Through the year’s agriculture, conservation and overall land management has gone through phases with each phase having its’ buzzwords, promoters, detractors, research objectives - well, you get the point. Some promoters will always feel like they’ve just unleashed the silver bullet to cure all the planet’s woes. Spoiler alert, none of them have! For the most part each phase has brought some improvements and certainly more tools for farmers, ranchers and land managers to consider and use. But no one is the cure all panacea that will work for everyone.

The newest buzzword is “soil health”. Soil health is a broad category for a lot of different things that are actually quite important. In searching for a good definition of soil health, and there are many out there. I found some that were way out there. Others were restrictive and may work for certain soils in certain ecosystems, some were very vague. Many definitions were tailored for a very specific form of agriculture, i.e. no-till, organic, natural, etc.

One of the top choices came from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at USDA. Quoting from their web site, “Soil health, also referred to as soil quality, is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.” They go on to point out that soil isn’t just some sterile rooting medium but is rather a living functioning ecosystem of its’ own.

Many people don’t realize how alive soil is! There is so much life in the soil, much of it invisible to the naked eye. Bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and many other organisms make up a valuable part of the soil mass and we often only see hints of it.

Mt. St. Helens volcano that blew in 1980 changed the landscape. Twenty-nine years later when a colleague of mine visited it, what he saw was “just scattered plants starting to grow, much of it looked like the landscape of a

barren planet”. When that volcano erupted it flash fried all living things and then buried it under feet, tens of feet, of ash. There was instantly a sterile environment. If a seed fell, that sterile medium was missing all those soil organisms that make plant life possible. We cannot underestimate the impact, the necessity of soil organisms!

In the end, defining soil health is fairly easy. Measuring it is another story however. There are many soil organisms that have not been discovered yet, that are important, or we know they are there but we don’t know what they do. We truly have so much we need to learn. Perhaps the best measure of soil health is by how well plants grow, by how productive the soil is, or by how sustainable the practices. Soil health is likely something we measure indirectly.

Soil health can, and does, change over time. How we farm, how we garden, how we tend our lawn, can all impact that soil health. We can compact soil with heavy equipment. We can tear it up and turn it over with construction or recreation. The plants we grow on it, the nutrients we add to it, the organic matter we allow to develop in it, even the rainfall or irrigation it receives, are all things that can improve or hurt soil health. If you haven’t yet heard about soil health, you eventually will. I doubt that we’ll come up with a simple way of measuring soil health in my life time. But we need to remember that soil health isn’t an end goal but an ongoing journey.

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/2022/5/1653404075959.jpeg" alt="written by: Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>Through the year’s agriculture, conservation and overall land management has gone through phases with each phase having its’ buzzwords, promoters, detractors, research objectives - well, you get the point. Some promoters will always feel like they’ve just unleashed the silver bullet to cure all the planet’s woes. Spoiler alert, none of them have! For the most part each phase has brought some improvements and certainly more tools for farmers, ranchers and land managers to consider and use. But no one is the cure all panacea that will work for everyone.The newest buzzword is “soil health”. Soil health is a broad category for a lot of different things that are actually quite important. In searching for a good definition of soil health, and there are many out there. I found some that were way out there. Others were restrictive and may work for certain soils in certain ecosystems, some were very vague. Many definitions were tailored for a very specific form of agriculture, i.e. no-till, organic, natural, etc.One of the top choices came from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at USDA. Quoting from their web site, “Soil health, also referred to as soil quality, is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.” They go on to point out that soil isn’t just some sterile rooting medium but is rather a living functioning ecosystem of its’ own.Many people don’t realize how alive soil is! There is so much life in the soil, much of it invisible to the naked eye. Bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and many other organisms make up a valuable part of the soil mass and we often only see hints of it.Mt. St. Helens volcano that blew in 1980 changed the landscape. Twenty-nine years later when a colleague of mine visited it, what he saw was “just scattered plants starting to grow, much of it looked like the landscape of abarren planet”. When that volcano erupted it flash fried all living things and then buried it under feet, tens of feet, of ash. There was instantly a sterile environment. If a seed fell, that sterile medium was missing all those soil organisms that make plant life possible. We cannot underestimate the impact, the necessity of soil organisms!In the end, defining soil health is fairly easy. Measuring it is another story however. There are many soil organisms that have not been discovered yet, that are important, or we know they are there but we don’t know what they do. We truly have so much we need to learn. Perhaps the best measure of soil health is by how well plants grow, by how productive the soil is, or by how sustainable the practices. Soil health is likely something we measure indirectly.Soil health can, and does, change over time. How we farm, how we garden, how we tend our lawn, can all impact that soil health. We can compact soil with heavy equipment. We can tear it up and turn it over with construction or recreation. The plants we grow on it, the nutrients we add to it, the organic matter we allow to develop in it, even the rainfall or irrigation it receives, are all things that can improve or hurt soil health. If you haven’t yet heard about soil health, you eventually will. I doubt that we’ll come up with a simple way of measuring soil health in my life time. But we need to remember that soil health isn’t an end goal but an ongoing journey.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: Soil health

Have you ever had a day where things just weren’t going the way you wanted? I know I sure have and just a couple of weeks ago, I acted like…. well, a brat, to a colleague. I all but stomped my foot in frustration and growled at someone who that I shouldn’t have. The frustration at the situation was very real but my reaction was more than it needed to be.

The 4-H motto is Learning by Doing and that applies to every aspect of life. Youth aren’t always going to make the best decisions; actually, many adults I know don’t always make the best decisions. However, our goal should always be to fairly evaluate the facts and our reaction. If we are fair in evaluating ourselves, we need to look at: do I have all the facts? Did I over-react? Will this really matter in 10 days or 10 years? What can I learn today to apply tomorrow?

Depending on the appropriateness of our reaction, we may need to own our mistake and apologize. In my case, that involved a heart-felt apology delivered with a box of cookies.

I encourage youth to stop and think about their actions and reactions. As leaders of youth, it is important to model behaviors which include apologizing when needed as well as giving them the space to learn and adjust. I encourage you to think about a situation recently that you might have handled differently and consider what you would change or if you need to make amends with someone.

Each of us are a work in progress but the goal is always progress!

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 mberan@ksu.edu 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>Have you ever had a day where things just weren’t going the way you wanted? I know I sure have and just a couple of weeks ago, I acted like…. well, a brat, to a colleague. I all but stomped my foot in frustration and growled at someone who that I shouldn’t have. The frustration at the situation was very real but my reaction was more than it needed to be.The 4-H motto is Learning by Doing and that applies to every aspect of life. Youth aren’t always going to make the best decisions; actually, many adults I know don’t always make the best decisions. However, our goal should always be to fairly evaluate the facts and our reaction. If we are fair in evaluating ourselves, we need to look at: do I have all the facts? Did I over-react? Will this really matter in 10 days or 10 years? What can I learn today to apply tomorrow?Depending on the appropriateness of our reaction, we may need to own our mistake and apologize. In my case, that involved a heart-felt apology delivered with a box of cookies.I encourage youth to stop and think about their actions and reactions. As leaders of youth, it is important to model behaviors which include apologizing when needed as well as giving them the space to learn and adjust. I encourage you to think about a situation recently that you might have handled differently and consider what you would change or if you need to make amends with someone.Each of us are a work in progress but the goal is always progress!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 mberan@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.

BERAN: A work in progress

Opportunities to Join the Cottonwood Team

The Cottonwood Extension District is currently receiving applications for the 4-H Youth Development Agent and the Family&nbsp;and&nbsp;Community Wellness Agent positions in the Hays office.&nbsp;Application deadline is June 1, 2022. See&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs">www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs</a>&nbsp;for responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedure.&nbsp;Interviews are scheduled on June 28th.&nbsp;

A career with K-State Research and Extension can be exciting and fulfilling. Helping families improve their lives through participation in educational programs is&nbsp;what we&nbsp;strive&nbsp;to accomplish in the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;If you have additional questions about either of these positions please contact: Donna Krug, District Director, at (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>

K-State Research and Extension is an EOE of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Background check required.

EXTENSION AGENT, 4-H Youth Development opportunity in Cottonwood District.&nbsp;Primary office in Hays, KS, with other office in Great Bend. See www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs for responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedure. Application deadline: 6/1/22. K-State Research and Extension is an EOE of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Background check required.

EXTENSION AGENT, Family &amp; Community Wellness opportunity in Cottonwood District.&nbsp;Primary office in Hays, KS, with other office in Great Bend.

See www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs for responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedure. Application deadline: 6/1/22. 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/2022/5/1652127307936.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Opportunities to Join the Cottonwood TeamThe Cottonwood Extension District is currently receiving applications for the 4-H Youth Development Agent and the Family&nbsp;and&nbsp;Community Wellness Agent positions in the Hays office.&nbsp;Application deadline is June 1, 2022. See&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs">www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs</a>&nbsp;for responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedure.&nbsp;Interviews are scheduled on June 28th.&nbsp;A career with K-State Research and Extension can be exciting and fulfilling. Helping families improve their lives through participation in educational programs is&nbsp;what we&nbsp;strive&nbsp;to accomplish in the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;If you have additional questions about either of these positions please contact: Donna Krug, District Director, at (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>K-State Research and Extension is an EOE of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Background check required.----EXTENSION AGENT, 4-H Youth Development opportunity in Cottonwood District.&nbsp;Primary office in Hays, KS, with other office in Great Bend. See www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs for responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedure. Application deadline: 6/1/22. K-State Research and Extension is an EOE of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Background check required.----EXTENSION AGENT, Family &amp; Community Wellness opportunity in Cottonwood District.&nbsp;Primary office in Hays, KS, with other office in Great Bend.See www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs for responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedure. Application deadline: 6/1/22. K-State Research and Extension is an EOE of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Background check required.

KRUG: Lots to celebrate in May

​“Shape up your plate”&nbsp;is a great slogan for what I want to visit about today. With&nbsp;summer just around the corner it is&nbsp;the perfect&nbsp;time for you and your family to focus on a few healthy eating habits!&nbsp;Hopefully farmers markets&nbsp;can&nbsp;soon provide&nbsp;the colorful produce that tastes so good when it&nbsp;is&nbsp;in season and&nbsp;locally grown.&nbsp;

​The&nbsp;MyPlate healthy eating icon has been around for ten plus years now.&nbsp;Simply put, the MyPlate guide to healthy eating promotes making half of your plate fruits and vegetables. A generous portion of grain, (preferably whole), a small amount of lean protein, and a serving of low fat dairy&nbsp;round out the plan. Oh, and did I mention that the plate we eat off of is supposed to be nine inches in diameter?

​Another simple healthy eating habit includes starting each day with a powerful, nutrient&nbsp;dense breakfast. Our grandparents knew this was important, our parents knew this was important, and somewhere along the way we lost this information in the&nbsp;fast pace&nbsp;lives we lead.&nbsp;Studies show that people who eat a solid, healthy, balanced breakfast are healthier,&nbsp;have fewer cravings throughout their day and make wiser food choices.

​A couple of nutrition educational programs to provide a healthy interpretation of the MyPlate guidelines are&nbsp;scheduled during the month of May. The program, “More Plants on the Plate” will be presented twice&nbsp;on Wednesday, May 11th.&nbsp;Join me at&nbsp;the Great Bend Senior Center at 10:30 AM or at noon at the&nbsp;Great Bend Activity Center, 2715 18th&nbsp;St.&nbsp;The information will be the same&nbsp;at both locations.&nbsp;The&nbsp;fact sheet I will be sharing includes a lot of great information about increasing fiber and eating&nbsp;less processed food. I’ll have a few recipes to share as well.

​Another opportunity to learn about how good nutrition can affect one’s health is a program&nbsp;titled,&nbsp;“Make a Med&nbsp;DASH to a Healthy Heart.”&nbsp;This educational program is set for&nbsp;Thursday, May&nbsp;26th, at&nbsp;noon at the Extension office&nbsp;meeting room, 601 Main, in Hays.&nbsp;I&nbsp;am&nbsp;combining this program with the&nbsp;Walk KS celebration&nbsp;on the 26th. I will be providing a light lunch for&nbsp;anyone who calls in by May 20th&nbsp;to reserve a spot.&nbsp;

​Mark your calendars for one or both of these educational programs and make healthy eating a priority during&nbsp;the months ahead!

​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. You may&nbsp;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 &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>​“Shape up your plate”&nbsp;is a great slogan for what I want to visit about today. With&nbsp;summer just around the corner it is&nbsp;the perfect&nbsp;time for you and your family to focus on a few healthy eating habits!&nbsp;Hopefully farmers markets&nbsp;can&nbsp;soon provide&nbsp;the colorful produce that tastes so good when it&nbsp;is&nbsp;in season and&nbsp;locally grown.&nbsp;​The&nbsp;MyPlate healthy eating icon has been around for ten plus years now.&nbsp;Simply put, the MyPlate guide to healthy eating promotes making half of your plate fruits and vegetables. A generous portion of grain, (preferably whole), a small amount of lean protein, and a serving of low fat dairy&nbsp;round out the plan. Oh, and did I mention that the plate we eat off of is supposed to be nine inches in diameter?​Another simple healthy eating habit includes starting each day with a powerful, nutrient&nbsp;dense breakfast. Our grandparents knew this was important, our parents knew this was important, and somewhere along the way we lost this information in the&nbsp;fast pace&nbsp;lives we lead.&nbsp;Studies show that people who eat a solid, healthy, balanced breakfast are healthier,&nbsp;have fewer cravings throughout their day and make wiser food choices.​A couple of nutrition educational programs to provide a healthy interpretation of the MyPlate guidelines are&nbsp;scheduled during the month of May. The program, “More Plants on the Plate” will be presented twice&nbsp;on Wednesday, May 11th.&nbsp;Join me at&nbsp;the Great Bend Senior Center at 10:30 AM or at noon at the&nbsp;Great Bend Activity Center, 2715 18th&nbsp;St.&nbsp;The information will be the same&nbsp;at both locations.&nbsp;The&nbsp;fact sheet I will be sharing includes a lot of great information about increasing fiber and eating&nbsp;less processed food. I’ll have a few recipes to share as well.​Another opportunity to learn about how good nutrition can affect one’s health is a program&nbsp;titled,&nbsp;“Make a Med&nbsp;DASH to a Healthy Heart.”&nbsp;This educational program is set for&nbsp;Thursday, May&nbsp;26th, at&nbsp;noon at the Extension office&nbsp;meeting room, 601 Main, in Hays.&nbsp;I&nbsp;am&nbsp;combining this program with the&nbsp;Walk KS celebration&nbsp;on the 26th. I will be providing a light lunch for&nbsp;anyone who calls in by May 20th&nbsp;to reserve a spot.&nbsp;​Mark your calendars for one or both of these educational programs and make healthy eating a priority during&nbsp;the months ahead!​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. You may&nbsp;reach her at 620-793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>

KRUG: Shape up your plate

By the time this news column is published, I will have returned from a vacation that included some fun in the sun with an occasional Zoom meeting to keep me connected to what was going on at work.&nbsp;During my time away from the office, I finished up an on-line course titled, “Reframing Aging.” The instructors were passionate about helping us see how important it is to recognize the contributions of older residents in our community. I enjoyed sharing stories in the break out rooms about the many times I have enlisted the help of older adults to teach sewing or fiber arts workshops to young people.&nbsp;In our fast-paced world, it is important that basic life skills are passed on and don’t become a lost art. I’m looking forward to sharing more of what I learned from the Reframing Aging class in future columns.

The last three days of our road trip were spent in Ames Iowa, to share a session with Extension Educators there about how to teach fermentation workshops. One of the participants had heard my on-line presentation at a national meeting last fall, so it was a pleasant surprise to be invited to teach an in-person class at their professional development meeting. Now that I have a few hands-on fermentation workshops under my belt, I have some interesting stories to share.

The process of how to ferment vegetables is a popular topic and a wide variety of fermentation kits on the market make it safe and easy to accomplish. Fermentation is the oldest form of food preservation, with stories of it’s&nbsp;start, well over 7000 years ago. The fact sheet I wrote two years ago, titled, “Taking a New Look at Fermented Foods” is available to download from the K-State Research and Extension bookstore. It highlights the process as well as the&nbsp;health benefits including a small amount of fermented food in your diet can provide.

As I return to the office and turn the&nbsp;calendar to May I invite you to take a look at the upcoming programs in the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;Visit our website at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Cottonwood@ksu.edu">Cottonwood@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;to check out&nbsp;our May newsletter which includes these&nbsp;fun learning opportunities.

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research &amp; Extension – 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 for K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>By the time this news column is published, I will have returned from a vacation that included some fun in the sun with an occasional Zoom meeting to keep me connected to what was going on at work.&nbsp;During my time away from the office, I finished up an on-line course titled, “Reframing Aging.” The instructors were passionate about helping us see how important it is to recognize the contributions of older residents in our community. I enjoyed sharing stories in the break out rooms about the many times I have enlisted the help of older adults to teach sewing or fiber arts workshops to young people.&nbsp;In our fast-paced world, it is important that basic life skills are passed on and don’t become a lost art. I’m looking forward to sharing more of what I learned from the Reframing Aging class in future columns.The last three days of our road trip were spent in Ames Iowa, to share a session with Extension Educators there about how to teach fermentation workshops. One of the participants had heard my on-line presentation at a national meeting last fall, so it was a pleasant surprise to be invited to teach an in-person class at their professional development meeting. Now that I have a few hands-on fermentation workshops under my belt, I have some interesting stories to share.The process of how to ferment vegetables is a popular topic and a wide variety of fermentation kits on the market make it safe and easy to accomplish. Fermentation is the oldest form of food preservation, with stories of it’s&nbsp;start, well over 7000 years ago. The fact sheet I wrote two years ago, titled, “Taking a New Look at Fermented Foods” is available to download from the K-State Research and Extension bookstore. It highlights the process as well as the&nbsp;health benefits including a small amount of fermented food in your diet can provide.As I return to the office and turn the&nbsp;calendar to May I invite you to take a look at the upcoming programs in the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;Visit our website at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Cottonwood@ksu.edu">Cottonwood@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;to check out&nbsp;our May newsletter which includes these&nbsp;fun learning opportunities.Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Extension programs provide fun learning

By STACY CAMPEBLL Cottonwood Extension District

In this video from K-State Research and Extension, Kansas State University soil scientist Deann Presley says dry weather in Kansas presents an opportunity to work on farm ponds.&nbsp;

“Many of our ponds need periodic cleaning out of the old sediment that might get brought down by livestock or natural processes,” she said.&nbsp;

She urges landowners to consider draining their ponds,&nbsp;or in many cases if they are already dry. To&nbsp;scrape&nbsp;the bottom and compacting the soil before&nbsp;mother nature fills them up again.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Presley suggests a minimum 30% clay in the soil, though she adds, “40% is even better.”&nbsp;To find out how much clay content is in your pond. You can take&nbsp;some&nbsp;soil samples and bring them into your local K-State Research &amp; Extension Office,&nbsp;to be sent off for a soil texture test. For further information on how to&nbsp;best&nbsp;take&nbsp;these samples,&nbsp;she recommends to contact your local Extension Office for proper sampling instructions.&nbsp;

If a pond is leaking sometimes people think they&nbsp;need to use&nbsp;alternate-products to help seal them. Before taking that more expensive step, first take a soil texture sample to see if you might just need to really compact the soil to prevent the leaking.&nbsp;If compaction is what you need, a&nbsp;sheepsfoot&nbsp;roller is needed.&nbsp;

“The importance of compaction cannot be over-stated,” Presley said. “Many people often think, ‘I have enough clay in the soil; I’ll roll on it for a while and it will be okay.’ But the&nbsp;sheepsfootroller is important” for proper compaction of the soil.&nbsp;

Another tip when cleaning out a pond&nbsp;that folks don’t always consider. Is to put the sediment&nbsp;you clean out of the pond,&nbsp;on the back side of the dam. If you put it around the pond&nbsp;it will eventually slide or erode back into the pond.&nbsp;

More information is available in&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/agronomy-eupdate-feb17">K-State’s Feb. 17 Agronomy&nbsp;eUpdate</a>&nbsp;or from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local extension offices</a>&nbsp;in Kansas.&nbsp;

To find out the location and phone number of your local&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension statewide offices,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html</a>&nbsp;or simply type into your internet browser “K-State Research and Extension Statewide Locations”.&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.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mIp_-DzQqj0"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPEBLL Cottonwood Extension DistrictIn this video from K-State Research and Extension, Kansas State University soil scientist Deann Presley says dry weather in Kansas presents an opportunity to work on farm ponds.&nbsp;“Many of our ponds need periodic cleaning out of the old sediment that might get brought down by livestock or natural processes,” she said.&nbsp;She urges landowners to consider draining their ponds,&nbsp;or in many cases if they are already dry. To&nbsp;scrape&nbsp;the bottom and compacting the soil before&nbsp;mother nature fills them up again.&nbsp;&nbsp;Presley suggests a minimum 30% clay in the soil, though she adds, “40% is even better.”&nbsp;To find out how much clay content is in your pond. You can take&nbsp;some&nbsp;soil samples and bring them into your local K-State Research &amp; Extension Office,&nbsp;to be sent off for a soil texture test. For further information on how to&nbsp;best&nbsp;take&nbsp;these samples,&nbsp;she recommends to contact your local Extension Office for proper sampling instructions.&nbsp;If a pond is leaking sometimes people think they&nbsp;need to use&nbsp;alternate-products to help seal them. Before taking that more expensive step, first take a soil texture sample to see if you might just need to really compact the soil to prevent the leaking.&nbsp;If compaction is what you need, a&nbsp;sheepsfoot&nbsp;roller is needed.&nbsp;“The importance of compaction cannot be over-stated,” Presley said. “Many people often think, ‘I have enough clay in the soil; I’ll roll on it for a while and it will be okay.’ But the&nbsp;sheepsfootroller is important” for proper compaction of the soil.&nbsp;Another tip when cleaning out a pond&nbsp;that folks don’t always consider. Is to put the sediment&nbsp;you clean out of the pond,&nbsp;on the back side of the dam. If you put it around the pond&nbsp;it will eventually slide or erode back into the pond.&nbsp;More information is available in&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/agronomy-eupdate-feb17">K-State’s Feb. 17 Agronomy&nbsp;eUpdate</a>&nbsp;or from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local extension offices</a>&nbsp;in Kansas.&nbsp;To find out the location and phone number of your local&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension statewide offices,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html</a>&nbsp;or simply type into your internet browser “K-State Research and Extension Statewide Locations”.&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.

🎥 Dry weather provides chance to clean, compact farm ponds 

Fort Hays State University’s Kansas Wetlands Education Center is offering a "Let's Talk Water Science"&nbsp;summer camp for students who have completed grades 7, 8, or 9.

The event – set for Thursday, June 9, and Friday, June 10 – is being co-sponsored by the KWEC, the City of Hays Water Resources Department, Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment, and K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District (Barton and Ellis counties).

Students will get in the water and test the water quality (waders will be provided by the KWEC). Students will collect data on alkalinity, bacteria, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, pH, phosphates, temperature, and turbidity. Campers will also sample the water for aquatic invertebrates and use them to determine water quality.

The first day of camp will be spent at Frontier Park in Hays, and water testing will take place in Big Creek. In the afternoon, campers will tour the City of Hays Wastewater Treatment Plant. In any given year, approximately 25% of the treated water is beneficially used as irrigation water for multiple outdoor recreation facilities.

Day 2 will be spent at Cheyenne Bottoms, the largest wetland complex in the interior of the United States, and at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center near Great Bend. Students will repeat water quality tests and invertebrate sampling in the wetland and compare the results from the previous day. Benefits and functions of wetlands will be studied. The day will include a driving tour of the wetlands in search of wildlife. The 4-H Water Ambassador team will supplement daily activities with hands-on and interactive projects.

Participation is free, and transportation between Hays and Great Bend, as well as all necessary equipment, will be provided. Campers will need to bring a sack lunch and reusable water bottle for each day; snacks will be provided.

Camp will start at 10 a.m. at Frontier Park on June 9. Transportation from the Kansas Wetlands Education Center to Hays will leave at 8:45 a.m. Camp is dismissed at 3:15 p.m. Campers traveling back to the KWEC should return at 4:30 p.m.

The Friday camp will start at 10 a.m. at Cheyenne Bottoms. Transportation from Hays to Cheyenne Bottoms will leave at 8:45 a.m. from the Cottonwood Extension Office in Hays at 601 Main St. Barton County campers can meet at the KWEC at 9:30 a.m. Camp is dismissed from the KWEC at 3:15 p.m. Campers traveling back to Hays should return at 4:30 p.m.

The KWEC, 592 NE K-156 Highway, is at the southeast side of Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area northeast of Great Bend.

Registration is limited to 12 – six campers from Ellis County and six from Barton County. Registration deadline is May 27.

To register for an event or camp go to:&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtDI4Fbv2aCJ7wVn3UMG-2B6d7EPIvnUo7uIbKANOQy6jAEsXA2_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemcaW3ZQkmBBPB6VX2tAxPb4ZaAYbMJwViPE5bmuVrSvTHDWyEz96nEbWyYgV-2BI3yxPrDN8tg-2BB-2BH41L1Sfd-2BSx80zji2J-2BIUYz1BFv8ShmhUheviwvkoswHHSKxOny2MNWpX8vvPqwzGd-2FBUi0OfhwQ-2FndvhYJNq9Yd9bUGvq2TRte87SLXXuQMZzJG-2FqfggeV10gcGYgFbGkgqtE0C1aK9Kwl-2FOE7HRfJR1mDh39DvyylDURhYdqSvL7oEw5oHUqJbCeMgoIcXoBFza7lrwgYA-3D-3D" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/cqaCp862fH4QcP9p9</a>&nbsp;or email Mandy Kern at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:amkern2@fhsu.edu" target="_blank">amkern2@fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;for the link. For more information on the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtMCDkFVbWlkuYggWR1l9m3niOQl9kmqWr-2FsCfzG-2FTJVW1Xdl_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemcaW3ZQkmBBPB6VX2tAxPb4ZaAYbMJwViPE5bmuVrSvTHDWyEz96nEbWyYgV-2BI3yxPrDN8tg-2BB-2BH41L1Sfd-2BSx6sux8g6xLKsSxkUh2hBVi-2B-2BN83yvz9vbp0yB-2BKXvgE0mYHV1Au7-2F8B9JzZWfgMlvIGdNxe4KAbsU0VqoG7by36624C5-2BAVzQBBO3swYUgqybhcG3DyCneB4iDN8Bzml1zlK-2FKTHyisEwlRgRyKQqc8nVaAy8PH1lhZwtwipnIP6K3kSDLpc8a-2FSaR5Oh4zxDA-3D-3D">https://wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu/</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650820679972.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsFort Hays State University’s Kansas Wetlands Education Center is offering a "Let's Talk Water Science"&nbsp;summer camp for students who have completed grades 7, 8, or 9.The event – set for Thursday, June 9, and Friday, June 10 – is being co-sponsored by the KWEC, the City of Hays Water Resources Department, Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment, and K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District (Barton and Ellis counties).Students will get in the water and test the water quality (waders will be provided by the KWEC). Students will collect data on alkalinity, bacteria, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, pH, phosphates, temperature, and turbidity. Campers will also sample the water for aquatic invertebrates and use them to determine water quality.The first day of camp will be spent at Frontier Park in Hays, and water testing will take place in Big Creek. In the afternoon, campers will tour the City of Hays Wastewater Treatment Plant. In any given year, approximately 25% of the treated water is beneficially used as irrigation water for multiple outdoor recreation facilities.Day 2 will be spent at Cheyenne Bottoms, the largest wetland complex in the interior of the United States, and at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center near Great Bend. Students will repeat water quality tests and invertebrate sampling in the wetland and compare the results from the previous day. Benefits and functions of wetlands will be studied. The day will include a driving tour of the wetlands in search of wildlife. The 4-H Water Ambassador team will supplement daily activities with hands-on and interactive projects.Participation is free, and transportation between Hays and Great Bend, as well as all necessary equipment, will be provided. Campers will need to bring a sack lunch and reusable water bottle for each day; snacks will be provided.Camp will start at 10 a.m. at Frontier Park on June 9. Transportation from the Kansas Wetlands Education Center to Hays will leave at 8:45 a.m. Camp is dismissed at 3:15 p.m. Campers traveling back to the KWEC should return at 4:30 p.m.The Friday camp will start at 10 a.m. at Cheyenne Bottoms. Transportation from Hays to Cheyenne Bottoms will leave at 8:45 a.m. from the Cottonwood Extension Office in Hays at 601 Main St. Barton County campers can meet at the KWEC at 9:30 a.m. Camp is dismissed from the KWEC at 3:15 p.m. Campers traveling back to Hays should return at 4:30 p.m.The KWEC, 592 NE K-156 Highway, is at the southeast side of Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area northeast of Great Bend.Registration is limited to 12 – six campers from Ellis County and six from Barton County. Registration deadline is May 27.To register for an event or camp go to:&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtDI4Fbv2aCJ7wVn3UMG-2B6d7EPIvnUo7uIbKANOQy6jAEsXA2_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemcaW3ZQkmBBPB6VX2tAxPb4ZaAYbMJwViPE5bmuVrSvTHDWyEz96nEbWyYgV-2BI3yxPrDN8tg-2BB-2BH41L1Sfd-2BSx80zji2J-2BIUYz1BFv8ShmhUheviwvkoswHHSKxOny2MNWpX8vvPqwzGd-2FBUi0OfhwQ-2FndvhYJNq9Yd9bUGvq2TRte87SLXXuQMZzJG-2FqfggeV10gcGYgFbGkgqtE0C1aK9Kwl-2FOE7HRfJR1mDh39DvyylDURhYdqSvL7oEw5oHUqJbCeMgoIcXoBFza7lrwgYA-3D-3D" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/cqaCp862fH4QcP9p9</a>&nbsp;or email Mandy Kern at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:amkern2@fhsu.edu" target="_blank">amkern2@fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;for the link. For more information on the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtMCDkFVbWlkuYggWR1l9m3niOQl9kmqWr-2FsCfzG-2FTJVW1Xdl_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemcaW3ZQkmBBPB6VX2tAxPb4ZaAYbMJwViPE5bmuVrSvTHDWyEz96nEbWyYgV-2BI3yxPrDN8tg-2BB-2BH41L1Sfd-2BSx6sux8g6xLKsSxkUh2hBVi-2B-2BN83yvz9vbp0yB-2BKXvgE0mYHV1Au7-2F8B9JzZWfgMlvIGdNxe4KAbsU0VqoG7by36624C5-2BAVzQBBO3swYUgqybhcG3DyCneB4iDN8Bzml1zlK-2FKTHyisEwlRgRyKQqc8nVaAy8PH1lhZwtwipnIP6K3kSDLpc8a-2FSaR5Oh4zxDA-3D-3D">https://wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu/</a>.

KWEC to offer water science camp this summer

Kansas State University crop entomologist Jeff Whitworth said he has received numerous calls from farmers who are already seeing cowpea and pea aphids in their alfalfa fields.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The aphids, he said, are probably in every field in Kansas, but “we usually do not see this many of them this early.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

He said the cowpea aphid population density that producers are seeing now is more typical of June or July, usually with the second or third alfalfa cutting. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“Alfalfa is a good host for beneficial insects, so when we see lady beetles over winter and they start going around feeding they’ll find some cowpea aphids or pea aphids because they arrive early in the season,” Whitworth said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Because of that, “I still have a hard time recommending treating for aphids, whether they’re cowpea aphids or pea aphids."

Whitworth said many producers worry about the honeydew on alfalfa plants that cowpea aphids produce. “If you’re really worried about them, I really don’t think there’s a specific percentage that creates the need for the aphids to be treated,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If a producer decides to treat for aphids, Whitworth said they may want to consider one of the new insecticides that are labeled for alfalfa aphids. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“If producers leave them untreated, I think the beneficial insects will find them and start helping to control them a little bit,” Whitworth said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to Whitworth, spraying for alfalfa weevils will also kill the aphid populations. &nbsp;&nbsp;

He said that a producer should choose to spray alfalfa weevils once the weevils are found on at least 50% of the alfalfa plants.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Whitworth said that the alfalfa plant does not need to be luscious on top when spraying alfalfa weevils because the treatment should still be effective in decreasing or eliminating alfalfa weevils from the field.&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State University crop entomologist Jeff Whitworth said he has received numerous calls from farmers who are already seeing cowpea and pea aphids in their alfalfa fields.&nbsp;&nbsp;The aphids, he said, are probably in every field in Kansas, but “we usually do not see this many of them this early.”&nbsp;&nbsp;He said the cowpea aphid population density that producers are seeing now is more typical of June or July, usually with the second or third alfalfa cutting. &nbsp;&nbsp;“Alfalfa is a good host for beneficial insects, so when we see lady beetles over winter and they start going around feeding they’ll find some cowpea aphids or pea aphids because they arrive early in the season,” Whitworth said. &nbsp;&nbsp;Because of that, “I still have a hard time recommending treating for aphids, whether they’re cowpea aphids or pea aphids." Whitworth said many producers worry about the honeydew on alfalfa plants that cowpea aphids produce. “If you’re really worried about them, I really don’t think there’s a specific percentage that creates the need for the aphids to be treated,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;If a producer decides to treat for aphids, Whitworth said they may want to consider one of the new insecticides that are labeled for alfalfa aphids. &nbsp;&nbsp;“If producers leave them untreated, I think the beneficial insects will find them and start helping to control them a little bit,” Whitworth said.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Whitworth, spraying for alfalfa weevils will also kill the aphid populations. &nbsp;&nbsp;He said that a producer should choose to spray alfalfa weevils once the weevils are found on at least 50% of the alfalfa plants.&nbsp;&nbsp;Whitworth said that the alfalfa plant does not need to be luscious on top when spraying alfalfa weevils because the treatment should still be effective in decreasing or eliminating alfalfa weevils from the field.&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

BOOR: Fighting aphids in alfalfa

​With Easter getting closer, it is time to share the best food safety practices when handling those&nbsp;ever-popular&nbsp;Easter Eggs. It seems no matter how old we are, there is something special about preparing hard cooked eggs and dying/decorating them for the family Easter Egg hunt. Read on for&nbsp;some great food safety reminders.

​After hard cooking eggs, dye them and return them to the refrigerator within 2 hours. If eggs are to be eaten, use a food-safe coloring. Wash your hands before and after handling eggs.

​Hard cooked eggs that have been lying on the ground can pick up bacteria, especially if the shells are cracked. If the shells crack, bacteria could contaminate the inside. Hide eggs in locations protected from dirt, moisture, pets, and other sources of bacteria. Hide and hunt for the eggs within 2 hours. Toss any of the eggs that have cracked&nbsp;during&nbsp;the Easter Egg hunt. The “found” eggs must be washed, re-refrigerated,&nbsp;and eaten within 7 days of cooking.

​The two-hour rule that I mentioned above is also the advice I give to anyone who is putting out a spread of food for a family celebration.&nbsp;Popular foods like salads and egg dishes should be kept cold, below 40&nbsp;degrees Fahrenheit, until ready to serve. Mayonnaise in salads is very acidic and likely not a foodborne illness issue, but it is the other ingredients, such as potatoes, eggs,&nbsp;chicken,&nbsp;or pasta that can allow bacteria to thrive if handled poorly or temperature abused.&nbsp;

​Another food safety tip is to read the label to know what type of ham you are purchasing, either fresh or ready-to-eat. Fresh ham labels will detail cooking instructions, and the label may state to cook thoroughly. Ready to eat ham can be served out of the package or reheated at an oven temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees.&nbsp;

Whatever you have on your Easter dinner menu, I hope you have&nbsp;a Happy Easter celebration with your family!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>​With Easter getting closer, it is time to share the best food safety practices when handling those&nbsp;ever-popular&nbsp;Easter Eggs. It seems no matter how old we are, there is something special about preparing hard cooked eggs and dying/decorating them for the family Easter Egg hunt. Read on for&nbsp;some great food safety reminders.​After hard cooking eggs, dye them and return them to the refrigerator within 2 hours. If eggs are to be eaten, use a food-safe coloring. Wash your hands before and after handling eggs.​Hard cooked eggs that have been lying on the ground can pick up bacteria, especially if the shells are cracked. If the shells crack, bacteria could contaminate the inside. Hide eggs in locations protected from dirt, moisture, pets, and other sources of bacteria. Hide and hunt for the eggs within 2 hours. Toss any of the eggs that have cracked&nbsp;during&nbsp;the Easter Egg hunt. The “found” eggs must be washed, re-refrigerated,&nbsp;and eaten within 7 days of cooking.​The two-hour rule that I mentioned above is also the advice I give to anyone who is putting out a spread of food for a family celebration.&nbsp;Popular foods like salads and egg dishes should be kept cold, below 40&nbsp;degrees Fahrenheit, until ready to serve. Mayonnaise in salads is very acidic and likely not a foodborne illness issue, but it is the other ingredients, such as potatoes, eggs,&nbsp;chicken,&nbsp;or pasta that can allow bacteria to thrive if handled poorly or temperature abused.&nbsp;​Another food safety tip is to read the label to know what type of ham you are purchasing, either fresh or ready-to-eat. Fresh ham labels will detail cooking instructions, and the label may state to cook thoroughly. Ready to eat ham can be served out of the package or reheated at an oven temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees.&nbsp;Whatever you have on your Easter dinner menu, I hope you have&nbsp;a Happy Easter celebration with your family!Donna Krug is the&nbsp;District Director and&nbsp;Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension –&nbsp;Cottonwood District.&nbsp;You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider.&nbsp;

KRUG: Play it safe with Easter eggs

UPDATED 10 a.m.&nbsp; Thursday

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

Several K-State Research &amp; Extension Districts will be offering a Hazardous&nbsp;Occupation Safety Training in&nbsp;Agriculture or&nbsp;Tractor and Farm Safety Course&nbsp;on Saturday,&nbsp;April 30th&nbsp;from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Hill City at the Graham County Fairgrounds 4-H Building.&nbsp;

The United States Department of Labor requires youth 14 – 15 years of age attend this safety training in order to work on a farm for someone other than their parents.&nbsp; However, there are several cases where youth may be required to take the training even though they are working on the “family farm.”&nbsp; For instance, if the parent is a partner or member of a farm corporation or if the youth is legally employed by grandparents, the law requires youth participate in the course.&nbsp; Any employer who plans to hire youth under 16 years of age must make sure they attend this tractor and farm safety course.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Certification will be presented to participants who meet all of the following. Attend the entire session, complete all assignments, successfully complete tractor safety exam, safely demonstrate the ability to operate a tractor and all its controls according to safe operating procedures under the supervision of a parent or employer, youth ages 14-15 years (others will receive certification at the time they turn 14).&nbsp; There is a $10 fee to attend and&nbsp;RSVP is requested by Friday, April 22nd.&nbsp;Thank you to our lunch and refreshment sponsor, People’s State Bank!&nbsp;This program is being offered and taught by Extension Agents in the&nbsp;Cottonwood,&nbsp;Twin Creeks, Golden Prairie and Phillips/Rooks Extension Districts. &nbsp;To register contact any of the above Extension Districts by&nbsp;Saturday,&nbsp;<a></a>April 22 to register and pickup study materials before-hand.&nbsp;

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.

UPDATED 10 a.m.&nbsp; ThursdayBy STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictSeveral K-State Research &amp; Extension Districts will be offering a Hazardous&nbsp;Occupation Safety Training in&nbsp;Agriculture or&nbsp;Tractor and Farm Safety Course&nbsp;on Saturday,&nbsp;April 30th&nbsp;from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Hill City at the Graham County Fairgrounds 4-H Building.&nbsp;The United States Department of Labor requires youth 14 – 15 years of age attend this safety training in order to work on a farm for someone other than their parents.&nbsp; However, there are several cases where youth may be required to take the training even though they are working on the “family farm.”&nbsp; For instance, if the parent is a partner or member of a farm corporation or if the youth is legally employed by grandparents, the law requires youth participate in the course.&nbsp; Any employer who plans to hire youth under 16 years of age must make sure they attend this tractor and farm safety course.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Certification will be presented to participants who meet all of the following. Attend the entire session, complete all assignments, successfully complete tractor safety exam, safely demonstrate the ability to operate a tractor and all its controls according to safe operating procedures under the supervision of a parent or employer, youth ages 14-15 years (others will receive certification at the time they turn 14).&nbsp; There is a $10 fee to attend and&nbsp;RSVP is requested by Friday, April 22nd.&nbsp;Thank you to our lunch and refreshment sponsor, People’s State Bank!&nbsp;This program is being offered and taught by Extension Agents in the&nbsp;Cottonwood,&nbsp;Twin Creeks, Golden Prairie and Phillips/Rooks Extension Districts. &nbsp;To register contact any of the above Extension Districts by&nbsp;Saturday,&nbsp;<a></a>April 22 to register and pickup study materials before-hand.&nbsp; 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.

UPDATE: Tractor and farm safety course scheduled this month

I recently had a neat opportunity to attend the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education&nbsp;awards banquet.&nbsp;In cooperation with members of the K-State&nbsp;Watershed staff, Hays Water Department, and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, a group of young people dove into a journey last year and that work of establishing a 4-H2O Ambassador program was recognized by KACEE.&nbsp;

Helping youth to find their spark is invigorating and provides opportunities to help make our world better in&nbsp;so&nbsp;many ways.&nbsp;Sparks are skills, talents, and interests that motivate a young person to change or improve themselves and the world around them by giving them a sense of direction and encouraging&nbsp;goal setting!

This&nbsp;program started in&nbsp;late&nbsp;2020&nbsp;with four young people from Barton and Ellis counties who spent two days learning about water treatment, management, and&nbsp;conservation. While increasing their knowledge&nbsp;of all things water, they also honed their presentation skills to prepare for working with the public at a variety of events.&nbsp;

Those initial four did a great job of helping at multiple events at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center and in Hays. They&nbsp;have family-friendly and youth-focused learning activities for these events.

In 2022, the first four returned and we added three additional youth to the group. They have been through two days of training and work diligently to improve their presentation skills for events. If you would like for the 4-H2O Ambassadors to speak to your group, contact the Cottonwood Extension District in either the Barton or Ellis County offices, the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, or Holly Dickman with the City of Hays.&nbsp;We will open applications in the fall for a new class of Ambassadors and they don’t need to be enrolled in 4-H!

Programs like the 4-H2O Ambassadors are one of my favorite things about working in 4-H!&nbsp;4-H offers nearly 40 different project areas from Art to Woodworking and each area has the potential to create a spark. Some 4-H members may try a dozen different projects over a few years before finding 3 or 4 that really resonate.&nbsp;Others may find a couple of project areas that they are&nbsp;passionate about very early&nbsp;and&nbsp;work and learn in that area over eight to ten years.

Is there a young person in your world who is looking for their spark? If so, give me a call!

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>I recently had a neat opportunity to attend the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education&nbsp;awards banquet.&nbsp;In cooperation with members of the K-State&nbsp;Watershed staff, Hays Water Department, and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, a group of young people dove into a journey last year and that work of establishing a 4-H2O Ambassador program was recognized by KACEE.&nbsp;Helping youth to find their spark is invigorating and provides opportunities to help make our world better in&nbsp;so&nbsp;many ways.&nbsp;Sparks are skills, talents, and interests that motivate a young person to change or improve themselves and the world around them by giving them a sense of direction and encouraging&nbsp;goal setting!This&nbsp;program started in&nbsp;late&nbsp;2020&nbsp;with four young people from Barton and Ellis counties who spent two days learning about water treatment, management, and&nbsp;conservation. While increasing their knowledge&nbsp;of all things water, they also honed their presentation skills to prepare for working with the public at a variety of events.&nbsp;Those initial four did a great job of helping at multiple events at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center and in Hays. They&nbsp;have family-friendly and youth-focused learning activities for these events.In 2022, the first four returned and we added three additional youth to the group. They have been through two days of training and work diligently to improve their presentation skills for events. If you would like for the 4-H2O Ambassadors to speak to your group, contact the Cottonwood Extension District in either the Barton or Ellis County offices, the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, or Holly Dickman with the City of Hays.&nbsp;We will open applications in the fall for a new class of Ambassadors and they don’t need to be enrolled in 4-H!Programs like the 4-H2O Ambassadors are one of my favorite things about working in 4-H!&nbsp;4-H offers nearly 40 different project areas from Art to Woodworking and each area has the potential to create a spark. Some 4-H members may try a dozen different projects over a few years before finding 3 or 4 that really resonate.&nbsp;Others may find a couple of project areas that they are&nbsp;passionate about very early&nbsp;and&nbsp;work and learn in that area over eight to ten years.Is there a young person in your world who is looking for their spark? If so, give me a call!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: 4-H20 Ambassador program

It is&nbsp;hard to believe that the first three months of 2022 are coming to a close.&nbsp;Today I want to focus on things that are happening in the Cottonwood District.&nbsp;Recently our Cottonwood Team met with more than twenty of our Program Development Committee members who help&nbsp;guide our work. At our dinner meeting we asked the question “What makes you STOP and consider attending an event/program?”&nbsp;Answers varied but the common theme was that programs should cover relevant topics that help improve a persons’ life in some way.&nbsp;The challenge in our&nbsp;ever-changing&nbsp;world is when to schedule educational events and whether the event will be held in person or available on-line.&nbsp;While we&nbsp;could not&nbsp;solve all the issues in our 2-hour meeting, we all came away with some great ideas of things to consider. In the months ahead look for our team of agents to try some&nbsp;innovative approaches.&nbsp;

Recent “Fermentation Workshops” held in both Great Bend and Hays attracted many participants who were new to Extension. It was fun to share the information from&nbsp;the fact sheet I wrote last year. Participants came away from the&nbsp;hands-on&nbsp;workshop with a quart of cabbage, which after three weeks, will become a tasty jar of sauerkraut. Learning about the health benefits of including a small amount of fermented food in the diet was a bonus.&nbsp;

Other Cottonwood team members have educational programs planned in their respective program areas.&nbsp;I hope you will take a minute to visit our Cottonwood website and follow the link to our monthly newsletter&nbsp;which&nbsp;contains flyers highlighting these opportunities.&nbsp;

Today&nbsp;I&nbsp;also&nbsp;want to bring you up to date on the three Extension Agent positions currently open in the Cottonwood Extension District. The position announcement/application process for the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Hays office will be&nbsp;posted on&nbsp;May 4th. Applications are due by June 1st&nbsp;and the date for interviews has been set for June 28th. The Family Community Wellness position in the Hays office will be announced later in the summer&nbsp;and the District Horticulture&nbsp;position will follow soon after.&nbsp;If you know of anyone who has the qualifications&nbsp;for these agent positions,&nbsp;plus a heart to serve the public, encourage them to apply.&nbsp;We also have a summer intern position in the Hays office&nbsp;open.&nbsp;We are&nbsp;looking for someone who has completed at least two years of college and would like to learn more about a career in Extension. The&nbsp;position description and&nbsp;application process is on our Cottonwood website.&nbsp;

Let me know how&nbsp;our team members&nbsp;in the Cottonwood Extension District, can best serve your needs!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research and Extension – 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 for K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>It is&nbsp;hard to believe that the first three months of 2022 are coming to a close.&nbsp;Today I want to focus on things that are happening in the Cottonwood District.&nbsp;Recently our Cottonwood Team met with more than twenty of our Program Development Committee members who help&nbsp;guide our work. At our dinner meeting we asked the question “What makes you STOP and consider attending an event/program?”&nbsp;Answers varied but the common theme was that programs should cover relevant topics that help improve a persons’ life in some way.&nbsp;The challenge in our&nbsp;ever-changing&nbsp;world is when to schedule educational events and whether the event will be held in person or available on-line.&nbsp;While we&nbsp;could not&nbsp;solve all the issues in our 2-hour meeting, we all came away with some great ideas of things to consider. In the months ahead look for our team of agents to try some&nbsp;innovative approaches.&nbsp;Recent “Fermentation Workshops” held in both Great Bend and Hays attracted many participants who were new to Extension. It was fun to share the information from&nbsp;the fact sheet I wrote last year. Participants came away from the&nbsp;hands-on&nbsp;workshop with a quart of cabbage, which after three weeks, will become a tasty jar of sauerkraut. Learning about the health benefits of including a small amount of fermented food in the diet was a bonus.&nbsp;Other Cottonwood team members have educational programs planned in their respective program areas.&nbsp;I hope you will take a minute to visit our Cottonwood website and follow the link to our monthly newsletter&nbsp;which&nbsp;contains flyers highlighting these opportunities.&nbsp;Today&nbsp;I&nbsp;also&nbsp;want to bring you up to date on the three Extension Agent positions currently open in the Cottonwood Extension District. The position announcement/application process for the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Hays office will be&nbsp;posted on&nbsp;May 4th. Applications are due by June 1st&nbsp;and the date for interviews has been set for June 28th. The Family Community Wellness position in the Hays office will be announced later in the summer&nbsp;and the District Horticulture&nbsp;position will follow soon after.&nbsp;If you know of anyone who has the qualifications&nbsp;for these agent positions,&nbsp;plus a heart to serve the public, encourage them to apply.&nbsp;We also have a summer intern position in the Hays office&nbsp;open.&nbsp;We are&nbsp;looking for someone who has completed at least two years of college and would like to learn more about a career in Extension. The&nbsp;position description and&nbsp;application process is on our Cottonwood website.&nbsp;Let me know how&nbsp;our team members&nbsp;in the Cottonwood Extension District, can best serve your needs!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Cottonwood Extension District update​

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

More than $600,000 worth of property was destroyed in a Friday evening fire west of Salina.

Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander said this morning that a 38-year-old Saline County man was working on a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta in a building on his property in the 2500 block of Cottonwood Lane when the car caught fire.

A deputy, who was first on the scene, attempted to put the fire out with an extinguisher, Melander said. The fire, however, quickly spread and engulfed the large metal building. Firefighters from Rural Fire District No. 7 arrived and extinguished the blaze.

The Jetta, which belonged to a 64-year-old Salina woman, was destroyed. It was valued at $7,000, Melander said.

The 38-year-old man also lost property in the fire including the large metal building in which he was working, valued at $550,000, a 2009 Kawasaki motorcycle, valued at $3,500, an 85cc Kawasaki dirt bike, valued at $1,800 and various tools, valued at $75,000, according to Melander.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648489575524.jpeg" alt="The blaze destroyed the building and multiple items inside.&nbsp;Photo Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>The blaze destroyed the building and multiple items inside.&nbsp;Photo Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostMore than $600,000 worth of property was destroyed in a Friday evening fire west of Salina.Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander said this morning that a 38-year-old Saline County man was working on a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta in a building on his property in the 2500 block of Cottonwood Lane when the car caught fire.A deputy, who was first on the scene, attempted to put the fire out with an extinguisher, Melander said. The fire, however, quickly spread and engulfed the large metal building. Firefighters from Rural Fire District No. 7 arrived and extinguished the blaze.The Jetta, which belonged to a 64-year-old Salina woman, was destroyed. It was valued at $7,000, Melander said.The 38-year-old man also lost property in the fire including the large metal building in which he was working, valued at $550,000, a 2009 Kawasaki motorcycle, valued at $3,500, an 85cc Kawasaki dirt bike, valued at $1,800 and various tools, valued at $75,000, according to Melander.

Sheriff: $600,000 loss in rural Kansas fire 

Several K-State Research and Extension publications related to insect management in Kansas were recently updated and&nbsp;are available to the public.

These publications were prepared to help producers manage insect populations with the best available methods proven practical under Kansas conditions. They are revised annually and intended for use during the current calendar year. The user should know that pesticide label directions and restrictions are subject to change, and some may have changed since the date of publication.

Each fact sheet is available online&nbsp;using the links provided below, or by stopping in your local Extension Office for a paper copy.&nbsp;Also most of the time if you know the publication title or&nbsp;can even get&nbsp;close to it and type into your internet browser “KSU Wheat Insect Management” it should come up.&nbsp;

MF742 - Sorghum Insect Pest Management&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF742.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF742.pdf</a>

MF743 - Soybean Insect Pest Management&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF743.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF743.pdf</a>

MF745 - Wheat Insect Pest Management&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF745.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF745.pdf</a>

MF809 - Alfalfa Insect Pest Management&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF809.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF809.pdf</a>

MF810 – Corn Insect Pest Management -&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF810.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF810.pdf</a>

MF814 – Sunflower Insect Pest Management -&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF814.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF814.pdf</a>

MF2674 – Cotton Insect Pest Management -&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2674.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2674.pdf</a>

The economics of control should be considered in any pest management decision. Because costs vary greatly over time and are influenced by factors beyond the scope of this publication, product cost is not a consideration for including or omitting specific insecticide products in these recommendations. Growers should compare product price, safety, and availability when making treatment decisions. Growers also need to consider the impacts of insecticides on non-target organisms like pollinators and natural enemies. Rotating insecticide groups can help combat insecticide resistance issues by leveraging different modes of action. The user bears ultimate responsibility for correct pesticide use. For proper use, always read label directions carefully&nbsp;before applying pesticides. Remember, it is illegal to use a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with the label.

More information on pests covered in these publications is available <a href="http://www.entomology.k-state.edu/extension/insect-information/crop-pests/">HERE</a>.

<a></a>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.

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictSeveral K-State Research and Extension publications related to insect management in Kansas were recently updated and&nbsp;are available to the public.These publications were prepared to help producers manage insect populations with the best available methods proven practical under Kansas conditions. They are revised annually and intended for use during the current calendar year. The user should know that pesticide label directions and restrictions are subject to change, and some may have changed since the date of publication.Each fact sheet is available online&nbsp;using the links provided below, or by stopping in your local Extension Office for a paper copy.&nbsp;Also most of the time if you know the publication title or&nbsp;can even get&nbsp;close to it and type into your internet browser “KSU Wheat Insect Management” it should come up.&nbsp;MF742 - Sorghum Insect Pest Management&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF742.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF742.pdf</a>MF743 - Soybean Insect Pest Management&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF743.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF743.pdf</a>MF745 - Wheat Insect Pest Management&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF745.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF745.pdf</a>MF809 - Alfalfa Insect Pest Management&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF809.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF809.pdf</a>MF810 – Corn Insect Pest Management -&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF810.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF810.pdf</a>MF814 – Sunflower Insect Pest Management -&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF814.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF814.pdf</a>MF2674 – Cotton Insect Pest Management -&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2674.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2674.pdf</a>The economics of control should be considered in any pest management decision. Because costs vary greatly over time and are influenced by factors beyond the scope of this publication, product cost is not a consideration for including or omitting specific insecticide products in these recommendations. Growers should compare product price, safety, and availability when making treatment decisions. Growers also need to consider the impacts of insecticides on non-target organisms like pollinators and natural enemies. Rotating insecticide groups can help combat insecticide resistance issues by leveraging different modes of action. The user bears ultimate responsibility for correct pesticide use. For proper use, always read label directions carefully&nbsp;before applying pesticides. Remember, it is illegal to use a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with the label.More information on pests covered in these publications is available <a href="http://www.entomology.k-state.edu/extension/insect-information/crop-pests/">HERE</a>.<a></a>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.

K-State publications on insect management updated for 2022

Before National Nutrition Month comes to an&nbsp;end,&nbsp;I want to&nbsp;share one more pep talk about making healthy food choices. The presentation I shared earlier this month about the Mediterranean and DASH diets&nbsp;turned out to be a popular topic.&nbsp;I will be sharing the same information in Ellis County as part of the Walk KS celebration&nbsp;on Thursday, May 26th, at noon. More details will be shared closer to the date.

National Nutrition Month, created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, puts valuable and credible nutrition information at our fingertips. The focus is always to encourage people to make informed choices and develop sound eating and physical activity habits.

Sometimes it can be tough&nbsp;to know exactly where to start; there are so many messages in the news and some&nbsp;messages contradict what was reported by a different source on a different day. One thing I have always appreciated with my connection to K-State Research and Extension is that I have access to up-to-date&nbsp;research-based&nbsp;information at the click of a mouse.

There are many excellent publications related to healthy food choices that are available on our K-State Research and Extension website. I helped update the “Healthy Choices when Eating Out” fact sheet a couple of years ago. Eating away from your home kitchen can create challenges, because many menu items have added fat or sugar and may be high in sodium. Becoming familiar with the terms of the way food is prepared can help you make healthier choices.&nbsp;

Another fact sheet I authored a few years ago is titled, “Healthy Cooking Styles.” Thisfact sheet highlights five different cooking styles that focus on creating tasty and healthy grain and vegetable dishes. Too often I hear&nbsp;people&nbsp;say how hard it is to eat healthy. In my mind it is not hard at all. And the health benefits you will notice by incorporating more whole grains and vegetables into your daily menus&nbsp;will&nbsp;help&nbsp;keep you motivated. Many people with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and various autoimmune diseases have been able to alleviate their symptoms by eating more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes,&nbsp;nuts,&nbsp;and seeds, and consuming fewer solid and added fats, added&nbsp;sugars,&nbsp;and refined grains.&nbsp;As a follow-up to the fact sheet, I&nbsp;created&nbsp;a 30-minute&nbsp;Extension Ed talk&nbsp;utube&nbsp;video about healthy cooking styles. You can find the link to it and other Extension Ed talks on our Cottonwood website.&nbsp;

If you would like a copy of&nbsp;any of the&nbsp;fact&nbsp;sheets&nbsp;I have&nbsp;mentioned in this article,&nbsp;simply&nbsp;drop by either&nbsp;of our&nbsp;Extension offices&nbsp;in Great Bend or Hays&nbsp;or look for&nbsp;them&nbsp;on the KSRE web site, following the link to the bookstore&nbsp;and search by title.

Donna Krug is the&nbsp;District Director and&nbsp;Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent&nbsp;-&nbsp;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 &amp; Consumer Science Agent - Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent - Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Before National Nutrition Month comes to an&nbsp;end,&nbsp;I want to&nbsp;share one more pep talk about making healthy food choices. The presentation I shared earlier this month about the Mediterranean and DASH diets&nbsp;turned out to be a popular topic.&nbsp;I will be sharing the same information in Ellis County as part of the Walk KS celebration&nbsp;on Thursday, May 26th, at noon. More details will be shared closer to the date.National Nutrition Month, created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, puts valuable and credible nutrition information at our fingertips. The focus is always to encourage people to make informed choices and develop sound eating and physical activity habits.Sometimes it can be tough&nbsp;to know exactly where to start; there are so many messages in the news and some&nbsp;messages contradict what was reported by a different source on a different day. One thing I have always appreciated with my connection to K-State Research and Extension is that I have access to up-to-date&nbsp;research-based&nbsp;information at the click of a mouse.There are many excellent publications related to healthy food choices that are available on our K-State Research and Extension website. I helped update the “Healthy Choices when Eating Out” fact sheet a couple of years ago. Eating away from your home kitchen can create challenges, because many menu items have added fat or sugar and may be high in sodium. Becoming familiar with the terms of the way food is prepared can help you make healthier choices.&nbsp;Another fact sheet I authored a few years ago is titled, “Healthy Cooking Styles.” Thisfact sheet highlights five different cooking styles that focus on creating tasty and healthy grain and vegetable dishes. Too often I hear&nbsp;people&nbsp;say how hard it is to eat healthy. In my mind it is not hard at all. And the health benefits you will notice by incorporating more whole grains and vegetables into your daily menus&nbsp;will&nbsp;help&nbsp;keep you motivated. Many people with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and various autoimmune diseases have been able to alleviate their symptoms by eating more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes,&nbsp;nuts,&nbsp;and seeds, and consuming fewer solid and added fats, added&nbsp;sugars,&nbsp;and refined grains.&nbsp;As a follow-up to the fact sheet, I&nbsp;created&nbsp;a 30-minute&nbsp;Extension Ed talk&nbsp;utube&nbsp;video about healthy cooking styles. You can find the link to it and other Extension Ed talks on our Cottonwood website.&nbsp;If you would like a copy of&nbsp;any of the&nbsp;fact&nbsp;sheets&nbsp;I have&nbsp;mentioned in this article,&nbsp;simply&nbsp;drop by either&nbsp;of our&nbsp;Extension offices&nbsp;in Great Bend or Hays&nbsp;or look for&nbsp;them&nbsp;on the KSRE web site, following the link to the bookstore&nbsp;and search by title.Donna Krug is the&nbsp;District Director and&nbsp;Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent&nbsp;-&nbsp;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: Healthy food choices can make a difference

I came across a picture a few days ago that had the caption, “We can’t always choose the music life plays for us, but we can choose how we dance to it.”

I am part of a group&nbsp;of agents across several states&nbsp;who are reading and discussing the book, “The Positive Shift” by Catherine A. Sanderson. The research included in this book has been a fascinating look at how we can adjust our outlook as not all of us wake up every day filled with energy and excitement about a new day. For some, each day can be a struggle to be or stay positive. The research, however, shows that we can improve our physical and mental health by working on our outlook.

The last two years have been filled with frustration, separation, anxiety, and loss. Loss of&nbsp;civility, loss of relationships, loss of time together. I shared some pretty somber thoughts about loss with my 4-H families a few weeks ago with the reminder to check on themselves, their neighbors, and&nbsp;their&nbsp;friends.&nbsp;

At a good friend’s funeral recently, the message included that our friend had selected the Garth Brooks song, “The Dance” for the father-daughter dance at his daughter’s wedding. Our pastor related the words of the chorus&nbsp;which state:

And now I'm glad I didn't know The way it all would end, the way it all would go Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain But I'd have had to miss the dance

I hope that your takeaway of the last few years is to truly cherish friends and family and listen to the music life gives you. Look for opportunities to be kind, be helpful, be community and choose your dance every day.

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>I came across a picture a few days ago that had the caption, “We can’t always choose the music life plays for us, but we can choose how we dance to it.”I am part of a group&nbsp;of agents across several states&nbsp;who are reading and discussing the book, “The Positive Shift” by Catherine A. Sanderson. The research included in this book has been a fascinating look at how we can adjust our outlook as not all of us wake up every day filled with energy and excitement about a new day. For some, each day can be a struggle to be or stay positive. The research, however, shows that we can improve our physical and mental health by working on our outlook.The last two years have been filled with frustration, separation, anxiety, and loss. Loss of&nbsp;civility, loss of relationships, loss of time together. I shared some pretty somber thoughts about loss with my 4-H families a few weeks ago with the reminder to check on themselves, their neighbors, and&nbsp;their&nbsp;friends.&nbsp;At a good friend’s funeral recently, the message included that our friend had selected the Garth Brooks song, “The Dance” for the father-daughter dance at his daughter’s wedding. Our pastor related the words of the chorus&nbsp;which state:And now I'm glad I didn't know The way it all would end, the way it all would go Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain But I'd have had to miss the danceI hope that your takeaway of the last few years is to truly cherish friends and family and listen to the music life gives you. Look for opportunities to be kind, be helpful, be community and choose your dance every day.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: Dancing to a better outcome

As our weather warms, alfalfa producers are reminded to eliminate weeds in their fields before&nbsp;alfalfa&nbsp;plants break dormancy. Herbicide selection is critical now if you need to&nbsp;spray weeds in alfalfa stands that are green and growing.

Herbicides for controlling winter annual weeds such as pennycress, mustards and shepherd's purse should be applied before alfalfa regrowth reaches 2 inches of height. If alfalfa shoots are green when sprayed, its growth may be set back a couple weeks.

Broadleaf weeds can lower yields, reduce hay quality and slow first-cutting alfalfa dry-down. Grassy weeds such as downy brome, cheatgrass and bromegrass can have even higher impact on lowering hay quality.&nbsp;

If your alfalfa variety is Roundup Ready, then glyphosate can be applied to the alfalfa almost any time without harming the fields. Fortunately, if you treat your alfalfa soon, you can have cleaner, healthier alfalfa at first cutting.

Before spraying these weeds, be sure they are causing economic damage to your crop.&nbsp;Spraying will provide a purer alfalfa stand but may reduce your overall total tonnage.&nbsp;

Our new&nbsp;2022&nbsp;Chemical Weed Control&nbsp;for Field Crops, Pastures, Rangeland, and Noncropland&nbsp;guide,&nbsp;lists herbicides labelled to control weeds in alfalfa. To be most successful, apply herbicides before alfalfa shoots green up this spring to avoid&nbsp;alfalfa injury.&nbsp;If it does get late, use either Raptor or Pursuit, because they tend to cause less injury to your alfalfa.

As always with any weed control program it is best to time spraying when weeds are small, and to pay close attention to growth stage of alfalfa and label recommendations to&nbsp;avoid crop injury.

&nbsp;Replacing Thin Alfalfa&nbsp;- planting new fields of alfalfa is expensive.&nbsp;So many of us put off tearing up old fields and planting new ones. But is this&nbsp;the right thing to do?

Alfalfa stands usually reach peak production by year two or three.&nbsp;After this, yields tend to decline each year.&nbsp;By year four or five, yields are often much lower than their peak years, especially for dryland fields, because the subsurface moisture that plants were using during&nbsp;the&nbsp;early years is all gone.&nbsp;This is most noticeable during drought years when regrowth is almost zero after the first or second cutting. Yield decline in irrigated fields is slower but usually is a ton&nbsp;or more less&nbsp;by year five or six. In addition, thin stands with densities of less than 50 stems per square foot can open the door for weed encroachment.

So, should you try to squeeze another year out of your alfalfa stand? Calculate the costs. First, and most obvious, how will the lower yield of your old field compare to yields from a younger field? A second loss is the lost rotation benefit received by crops like corn that follow alfalfa in the rotation.&nbsp;Depending on the alfalfa stand poor (&lt;1 plant/ft2) vs. good (2-5 plants/ft2). Stand destruction with tillage can reduce&nbsp;your nitrogen fertilizer needs from&nbsp;0 (poor stand) to 80&nbsp;(good stand)&nbsp;pounds over the next couple years.&nbsp;If the stand is killed by spraying (no-till) then the nitrogen credit would be reduced by half. Much research has shown that corn after alfalfa often yields&nbsp;more than corn after corn, even after applying&nbsp;extra&nbsp;nitrogen.&nbsp;

This rotation benefit could be especially valuable this year if corn prices stay high.&nbsp;So if you have alfalfa fields that are past their prime, or maybe show winter damage this spring, this might be an excellent time to rotate those fields to a different crop and plant some new, higher yielding acres to alfalfa.

Both your alfalfa crop and the rotated crop could benefit.

Stacy Campbell is&nbsp;the Crop Production&nbsp;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.

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictAs our weather warms, alfalfa producers are reminded to eliminate weeds in their fields before&nbsp;alfalfa&nbsp;plants break dormancy. Herbicide selection is critical now if you need to&nbsp;spray weeds in alfalfa stands that are green and growing.Herbicides for controlling winter annual weeds such as pennycress, mustards and shepherd's purse should be applied before alfalfa regrowth reaches 2 inches of height. If alfalfa shoots are green when sprayed, its growth may be set back a couple weeks.Broadleaf weeds can lower yields, reduce hay quality and slow first-cutting alfalfa dry-down. Grassy weeds such as downy brome, cheatgrass and bromegrass can have even higher impact on lowering hay quality.&nbsp;If your alfalfa variety is Roundup Ready, then glyphosate can be applied to the alfalfa almost any time without harming the fields. Fortunately, if you treat your alfalfa soon, you can have cleaner, healthier alfalfa at first cutting.Before spraying these weeds, be sure they are causing economic damage to your crop.&nbsp;Spraying will provide a purer alfalfa stand but may reduce your overall total tonnage.&nbsp;Our new&nbsp;2022&nbsp;Chemical Weed Control&nbsp;for Field Crops, Pastures, Rangeland, and Noncropland&nbsp;guide,&nbsp;lists herbicides labelled to control weeds in alfalfa. To be most successful, apply herbicides before alfalfa shoots green up this spring to avoid&nbsp;alfalfa injury.&nbsp;If it does get late, use either Raptor or Pursuit, because they tend to cause less injury to your alfalfa.As always with any weed control program it is best to time spraying when weeds are small, and to pay close attention to growth stage of alfalfa and label recommendations to&nbsp;avoid crop injury.&nbsp;Replacing Thin Alfalfa&nbsp;- planting new fields of alfalfa is expensive.&nbsp;So many of us put off tearing up old fields and planting new ones. But is this&nbsp;the right thing to do?Alfalfa stands usually reach peak production by year two or three.&nbsp;After this, yields tend to decline each year.&nbsp;By year four or five, yields are often much lower than their peak years, especially for dryland fields, because the subsurface moisture that plants were using during&nbsp;the&nbsp;early years is all gone.&nbsp;This is most noticeable during drought years when regrowth is almost zero after the first or second cutting. Yield decline in irrigated fields is slower but usually is a ton&nbsp;or more less&nbsp;by year five or six. In addition, thin stands with densities of less than 50 stems per square foot can open the door for weed encroachment.So, should you try to squeeze another year out of your alfalfa stand? Calculate the costs. First, and most obvious, how will the lower yield of your old field compare to yields from a younger field? A second loss is the lost rotation benefit received by crops like corn that follow alfalfa in the rotation.&nbsp;Depending on the alfalfa stand poor (&lt;1 plant/ft2) vs. good (2-5 plants/ft2). Stand destruction with tillage can reduce&nbsp;your nitrogen fertilizer needs from&nbsp;0 (poor stand) to 80&nbsp;(good stand)&nbsp;pounds over the next couple years.&nbsp;If the stand is killed by spraying (no-till) then the nitrogen credit would be reduced by half. Much research has shown that corn after alfalfa often yields&nbsp;more than corn after corn, even after applying&nbsp;extra&nbsp;nitrogen.&nbsp;This rotation benefit could be especially valuable this year if corn prices stay high.&nbsp;So if you have alfalfa fields that are past their prime, or maybe show winter damage this spring, this might be an excellent time to rotate those fields to a different crop and plant some new, higher yielding acres to alfalfa.Both your alfalfa crop and the rotated crop could benefit.Stacy Campbell is&nbsp;the Crop Production&nbsp;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: Alfalfa weeds and thinning stands 

Our office is buzzing with people who are pulling their Walk KS teams together and that is great news. This signature program at K-State Research &amp; Extension is set to begin March 27thand runs through May 21st. Registration for this program that emphasizes healthy living can be completed on-line. For a $10 registration fee, participants will receive a weekly newsletter, as well as a meal provided at&nbsp;no charge during&nbsp;the&nbsp;celebration held in late May.&nbsp;Registration information is available at either of our Extension offices&nbsp;at 3007 10th&nbsp;Street in Great Bend or 601 Main Street in Hays.&nbsp;​

​Walk KS is&nbsp;it is the perfect time to remind&nbsp;everyone&nbsp;to find a physical activity you enjoy and then make time in your schedule to do it! For me, that means getting back on the bike.&nbsp;When our office moved to a new location late last fall it&nbsp;increased&nbsp;my commuting time.&nbsp;I can log sixty minutes of&nbsp;exercise each day in fifteen-minute increments so that it is built into my normal routine.&nbsp;Even a few days off the routine of bike commuting to and from work makes me feel sluggish.&nbsp;So,&nbsp;I am anxious for&nbsp;Walk KS to&nbsp;begin!

​If you haven’t already&nbsp;pulled your&nbsp;team of six&nbsp;together, there is still time.&nbsp;Select a fun name that describes your team and when March&nbsp;27th&nbsp;rolls around start logging minutes exercised.&nbsp;If you prefer, you can sign up solo and log your minutes exercised online as well. Optional t-shirts may be ordered to help you get into the spirit of the program.&nbsp;People are always anxious to learn what colors the t-shirts are. This years’ t-shirt colors are a pretty&nbsp;heather clay or heather teal.&nbsp;Both are attractive with the Walk KS logo complete with sunflower.

​Walk Kansas Celebrations&nbsp;complete with a free lunch for Walk Kansas team members&nbsp;areset for&nbsp;Wednesday, May 25th,&nbsp;at&nbsp;noon at&nbsp;the&nbsp;Jack Kilby Square in Great Bend, and Thursday, May 26th, at noon&nbsp;at the Ellis County Extension Office meeting room.&nbsp;I’ll have more information about these&nbsp;fun and educational events&nbsp;as the dates&nbsp;draws near.

​So,&nbsp;let’s hope for some warmer weather so we can get back into the swing of things with Walk KS!

Donna Krug is the&nbsp;District Director and&nbsp;Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District. &nbsp;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 &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Our office is buzzing with people who are pulling their Walk KS teams together and that is great news. This signature program at K-State Research &amp; Extension is set to begin March 27thand runs through May 21st. Registration for this program that emphasizes healthy living can be completed on-line. For a $10 registration fee, participants will receive a weekly newsletter, as well as a meal provided at&nbsp;no charge during&nbsp;the&nbsp;celebration held in late May.&nbsp;Registration information is available at either of our Extension offices&nbsp;at 3007 10th&nbsp;Street in Great Bend or 601 Main Street in Hays.&nbsp;​​Walk KS is&nbsp;it is the perfect time to remind&nbsp;everyone&nbsp;to find a physical activity you enjoy and then make time in your schedule to do it! For me, that means getting back on the bike.&nbsp;When our office moved to a new location late last fall it&nbsp;increased&nbsp;my commuting time.&nbsp;I can log sixty minutes of&nbsp;exercise each day in fifteen-minute increments so that it is built into my normal routine.&nbsp;Even a few days off the routine of bike commuting to and from work makes me feel sluggish.&nbsp;So,&nbsp;I am anxious for&nbsp;Walk KS to&nbsp;begin!​If you haven’t already&nbsp;pulled your&nbsp;team of six&nbsp;together, there is still time.&nbsp;Select a fun name that describes your team and when March&nbsp;27th&nbsp;rolls around start logging minutes exercised.&nbsp;If you prefer, you can sign up solo and log your minutes exercised online as well. Optional t-shirts may be ordered to help you get into the spirit of the program.&nbsp;People are always anxious to learn what colors the t-shirts are. This years’ t-shirt colors are a pretty&nbsp;heather clay or heather teal.&nbsp;Both are attractive with the Walk KS logo complete with sunflower.​Walk Kansas Celebrations&nbsp;complete with a free lunch for Walk Kansas team members&nbsp;areset for&nbsp;Wednesday, May 25th,&nbsp;at&nbsp;noon at&nbsp;the&nbsp;Jack Kilby Square in Great Bend, and Thursday, May 26th, at noon&nbsp;at the Ellis County Extension Office meeting room.&nbsp;I’ll have more information about these&nbsp;fun and educational events&nbsp;as the dates&nbsp;draws near.​So,&nbsp;let’s hope for some warmer weather so we can get back into the swing of things with Walk KS!Donna Krug is the&nbsp;District Director and&nbsp;Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District. &nbsp;You may reach her at (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Last call for Walk KS signups

If you have kids,&nbsp;you&nbsp;are&nbsp;well&nbsp;aware that&nbsp;it is&nbsp;spring break and that marks&nbsp;the end of another 9 weeks&nbsp;of school. Your students will be bringing home their report cards soon, and that reminds me of an article in the&nbsp;Working Mother&nbsp;magazine many years ago&nbsp;titled, “The Parent Report Card.” It seemed a bit awkward to ask my adolescent children&nbsp;at the time&nbsp;to grade me and their dad, on 25 different things&nbsp;but that is exactly what we did. Part of the value of the parent report card is that is brings out issues parents may not realize are important.&nbsp;

Things like “Understands my moods”, “Listens to my problems”, “Doesn’t scream at me when angry,” and&nbsp;“Treats all the kids in the family fairly” are graded A to F by each child in the family. I remember being surprised that my&nbsp;10-year-old&nbsp;son gave me a C when it came to “Lets&nbsp;me make my&nbsp;own decisions.”&nbsp;I’m thinking to myself, “Adam, you’re only 10, so you don’t have the skills to make all of you own decisions.” Still, it reminded me of the important job we have as parents, to gradually let our children gain skills to make more of their own decisions.

It is a good idea to make several copies of the “Parent Report Card” and allow time for&nbsp;each child in the family to grade both mom and dad and also let the parents grade themselves. As parents take the quiz and grade themselves, they may see how the perceptions of one generation can differ from those of the other.&nbsp;

Dr. Linda Berg-Cross, author of “The Parent Report Card,”&nbsp;cites a single father who was surprised to find himself with a low mark in “Helps me get up when I oversleep.” “I always make sure she gets up,” he said. “I gave myself an A.” When he asked his daughter why she had given him a D, she answered, “Because you yell at me, and I hate waking up that way.” Her advice as to how he might improve: “Just talk to me nicely.”

<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 for K-State Research &amp; Extension - Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research &amp; Extension - Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>If you have kids,&nbsp;you&nbsp;are&nbsp;well&nbsp;aware that&nbsp;it is&nbsp;spring break and that marks&nbsp;the end of another 9 weeks&nbsp;of school. Your students will be bringing home their report cards soon, and that reminds me of an article in the&nbsp;Working Mother&nbsp;magazine many years ago&nbsp;titled, “The Parent Report Card.” It seemed a bit awkward to ask my adolescent children&nbsp;at the time&nbsp;to grade me and their dad, on 25 different things&nbsp;but that is exactly what we did. Part of the value of the parent report card is that is brings out issues parents may not realize are important.&nbsp;Things like “Understands my moods”, “Listens to my problems”, “Doesn’t scream at me when angry,” and&nbsp;“Treats all the kids in the family fairly” are graded A to F by each child in the family. I remember being surprised that my&nbsp;10-year-old&nbsp;son gave me a C when it came to “Lets&nbsp;me make my&nbsp;own decisions.”&nbsp;I’m thinking to myself, “Adam, you’re only 10, so you don’t have the skills to make all of you own decisions.” Still, it reminded me of the important job we have as parents, to gradually let our children gain skills to make more of their own decisions.It is a good idea to make several copies of the “Parent Report Card” and allow time for&nbsp;each child in the family to grade both mom and dad and also let the parents grade themselves. As parents take the quiz and grade themselves, they may see how the perceptions of one generation can differ from those of the other.&nbsp;Dr. Linda Berg-Cross, author of “The Parent Report Card,”&nbsp;cites a single father who was surprised to find himself with a low mark in “Helps me get up when I oversleep.” “I always make sure she gets up,” he said. “I gave myself an A.” When he asked his daughter why she had given him a D, she answered, “Because you yell at me, and I hate waking up that way.” Her advice as to how he might improve: “Just talk to me nicely.”If you would like a copy of the “Parent Report Card,” give me a call or send me an e-mail and I will be happy to share.&nbsp;Donna Krug is the District Director&nbsp;and&nbsp;Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent&nbsp;for&nbsp;K-State Research &amp; Extension -&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;