also comes from a multi-generation farm family."As has been said, we deal with things that are not in our control — commodity prices, input prices, weather, government policies that change. We are used to that," she said."What I have seen in recent years is a dwindling of resources that help us be resilient. What I mean by that is our communities, our connectedness and our growing isolation."Many farmers are working additional jobs off the farm and rural populations are shrinking as farms consolidate. "There's no time to gather in those informal settings that we used to do, drink a cup of coffee at the local elevator or co-op and talk about the mutual stressors and mutual joys," she said. She added, "Isolation in my view together with the difficult financial time can create despair hopelessness and a loss of shared purpose. When you are doing a really tough job, that's a big deal."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659123479655.jpeg" alt="Photo By Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo By Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Farms used to be operated by multiple generations of a family — grandfathers, uncles, fathers and children."The weight of this now can be on the farmer alone," Seaman said, "because it is no longer financially viable sometimes to hand that farm down, so kids are working off the farm."<h2>Heartbreak of farm life</h2>&nbsp;Jessie Wyrill, who lives on a farm in Phillips County, said separating work from home life is impossible on a farm.Wyrill, holding back tears, talked about the heartbreak of losing a cow and her calf during birthing. "Imagine moments like that building up day after day," she said. "Tomorrow it might be a bolt that breaks on the bailor and keeps them from finishing before supper and they lose out on spending time with their family. Then the guilt comes."Wyrill, who is on the Phillips County Hospital Board, said wait times for mental health care are a barrier to many rural Americans. These wait times can be anywhere from two weeks to eight months."How is someone who is struggling expected to wait that long to get help and how do they feel if they are just put on the back burner," she said.<h2>Need for telehealth, broadband expansion</h2>Farmers, who are subject to the needs of their livestock or the whims of the weather, can't commit to appointments set far in advance, she said.This coupled with a desire for privacy makes telehealth a more viable option for many farmers, Wyrill said.Panel members said high-speed internet is still lacking for many rural families. If you happen to be next to a fiber optic line and can access service with that provider, access is good.However, panel members gave examples of families who couldn't access internet access when the fiber optic cable was as close as across the road from their homes. One company wanted to lay fiber across a farmer's land but refused to give him internet access because the farmer was not in their coverage area.The panel members said expanding broadband is essential in expanding telehealth services to rural communities, but business models and regulations are getting in the way of access. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659122876270.jpeg" alt="Dr. Christine Fisher, medical director of First Care Clinic, urges the expansion of integrated health care to include mental health care. She along with Angel Romero Jr, hemp farmer, left, and veterinarian Lauren Mack, right, sat on a panel on ag and mental health on Thursday in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Dr. Christine Fisher, medical director of First Care Clinic, urges the expansion of integrated health care to include mental health care. She along with Angel Romero Jr, hemp farmer, left, and veterinarian Lauren Mack, right, sat on a panel on ag and mental health on Thursday in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Christine Fisher, medical director of First Care Clinic in Hays, promoted the use of the integrated health approach that is used at First Care. All First Care patients are screened for both physical and mental health needs when they are seen for appointments."People don't like to come back and talk about I'm depressed. I have suicidal thoughts," she said. "But if this is just part of the visit — it's included in your visit — they will stay for that. We can do those suicide interventions."The clinic hired a psychiatric telehealth nurse practitioner for medication management."If there is a hole in medical school teaching and nurse practitioner teaching, it is revolving around behavioral health and behavioral health medication management. Very, very poor teaching, unfortunately," she said.<h2>'Weight of legends'</h2>Lauren Mack, is a veterinarian with The Animal Hospital, which has locations in Plainville and Phillipsburg. She works daily with farmers and ranchers.She talked about the "weight of legends" in farm families. "When you stand chute side. The legend is grandpa. ... Sometimes it was great-grandpa or it was the neighbor down the road. You not only have an obligation to your family to keep farming but to the whole region and your children. The list becomes vast."That weight is paired with a lack of secession planning and substance abuse, she said. She said she sees many psychiatric issues and damaged marriages.Mack added later the ranchers she works with tend to be very isolated, which she said she thought also contributed to mental health issues."If you have ever spent all day working by yourself, you have a lot of time to convince yourself of all the things you have done wrong and all of the things that are going wrong and there is a lot of time to get to a place you shouldn't," she said.She said she has had ranchers break down into tears with her, but she said it took asking questions and reaching out as a friend to get someone to talk about their struggles.<h2>Addressing needs, looking for solutions </h2>Alicia Boor, Cottonwood Extension District agent, said her agency is trying to get as many people as possible training in Question, Pursue and Refer, which is also known as QPR. This one-hour training helps lay people learn techniques to deal with mental health emergencies. "Most farmers don't want to admit that they are struggling, but they will move mountains to save their buddy," she said.Andrew Brown, commissioner of Behavioral Health Services for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, said the governor dedicated $1.5 million in her budget this year for suicide prevention.On July 16, the new 988 mental health/suicide hotline launched. It will work much like 911. The majority of the calls to the line will be answered by workers in Kansas.Kansas is also working to open crisis centers, as well as mobile crisis units, Brown said.KDHE has applied for a grant from the Centers for Disease Control for mental health programs among youth in agriculture in frontier communities in Kansas, Zolck with KDHE said. Cover photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post

Farm stress drives up suicide rates; Hays panel looks for solutions

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

In drier years I get this question.&nbsp;When the soil is dry, will it be able to hold anhydrous ammonia or will some or most of the ammonia be lost shortly after application?

There are three factors that come into play when applying anhydrous ammonia to dry soils.

Chemical&nbsp;- Ammonia (NH3) needs to react with water shortly after application in order to convert into ammonium (NH4+), which is the molecule that can adhere to clay and organic matter in the soil. Ammonia is very soluble in water. After it is placed in the soil, NH3&nbsp;reacts with water in the soil to form NH4+, which is retained on the soil cation exchange capacity sites. This process takes a little time – it does not occur immediately upon contact with the soil. The main controlling factors in the conversion of NH3&nbsp;to NH4+&nbsp;are soil temperature, soil moisture, and soil&nbsp;pH.&nbsp;The higher the soil temperature and the wetter the soil, the more rapid the conversion occurs. If the ammonia does not react with water, it will remain as a gas that could escape from the soil. Also, equilibrium between NH3&nbsp;and NH4+&nbsp;is affected by soil&nbsp;pH.&nbsp;More NH3&nbsp;will remain unconverted in the soil longer at higher application rates and at higher soil pH levels.

Physical&nbsp;- Dry soils may be cloddy, with large air spaces where the soil has cracked. This can allow the gas to physically escape into the air before it has a chance to be converted into ammonium. Getting the soil sealed properly above the injection slot can also be a problem in dry soils. Loss of the ammonium gas can begin immediately&nbsp;after application continuing for several days to weeks if there is no moisture. N losses can be greater than 50%.

Application depth&nbsp;- The deeper the ammonia is applied, the more likely the ammonia will have moisture to react with, and the easier the sealing.

So, can anhydrous ammonia be applied to dry soils?

The answer is&nbsp;yes&nbsp;- as long as the ammonia is applied deep enough to get it in some moisture and the soil is well sealed above the injection slot. If the soil is dry and cloddy, there may be considerable losses of ammonia within just a few days of application if the soil is not well sealed above the injection slot and/or the injection point is too shallow.

Producers should be able to tell if anhydrous is escaping from the soil during application or if the ammonia isn’t being applied deeply enough. If ammonia can be smelled, the producer should either change the equipment setup to get better sealing or deeper injection, or wait until the soil has better moisture conditions.

In short, producers can minimize this potential loss problem by applying the anhydrous ammonia at the proper depth (at least 6 to 8 inches in 30 to&nbsp;40 inch&nbsp;spacings), and using covering disks behind the knives or sealing wings ("beaver tails") on the knives.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658843503783.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy K-State Extension" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy K-State Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictIn drier years I get this question.&nbsp;When the soil is dry, will it be able to hold anhydrous ammonia or will some or most of the ammonia be lost shortly after application?There are three factors that come into play when applying anhydrous ammonia to dry soils.Chemical&nbsp;- Ammonia (NH3) needs to react with water shortly after application in order to convert into ammonium (NH4+), which is the molecule that can adhere to clay and organic matter in the soil. Ammonia is very soluble in water. After it is placed in the soil, NH3&nbsp;reacts with water in the soil to form NH4+, which is retained on the soil cation exchange capacity sites. This process takes a little time – it does not occur immediately upon contact with the soil. The main controlling factors in the conversion of NH3&nbsp;to NH4+&nbsp;are soil temperature, soil moisture, and soil&nbsp;pH.&nbsp;The higher the soil temperature and the wetter the soil, the more rapid the conversion occurs. If the ammonia does not react with water, it will remain as a gas that could escape from the soil. Also, equilibrium between NH3&nbsp;and NH4+&nbsp;is affected by soil&nbsp;pH.&nbsp;More NH3&nbsp;will remain unconverted in the soil longer at higher application rates and at higher soil pH levels.Physical&nbsp;- Dry soils may be cloddy, with large air spaces where the soil has cracked. This can allow the gas to physically escape into the air before it has a chance to be converted into ammonium. Getting the soil sealed properly above the injection slot can also be a problem in dry soils. Loss of the ammonium gas can begin immediately&nbsp;after application continuing for several days to weeks if there is no moisture. N losses can be greater than 50%.Application depth&nbsp;- The deeper the ammonia is applied, the more likely the ammonia will have moisture to react with, and the easier the sealing.So, can anhydrous ammonia be applied to dry soils?The answer is&nbsp;yes&nbsp;- as long as the ammonia is applied deep enough to get it in some moisture and the soil is well sealed above the injection slot. If the soil is dry and cloddy, there may be considerable losses of ammonia within just a few days of application if the soil is not well sealed above the injection slot and/or the injection point is too shallow.Producers should be able to tell if anhydrous is escaping from the soil during application or if the ammonia isn’t being applied deeply enough. If ammonia can be smelled, the producer should either change the equipment setup to get better sealing or deeper injection, or wait until the soil has better moisture conditions.In short, producers can minimize this potential loss problem by applying the anhydrous ammonia at the proper depth (at least 6 to 8 inches in 30 to&nbsp;40 inch&nbsp;spacings), and using covering disks behind the knives or sealing wings ("beaver tails") on the knives.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Can dry soils affect anhydrous applications?

Hi! My name is Monique Koerner. &nbsp;I’m the new Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent&nbsp;in the Cottonwood Extension District. I’m passionate about the community of Hays and the families and children that live here!

Hays&nbsp;is my hometown, and&nbsp;I&nbsp;graduated&nbsp;from Hays High School and Fort Hays State University.&nbsp;Most&nbsp;recently, I&nbsp;graduated from Fort Hays State University in 2019 with a Master's in Professional Studies with an emphasis in Public Health Administration. Before being hired as an Extension agent,&nbsp;I worked for Early Childhood Connections. I was a home visitor for Early Head Start and Parents as Teachers.&nbsp;

My family consists of my husband, Lance, five children ranging in age from 25-15, and two dogs — a long-haired Chihuahua named Bella,&nbsp;and a yellow lab named&nbsp;Phiobe — round out the family.

Advocating&nbsp;for and supporting&nbsp;families who breastfeed&nbsp;is&nbsp;also&nbsp;a passion of mine. &nbsp;I have been a La Leche League Leader for almost 23 years and an International&nbsp;Board Certified&nbsp;Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for 11 years. &nbsp;

I’m excited to begin my new position with K-State. I plan on being at the Backpack for Kids event on Aug. 4,&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;Presbyterian Church from 7am-6pm, Go Truck Go on Sept. 22,&nbsp;at Early Childhood Connections&nbsp;5-7pm,&nbsp;and&nbsp;have&nbsp;<a></a>started&nbsp;planning the annual Family Dinner&nbsp;Night&nbsp;make and take pizza event the last Monday&nbsp;in&nbsp;September. Please come out and say “hi”! I look forward to seeing old friends and acquaintances as well as making new ones.

If you ever need anything, you can find me at our office located at 601 Main St. I can also be contacted at 785-628-9430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658934620122.png" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. " />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. </figcaption>
 </figure>Hi! My name is Monique Koerner. &nbsp;I’m the new Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent&nbsp;in the Cottonwood Extension District. I’m passionate about the community of Hays and the families and children that live here!Hays&nbsp;is my hometown, and&nbsp;I&nbsp;graduated&nbsp;from Hays High School and Fort Hays State University.&nbsp;Most&nbsp;recently, I&nbsp;graduated from Fort Hays State University in 2019 with a Master's in Professional Studies with an emphasis in Public Health Administration. Before being hired as an Extension agent,&nbsp;I worked for Early Childhood Connections. I was a home visitor for Early Head Start and Parents as Teachers.&nbsp;My family consists of my husband, Lance, five children ranging in age from 25-15, and two dogs — a long-haired Chihuahua named Bella,&nbsp;and a yellow lab named&nbsp;Phiobe — round out the family.Advocating&nbsp;for and supporting&nbsp;families who breastfeed&nbsp;is&nbsp;also&nbsp;a passion of mine. &nbsp;I have been a La Leche League Leader for almost 23 years and an International&nbsp;Board Certified&nbsp;Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for 11 years. &nbsp;I’m excited to begin my new position with K-State. I plan on being at the Backpack for Kids event on Aug. 4,&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;Presbyterian Church from 7am-6pm, Go Truck Go on Sept. 22,&nbsp;at Early Childhood Connections&nbsp;5-7pm,&nbsp;and&nbsp;have&nbsp;<a></a>started&nbsp;planning the annual Family Dinner&nbsp;Night&nbsp;make and take pizza event the last Monday&nbsp;in&nbsp;September. Please come out and say “hi”! I look forward to seeing old friends and acquaintances as well as making new ones.If you ever need anything, you can find me at our office located at 601 Main St. I can also be contacted at 785-628-9430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>.

Extension welcomes new family, community wellness agent

August signals the beginning of another school year. Kids of all ages will be learning new skills in the classroom.&nbsp;My hope is that you will find something that you want to learn more about andsign up for a class or two. I have loved my years in Extension because it has encouraged me to be a life-long learner. When I prepare to teach others in a workshop setting,&nbsp;I always find that&nbsp;the time&nbsp;I spend&nbsp;researching the subject&nbsp;teaches me as much as the&nbsp;participants.

Our August Cottonwood Connection e-newsletter will be posted soon on our Cottonwood website. I hope you will take a few minutes and see what opportunities are offered during the month ahead in the Cottonwood District.&nbsp;Agriculture, 4-H and youth development and Family and Consumer Science programming is making a difference in the lives of our families.

Consider signing up for the fermentation workshop I am offering in Great Bend on August 29th.&nbsp;Participants will learn how to make Kimchi which is a tasty Korean condiment. There is a registration fee of $25 that covers the ingredients and equipment needed to ferment a quart of Kimchi.&nbsp;

It is also time to think about registering for the Stay Strong Stay Healthy workshop that begins in September.&nbsp;I will be leading this popular workshop which focuses on improving strength, flexibility, and balance. A $20 registration fee will hold a spot for you and class size is limited. Classes run from September 29th&nbsp;through November 29th, from 10 – 11 AM at the Great Bend Activity Center.&nbsp;

Before I close&nbsp;today,&nbsp;I want to&nbsp;extend&nbsp;a warm welcome&nbsp;to&nbsp;our newest team member, Monique Koerner. Monique is bringing her professional experience to the Cottonwood District as the Family and Community Wellness agent&nbsp;in the Hays office.

Early in August the Cottonwood District Horticulture position will open for applicants and later in the fall the 4-H and youth development position in the Hays office will be filled. Watch for these announcements in the weeks ahead and encourage people you may know&nbsp;who have the qualifications&nbsp;to apply.&nbsp;

Exciting times lie ahead&nbsp;in the Cottonwood District. I hope you will be&nbsp;part of the life-long learning that is happening!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>August signals the beginning of another school year. Kids of all ages will be learning new skills in the classroom.&nbsp;My hope is that you will find something that you want to learn more about andsign up for a class or two. I have loved my years in Extension because it has encouraged me to be a life-long learner. When I prepare to teach others in a workshop setting,&nbsp;I always find that&nbsp;the time&nbsp;I spend&nbsp;researching the subject&nbsp;teaches me as much as the&nbsp;participants.Our August Cottonwood Connection e-newsletter will be posted soon on our Cottonwood website. I hope you will take a few minutes and see what opportunities are offered during the month ahead in the Cottonwood District.&nbsp;Agriculture, 4-H and youth development and Family and Consumer Science programming is making a difference in the lives of our families.Consider signing up for the fermentation workshop I am offering in Great Bend on August 29th.&nbsp;Participants will learn how to make Kimchi which is a tasty Korean condiment. There is a registration fee of $25 that covers the ingredients and equipment needed to ferment a quart of Kimchi.&nbsp;It is also time to think about registering for the Stay Strong Stay Healthy workshop that begins in September.&nbsp;I will be leading this popular workshop which focuses on improving strength, flexibility, and balance. A $20 registration fee will hold a spot for you and class size is limited. Classes run from September 29th&nbsp;through November 29th, from 10 – 11 AM at the Great Bend Activity Center.&nbsp;Before I close&nbsp;today,&nbsp;I want to&nbsp;extend&nbsp;a warm welcome&nbsp;to&nbsp;our newest team member, Monique Koerner. Monique is bringing her professional experience to the Cottonwood District as the Family and Community Wellness agent&nbsp;in the Hays office.Early in August the Cottonwood District Horticulture position will open for applicants and later in the fall the 4-H and youth development position in the Hays office will be filled. Watch for these announcements in the weeks ahead and encourage people you may know&nbsp;who have the qualifications&nbsp;to apply.&nbsp;Exciting times lie ahead&nbsp;in the Cottonwood District. I hope you will be&nbsp;part of the life-long learning that is happening!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend office. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>

KRUG: Are you a lifelong learner?

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood Extension District agent Stacy Campbell shares updates from the district.&nbsp;

<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.</a>

<div><iframe title="Extension district wheat test plot results released" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=yxim2-128592d-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood Extension District agent Stacy Campbell shares updates from the district.&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.</a>

🎙Post Podcast: Extension district wheat test plot results released

As we prepared for the fair, I had the opportunity to work with both 4-H and Open Class superintendents to review Youth Program Quality Principles&nbsp;from the Kansas 4-H Club Corner. There are eight critical principles for youth program quality as defined by 4-H. I do believe that these apply to any youth program!

1)Physical and psychological safety – Youth need to feel safe in 4-H programs and be able to interact positively with others.Volunteers for Kansas 4-H go through background checks and have access to trainings to provide an appropriate environment for youth to develop.

2)Appropriate structure – Whether it is a club meeting or leadership camp, 4-H programs must have clear and consistent rules and expectations, with clear boundaries and age-appropriate monitoring.

3)Supportive relationships – All youth need to feel warmth from and closeness to others in 4-H. Youth need to feel others care about and support them. They also need to receive clear guidance and communication from 4-H volunteers and staff.

4)Opportunities to belong – All youth need to feel included in a meaningful way in 4-H, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or ability. Youth have opportunities to share their culture and heritage with others and to forge a positive identity.For myself, at the end of the day, did I help a youth feel valued and that they have a support system?

5)Positive social norms – Youth should experience clear rules and expectations for participating in 4-H, including the values, morals, and ethical expectations of being a 4-H member.Opportunities bring responsibility and that is a life skill which includes abiding by deadlines and a Code of Conduct for appropriate behavior, especially when you are representing your family, club, county, and state at events.

6)Support for efficacy and mattering – Youth in 4-H should be taken seriously and respected for their ideas and contributions. Youth should be given opportunities to develop responsibility and be challenged to set and achieve new goals.Representing their club at 4-H Council, serving in Junior Leaders, and being selected to a 4-H Ambassador role, and serving as club officers are all great examples of providing opportunities for developing responsibility. Each new 4-H year brings the opportunity to set new project goals for learning. These are all important life skills!

7)Opportunities for skill building – Youth need to develop physical, psychological, intellectual, emotional, and social skills as they grow and develop. 4-H provides opportunities for youth to develop these skills, skills that support a young person into adulthood and the workplace.One of the hallmarks of 4-H is the nearly forty project areas offered to learn about everything from Arts and Crafts to Woodworking. While youth explore the specific project material, they are also learning communication skills, responsibility, time management, and a sense of belonging.

8)Integration of family, school, and community – Youth in 4-H do best when there is a connection to their 4-H experience with their family, school, and community. This is why 4-H programs begin at the local level, in the community where youth can practice their emerging leadership skills as they grow and develop. As a teacher, do you have a 4-H member in your class? Invite them to share about a project! Are you part of a civic organization that would like to know more about what 4-H members are learning? Reach out to them and ask them to present! Your engagement and support help to enrich their 4-H experience and learning opportunities.

If you want to have an active part in developing the next generation of community leaders, business owners, and work&nbsp;force&nbsp;– consider volunteering with a youth organization! If often means checking your own attitude and agenda at the door but the results are incredible!

Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Barton County office. For more information on this article or other 4-H and Youth Development related questions, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579114162620.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>As we prepared for the fair, I had the opportunity to work with both 4-H and Open Class superintendents to review Youth Program Quality Principles&nbsp;from the Kansas 4-H Club Corner. There are eight critical principles for youth program quality as defined by 4-H. I do believe that these apply to any youth program!1)Physical and psychological safety – Youth need to feel safe in 4-H programs and be able to interact positively with others.Volunteers for Kansas 4-H go through background checks and have access to trainings to provide an appropriate environment for youth to develop.2)Appropriate structure – Whether it is a club meeting or leadership camp, 4-H programs must have clear and consistent rules and expectations, with clear boundaries and age-appropriate monitoring.3)Supportive relationships – All youth need to feel warmth from and closeness to others in 4-H. Youth need to feel others care about and support them. They also need to receive clear guidance and communication from 4-H volunteers and staff.4)Opportunities to belong – All youth need to feel included in a meaningful way in 4-H, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or ability. Youth have opportunities to share their culture and heritage with others and to forge a positive identity.For myself, at the end of the day, did I help a youth feel valued and that they have a support system?5)Positive social norms – Youth should experience clear rules and expectations for participating in 4-H, including the values, morals, and ethical expectations of being a 4-H member.Opportunities bring responsibility and that is a life skill which includes abiding by deadlines and a Code of Conduct for appropriate behavior, especially when you are representing your family, club, county, and state at events.6)Support for efficacy and mattering – Youth in 4-H should be taken seriously and respected for their ideas and contributions. Youth should be given opportunities to develop responsibility and be challenged to set and achieve new goals.Representing their club at 4-H Council, serving in Junior Leaders, and being selected to a 4-H Ambassador role, and serving as club officers are all great examples of providing opportunities for developing responsibility. Each new 4-H year brings the opportunity to set new project goals for learning. These are all important life skills!7)Opportunities for skill building – Youth need to develop physical, psychological, intellectual, emotional, and social skills as they grow and develop. 4-H provides opportunities for youth to develop these skills, skills that support a young person into adulthood and the workplace.One of the hallmarks of 4-H is the nearly forty project areas offered to learn about everything from Arts and Crafts to Woodworking. While youth explore the specific project material, they are also learning communication skills, responsibility, time management, and a sense of belonging.8)Integration of family, school, and community – Youth in 4-H do best when there is a connection to their 4-H experience with their family, school, and community. This is why 4-H programs begin at the local level, in the community where youth can practice their emerging leadership skills as they grow and develop. As a teacher, do you have a 4-H member in your class? Invite them to share about a project! Are you part of a civic organization that would like to know more about what 4-H members are learning? Reach out to them and ask them to present! Your engagement and support help to enrich their 4-H experience and learning opportunities.If you want to have an active part in developing the next generation of community leaders, business owners, and work&nbsp;force&nbsp;– consider volunteering with a youth organization! If often means checking your own attitude and agenda at the door but the results are incredible!Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Barton County office. For more information on this article or other 4-H and Youth Development related questions, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call 620-793-1910.

BERAN: Youth development

I guess you could say “The Heat is on!” &nbsp;But after all it is July and&nbsp;County Fairs&nbsp;are in&nbsp;full swing, so what else could we expect? &nbsp;During&nbsp;this hot stretch it is a good idea to check on elderly family&nbsp;members&nbsp;or neighbors who may have&nbsp;other&nbsp;health issues&nbsp;besides dealing with the heat.&nbsp;

As we&nbsp;look ahead to a forecast of&nbsp;triple digit&nbsp;temperatures&nbsp;it seems like the perfect time to remind everyone about the importance of staying hydrated.&nbsp;A good rule of thumb for the amount of water you&nbsp;need is to divide your body weight by two. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you should be drinking under normal circumstances&nbsp;and more is needed as summer temperatures and humidity rise.&nbsp;So for an example, a 150-pound individual should&nbsp;have at least 75 ounces, but more during this heat wave.&nbsp;Sometimes we forget that 55-75 percent of our body’s weight is water; the brain is 70 percent water; blood is 82 percent water, and the lungs are nearly 90 percent water. Water is also responsible for carrying nutrients and oxygen to cells; cushions organs, tissue, bones and joints; removes&nbsp;waste; and regulates body temperature.

Exposure to the sun or getting sunburned&nbsp;will speed fluid loss, and so will drinking beverages containing caffeine or alcohol, which both act as diuretics. Fluid replacement is essential, but it is best to not wait until you are thirsty. Excessive water loss or dehydration can impair body function and lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke and can be life threatening.&nbsp;It is a&nbsp;good idea to become familiar with the signs of heat exhaustion. They include: dizziness, weakness, feeling thirsty, uncoordinated or nauseated. Most people sweat a lot during heat exhaustion. The signs of a heat stroke are different. They include: a body temperature of 104 or above, confusion, staggering, possible fainting, either a rapid pulse or&nbsp;a slow weak pulse, and not sweating, despite the heat. It is important to get medical help right away if you suspect&nbsp;a heat stroke.

Cool water is recommended for&nbsp;the majority of fluid replacement because it is easily absorbed. Many foods&nbsp;also&nbsp;have a high&nbsp;water content and should be included in a healthy summer diet. Melons and most other fruits, along with tomatoes, vegetables, soups, smoothies, puddings and gelatin salads should not be overlooked. Sports beverages may be helpful for athletes who are exercising more than one hour and are in need of electrolytes and quick energy, but consider diluting&nbsp;them with water in order to reduce&nbsp;sugar consumption.&nbsp;

The bottom&nbsp;line on staying hydrated is to drink fluids before you become thirsty. As we age our ability&nbsp;to sense thirst declines, leaving older people unable to rely on their thirst to prompt them to drink enough fluids. Infants and small children also need to be monitored closely to assure that dehydration does not occur. Little ones lose more fluids because they have a greater proportion of skin surface in relation to their size. Offer water frequently, each time a child passes through the kitchen and before, during&nbsp;and after play.

Let’s hope that the heat breaks soon before the&nbsp;2022&nbsp;summer goes into the record books!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" 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>I guess you could say “The Heat is on!” &nbsp;But after all it is July and&nbsp;County Fairs&nbsp;are in&nbsp;full swing, so what else could we expect? &nbsp;During&nbsp;this hot stretch it is a good idea to check on elderly family&nbsp;members&nbsp;or neighbors who may have&nbsp;other&nbsp;health issues&nbsp;besides dealing with the heat.&nbsp;As we&nbsp;look ahead to a forecast of&nbsp;triple digit&nbsp;temperatures&nbsp;it seems like the perfect time to remind everyone about the importance of staying hydrated.&nbsp;A good rule of thumb for the amount of water you&nbsp;need is to divide your body weight by two. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you should be drinking under normal circumstances&nbsp;and more is needed as summer temperatures and humidity rise.&nbsp;So for an example, a 150-pound individual should&nbsp;have at least 75 ounces, but more during this heat wave.&nbsp;Sometimes we forget that 55-75 percent of our body’s weight is water; the brain is 70 percent water; blood is 82 percent water, and the lungs are nearly 90 percent water. Water is also responsible for carrying nutrients and oxygen to cells; cushions organs, tissue, bones and joints; removes&nbsp;waste; and regulates body temperature.Exposure to the sun or getting sunburned&nbsp;will speed fluid loss, and so will drinking beverages containing caffeine or alcohol, which both act as diuretics. Fluid replacement is essential, but it is best to not wait until you are thirsty. Excessive water loss or dehydration can impair body function and lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke and can be life threatening.&nbsp;It is a&nbsp;good idea to become familiar with the signs of heat exhaustion. They include: dizziness, weakness, feeling thirsty, uncoordinated or nauseated. Most people sweat a lot during heat exhaustion. The signs of a heat stroke are different. They include: a body temperature of 104 or above, confusion, staggering, possible fainting, either a rapid pulse or&nbsp;a slow weak pulse, and not sweating, despite the heat. It is important to get medical help right away if you suspect&nbsp;a heat stroke.Cool water is recommended for&nbsp;the majority of fluid replacement because it is easily absorbed. Many foods&nbsp;also&nbsp;have a high&nbsp;water content and should be included in a healthy summer diet. Melons and most other fruits, along with tomatoes, vegetables, soups, smoothies, puddings and gelatin salads should not be overlooked. Sports beverages may be helpful for athletes who are exercising more than one hour and are in need of electrolytes and quick energy, but consider diluting&nbsp;them with water in order to reduce&nbsp;sugar consumption.&nbsp;The bottom&nbsp;line on staying hydrated is to drink fluids before you become thirsty. As we age our ability&nbsp;to sense thirst declines, leaving older people unable to rely on their thirst to prompt them to drink enough fluids. Infants and small children also need to be monitored closely to assure that dehydration does not occur. Little ones lose more fluids because they have a greater proportion of skin surface in relation to their size. Offer water frequently, each time a child passes through the kitchen and before, during&nbsp;and after play.Let’s hope that the heat breaks soon before the&nbsp;2022&nbsp;summer goes into the record books!Donna Krug is the&nbsp;District Director and&nbsp;Family&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;Consumer Science Agent with&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension&nbsp;–&nbsp;Cottonwood District. She may be reached at (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

KRUG: Fluids important to manage heat, humidity safely

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District&nbsp;

Farmers are&nbsp;preparing&nbsp;for planting their next wheat crop this coming Fall. And some of you may be considering choosing a new variety to plant. If so KSRE has several resources available to help you&nbsp;out.&nbsp;

You can go to our Cottonwood Extension District web site at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cottonwood.ksu.edu/">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;that’s cottonwood.ksu.edu&nbsp;click onto the Crops and Livestock tab and then look under Hot Topics for the Barton and&nbsp;Ellis&nbsp;County&nbsp;wheat demonstration plot results as a starting place.&nbsp;The Barton&nbsp;County&nbsp;results are not posted yet, because I do not have the results&nbsp;back&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;K-State Extension&nbsp;Agronomy/Wheat team&nbsp;who put the test in and harvested it.&nbsp;However, I would not base my decisions on the results of&nbsp;un-replicated Count&nbsp;agent&nbsp;demonstration plots.&nbsp;They are&nbsp;used more as a platform to hold a field day each year and discuss the varieties strengths and weaknesses.&nbsp;

Instead,&nbsp;I would highly encourage growers to make your variety selection decisions based&nbsp;more&nbsp;on K-State Agricultural&nbsp;Research Centers&nbsp;replicated wheat performance tests, and&nbsp;any&nbsp;companies replicated tests as well.&nbsp;

These results from the Agricultural&nbsp;Research Centers&nbsp;can also be found on our web site, under Hot Topics&nbsp;section.&nbsp;Another resource under Hot Topics is the&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Wheat Variety&nbsp;Guide 2022. It has been renamed, it was formerly called the Wheat Variety Disease &amp; Insect Ratings.&nbsp;&nbsp;And lastly Colorado State University has a wheat variety database that provides complete access to variety trial&nbsp;results&nbsp;in Colorado and several other Great Plains states&nbsp;including Kansas. The database also includes private company trial data. You can look at single location trial data, multiple location trial data&nbsp;and do Head-to-Head Comparisons&nbsp;of varieties. The link to the Colorado&nbsp;Wheat Variety Decision tool is also under the Hot Topics section on our web site.&nbsp;

So,&nbsp;farmers&nbsp;to find all of those useful decision&nbsp;aid tools in helping you to choose a possible new wheat variety to plant this Fall. Go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cottonwood.ksu.edu/">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or simply type into your internet browser, Cottonwood Extension,&nbsp;then click onto the Crops and Livestock tab and look under Hot Topics.&nbsp;

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District&nbsp;Farmers are&nbsp;preparing&nbsp;for planting their next wheat crop this coming Fall. And some of you may be considering choosing a new variety to plant. If so KSRE has several resources available to help you&nbsp;out.&nbsp;You can go to our Cottonwood Extension District web site at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cottonwood.ksu.edu/">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;that’s cottonwood.ksu.edu&nbsp;click onto the Crops and Livestock tab and then look under Hot Topics for the Barton and&nbsp;Ellis&nbsp;County&nbsp;wheat demonstration plot results as a starting place.&nbsp;The Barton&nbsp;County&nbsp;results are not posted yet, because I do not have the results&nbsp;back&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;K-State Extension&nbsp;Agronomy/Wheat team&nbsp;who put the test in and harvested it.&nbsp;However, I would not base my decisions on the results of&nbsp;un-replicated Count&nbsp;agent&nbsp;demonstration plots.&nbsp;They are&nbsp;used more as a platform to hold a field day each year and discuss the varieties strengths and weaknesses.&nbsp;Instead,&nbsp;I would highly encourage growers to make your variety selection decisions based&nbsp;more&nbsp;on K-State Agricultural&nbsp;Research Centers&nbsp;replicated wheat performance tests, and&nbsp;any&nbsp;companies replicated tests as well.&nbsp;These results from the Agricultural&nbsp;Research Centers&nbsp;can also be found on our web site, under Hot Topics&nbsp;section.&nbsp;Another resource under Hot Topics is the&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Wheat Variety&nbsp;Guide 2022. It has been renamed, it was formerly called the Wheat Variety Disease &amp; Insect Ratings.&nbsp;&nbsp;And lastly Colorado State University has a wheat variety database that provides complete access to variety trial&nbsp;results&nbsp;in Colorado and several other Great Plains states&nbsp;including Kansas. The database also includes private company trial data. You can look at single location trial data, multiple location trial data&nbsp;and do Head-to-Head Comparisons&nbsp;of varieties. The link to the Colorado&nbsp;Wheat Variety Decision tool is also under the Hot Topics section on our web site.&nbsp;So,&nbsp;farmers&nbsp;to find all of those useful decision&nbsp;aid tools in helping you to choose a possible new wheat variety to plant this Fall. Go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cottonwood.ksu.edu/">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or simply type into your internet browser, Cottonwood Extension,&nbsp;then click onto the Crops and Livestock tab and look under Hot Topics.&nbsp;Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Wheat variety selection resources  

Typically, wheat growers will keep back enough of their wheat seed to plant again, but also they may be looking to replace a variety in an effort to reduce seed borne diseases, and to improve genetics for&nbsp;various factors including but not limited to&nbsp;yield and disease prevention.&nbsp;

Each year many county agents put out wheat variety demonstration plots and conduct field days to view and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of varieties and wheat production issues. Most demonstration plots are also harvested. &nbsp;

To see the full yield results and&nbsp;details of the cultural practices go to our web site at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cottonwood.ksu.edu/">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;This demonstration wheat plot&nbsp;should not be used&nbsp;solely&nbsp;for making your variety selection decisions, it is more for showing and talking about the varieties each year at the field day. &nbsp;

Instead I would highly encourage growers to make your variety selection decisions based on the K-State Agricultural Experiment Stations replicated wheat performance tests. They are randomized replicated trials,&nbsp;meaning each variety is randomly planted in 4 different spots in the field, all seed is either foundation or registered. Replicated field trials will account for or smooth out the variability within a field, and thus are more accurate. These results from the&nbsp;K-State&nbsp;Agricultural Experiment Stations can also be found on our web site. &nbsp;

Yield should not be the only consideration in your selection, and multiple years of data should be considered.&nbsp;Some other important considerations are stripe &amp; leaf rust resistance, drought tolerance, winter hardiness, straw strength, shattering reputation, maturity and test weight. Each grower may differ some in what is most important to them and may add other considerations not mentioned. &nbsp;A good resource is “Wheat Variety Disease and Insect Ratings– MF991” publication that is updated yearly,&nbsp;it will be&nbsp;posted on our web site as well, click onto Crops and Livestock, and look under Hot Topics.&nbsp;

Many thanks to&nbsp;Neil Gottschalk &amp; Brandon Riedel for putting out the wheat demonstration plot. And to the&nbsp;following businesses for sponsoring the field day meal – Bank of Hays,&nbsp;Bieker Insurance&nbsp;Agency,&nbsp;Carrico&nbsp;Implement, Commerce Bank, Emprise Bank,&nbsp;Farm Bureau Financial Services, Danny Dinkel, First Kansas Bank,&nbsp;Golden Belt Bank, Golden Belt Coop, Gorham State Bank, High Plains Farm Credit,&nbsp;Kippes&nbsp;Insurance Agency,&nbsp;LDI, Midland Marketing,&nbsp;Nutrien&nbsp;Ag Solutions, Radke Implement,&nbsp;Sunflower Bank, United Ag and A &amp; A Coors. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657739999131.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictTypically, wheat growers will keep back enough of their wheat seed to plant again, but also they may be looking to replace a variety in an effort to reduce seed borne diseases, and to improve genetics for&nbsp;various factors including but not limited to&nbsp;yield and disease prevention.&nbsp;Each year many county agents put out wheat variety demonstration plots and conduct field days to view and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of varieties and wheat production issues. Most demonstration plots are also harvested. &nbsp;To see the full yield results and&nbsp;details of the cultural practices go to our web site at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cottonwood.ksu.edu/">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;This demonstration wheat plot&nbsp;should not be used&nbsp;solely&nbsp;for making your variety selection decisions, it is more for showing and talking about the varieties each year at the field day. &nbsp;Instead I would highly encourage growers to make your variety selection decisions based on the K-State Agricultural Experiment Stations replicated wheat performance tests. They are randomized replicated trials,&nbsp;meaning each variety is randomly planted in 4 different spots in the field, all seed is either foundation or registered. Replicated field trials will account for or smooth out the variability within a field, and thus are more accurate. These results from the&nbsp;K-State&nbsp;Agricultural Experiment Stations can also be found on our web site. &nbsp;Yield should not be the only consideration in your selection, and multiple years of data should be considered.&nbsp;Some other important considerations are stripe &amp; leaf rust resistance, drought tolerance, winter hardiness, straw strength, shattering reputation, maturity and test weight. Each grower may differ some in what is most important to them and may add other considerations not mentioned. &nbsp;A good resource is “Wheat Variety Disease and Insect Ratings– MF991” publication that is updated yearly,&nbsp;it will be&nbsp;posted on our web site as well, click onto Crops and Livestock, and look under Hot Topics.&nbsp;Many thanks to&nbsp;Neil Gottschalk &amp; Brandon Riedel for putting out the wheat demonstration plot. And to the&nbsp;following businesses for sponsoring the field day meal – Bank of Hays,&nbsp;Bieker Insurance&nbsp;Agency,&nbsp;Carrico&nbsp;Implement, Commerce Bank, Emprise Bank,&nbsp;Farm Bureau Financial Services, Danny Dinkel, First Kansas Bank,&nbsp;Golden Belt Bank, Golden Belt Coop, Gorham State Bank, High Plains Farm Credit,&nbsp;Kippes&nbsp;Insurance Agency,&nbsp;LDI, Midland Marketing,&nbsp;Nutrien&nbsp;Ag Solutions, Radke Implement,&nbsp;Sunflower Bank, United Ag and A &amp; A Coors. &nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657740018752.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

CAMPBELL: Ellis County wheat variety demonstration plot

&nbsp;By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

Summer temperatures have arrived, if you are planning herbicide applications, here are some things to consider when applying herbicides during hot weather;&nbsp;provided by Sarah Lancaster,&nbsp;Extension Weed Specialist.

Heat or drought stress slows plant growth processes.&nbsp;This is especially important for systemic herbicides such as glyphosate and grass-killing herbicides like clethodim (Select) or&nbsp;quizalofop(Assure). As temperatures increase above 85°F, many plants begin to slow or stop metabolic processes that move herbicides throughout the plant. Notable exceptions to this rule are HPPD-inhibiting herbicides like&nbsp;Callisto&nbsp;or Balance&nbsp;Flexx. Palmer amaranth plants are able to overcome applications of these herbicides when applied at high temperatures (90°F and greater).

Management:&nbsp;In general, applying systemic herbicides early in the morning, after plants have had a chance to recover from heat stress, will give the best chance for the herbicide to reach the active site and effectively kill weeds.

Leaves change in response to heat.&nbsp;In order to prevent water loss, plant cuticles become waxier in response to heat or drought stress. The greater wax content makes it more difficult for water-based spray solutions to penetrate the plant. In addition, the leaf angle of many plants changes in response to heat or drought stress. Often, this results in less herbicide contacting the leaf surface to enter the plant.

Management:&nbsp;Using maximum labeled rates of herbicides and surfactants can help get more spray solution into the plant, increasing effectiveness. Spraying during the cooler parts of the day will reduce the&nbsp;impact of altered leaf angle.&nbsp;

Crop response to foliar applied, non-translocated herbicides is greater in hot temperatures.&nbsp;When applied in hot, humid conditions, contact herbicides, such as Cobra, Liberty, or Reflex will likely result in greater foliar injury to crops, but also&nbsp;greater weed control.

Management:&nbsp;If possible, postpone application of these herbicides if temperatures are over 90°F. If weed size requires immediate herbicide application, reduce the rate of herbicide and adjuvant, and apply later in the day, when the air temperature will decrease after application.

Herbicide volatility increases with high temperatures and low humidity.&nbsp;Herbicides in group four, such as dicamba and 2,4-D are prone to volatility, which means the herbicide becomes a&nbsp;vapor and can move long distances with slight breezes. Volatility of these herbicides increases as temperature rise above 60°F and is greatest at temperatures above 90°F.

Management:&nbsp;Avoid applying these herbicides when temperatures are over 90°F. This may occur during morning or late afternoon hours, when temperature inversions are likely to occur. Herbicides should not be sprayed during inversions, when small spray droplets can become trapped in a layer of cooler air near the earth’s&nbsp;surface.Use&nbsp;larger spray droplets to reduce evaporation, which can be accomplished by reducing spray pressure or increasing nozzle orifice size.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657034270364.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy K-State Extension" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy K-State Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictSummer temperatures have arrived, if you are planning herbicide applications, here are some things to consider when applying herbicides during hot weather;&nbsp;provided by Sarah Lancaster,&nbsp;Extension Weed Specialist.Heat or drought stress slows plant growth processes.&nbsp;This is especially important for systemic herbicides such as glyphosate and grass-killing herbicides like clethodim (Select) or&nbsp;quizalofop(Assure). As temperatures increase above 85°F, many plants begin to slow or stop metabolic processes that move herbicides throughout the plant. Notable exceptions to this rule are HPPD-inhibiting herbicides like&nbsp;Callisto&nbsp;or Balance&nbsp;Flexx. Palmer amaranth plants are able to overcome applications of these herbicides when applied at high temperatures (90°F and greater).Management:&nbsp;In general, applying systemic herbicides early in the morning, after plants have had a chance to recover from heat stress, will give the best chance for the herbicide to reach the active site and effectively kill weeds.Leaves change in response to heat.&nbsp;In order to prevent water loss, plant cuticles become waxier in response to heat or drought stress. The greater wax content makes it more difficult for water-based spray solutions to penetrate the plant. In addition, the leaf angle of many plants changes in response to heat or drought stress. Often, this results in less herbicide contacting the leaf surface to enter the plant.Management:&nbsp;Using maximum labeled rates of herbicides and surfactants can help get more spray solution into the plant, increasing effectiveness. Spraying during the cooler parts of the day will reduce the&nbsp;impact of altered leaf angle.&nbsp;Crop response to foliar applied, non-translocated herbicides is greater in hot temperatures.&nbsp;When applied in hot, humid conditions, contact herbicides, such as Cobra, Liberty, or Reflex will likely result in greater foliar injury to crops, but also&nbsp;greater weed control.Management:&nbsp;If possible, postpone application of these herbicides if temperatures are over 90°F. If weed size requires immediate herbicide application, reduce the rate of herbicide and adjuvant, and apply later in the day, when the air temperature will decrease after application. Herbicide volatility increases with high temperatures and low humidity.&nbsp;Herbicides in group four, such as dicamba and 2,4-D are prone to volatility, which means the herbicide becomes a&nbsp;vapor and can move long distances with slight breezes. Volatility of these herbicides increases as temperature rise above 60°F and is greatest at temperatures above 90°F.Management:&nbsp;Avoid applying these herbicides when temperatures are over 90°F. This may occur during morning or late afternoon hours, when temperature inversions are likely to occur. Herbicides should not be sprayed during inversions, when small spray droplets can become trapped in a layer of cooler air near the earth’s&nbsp;surface.Use&nbsp;larger spray droplets to reduce evaporation, which can be accomplished by reducing spray pressure or increasing nozzle orifice size.Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Herbicide applications and high temperatures

The Ellis Police Department released more details Friday
afternoon into the disappearance of a 53-year-old Ellis woman.

According to Ellis Chief of Police Avery Smith, the body of
53-year-old Twila Wilson was found just after 9:30 a.m. Friday approximately
1,000 feet to the west of the Cottonwood Street railroad crossing.

Wilson was initially reported missing just after 7 a.m. Friday
after she failed to show up for work.

Smith said that they believe that she was hit by the train
as the was walking along the tracks. An autopsy was performed and he said the
cause and manner of Wilson’s death is still under investigation.

Office of the Chief of Police On 07/01/2022 at 0709, The Ellis Police Department was
notified of a possible missing person. Twila Wilson, 53, of Ellis was reported
missing after not showing up for work. Twila’s vehicle was located in the 900
block of Cottonwood Street along with her cell phone. Law Enforcement then
began searching several possible locations in an attempt to check Twila’s
welfare.

At 0932, Twila was located deceased approximately 1000 feet
to the west of the Cottonwood Street railroad crossing. At this time, it is
believed that Twila was struck by a train as she was walking along the tracks.
The 23rd Judicial District Coroner’s Office was contacted and an autopsy was
performed. The cause and manner of death is still under investigation.

Our sincere condolences go out to the Wilson family as they
deal with this tragic situation and we pray they find peace in this difficult
time.

The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Highway Patrol,
23rd Judicial District Coroner’s Office, and Hays Communications Center
assisted with this investigation.

No further information will be released at this time, as
this is an active investigation.

The Ellis County Sherrifs Department has called off the search for Twila Wilson.&nbsp;

Further details are expected from the department later today.

The Ellis County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance in locating a woman that walked away from her vehicle Friday morning in Ellis.

Twila Wilson, 54, was last seen around 5:15 a.m. at Caseys, 213 Washington, leaving behind her phone and purse.

She was described as 5 foot 3, 175 pounds with dark blonde hair and blue eyes.

She was wearing a gray T-shirt, black shorts and black shoes.

If seen, the public is asked to contact Ellis County dispatch at (785) 625-1011.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1656686095522.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Ellis Police Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Ellis Police Department</figcaption>
 </figure>UPDATE 3:25 p.m.: The Ellis Police Department released more details Friday
afternoon into the disappearance of a 53-year-old Ellis woman.According to Ellis Chief of Police Avery Smith, the body of
53-year-old Twila Wilson was found just after 9:30 a.m. Friday approximately
1,000 feet to the west of the Cottonwood Street railroad crossing.Wilson was initially reported missing just after 7 a.m. Friday
after she failed to show up for work.Smith said that they believe that she was hit by the train
as the was walking along the tracks. An autopsy was performed and he said the
cause and manner of Wilson’s death is still under investigation. Office of the Chief of Police On 07/01/2022 at 0709, The Ellis Police Department was
notified of a possible missing person. Twila Wilson, 53, of Ellis was reported
missing after not showing up for work. Twila’s vehicle was located in the 900
block of Cottonwood Street along with her cell phone. Law Enforcement then
began searching several possible locations in an attempt to check Twila’s
welfare. At 0932, Twila was located deceased approximately 1000 feet
to the west of the Cottonwood Street railroad crossing. At this time, it is
believed that Twila was struck by a train as she was walking along the tracks.
The 23rd Judicial District Coroner’s Office was contacted and an autopsy was
performed. The cause and manner of death is still under investigation.Our sincere condolences go out to the Wilson family as they
deal with this tragic situation and we pray they find peace in this difficult
time.The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Highway Patrol,
23rd Judicial District Coroner’s Office, and Hays Communications Center
assisted with this investigation.No further information will be released at this time, as
this is an active investigation.Avery A. Smith Chief of Police------------------UPDATE 9:45 a.m.:The Ellis County Sherrifs Department has called off the search for Twila Wilson.&nbsp;Further details are expected from the department later today.Original story:The Ellis County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance in locating a woman that walked away from her vehicle Friday morning in Ellis.Twila Wilson, 54, was last seen around 5:15 a.m. at Caseys, 213 Washington, leaving behind her phone and purse.She was described as 5 foot 3, 175 pounds with dark blonde hair and blue eyes.She was wearing a gray T-shirt, black shorts and black shoes.If seen, the public is asked to contact Ellis County dispatch at (785) 625-1011.

UPDATE: Ellis woman found dead near railroad tracks

Plant analysis is an excellent in-season “quality control” tool. It can be especially valuable for managing secondary and micronutrients that do not have high-quality, reliable soil tests available, and for providing insight into how efficiently you are using applied nutrients.

Plant analysis can be used by Kansas farmers in two basic ways: for diagnostic purposes, and for monitoring nutrient levels at a common growth stage. Diagnostics can be done any time and is especially valuable early in the season when corrective actions can easily be taken. Monitoring is generally done at the beginning of reproductive growth.

•Plants are less than 12 inches tall: Collect the whole plant; cut the plant off at ground level.•Plants more than 12 inches tall and until reproductive growth begins: Collect the top fully developed leaves (those which show leaf collars).•After reproductive growth starts: Collect the ear leaves (below the uppermost developing ear), samples should be collected at random from the field at silk emergence.

Plant analysis for nutrient monitoring&nbsp;- for general monitoring or quality control purposes, plant leaves should be collected as the plant enters reproductive growth. Sampling under stress conditions for monitoring purposes can give misleading results, and is not recommended. Stresses such as drought or saturated soils will generally limit nutrient uptake, and result in a general reduction in nutrient content in the plant.

What nutrients should be included in the plant analysis?&nbsp;In Kansas, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), chloride (Cl), and iron (Fe) are the nutrients most likely to be found deficient. Recently, questions have been raised concerning copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and molybdenum (Mo), though widespread deficiencies of those micronutrients have not been found in the state. Normally the best values are the “bundles” or “packages” of tests offered through many of the labs. They can be as simple as N, P and K, or can be all the mineral elements considered essential to plants. K-State offers a package which includes N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn.

What will you get back from the lab?&nbsp;The data returned from the lab will be reported as the concentration of nutrient elements, or potentially toxic elements, in the plants. Units reported will normally be in “percent” for the primary and secondary nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, and&nbsp;Cl) and “ppm” (parts per million) for most of the micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, B, Mo, and Al).

Most labs/agronomists compare plant nutrient concentrations to published&nbsp;sufficiency ranges. A sufficiency range is simply the range of concentrations normally found in healthy, productive plants during surveys. It can be thought of as the range of values optimum for plant growth. The medical profession uses a similar range of normal values to evaluate blood work. The sufficiency ranges change with plant age (generally being higher in young plants), vary between plant parts, and can differ between hybrids. A value slightly below the sufficiency range does not always mean the plant is deficient in that nutrient. It is an indication that the nutrient is relatively low. Values on the low end of the range are common in extremely high-yielding crops. However, if that nutrient is significantly below the sufficiency range, you should ask some serious questions about the availability and supply of that nutrient.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656344643819.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy K-State Extension" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy K-State Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictPlant analysis is an excellent in-season “quality control” tool. It can be especially valuable for managing secondary and micronutrients that do not have high-quality, reliable soil tests available, and for providing insight into how efficiently you are using applied nutrients.Plant analysis can be used by Kansas farmers in two basic ways: for diagnostic purposes, and for monitoring nutrient levels at a common growth stage. Diagnostics can be done any time and is especially valuable early in the season when corrective actions can easily be taken. Monitoring is generally done at the beginning of reproductive growth.General sampling guidelines:•Plants are less than 12 inches tall: Collect the whole plant; cut the plant off at ground level.•Plants more than 12 inches tall and until reproductive growth begins: Collect the top fully developed leaves (those which show leaf collars).•After reproductive growth starts: Collect the ear leaves (below the uppermost developing ear), samples should be collected at random from the field at silk emergence.Plant analysis for nutrient monitoring&nbsp;- for general monitoring or quality control purposes, plant leaves should be collected as the plant enters reproductive growth. Sampling under stress conditions for monitoring purposes can give misleading results, and is not recommended. Stresses such as drought or saturated soils will generally limit nutrient uptake, and result in a general reduction in nutrient content in the plant.What nutrients should be included in the plant analysis?&nbsp;In Kansas, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), chloride (Cl), and iron (Fe) are the nutrients most likely to be found deficient. Recently, questions have been raised concerning copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and molybdenum (Mo), though widespread deficiencies of those micronutrients have not been found in the state. Normally the best values are the “bundles” or “packages” of tests offered through many of the labs. They can be as simple as N, P and K, or can be all the mineral elements considered essential to plants. K-State offers a package which includes N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn.What will you get back from the lab?&nbsp;The data returned from the lab will be reported as the concentration of nutrient elements, or potentially toxic elements, in the plants. Units reported will normally be in “percent” for the primary and secondary nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, and&nbsp;Cl) and “ppm” (parts per million) for most of the micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, B, Mo, and Al).Most labs/agronomists compare plant nutrient concentrations to published&nbsp;sufficiency ranges. A sufficiency range is simply the range of concentrations normally found in healthy, productive plants during surveys. It can be thought of as the range of values optimum for plant growth. The medical profession uses a similar range of normal values to evaluate blood work. The sufficiency ranges change with plant age (generally being higher in young plants), vary between plant parts, and can differ between hybrids. A value slightly below the sufficiency range does not always mean the plant is deficient in that nutrient. It is an indication that the nutrient is relatively low. Values on the low end of the range are common in extremely high-yielding crops. However, if that nutrient is significantly below the sufficiency range, you should ask some serious questions about the availability and supply of that nutrient.To read the full article on how to&nbsp;how best take and ship the plant leaves, more about plant stress and nutrient uptake, extreme levels of nutrients&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a></a>the&nbsp;range of&nbsp;nutrient contents considered “normal” or “sufficient” at two growth stages in corn&nbsp;go to &nbsp;<a href="http://www.cottonwood.ksu.edu/">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a>