By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CAMPBELL: Ellis County wheat variety demonstration plot

&nbsp;By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CAMPBELL: Herbicide applications and high temperatures

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Further details are expected from the department later today.

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

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

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

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

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

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

UPDATE: Ellis woman found dead near railroad tracks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To read the full article on how to&nbsp;how best take and ship the plant leaves, more about plant stress and nutrient uptake, extreme levels of nutrients&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a></a>the&nbsp;range of&nbsp;nutrient contents considered “normal” or “sufficient” at two growth stages in corn&nbsp;go to &nbsp;<a href="http://www.cottonwood.ksu.edu/">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a>

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

CAMPBELL: Plant analysis for testing nutrient levels in corn

In&nbsp;about&nbsp;one month, the Ellis County Fair will be up and going. If you have never bothered to come out to the fair I would ask that you give it a try, just once.&nbsp;Who knows you might see a long-forgotten friend or even the next-door neighbor.&nbsp;And have a good visit,&nbsp;while eating some of the county fair cuisine and listening to some music on the Midway. There are several free events and entertainment to take in each year and as always,&nbsp;you can wander around at your leisure and see the exhibits that 4-Hers and the general public have made and grown. If you have young children or grandkids&nbsp;the poultry, rabbits and livestock are always a hit and it might bring back some memories of your own of days gone by.&nbsp;

​There will be flyers and brochures&nbsp;distributed&nbsp;around&nbsp;town in local businesses highlighting the fair events.&nbsp;Local media outlets will be advertising the fair, and the Ellis County Fair Board has a&nbsp;web site&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ellisco.net/">www.ellisco.net&nbsp;</a>then hold your cursor on the Government tab.&nbsp;

One of the&nbsp;culminating&nbsp;events to cap off the fair is always the 4-H&nbsp;Premium&nbsp;Livestock Sale in which the 4-Hers sell their Market Animals and Champion Food items to the public.&nbsp;If you have never experienced fresh home fed beef, pork, mutton,&nbsp;poultryand even rabbit and goat you are missing something.&nbsp;The champion baked items are always a&nbsp;delight.

Anyone whether you are a business owner or individual can come out to the fair and support the local 4-Hers by purchasing,&nbsp;partnering with&nbsp;others&nbsp;to purchase&nbsp;or adding money onto any sale&nbsp;animal&nbsp;or baked good.&nbsp;If you just want to support a 4-Her and don’t want or need the fresh meat, no problem.&nbsp;You can bid on the animal and pay a premium price at the sale for the animal and the animal is still the responsibility of the 4-Her.

​If you think about it,&nbsp;everyone is a winner in this situation. The buyer can have abasket full of baked goods or a&nbsp;freezer full of fresh meat that has been raised with some&nbsp;extra&nbsp;TLC and&nbsp;also receive recognition for supporting our youth!

The youth of the county can use this money towards eventual college&nbsp;tuition, the purchase of an&nbsp;automobile;&nbsp;school clothes&nbsp;the next project animal and feed, etc. I think you&nbsp;can&nbsp;see where this is going,&nbsp;in other words--the hard-earned money by the kids will show back up in the county and state&nbsp;economy. Sounds like&nbsp;local and state economic stimulus as well as making you feel good&nbsp;about&nbsp;supporting the&nbsp;efforts of the&nbsp;youth of Ellis County!

​&nbsp;The Ellis County 4-H Livestock Sale will be held on&nbsp;Saturday, July 23rd&nbsp;at 6:00 p.m.&nbsp;A livestock purchasers’&nbsp;meal will be provided at 5:00 p.m.&nbsp;If you need more information on the sale contact the Ellis County&nbsp;Fair Board&nbsp;President Jill Pfannenstiel 785-639-2177&nbsp;or&nbsp;Vice-President&nbsp;Justin Scheck&nbsp;785-650-9969.&nbsp;As with everything else purchasing animal projects and feeding them has increased in price for the 4-Hers as well. So please come and support the youth of Ellis County!&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581374358501.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictIn&nbsp;about&nbsp;one month, the Ellis County Fair will be up and going. If you have never bothered to come out to the fair I would ask that you give it a try, just once.&nbsp;Who knows you might see a long-forgotten friend or even the next-door neighbor.&nbsp;And have a good visit,&nbsp;while eating some of the county fair cuisine and listening to some music on the Midway. There are several free events and entertainment to take in each year and as always,&nbsp;you can wander around at your leisure and see the exhibits that 4-Hers and the general public have made and grown. If you have young children or grandkids&nbsp;the poultry, rabbits and livestock are always a hit and it might bring back some memories of your own of days gone by.&nbsp;​There will be flyers and brochures&nbsp;distributed&nbsp;around&nbsp;town in local businesses highlighting the fair events.&nbsp;Local media outlets will be advertising the fair, and the Ellis County Fair Board has a&nbsp;web site&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ellisco.net/">www.ellisco.net&nbsp;</a>then hold your cursor on the Government tab.&nbsp;One of the&nbsp;culminating&nbsp;events to cap off the fair is always the 4-H&nbsp;Premium&nbsp;Livestock Sale in which the 4-Hers sell their Market Animals and Champion Food items to the public.&nbsp;If you have never experienced fresh home fed beef, pork, mutton,&nbsp;poultryand even rabbit and goat you are missing something.&nbsp;The champion baked items are always a&nbsp;delight.Anyone whether you are a business owner or individual can come out to the fair and support the local 4-Hers by purchasing,&nbsp;partnering with&nbsp;others&nbsp;to purchase&nbsp;or adding money onto any sale&nbsp;animal&nbsp;or baked good.&nbsp;If you just want to support a 4-Her and don’t want or need the fresh meat, no problem.&nbsp;You can bid on the animal and pay a premium price at the sale for the animal and the animal is still the responsibility of the 4-Her.​If you think about it,&nbsp;everyone is a winner in this situation. The buyer can have abasket full of baked goods or a&nbsp;freezer full of fresh meat that has been raised with some&nbsp;extra&nbsp;TLC and&nbsp;also receive recognition for supporting our youth!The youth of the county can use this money towards eventual college&nbsp;tuition, the purchase of an&nbsp;automobile;&nbsp;school clothes&nbsp;the next project animal and feed, etc. I think you&nbsp;can&nbsp;see where this is going,&nbsp;in other words--the hard-earned money by the kids will show back up in the county and state&nbsp;economy. Sounds like&nbsp;local and state economic stimulus as well as making you feel good&nbsp;about&nbsp;supporting the&nbsp;efforts of the&nbsp;youth of Ellis County!​&nbsp;The Ellis County 4-H Livestock Sale will be held on&nbsp;Saturday, July 23rd&nbsp;at 6:00 p.m.&nbsp;A livestock purchasers’&nbsp;meal will be provided at 5:00 p.m.&nbsp;If you need more information on the sale contact the Ellis County&nbsp;Fair Board&nbsp;President Jill Pfannenstiel 785-639-2177&nbsp;or&nbsp;Vice-President&nbsp;Justin Scheck&nbsp;785-650-9969.&nbsp;As with everything else purchasing animal projects and feeding them has increased in price for the 4-Hers as well. So please come and support the youth of Ellis County!&nbsp;

CAMPBELL: Supporting 4-H youth and agriculture 

On this episode of the Post Podcast Cottonwood Extension District agent, Stacy Campbell shares information about the upcoming Ellis County Fair.

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

<div><iframe title="As harvest continues Ellis County Fair preparations underway" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=hsbkp-1259bd3-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast Cottonwood Extension District agent, Stacy Campbell shares information about the upcoming Ellis County Fair. <a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.</a>

🎙Post Podcast: As harvest continues Ellis County Fair preparations underway

No two years are the same in farming, and this year’s wheat crop has seen its’ fair share of challenges. However, we are fortunate in Ellis County to have some fields that may have good wheat! If you are&nbsp;one of those, consider&nbsp;entering&nbsp;your best wheat&nbsp;into the Ellis County Fair Open Class – Market Wheat Show.&nbsp;

Entries&nbsp;are&nbsp;fast and easy,&nbsp;fill up a&nbsp;provided&nbsp;bag of your best wheat while unloading at the elevator,&nbsp;or at&nbsp;your bins at&nbsp;home. Return&nbsp;a crop data card after harvest to either the elevator,&nbsp;or&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension&nbsp;District&nbsp;-&nbsp;HaysOffice at&nbsp;601 Main.

Entries must be combine run and shall not be cleaned in any way. Each exhibitor will be limited to one entry for each class. The classes are hard red winter wheat, hard white winter wheat and other varieties or hybrids.&nbsp;

Samples will be sent to the Kansas Grain Inspection Service. Samples will be analyzed and judged on the following criteria based solely on a points system: Variety, Mill &amp; Bake – 250; Protein – 225; Test Weight – 200; Dockage – 200; Crop Data Card – 25; Shrunken &amp; Broken – 100 with a total possible of 1,000 points.&nbsp;

Cash and ribbons will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd&nbsp;place winners, not to mention bragging rights!

Entries are due to the elevator or&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension Office by&nbsp;Friday,&nbsp;July&nbsp;1st.

If you have questions call&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension&nbsp;Office&nbsp;at 785-628-9430.

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictNo two years are the same in farming, and this year’s wheat crop has seen its’ fair share of challenges. However, we are fortunate in Ellis County to have some fields that may have good wheat! If you are&nbsp;one of those, consider&nbsp;entering&nbsp;your best wheat&nbsp;into the Ellis County Fair Open Class – Market Wheat Show.&nbsp;Entries&nbsp;are&nbsp;fast and easy,&nbsp;fill up a&nbsp;provided&nbsp;bag of your best wheat while unloading at the elevator,&nbsp;or at&nbsp;your bins at&nbsp;home. Return&nbsp;a crop data card after harvest to either the elevator,&nbsp;or&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension&nbsp;District&nbsp;-&nbsp;HaysOffice at&nbsp;601 Main.Entries must be combine run and shall not be cleaned in any way. Each exhibitor will be limited to one entry for each class. The classes are hard red winter wheat, hard white winter wheat and other varieties or hybrids.&nbsp;Samples will be sent to the Kansas Grain Inspection Service. Samples will be analyzed and judged on the following criteria based solely on a points system: Variety, Mill &amp; Bake – 250; Protein – 225; Test Weight – 200; Dockage – 200; Crop Data Card – 25; Shrunken &amp; Broken – 100 with a total possible of 1,000 points.&nbsp;Cash and ribbons will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd&nbsp;place winners, not to mention bragging rights!Entries are due to the elevator or&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension Office by&nbsp;Friday,&nbsp;July&nbsp;1st.If you have questions call&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension&nbsp;Office&nbsp;at 785-628-9430.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Farmers can enter wheat for prizes, cash at Ellis County Fair

The history of celebrating Father’s Day dates back 50 years ago, when President Nixon made it an official holiday. Much earlier (around 1910) a young lady named Sonora Smart Dodd, of Spokane, Washington, is given credit for originating the holiday. Her father was a Civil War veteran, who raised her and her five siblings after their mother died in childbirth. I know how much work it was to raise three kids in a&nbsp;two-parent&nbsp;family, so it is hard to&nbsp;imagine how it would be in a single parent home.&nbsp;

A gradual cultural shift of permissiveness toward single parenting can sometimes give&nbsp;theimpression that fathers don’t really matter. Nothing could be further from the truth. Fathers play an important role in the development of their children and families. Studies show that children with involved fathers are more successful in school, more ambitious, more self-confident with their identity, self-protective and self-reliant, less likely to drop out of school and less susceptible to peer pressure.&nbsp;

It is so refreshing to see fathers who have become more involved with their families beyond the role of breadwinner. I saw it in my husband, John, and now in our son and son-in-law, Adam and Art. Taking the time to develop and nurture relationships with children pays off big in the end. Children with active fathers develop skills they can carry into adulthood. Self-esteem soars when dads are active participants in their children’s lives. Children come with their own unique personalities, temperaments and developmental timetables and dadas are an essential link to a child’s well-being.&nbsp;

Here's hoping that all of you reading this will take time to acknowledge the father or father figure who has had an impact on your life. A simple phone call or spending an afternoon working on a project together can be the most meaningful gift of all!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may&nbsp;contact 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 and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The history of celebrating Father’s Day dates back 50 years ago, when President Nixon made it an official holiday. Much earlier (around 1910) a young lady named Sonora Smart Dodd, of Spokane, Washington, is given credit for originating the holiday. Her father was a Civil War veteran, who raised her and her five siblings after their mother died in childbirth. I know how much work it was to raise three kids in a&nbsp;two-parent&nbsp;family, so it is hard to&nbsp;imagine how it would be in a single parent home.&nbsp;A gradual cultural shift of permissiveness toward single parenting can sometimes give&nbsp;theimpression that fathers don’t really matter. Nothing could be further from the truth. Fathers play an important role in the development of their children and families. Studies show that children with involved fathers are more successful in school, more ambitious, more self-confident with their identity, self-protective and self-reliant, less likely to drop out of school and less susceptible to peer pressure.&nbsp;It is so refreshing to see fathers who have become more involved with their families beyond the role of breadwinner. I saw it in my husband, John, and now in our son and son-in-law, Adam and Art. Taking the time to develop and nurture relationships with children pays off big in the end. Children with active fathers develop skills they can carry into adulthood. Self-esteem soars when dads are active participants in their children’s lives. Children come with their own unique personalities, temperaments and developmental timetables and dadas are an essential link to a child’s well-being.&nbsp;Here's hoping that all of you reading this will take time to acknowledge the father or father figure who has had an impact on your life. A simple phone call or spending an afternoon working on a project together can be the most meaningful gift of all!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may&nbsp;contact her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Celebrating Dad’s Day

I have seen a graphic several times recently that states:

When a flashlight grows dim or quits working, Do you just throw it away? Of course not. You change the batteries.

When a person messes up or finds themselves in a dark place, Do you cast them aside? Of course not. You help them change their batteries.

Some need AA…..attention and affection; Some need AAA….attention, affection and acceptance; Some need C….Compassion; Some need D….Direction.&nbsp;

And if they still don’t seem to shine; simply sit with them quietly and share your light.

I really appreciate this message on many levels. I have experienced those times when my own light feels pretty&nbsp;dim&nbsp;and I am grateful for those&nbsp;who shared a change of perspective with me or simply sat with me in the dusk.

At other times, I recognize that dark place in others and hope that I have shared a bit of sunlight of my own with them.

One of the key components of 4-H is a sense of belonging. From club leaders to fellow 4-H members, we work to share a sense of community, kindness, and respect to one another. It doesn’t mean that we always get along or agree but that we can empathize with another person.

I also know that it is important for each of us to recharge our batteries&nbsp;in order toshare our light with others. That may mean curling up with a good book, an afternoon of laughter&nbsp;with&nbsp;friends, or time in nature. Whatever helps you to recharge, I hope that you will make time for that and help those around you to recognize the need&nbsp;and time for a recharge.

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.

<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 have seen a graphic several times recently that states:When a flashlight grows dim or quits working, Do you just throw it away? Of course not. You change the batteries.When a person messes up or finds themselves in a dark place, Do you cast them aside? Of course not. You help them change their batteries.Some need AA…..attention and affection; Some need AAA….attention, affection and acceptance; Some need C….Compassion; Some need D….Direction.&nbsp;And if they still don’t seem to shine; simply sit with them quietly and share your light.I really appreciate this message on many levels. I have experienced those times when my own light feels pretty&nbsp;dim&nbsp;and I am grateful for those&nbsp;who shared a change of perspective with me or simply sat with me in the dusk.At other times, I recognize that dark place in others and hope that I have shared a bit of sunlight of my own with them.One of the key components of 4-H is a sense of belonging. From club leaders to fellow 4-H members, we work to share a sense of community, kindness, and respect to one another. It doesn’t mean that we always get along or agree but that we can empathize with another person.I also know that it is important for each of us to recharge our batteries&nbsp;in order toshare our light with others. That may mean curling up with a good book, an afternoon of laughter&nbsp;with&nbsp;friends, or time in nature. Whatever helps you to recharge, I hope that you will make time for that and help those around you to recognize the need&nbsp;and time for a recharge.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: Whatever helps you recharge ...

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Drought has significantly affected wheat in southwest Kansas, but the rains may have saved some of the wheat in northwest Kansas.

"Our neighbors in southwest Kansas have been in extreme drought, I think quite a few acres of wheat down there have just been abandoned, destroyed." said Stacy Campbell, Cottonwood District K-State Extension agent for agriculture.

"Fortunately here in our area, we have had a few rains. We're probably in a little better shape than in southwest Kansas. Some of our wheat looks like it is going to do pretty good, all things considered."

The Cottonwood District covers both Hays and Great Bend.

Ellis County is listed on the Kansas Drought Monitor as being in a moderate drought as of May 31. Great Bend has areas listed in both moderate and severe drought. Other sections of northwest Kansas are listed in extreme drought.

Rains are rarely consistent even within counties, so Campbell said soil and crop conditions can vary.

Campbell said farmers won't know wheat yields for sure until harvest. The first harvest in Ellis County usually starts about June 18 t 20. By June 24 harvest in this region should be in full swing, depending on weather, he said.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f5b7f548-6f23-4b41-aa53-b6efa926e4bc">Campbell said in his weekly column the dry weather has resulted in shorter wheat. </a>Machines may need to be adjusted to most efficiently separate straw from heads, he said.

Nathan Leiker, 36, a farmer with crops in Rush and Ellis counties, said the fluctuating prices and drought should make for an interesting year.

He has concerns the drought may affect his wheat but was a little more optimistic for his fall crops. He said the fall crops look very promising in light of the rain over the last couple of weeks. He is growing corn, milo and wheat.

May rain will help fall crops, but Campbell said more will be needed to help the fall crops, especially dryland corn. He said the soil moisture profile is still not good.

With the drought conditions, Campbell anticipated some farmers will forgo corn for more drought-tolerant crops, such as milo.

Drought and the war in Ukraine have forced wheat prices up. As of May 27, Kansas hard red wheat for July was about $11 per bushel. That is compared to prices as low as $4 per bushel in 2020.

However, Campbell said much of the profit farmers may make due to the increase in the sale price will be eaten up by inflation.

Input prices for fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides and diesel, have all gone up two to two and half times compared to a year ago, he said.

"They do need a better price to still make some money," Campbell said.

Leiker said he thought he may make a profit on wheat this year, but the increases in production costs may wipe out any profit on next year's wheat.

He said the market is changing so fast that some farmers are trying to take advantage of high prices now to lock in sales. If farmers wait until the wheat is out of the fields, they may see prices drop, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654271601887.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay " />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostDrought has significantly affected wheat in southwest Kansas, but the rains may have saved some of the wheat in northwest Kansas."Our neighbors in southwest Kansas have been in extreme drought, I think quite a few acres of wheat down there have just been abandoned, destroyed." said Stacy Campbell, Cottonwood District K-State Extension agent for agriculture."Fortunately here in our area, we have had a few rains. We're probably in a little better shape than in southwest Kansas. Some of our wheat looks like it is going to do pretty good, all things considered."The Cottonwood District covers both Hays and Great Bend.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654272487890.png" alt="Kansas Drought Monitor map as of May 31 " />
 <figcaption>Kansas Drought Monitor map as of May 31 </figcaption>
 </figure>Ellis County is listed on the Kansas Drought Monitor as being in a moderate drought as of May 31. Great Bend has areas listed in both moderate and severe drought. Other sections of northwest Kansas are listed in extreme drought.Rains are rarely consistent even within counties, so Campbell said soil and crop conditions can vary.Campbell said farmers won't know wheat yields for sure until harvest. The first harvest in Ellis County usually starts about June 18 t 20. By June 24 harvest in this region should be in full swing, depending on weather, he said.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f5b7f548-6f23-4b41-aa53-b6efa926e4bc">Campbell said in his weekly column the dry weather has resulted in shorter wheat. </a>Machines may need to be adjusted to most efficiently separate straw from heads, he said.Nathan Leiker, 36, a farmer with crops in Rush and Ellis counties, said the fluctuating prices and drought should make for an interesting year.He has concerns the drought may affect his wheat but was a little more optimistic for his fall crops. He said the fall crops look very promising in light of the rain over the last couple of weeks. He is growing corn, milo and wheat.May rain will help fall crops, but Campbell said more will be needed to help the fall crops, especially dryland corn. He said the soil moisture profile is still not good.With the drought conditions, Campbell anticipated some farmers will forgo corn for more drought-tolerant crops, such as milo.Drought and the war in Ukraine have forced wheat prices up. As of May 27, Kansas hard red wheat for July was about $11 per bushel. That is compared to prices as low as $4 per bushel in 2020.However, Campbell said much of the profit farmers may make due to the increase in the sale price will be eaten up by inflation.Input prices for fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides and diesel, have all gone up two to two and half times compared to a year ago, he said."They do need a better price to still make some money," Campbell said.Leiker said he thought he may make a profit on wheat this year, but the increases in production costs may wipe out any profit on next year's wheat.He said the market is changing so fast that some farmers are trying to take advantage of high prices now to lock in sales. If farmers wait until the wheat is out of the fields, they may see prices drop, he said.

Wheat better than expected, but high input prices to cut into profits

The&nbsp;<a href="https://soilhealthnexus.org/soil-health-matrix-tool/">Soil Health Matrix Decision Tool</a>&nbsp;is a free tool that was recently developed by the Soil Health Nexus and a regional advisory team with support from&nbsp;<a href="https://northcentral.sare.org/">North Central&nbsp;Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE</a>). It is designed as a 101 tool to assess the effects of current and future management practices on soil health.

Producers who are looking to implement a new soil health practice on their operation can use this comparative tool to get an overall feel for practices that benefit soil health and which management decisions may be the best fit for their operation.

The tool includes four practices – tillage, manure, cover crops, and crop rotation – and two complementary practices – controlled traffic and managed grazing – and eight soil health indicators.

Users can select their current practices and then select any future planned practices that they are currently considering implementing on their operation. From there, users can explore their soil health score for their current practices and compare those with the scores for future planned practices they are considering.

The tool provides three scores: an indicator, practice, and an overall score. The indicator scores are based on how a practice affects each of the soil health indicators and the practice score is the score for a particular practice across all the soil health indicators. The overall score is the average of all the indicator scores allowing users to easily compare how different combinations of practices impact soil health.

It is important to note that the score values are not meant to serve as quantitative values producers can use on the farm. Instead, they are directional scores – that result from averaging the scores of research and extension representatives from across the region. The tool is designed to be a conversation starter between producers and their extension educator and allow producers to explore different implementation options to find the choice that makes the most sense to them.

The tool also includes a future considerations table that breaks down the equipment, time and labor, skill level, and cost for implementing new practices. Additionally, the table highlights any ecosystem services a new soil health practice will provide, such as groundwater protection and pollinator habitat,

You can access the tool by visiting the&nbsp;<a href="https://soilhealthnexus.org/soil-health-matrix-tool/">Soil Health Nexus website</a>. There are two versions of the tool: a downloadable Excel version that can be accessed by scrolling to the bottom of the page and the web-based version located directly on the website.

The tool is currently in the pilot phase and the team is looking for feedback on how to refine the tool and improve its function. A&nbsp;<a href="https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6lfi7Ihy5qLSE9o">short 5-minute survey</a>&nbsp;is accessible on the Soil Health Matrix Decision Tool webpage and thoughts, feedback, and suggestions are encouraged.

For additional information or answers to your questions, you can contact DeAnn Presley, K-State Soil Management Specialist at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dean@ksu.edu">deann@ksu.edu</a>. Presley was on the team that developed this tool.

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/2022/6/1654531681187.jpeg" alt="Courtesy K-State Research &amp; Extension" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy K-State Research &amp; Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictThe&nbsp;<a href="https://soilhealthnexus.org/soil-health-matrix-tool/">Soil Health Matrix Decision Tool</a>&nbsp;is a free tool that was recently developed by the Soil Health Nexus and a regional advisory team with support from&nbsp;<a href="https://northcentral.sare.org/">North Central&nbsp;Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE</a>). It is designed as a 101 tool to assess the effects of current and future management practices on soil health.Producers who are looking to implement a new soil health practice on their operation can use this comparative tool to get an overall feel for practices that benefit soil health and which management decisions may be the best fit for their operation.The tool includes four practices – tillage, manure, cover crops, and crop rotation – and two complementary practices – controlled traffic and managed grazing – and eight soil health indicators.Users can select their current practices and then select any future planned practices that they are currently considering implementing on their operation. From there, users can explore their soil health score for their current practices and compare those with the scores for future planned practices they are considering.The tool provides three scores: an indicator, practice, and an overall score. The indicator scores are based on how a practice affects each of the soil health indicators and the practice score is the score for a particular practice across all the soil health indicators. The overall score is the average of all the indicator scores allowing users to easily compare how different combinations of practices impact soil health.It is important to note that the score values are not meant to serve as quantitative values producers can use on the farm. Instead, they are directional scores – that result from averaging the scores of research and extension representatives from across the region. The tool is designed to be a conversation starter between producers and their extension educator and allow producers to explore different implementation options to find the choice that makes the most sense to them.The tool also includes a future considerations table that breaks down the equipment, time and labor, skill level, and cost for implementing new practices. Additionally, the table highlights any ecosystem services a new soil health practice will provide, such as groundwater protection and pollinator habitat,You can access the tool by visiting the&nbsp;<a href="https://soilhealthnexus.org/soil-health-matrix-tool/">Soil Health Nexus website</a>. There are two versions of the tool: a downloadable Excel version that can be accessed by scrolling to the bottom of the page and the web-based version located directly on the website.The tool is currently in the pilot phase and the team is looking for feedback on how to refine the tool and improve its function. A&nbsp;<a href="https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6lfi7Ihy5qLSE9o">short 5-minute survey</a>&nbsp;is accessible on the Soil Health Matrix Decision Tool webpage and thoughts, feedback, and suggestions are encouraged.For additional information or answers to your questions, you can contact DeAnn Presley, K-State Soil Management Specialist at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dean@ksu.edu">deann@ksu.edu</a>. Presley was on the team that developed this tool.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 matrix decision tool

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood Extension District agent Stacy Campbell shares information about the upcoming Wheat Plot Field Day.

<div><iframe title="Extension district prepares for Wheat Plot Field Day" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=yb9jj-12366c8-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood Extension District agent Stacy Campbell shares information about the upcoming Wheat Plot Field Day.

🎙Post Podcast: Extension district prepares for Wheat Plot Field Day

During my 32-plus-year Extension career, my goal has always been to provide educational programs that help improve a persons’ quality of life and lead by example.&nbsp;The focus of my column today is to review important bicycle safety rules and encourage families to participate in upcoming bike events that are planned in our area.

The fact that school is out means you will see more young riders heading to their summer activities on bicycles. Instead of making in-person visits to the elementary schools in the area&nbsp;the past couple of years we created a short video that highlights bicycle safety rules. You can access it at the following link:<a href="https://youtu.be/vdaRPTky1SE">https://youtu.be/vdaRPTky1SE</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;I hope you will take a few minutes and share the video with your kids or grandkids. In the video you will see my husband, John, and I in our hi-vis jackets and helmets. &nbsp;

While I feel wearing an approved bicycle helmet is a must, I see a lot of cyclists going without that protection. Statistics show that the number of head injuries is reduced drastically when a properly fitted helmet is worn. Make sure all riders are fitted with a bike helmet and that you review the rules with young riders.&nbsp;Bicyclists need to ride with traffic, and acknowledge traffic signals. &nbsp;Some dangers to watch for include motorists backing from a parking stall or someone opening their car door in your traffic lane.&nbsp;

Two upcoming bicycle events are planned in Ellinwood and Great Bend to share bicycle safety tips as well as having fun. The community of Ellinwood will have a Bicycle Rodeo for kids of all ages on Saturday, June 11th. Information will be out soon via social media with the details. I know we will be bringing 25 helmets to be given away on a first come first served basis.&nbsp;

Another event, the “Family Fun Bike Ride” is in it’s second year as an activity at the Barton County Fair. Come to the runway just west of the Armory Saturday, July 9th, at 7:30 AM.&nbsp;Again, we will have bicycle helmets for riders of all ages available at no cost. You can watch for more details about this fun event on our Cottonwood website.

Every Friday night during the summer there is a community bike ride in Great Bend that leaves from the Jack Kilby bandshell area at 6:00 PM. We go at a relaxed pace and do a loop around Vet’s park. Consider joining us!

I hope you will make participating in one of these bike events a priority this summer. Bicycling a&nbsp;great&nbsp;family&nbsp;activity in the&nbsp;months to come!&nbsp;&nbsp;

Donna Krug is&nbsp;the District Director and Family and&nbsp;Consumer&nbsp;Science&nbsp;Agent with K-State Research and Extension –&nbsp;Cottonwood District.&nbsp;&nbsp;She may be reached at&nbsp;(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 and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>During my 32-plus-year Extension career, my goal has always been to provide educational programs that help improve a persons’ quality of life and lead by example.&nbsp;The focus of my column today is to review important bicycle safety rules and encourage families to participate in upcoming bike events that are planned in our area.The fact that school is out means you will see more young riders heading to their summer activities on bicycles. Instead of making in-person visits to the elementary schools in the area&nbsp;the past couple of years we created a short video that highlights bicycle safety rules. You can access it at the following link:<a href="https://youtu.be/vdaRPTky1SE">https://youtu.be/vdaRPTky1SE</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;I hope you will take a few minutes and share the video with your kids or grandkids. In the video you will see my husband, John, and I in our hi-vis jackets and helmets. &nbsp;While I feel wearing an approved bicycle helmet is a must, I see a lot of cyclists going without that protection. Statistics show that the number of head injuries is reduced drastically when a properly fitted helmet is worn. Make sure all riders are fitted with a bike helmet and that you review the rules with young riders.&nbsp;Bicyclists need to ride with traffic, and acknowledge traffic signals. &nbsp;Some dangers to watch for include motorists backing from a parking stall or someone opening their car door in your traffic lane.&nbsp;Two upcoming bicycle events are planned in Ellinwood and Great Bend to share bicycle safety tips as well as having fun. The community of Ellinwood will have a Bicycle Rodeo for kids of all ages on Saturday, June 11th. Information will be out soon via social media with the details. I know we will be bringing 25 helmets to be given away on a first come first served basis.&nbsp;Another event, the “Family Fun Bike Ride” is in it’s second year as an activity at the Barton County Fair. Come to the runway just west of the Armory Saturday, July 9th, at 7:30 AM.&nbsp;Again, we will have bicycle helmets for riders of all ages available at no cost. You can watch for more details about this fun event on our Cottonwood website.Every Friday night during the summer there is a community bike ride in Great Bend that leaves from the Jack Kilby bandshell area at 6:00 PM. We go at a relaxed pace and do a loop around Vet’s park. Consider joining us!I hope you will make participating in one of these bike events a priority this summer. Bicycling a&nbsp;great&nbsp;family&nbsp;activity in the&nbsp;months to come!&nbsp;&nbsp;Donna Krug is&nbsp;the District Director and Family and&nbsp;Consumer&nbsp;Science&nbsp;Agent with K-State Research and Extension –&nbsp;Cottonwood District.&nbsp;&nbsp;She may be reached at&nbsp;(620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Review bicycle safety rules with young riders​

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!

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;

<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.