MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) has funds available for reimbursement to Kansas specialty crop growers who attend an educational conference with a primary focus on specialty crops. Qualifying conferences may include sessions about production practices, specialized equipment and technology, pest and disease management, specialty crop marketing practices, or business principles for specialty crop producers.

Applicants who apply for the reimbursement will be required to attend the conference between December 2020 and June 2021 and to complete surveys before, immediately after and six months post-conference prior to payment being issued. 

Conferences not eligible will include those within the state of Kansas and the Great Plains Growers Conference. 

KDA will reimburse Kansas specialty crop growers up to $850 each in order to offset the cost of their conference registration, mileage/flights, hotel, meals, etc.&nbsp; The award is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for application is December 18, 2020.&nbsp;

Examples of conferences that may be eligible for applicants to attend include, but are not limited to:

This program is made possible by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG). The SCBG makes funds available to state departments of agriculture solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. 

According to USDA, specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.”

This grant fits KDA’s mission to provide an environment that enhances and encourages economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy.

For application details, go to the KDA website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fagriculture.ks.gov%2Fkda-services%2Fgrants-and-cost-share-programs%2Fspecialty-crop-grower-conference-grant&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C43968e0a70aa4cd920d108d87437984d%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637387129904771827%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=cSYGCV%2B32pXHXEskIbEsBYeYi%2BUwm56jhuBTTPWGD4c%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">agriculture.ks.gov/grants</a>. Questions should be directed to Sammy Gleason,&nbsp;From the Land of Kansas&nbsp;program coordinator, at 785-564-6755 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Sammy.Gleason@ks.gov" target="_blank">Sammy.Gleason@ks.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603232188673.jpeg" alt="(Photo courtesy Kansas Specialty Crop Growers Association)" />
 <figcaption>(Photo courtesy Kansas Specialty Crop Growers Association)</figcaption>
 </figure>KDAMANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) has funds available for reimbursement to Kansas specialty crop growers who attend an educational conference with a primary focus on specialty crops. Qualifying conferences may include sessions about production practices, specialized equipment and technology, pest and disease management, specialty crop marketing practices, or business principles for specialty crop producers.Applicants who apply for the reimbursement will be required to attend the conference between December 2020 and June 2021 and to complete surveys before, immediately after and six months post-conference prior to payment being issued. Conferences not eligible will include those within the state of Kansas and the Great Plains Growers Conference. KDA will reimburse Kansas specialty crop growers up to $850 each in order to offset the cost of their conference registration, mileage/flights, hotel, meals, etc.&nbsp; The award is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for application is December 18, 2020.&nbsp;Examples of conferences that may be eligible for applicants to attend include, but are not limited to:<ul>
 <li>Great Lakes Expo Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market, December 8-10, 2020, Virtual</li><li>Southeast Regional Fruit &amp; Vegetable Conference, January 5-7, 2021, Virtual</li><li>North American Strawberry Growers Association Conference, January 18-20, 2021, Virtual</li><li>Unified Wine &amp; Grape Symposium, January 26-29, 2021, Sacramento, California</li><li>American Society for Enology and Viticulture National Conference, June 21-24, 2021, Monterey, California</li>
 </ul>This program is made possible by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG). The SCBG makes funds available to state departments of agriculture solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. According to USDA, specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.”This grant fits KDA’s mission to provide an environment that enhances and encourages economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy.For application details, go to the KDA website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fagriculture.ks.gov%2Fkda-services%2Fgrants-and-cost-share-programs%2Fspecialty-crop-grower-conference-grant&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C43968e0a70aa4cd920d108d87437984d%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637387129904771827%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=cSYGCV%2B32pXHXEskIbEsBYeYi%2BUwm56jhuBTTPWGD4c%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">agriculture.ks.gov/grants</a>. Questions should be directed to Sammy Gleason,&nbsp;From the Land of Kansas&nbsp;program coordinator, at 785-564-6755 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Sammy.Gleason@ks.gov" target="_blank">Sammy.Gleason@ks.gov</a>.

KDA offers reimbursement to specialty crop growers

Late October to early November is the most effective time to control broadleaf weeds in lawns. Dandelions usually produce a flush of new plants in late September, and the winter annual weeds henbit and chickweed should have germinated in October.

These young plants are small and easily controlled with herbicides such as 2,4-D or combination products (Trimec, Weed-B-Gon, Weed-Out) that contain 2,4-D, MCPP, and Dicamba. Even established dandelions are more easily controlled now than in the spring because they are actively moving materials from the top portion of the plant to the roots in the fall. &nbsp;Herbicides will translocate to the roots as well and will kill the plant from the roots up.​

Choose a day that is 50 degrees or higher. The better the weed is growing, the more weed killer will be moved from the leaves to the roots. Cold temperatures will slow this process, but these products will still work at lower temperatures.

Weed Free Zone (also sold under the name of Speed Zone) contains the three active ingredients mentioned above, plus carfentrazone. It will give a quicker response than the other products mentioned especially as temperatures move below 50 degrees. Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions, she can be contacted by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lfick@k-state.edu">lfick@k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. " />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. </figcaption>
 </figure> Late October to early November is the most effective time to control broadleaf weeds in lawns. Dandelions usually produce a flush of new plants in late September, and the winter annual weeds henbit and chickweed should have germinated in October. These young plants are small and easily controlled with herbicides such as 2,4-D or combination products (Trimec, Weed-B-Gon, Weed-Out) that contain 2,4-D, MCPP, and Dicamba. Even established dandelions are more easily controlled now than in the spring because they are actively moving materials from the top portion of the plant to the roots in the fall. &nbsp;Herbicides will translocate to the roots as well and will kill the plant from the roots up.​ Choose a day that is 50 degrees or higher. The better the weed is growing, the more weed killer will be moved from the leaves to the roots. Cold temperatures will slow this process, but these products will still work at lower temperatures.Weed Free Zone (also sold under the name of Speed Zone) contains the three active ingredients mentioned above, plus carfentrazone. It will give a quicker response than the other products mentioned especially as temperatures move below 50 degrees. Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions, she can be contacted by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lfick@k-state.edu">lfick@k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

FICK: Controlling broadleaf weeds in lawns

BY RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;

A blue ribbon. For millions of 4-H youth through the years, blue ribbons have been awarded in recognition of a high-quality project.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For Joni Albers, the founder of the Hungry Gardens in California, her first blue ribbon helped launch a lifelong interest in horticulture. She is now using those skills to produce healthy food for urban neighbors.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Originally from Hoxie, Joni’s roots go deep in rural Kansas. Her grandparents were dairy farmers, and her family always had a large garden. “My mother got me started in gardening,” Joni said. “I had my first garden at 6 years old.”&nbsp;

She was also a member of the Solomon Valley 4-H Club. In her first year, she took her homegrown green beans to the Sheridan County Fair and won a blue ribbon. “That started it all,” she said. Joni was active in 4-H, taking on projects such as sewing, art, bucket calf, and woodworking, but horticulture was her favorite.&nbsp;

Joni went to college in Denver and worked as a designer before taking a technology position in New York City. When her company allowed her to transfer to California, Joni settled in Sun Valley.&nbsp;

Unlike in New York City, she now had some land. “I wanted to garden as I had in my youth,” Joni said. She started a small garden, but the garden space quickly grew. Soon she had about 4,000 square feet, and her neighbors were interested in her produce.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Locally grown products were hard to come by in the region. “There was one produce stand in the area, but it was only open one day a week, and they didn’t have locally grown produce,” Joni said.&nbsp;

She decided to launch her own business as an urban produce farm. She named it the Hungry Gardens. She uses innovative technology to communicate with customers and focuses on heirloom produce.&nbsp;

These are not plain, everyday tomatoes, for example. “Healthy food and culinary experiences underpin everything we grow at the Hungry Gardens,” her website says.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I try to find the rarest heirloom vegetables,” Joni said. “We specialize in growing unique vegetables that are not available commercially but have historical and indigenous value.”&nbsp;

For example, Joni offers many products which I hadn’t heard of, such as cinnamon basil, blacktail watermelons, red noodle beans, tigger melons, violet sparkle peppers, thai lime, pineapple sage, cucamelons, and many more. She works with various partners, including several chefs.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I want to provide an experience for people, and give them new things to try,” Joni said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Her market is hyperlocal, and she offers pickup and delivery. Hungry Gardens also offers seedlings for such items as heirloom tomatoes, squash, zucchini and flowers.&nbsp;

Some cities have used community-supported agriculture, where consumers pay a fee and receive whatever produce happens to be in season. Joni goes a step further by enabling consumers to select their products. “I allow consumers to curate their own boxes,” Joni said. “That means they get what they really want.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

She updates the inventory of fresh products each day, and her customers get to choose among the freshest items.&nbsp;

Joni uses an iPhone app called Cropswap, to offer Heirloom CropBoxes by subscription. These include a variety of heirloom vegetables not offered on her website. The boxes come with scannable codes that connect to recipes from area chefs, plus ideas for preparation of these unusual products.&nbsp;

It’s a remarkable business, inspired by Joni’s early days as a 4-H’er at the rural community of Hoxie, population 1,201 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

Her products are only available in California, but you can learn about her company by going to<a href="http://www.hungrygardens.com/">www.hungrygardens.com</a>.&nbsp;

A blue ribbon. For 4-H youth, it symbolizes a high level of achievement. For Joni Albers, that first blue ribbon also helped inspire a lifelong interest in horticulture which has now become an innovative business. We commend Joni Albers of the Hungry Gardens for making a difference with her entrepreneurial approach to produce. In her case, a blue ribbon helped encourage a green thumb.&nbsp;

Thanks to K-State Research and Extension Twin Creeks District Director Stacy Brown for this story idea.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602076590355.png" alt="Screen Shot 2020-10-07 at 8.16.15 AM.png" />
 <figcaption>Screen Shot 2020-10-07 at 8.16.15 AM.png</figcaption>
 </figure>BY RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;A blue ribbon. For millions of 4-H youth through the years, blue ribbons have been awarded in recognition of a high-quality project.&nbsp;&nbsp;For Joni Albers, the founder of the Hungry Gardens in California, her first blue ribbon helped launch a lifelong interest in horticulture. She is now using those skills to produce healthy food for urban neighbors.&nbsp;&nbsp;Originally from Hoxie, Joni’s roots go deep in rural Kansas. Her grandparents were dairy farmers, and her family always had a large garden. “My mother got me started in gardening,” Joni said. “I had my first garden at 6 years old.”&nbsp;She was also a member of the Solomon Valley 4-H Club. In her first year, she took her homegrown green beans to the Sheridan County Fair and won a blue ribbon. “That started it all,” she said. Joni was active in 4-H, taking on projects such as sewing, art, bucket calf, and woodworking, but horticulture was her favorite.&nbsp;Joni went to college in Denver and worked as a designer before taking a technology position in New York City. When her company allowed her to transfer to California, Joni settled in Sun Valley.&nbsp;Unlike in New York City, she now had some land. “I wanted to garden as I had in my youth,” Joni said. She started a small garden, but the garden space quickly grew. Soon she had about 4,000 square feet, and her neighbors were interested in her produce.&nbsp;&nbsp;Locally grown products were hard to come by in the region. “There was one produce stand in the area, but it was only open one day a week, and they didn’t have locally grown produce,” Joni said.&nbsp;She decided to launch her own business as an urban produce farm. She named it the Hungry Gardens. She uses innovative technology to communicate with customers and focuses on heirloom produce.&nbsp;These are not plain, everyday tomatoes, for example. “Healthy food and culinary experiences underpin everything we grow at the Hungry Gardens,” her website says.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I try to find the rarest heirloom vegetables,” Joni said. “We specialize in growing unique vegetables that are not available commercially but have historical and indigenous value.”&nbsp;For example, Joni offers many products which I hadn’t heard of, such as cinnamon basil, blacktail watermelons, red noodle beans, tigger melons, violet sparkle peppers, thai lime, pineapple sage, cucamelons, and many more. She works with various partners, including several chefs.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I want to provide an experience for people, and give them new things to try,” Joni said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Her market is hyperlocal, and she offers pickup and delivery. Hungry Gardens also offers seedlings for such items as heirloom tomatoes, squash, zucchini and flowers.&nbsp;Some cities have used community-supported agriculture, where consumers pay a fee and receive whatever produce happens to be in season. Joni goes a step further by enabling consumers to select their products. “I allow consumers to curate their own boxes,” Joni said. “That means they get what they really want.”&nbsp;&nbsp;She updates the inventory of fresh products each day, and her customers get to choose among the freshest items.&nbsp;Joni uses an iPhone app called Cropswap, to offer Heirloom CropBoxes by subscription. These include a variety of heirloom vegetables not offered on her website. The boxes come with scannable codes that connect to recipes from area chefs, plus ideas for preparation of these unusual products.&nbsp;It’s a remarkable business, inspired by Joni’s early days as a 4-H’er at the rural community of Hoxie, population 1,201 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;Her products are only available in California, but you can learn about her company by going to<a href="http://www.hungrygardens.com/">www.hungrygardens.com</a>.&nbsp;A blue ribbon. For 4-H youth, it symbolizes a high level of achievement. For Joni Albers, that first blue ribbon also helped inspire a lifelong interest in horticulture which has now become an innovative business. We commend Joni Albers of the Hungry Gardens for making a difference with her entrepreneurial approach to produce. In her case, a blue ribbon helped encourage a green thumb.&nbsp;Thanks to K-State Research and Extension Twin Creeks District Director Stacy Brown for this story idea.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Joni Albers, Hungry Gardens 

Betty L. Schneweis, 88, died October 2, 2020, in Odin, Kansas. She 
was born November 30, 1931, in Pawnee Rock, Kansas, the daughter of 
William and Ina (Fry) Dooling. Betty attended Larned High School.

She was married to Charles Edward Walker from 1951 to 1971. She then 
married Arthur F. Schneweis on November 19, 1971, in St. John, Kansas.

Betty and her husband Art were both self employed telephone 
contractors. They were both very patriotic and would always be at the 
veteran’s services, where she would often assist with the playing of 
taps.

Betty was a member of the Church of Christ in Great Bend. For a time 
she lived in Texas where she was a member of the Horticulture Club and 
would judge floral shows. She was very artistic and a good seamstress. 
Betty was also an avid animal lover, she loved all animals and 
especially doted on her fur babies.

Survivors include; her husband of nearly 49 years, Arthur F. 
Schneweis; son, Bruce Walker; daughters, Pat Anderson and husband Andy, 
and Lynnda Kirbow and husband Jeff; and three great grandchildren, 
Nathan, Heaven, and Brent.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles Walker; 
infant son, Dereck John Walker, and granddaughter, Krystle Leigh.

Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, with family to receive 
friends from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral service will be 10 
a.m., Wednesday, October 7, 2020, at Church of Christ, Great Bend, with 
Carl Feril presiding. Burial will follow in Larned Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Golden Belt Humane 
Society in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington,
 KS 67544.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601841943443.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Betty L. Schneweis, 88, died October 2, 2020, in Odin, Kansas. She 
was born November 30, 1931, in Pawnee Rock, Kansas, the daughter of 
William and Ina (Fry) Dooling. Betty attended Larned High School.She was married to Charles Edward Walker from 1951 to 1971. She then 
married Arthur F. Schneweis on November 19, 1971, in St. John, Kansas.Betty and her husband Art were both self employed telephone 
contractors. They were both very patriotic and would always be at the 
veteran’s services, where she would often assist with the playing of 
taps.Betty was a member of the Church of Christ in Great Bend. For a time 
she lived in Texas where she was a member of the Horticulture Club and 
would judge floral shows. She was very artistic and a good seamstress. 
Betty was also an avid animal lover, she loved all animals and 
especially doted on her fur babies.Survivors include; her husband of nearly 49 years, Arthur F. 
Schneweis; son, Bruce Walker; daughters, Pat Anderson and husband Andy, 
and Lynnda Kirbow and husband Jeff; and three great grandchildren, 
Nathan, Heaven, and Brent.She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles Walker; 
infant son, Dereck John Walker, and granddaughter, Krystle Leigh.Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, with family to receive 
friends from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral service will be 10 
a.m., Wednesday, October 7, 2020, at Church of Christ, Great Bend, with 
Carl Feril presiding. Burial will follow in Larned Cemetery.In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Golden Belt Humane 
Society in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington,
 KS 67544.

Betty L. Schneweis

Cooler nights are increasing in frequency now that we are into October. If you have tomatoes, you may have some that are approaching maturity. Leave them on the vine until mature or until a frost is forecast. 

Tomatoes will ripen off the vine but must have reached a certain phase of maturity called the "mature green stage." Look for full-sized tomatoes with a white, star-shaped zone on the bottom end of the green fruit.&nbsp;​

When harvesting fruit before a frost, separate tomatoes into three groups for storage: those that are mostly red, those that are just starting to turn, and those that are still green. Discard tomatoes with defects such as rots or breaks in the skin. Place the tomatoes on cardboard trays or cartons but use layers of newspaper to separate fruit if stacked. Occasionally a tomato may start to rot and leak juice. The newspaper will keep the juice from contacting nearby or underlying fruit. Store groups of tomatoes at as close to 55 degrees as possible until needed.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions, she can be contacted by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lfick@k-state.edu">lfick@k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Cooler nights are increasing in frequency now that we are into October. If you have tomatoes, you may have some that are approaching maturity. Leave them on the vine until mature or until a frost is forecast. Tomatoes will ripen off the vine but must have reached a certain phase of maturity called the "mature green stage." Look for full-sized tomatoes with a white, star-shaped zone on the bottom end of the green fruit.&nbsp;​When harvesting fruit before a frost, separate tomatoes into three groups for storage: those that are mostly red, those that are just starting to turn, and those that are still green. Discard tomatoes with defects such as rots or breaks in the skin. Place the tomatoes on cardboard trays or cartons but use layers of newspaper to separate fruit if stacked. Occasionally a tomato may start to rot and leak juice. The newspaper will keep the juice from contacting nearby or underlying fruit. Store groups of tomatoes at as close to 55 degrees as possible until needed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions, she can be contacted by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lfick@k-state.edu">lfick@k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.&nbsp;

FICK: Last tomatoes of the season 

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

When school was forced to go to remote learning this spring, Tasha Lang and her staff at the STAR program at Roosevelt Elementary School went into overdrive.

Karen&nbsp;McCullough, nominated Lang, a low-incidents special education teacher, for September's Hays Post Teacher of the Month for the help she provided her special needs daughter, Natalie, during the shutdown.&nbsp;

"We saw regression in our daughter after a few days of being home, as she could not cognitively understand why she couldn't go to school and spend time with the teachers and friends she loves,"&nbsp;McCullough said.

The family reached out to Lang and asked how they could work with her to make remote learning possible for Natalie. Within a day, Natalie's desk at school arrived at the family's home with tubs of learning materials, which Lang and her paras used to work online with Natalie for three 30-minute Zoom sessions each day.

"Our daughter really liked connecting with teachers and paras and learning from our home,"&nbsp;McCullough said. "She regained old skills and learned new skills while at home."

McCullough added, "Mrs. Tasha and her team at STAR school did an amazing job of supporting families and dealing with so many uncertainties. 

"We are forever grateful of the support Mrs. Tasha has given our daughter throughout her time as her teacher and appreciate all the work she did to ensure she could continue to learn from home, which was not an easy feat!"

McCullough was not the only one singing Lang's praises.

"Tasha’s dedication to her students is not only while they are in her class, but also outside the classroom," Renee Hoffman said in a Teacher of the Month nomination.

"I have seen her attend many events that her students have participated in. Her tears of happiness for their accomplishments are evidence of her love for her students and her special education career."

 Jamie Wolbert also said in a nomination, "Tasha works with students with special needs with such care and compassion. She also has many paras who work for her, and she is just as kind and compassionate with them. She is overall the teacher I aim to be."

Lang said she was honored to hear the kind words.

"I'm emotional to think people see what we do day in and day out and they appreciate it, because, to us, it's a job," she said,&nbsp; "and we love it. It's normal day-to-day activities."

When the students moved to online learning in the spring, Lang and other special education teachers trained on how to deal with remote learning.

"The biggest thing that I took from that training was we have to presume potential for our students, and so that was our mindset all through remote," Lang said.

Parents learned their children could do things at home they never knew they could do by using their communication devices or visual aids and putting schedules in place.&nbsp;

She said the parents did a great job connecting with the school staff and helping their kids grow while they were at home.

"We are ready," she said. "For any reason we have to hybrid or remote again, I think we have a good plan in place."

Sending kids home was hard emotionally on the teachers and staff.

Lang cried when she learned the students would not finish their school year in person.&nbsp;

"It was very hard to know there was never a goodbye or end to it," she said. "We usually have an end-of-the-year party."

Lang and staff dropped off gifts and activities for the kids at their doors during the shutdown. Parents also sent pictures back to the teachers of the children completing their activities.

She said she never wants to go remote again.

"Contact with the kids is what myself and my paras need day in and day out," Lang said. "It's what keeps us going. It keeps us thinking about how we can better their education and better their lives and their life skills."

Lang said she gets excited every time a student learns a new word.

"I love seeing how smart they are," she said.&nbsp;

"Today, a kid, we spaced out her letters. She was able to tell us what the letter N was," Lang said. "It was a big celebration in here that she does know. We just have to pursue potential and change things up to help them show us how they learn."

Lang said STAR is like a family, not only for her, but all her staff. Twenty students are part of the STAR program this year.

"We don't just stop at 3 o'clock. There is a lot of family contact time after," she said. "There are pictures and videos shared from school to home."

Lang, 34, said she fell in love with special education as a peer tutor when she was a student at Hays Middle School. As a senior at HHS,&nbsp; she worked with students in the life skills class as part of a horticulture therapy project.

She went on to study at Kansas State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education, special education. She received a master's degree at K-State in low-incidents and high-incidents special education. She also has an autism certificate from Pittsburg State University.

Lang started her career in the Maize school district before moving back to Hays in 2012. She taught at Wilson Elementary School before the STAR program merged at Roosevelt in 2017.

STAR gives a place for students with special needs to belong, Lang said.

"Not all of our students can participate in outside sports," she said. "They can call this place home. They have friends. They have staff who care about them. They get to do fun activities outside in the community."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600974230751.jpeg" alt="Tasha Lang, special education teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School, is September's Hays Post Teacher of the Month." />
 <figcaption>Tasha Lang, special education teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School, is September's Hays Post Teacher of the Month.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostWhen school was forced to go to remote learning this spring, Tasha Lang and her staff at the STAR program at Roosevelt Elementary School went into overdrive.Karen&nbsp;McCullough, nominated Lang, a low-incidents special education teacher, for September's Hays Post Teacher of the Month for the help she provided her special needs daughter, Natalie, during the shutdown.&nbsp;"We saw regression in our daughter after a few days of being home, as she could not cognitively understand why she couldn't go to school and spend time with the teachers and friends she loves,"&nbsp;McCullough said.The family reached out to Lang and asked how they could work with her to make remote learning possible for Natalie. Within a day, Natalie's desk at school arrived at the family's home with tubs of learning materials, which Lang and her paras used to work online with Natalie for three 30-minute Zoom sessions each day."Our daughter really liked connecting with teachers and paras and learning from our home,"&nbsp;McCullough said. "She regained old skills and learned new skills while at home."McCullough added, "Mrs. Tasha and her team at STAR school did an amazing job of supporting families and dealing with so many uncertainties. "We are forever grateful of the support Mrs. Tasha has given our daughter throughout her time as her teacher and appreciate all the work she did to ensure she could continue to learn from home, which was not an easy feat!"McCullough was not the only one singing Lang's praises."Tasha’s dedication to her students is not only while they are in her class, but also outside the classroom," Renee Hoffman said in a Teacher of the Month nomination."I have seen her attend many events that her students have participated in. Her tears of happiness for their accomplishments are evidence of her love for her students and her special education career." Jamie Wolbert also said in a nomination, "Tasha works with students with special needs with such care and compassion. She also has many paras who work for her, and she is just as kind and compassionate with them. She is overall the teacher I aim to be."Lang said she was honored to hear the kind words."I'm emotional to think people see what we do day in and day out and they appreciate it, because, to us, it's a job," she said,&nbsp; "and we love it. It's normal day-to-day activities."When the students moved to online learning in the spring, Lang and other special education teachers trained on how to deal with remote learning."The biggest thing that I took from that training was we have to presume potential for our students, and so that was our mindset all through remote," Lang said.Parents learned their children could do things at home they never knew they could do by using their communication devices or visual aids and putting schedules in place.&nbsp;She said the parents did a great job connecting with the school staff and helping their kids grow while they were at home."We are ready," she said. "For any reason we have to hybrid or remote again, I think we have a good plan in place."Sending kids home was hard emotionally on the teachers and staff.Lang cried when she learned the students would not finish their school year in person.&nbsp;"It was very hard to know there was never a goodbye or end to it," she said. "We usually have an end-of-the-year party."Lang and staff dropped off gifts and activities for the kids at their doors during the shutdown. Parents also sent pictures back to the teachers of the children completing their activities.She said she never wants to go remote again."Contact with the kids is what myself and my paras need day in and day out," Lang said. "It's what keeps us going. It keeps us thinking about how we can better their education and better their lives and their life skills."Lang said she gets excited every time a student learns a new word."I love seeing how smart they are," she said.&nbsp;"Today, a kid, we spaced out her letters. She was able to tell us what the letter N was," Lang said. "It was a big celebration in here that she does know. We just have to pursue potential and change things up to help them show us how they learn."Lang said STAR is like a family, not only for her, but all her staff. Twenty students are part of the STAR program this year."We don't just stop at 3 o'clock. There is a lot of family contact time after," she said. "There are pictures and videos shared from school to home."Lang, 34, said she fell in love with special education as a peer tutor when she was a student at Hays Middle School. As a senior at HHS,&nbsp; she worked with students in the life skills class as part of a horticulture therapy project.She went on to study at Kansas State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education, special education. She received a master's degree at K-State in low-incidents and high-incidents special education. She also has an autism certificate from Pittsburg State University.Lang started her career in the Maize school district before moving back to Hays in 2012. She taught at Wilson Elementary School before the STAR program merged at Roosevelt in 2017.STAR gives a place for students with special needs to belong, Lang said."Not all of our students can participate in outside sports," she said. "They can call this place home. They have friends. They have staff who care about them. They get to do fun activities outside in the community."&nbsp;

Teacher of the Month: STAR teacher kicks in overdrive during shutdown

MANHATTAN — A pair of studies at Kansas State University is bringing new insight to farmers and producers seeking to incorporate industrial hemp in cattle feed. After the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp production in the U.S., interest has grown in industrial hemp as an agricultural commodity, including as feed for animals. FDA approval, however, through the Association of American Feed Control Officials would be required before hemp could be fed to livestock or pets. "Although hemp can be legally cultivated under license in Kansas, feeding hemp products to livestock remains prohibited because the potential for cannabinoid drug residues to accumulate in meat and milk has not been studied," said Hans Coetzee, professor and head of the anatomy and physiology department in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Veterinary Medicine</a>. A team of K-State researchers recently received a $200,000 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture to establish concentrations of cannabinoids in livestock after exposure to industrial hemp.

"Industrial hemp is typically grown to produce oil, seed, fiber and medicines," said Michael Kleinhenz, assistant professor of beef production medicine. "While varieties of hemp may be planted for a single or dual purpose, such as for seed and fiber, byproducts consisting of leaves, fodder and residual plant fibers remain after harvest. These byproducts could serve as potential feedstuffs for animals. Because these are predominantly cellulose-containing plant materials, the ideal species for utilizing these feeds are ruminant animals, specifically cattle." While there is interest in the use of hemp for cattle feeds, there are questions about whether the feed can be used safely because of concerns about tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, intoxication and the presence of other bioactive cannabinoids. Kleinhenz noticed that most research was focused on humans, mice and swine, but not on cattle. "This is surprising because cattle can readily utilize industrial hemp byproducts as they can digest cellulose plant materials in their rumens," Kleinhenz said. Kleinhenz is part of a multidisciplinary research team consisting of pharmacologists, toxicologists, analytical chemists and horticulture experts. The hemp used in the studies was grown at K-State's John C. Pair Horticultural Center near Wichita. Other K-State researchers involved include Geraldine Magnin, Zhoumeng Lin, Steve Ensley, Jason Griffin, Katie E. Kleinhenz, Shawnee Montgomery, Andrew Curtis, Miriam Martin and Coetzee. The research team also included John Goeser and Eva Lynch, Rock River Laboratories. "We observed that the acidic cannabinoids, such as CBDA and THCA, are more readily absorbed from the rumen than other nonacid cannabinoid forms, such as CBD and CBG," Kleinhenz said. "Now that we have found that some cannabinoids are readily absorbed from the rumen, the next steps are to study the tissue and milk residue depletion profiles of these compounds after animal feeding experiments. The effects of cannabinoids on cattle are also unknown." Follow-up experiments will include pilot studies to examine the effect of feeding hemp on animal behavior and immune function. "Our goal is to fill in the knowledge gaps," Kleinhenz said. "Until feedstuffs containing hemp are established as safe in animals, our data will assist producers in managing situations involving intentional or unintentional hemp exposures." The two published studies are "<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590286520300859?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">Nutrient concentrations, digestibility, and cannabinoid concentrations of industrial hemp plant components</a>," which can be found in the journal Applied Animal Science, and "<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-69768-4" target="_blank">Plasma concentrations of eleven cannabinoids in cattle following oral administration of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa)</a>," which was published in Scientific Reports.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599061485066.jpeg" alt="Buds from industrial hemp plants that are being studied at Kansas State University for possible use in cattle feed." />
 <figcaption>Buds from industrial hemp plants that are being studied at Kansas State University for possible use in cattle feed.</figcaption>
 </figure>KSU News ServiceMANHATTAN — A pair of studies at Kansas State University is bringing new insight to farmers and producers seeking to incorporate industrial hemp in cattle feed. After the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp production in the U.S., interest has grown in industrial hemp as an agricultural commodity, including as feed for animals. FDA approval, however, through the Association of American Feed Control Officials would be required before hemp could be fed to livestock or pets. "Although hemp can be legally cultivated under license in Kansas, feeding hemp products to livestock remains prohibited because the potential for cannabinoid drug residues to accumulate in meat and milk has not been studied," said Hans Coetzee, professor and head of the anatomy and physiology department in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Veterinary Medicine</a>. A team of K-State researchers recently received a $200,000 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture to establish concentrations of cannabinoids in livestock after exposure to industrial hemp.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599061391295.jpeg" alt=" Kansas State University veterinary researchers Hans Coetzee and Michael Kleinhenz are studying the safety of using industrial hemp in feed for cattle." />
 <figcaption> Kansas State University veterinary researchers Hans Coetzee and Michael Kleinhenz are studying the safety of using industrial hemp in feed for cattle.</figcaption>
 </figure>"Industrial hemp is typically grown to produce oil, seed, fiber and medicines," said Michael Kleinhenz, assistant professor of beef production medicine. "While varieties of hemp may be planted for a single or dual purpose, such as for seed and fiber, byproducts consisting of leaves, fodder and residual plant fibers remain after harvest. These byproducts could serve as potential feedstuffs for animals. Because these are predominantly cellulose-containing plant materials, the ideal species for utilizing these feeds are ruminant animals, specifically cattle." While there is interest in the use of hemp for cattle feeds, there are questions about whether the feed can be used safely because of concerns about tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, intoxication and the presence of other bioactive cannabinoids. Kleinhenz noticed that most research was focused on humans, mice and swine, but not on cattle. "This is surprising because cattle can readily utilize industrial hemp byproducts as they can digest cellulose plant materials in their rumens," Kleinhenz said. Kleinhenz is part of a multidisciplinary research team consisting of pharmacologists, toxicologists, analytical chemists and horticulture experts. The hemp used in the studies was grown at K-State's John C. Pair Horticultural Center near Wichita. Other K-State researchers involved include Geraldine Magnin, Zhoumeng Lin, Steve Ensley, Jason Griffin, Katie E. Kleinhenz, Shawnee Montgomery, Andrew Curtis, Miriam Martin and Coetzee. The research team also included John Goeser and Eva Lynch, Rock River Laboratories. "We observed that the acidic cannabinoids, such as CBDA and THCA, are more readily absorbed from the rumen than other nonacid cannabinoid forms, such as CBD and CBG," Kleinhenz said. "Now that we have found that some cannabinoids are readily absorbed from the rumen, the next steps are to study the tissue and milk residue depletion profiles of these compounds after animal feeding experiments. The effects of cannabinoids on cattle are also unknown." Follow-up experiments will include pilot studies to examine the effect of feeding hemp on animal behavior and immune function. "Our goal is to fill in the knowledge gaps," Kleinhenz said. "Until feedstuffs containing hemp are established as safe in animals, our data will assist producers in managing situations involving intentional or unintentional hemp exposures." The two published studies are "<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590286520300859?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">Nutrient concentrations, digestibility, and cannabinoid concentrations of industrial hemp plant components</a>," which can be found in the journal Applied Animal Science, and "<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-69768-4" target="_blank">Plasma concentrations of eleven cannabinoids in cattle following oral administration of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa)</a>," which was published in Scientific Reports.&nbsp;

K-State research analyzes safety of industrial hemp as cattle feed

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

Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions she can be contacted by e-mail at lfick@k-state.edu or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

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

FICK: Lilac leaf spot

Many young, smooth, thin-barked trees such as honeylocusts, fruit trees, ashes, oaks, maples, lindens, and willows are susceptible to sunscald and bark cracks. Sunscald normally develops on the south or southwest side of the tree during late winter. Sunny, warm winter days may heat the bark to relatively high temperatures. 

Research done in Georgia has shown that the southwest side of the trunk of a peach tree can be 40 degrees warmer than shaded bark. This warming action can cause a loss of cold hardiness of the bark tissue resulting in cells becoming active. These cells then become susceptible to lethal freezing when the temperature drops at night. The damaged bark tissue becomes sunken and discolored in late spring.&nbsp; Damaged bark will eventually crack and slough off.&nbsp; Trees often recover but need TLC — especially watering during dry weather.

If you have seen this type of damage in previous years or fear you have susceptible trees, preventative measures are called for.&nbsp; Applying a light-colored tree wrap from the ground to the start of the first branches can protect young and/or recently planted trees. This should be done in October to November and removed the following March. Failure to remove the tree wrap in the spring can prove detrimental to the tree.

Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions she can be contacted by e-mail at lfick@k-state.edu or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. " />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. </figcaption>
 </figure>Many young, smooth, thin-barked trees such as honeylocusts, fruit trees, ashes, oaks, maples, lindens, and willows are susceptible to sunscald and bark cracks. Sunscald normally develops on the south or southwest side of the tree during late winter. Sunny, warm winter days may heat the bark to relatively high temperatures. Research done in Georgia has shown that the southwest side of the trunk of a peach tree can be 40 degrees warmer than shaded bark. This warming action can cause a loss of cold hardiness of the bark tissue resulting in cells becoming active. These cells then become susceptible to lethal freezing when the temperature drops at night. The damaged bark tissue becomes sunken and discolored in late spring.&nbsp; Damaged bark will eventually crack and slough off.&nbsp; Trees often recover but need TLC — especially watering during dry weather.If you have seen this type of damage in previous years or fear you have susceptible trees, preventative measures are called for.&nbsp; Applying a light-colored tree wrap from the ground to the start of the first branches can protect young and/or recently planted trees. This should be done in October to November and removed the following March. Failure to remove the tree wrap in the spring can prove detrimental to the tree.Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions she can be contacted by e-mail at lfick@k-state.edu or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

FICK: Preventing sunscald on thin-barked trees

MANHATTAN – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kansas State University’s Extension Master Gardener program is planning to offer a statewide online training option this fall for those wanting to join the popular group.&nbsp;

Cheryl Boyer, an associate professor in the Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources and interim coordinator of the state’s Master Gardener program, said weekly online sessions begin Sept. 3 and will run through Dec. 17.&nbsp;

The cost for online training is $45 plus any additional fees set by the county – or about $1 per hour of educational content, she said -- and can be paid at the local extension office. Some counties may offer an in-person or hybrid training option.&nbsp;

For online training, Kansans must sign up through&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html">their local extension office</a>&nbsp;by August 28. More information about the program is&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/master-gardeners">available online</a>. Training sessions will be held each Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for 15 weeks.&nbsp;

“This online choice is optional and local units are not required to use this training in place of their own programming plans,” Boyer said. “However, because fall travel is limited for K-State Research and Extension educators, face-to-face training can not be expected or required.”&nbsp;

The K-State Research and Extension Master Gardener program is available to anyone with an interest in horticulture. “If you want to improve your gardening skills and knowledge, and you like to work with people, this program may be for you,” Boyer said.&nbsp;

The program is currently offered in&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/master-gardeners/mg-program-counties.html">more than half of Kansas’ counties</a>.&nbsp;

Once certified as an Extension Master Gardener, participants are asked to donate time in their community to help others learn more about gardening and horticulture. Boyer noted that in 2019, Extension Master Gardeners donated approximately 99,000 hours for a total value of more than $2.6 million.&nbsp;

This fall’s 15-week training schedule will provide up to 50 hours of training on 13 topics delivered by lecture and hands-on activities. Boyer said the topics include plant growth and development, soils, turfgrass, annual and perennial flowers, landscape maintenance, woody ornamentals, vegetable gardening, insects, pesticide safety, plant diseases, fruit, landscape design and wildlife management.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596809601217.png" alt="K-State Research &amp; Extension" />
 <figcaption>K-State Research &amp; Extension</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Weekly sessions begin Sept. 3</h2>K-State Research &amp; ExtensionMANHATTAN – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kansas State University’s Extension Master Gardener program is planning to offer a statewide online training option this fall for those wanting to join the popular group.&nbsp;Cheryl Boyer, an associate professor in the Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources and interim coordinator of the state’s Master Gardener program, said weekly online sessions begin Sept. 3 and will run through Dec. 17.&nbsp;The cost for online training is $45 plus any additional fees set by the county – or about $1 per hour of educational content, she said -- and can be paid at the local extension office. Some counties may offer an in-person or hybrid training option.&nbsp;For online training, Kansans must sign up through&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html">their local extension office</a>&nbsp;by August 28. More information about the program is&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/master-gardeners">available online</a>. Training sessions will be held each Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for 15 weeks.&nbsp;“This online choice is optional and local units are not required to use this training in place of their own programming plans,” Boyer said. “However, because fall travel is limited for K-State Research and Extension educators, face-to-face training can not be expected or required.”&nbsp;The K-State Research and Extension Master Gardener program is available to anyone with an interest in horticulture. “If you want to improve your gardening skills and knowledge, and you like to work with people, this program may be for you,” Boyer said.&nbsp;The program is currently offered in&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/master-gardeners/mg-program-counties.html">more than half of Kansas’ counties</a>.&nbsp;Once certified as an Extension Master Gardener, participants are asked to donate time in their community to help others learn more about gardening and horticulture. Boyer noted that in 2019, Extension Master Gardeners donated approximately 99,000 hours for a total value of more than $2.6 million.&nbsp;This fall’s 15-week training schedule will provide up to 50 hours of training on 13 topics delivered by lecture and hands-on activities. Boyer said the topics include plant growth and development, soils, turfgrass, annual and perennial flowers, landscape maintenance, woody ornamentals, vegetable gardening, insects, pesticide safety, plant diseases, fruit, landscape design and wildlife management.&nbsp;

K-State adds online training for Extension Master Gardeners 

K-State’s Upham offers tips for late July control&nbsp;

MANHATTAN – Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham says that patches of crabgrass showing up in homeowner’s lawns are a sign of work ahead.&nbsp;

By the time the weedy plant shows up in the summer, it’s a bit too late for homeowners to use their best means of control, which is to apply a preventative herbicide in the spring, killing the seed as it germinates.&nbsp;

“Crabgrass is an annual that must come up from seed each year, and the seed must have light in order to germinate,” Upham said. “If a lawn is thick enough that sunlight does not reach the soil, crabgrass won’t germinate.”&nbsp;

Upham added that there is some hope for control if homeowners did not apply crabgrass preventer last spring.&nbsp;

“Some of the herbicides that will kill crabgrass include Ortho Weed-B-Gon Max +Crabgrass Control, Fertilome Weed-Out with Crabgrass Control, Monterey Crab-E-Rad and BioAdvanced Lawn Weed and Crabgrass Killer,” he said. “Each contains quinclorac for crabgrass control, and other active ingredients that control broadleaf weeds. Quinclorac not only controls crabgrass but also has good activity on foxtail and certain broadleaf plants, such as field bindweed, black medic and clover.”&nbsp;

Those who choose not to apply more herbicide to their lawn can be comforted in knowing that crabgrass starts declining by the middle of August.&nbsp;

“That’s about the time that such cool-season grasses as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass start to come out of their summer doldrums,” Upham said. “By the first of September, the crabgrass will be less noticeable. So, a small infestation is best ignored. Crabgrass is a warm-season annual and will be killed by the first frost.”&nbsp;

Hot temps call for watering trees, fruit&nbsp;

Upham advised homeowners to water trees and fruit to give them an extra boost as temperatures top 90 degrees Fahrenheit.&nbsp;

“If you have fruit plants such as trees, vines and canes, check the soil moisture at the roots,” he said. “Insert a pointed metal or wood probe or even a long screwdriver to check the depth of watering. Push the rod into the soil with the goal of reaching eight to 12 inches.”&nbsp;

“If you cannot reach the recommended depth, the plants should be irrigated to prevent drooping and promote fruit enlargement.&nbsp;

Upham said fruit plants can be watered with sprinklers, soaker hose, drip irrigation or even a small trickle of water running from the hose for a few hours. Strawberries, which have a shallow root system, and newly-planted fruit tress in sandy soils may need to be watered more often.&nbsp;

For landscape trees, Upham recommends a perforated soaking hose circling the tree several times to even out the amount of water applied. Soil should be wet at least 12 inches deep. New trees may not have enough of a root system to absorb enough water, so water weekly and apply mulch at the base.&nbsp;

Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining gardens and home landscapes. The newsletter is&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html">available to view online</a>&nbsp;or can be delivered by email each week.&nbsp;

Interested persons can also send their garden- and yard-related questions to Upham at<a href="mailto:wupham@ksu.edu">wupham@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html">local K-State Research and Extension office</a>.&nbsp;

Brand names appearing in this article are for product identification purposes only and are not intended as an endorsement of any specific product.&nbsp;

<h2>K-State’s Upham offers tips for late July control&nbsp;</h2>K-State Research &amp; ExtensionMANHATTAN – Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham says that patches of crabgrass showing up in homeowner’s lawns are a sign of work ahead.&nbsp;By the time the weedy plant shows up in the summer, it’s a bit too late for homeowners to use their best means of control, which is to apply a preventative herbicide in the spring, killing the seed as it germinates.&nbsp;“Crabgrass is an annual that must come up from seed each year, and the seed must have light in order to germinate,” Upham said. “If a lawn is thick enough that sunlight does not reach the soil, crabgrass won’t germinate.”&nbsp;Upham added that there is some hope for control if homeowners did not apply crabgrass preventer last spring.&nbsp;“Some of the herbicides that will kill crabgrass include Ortho Weed-B-Gon Max +Crabgrass Control, Fertilome Weed-Out with Crabgrass Control, Monterey Crab-E-Rad and BioAdvanced Lawn Weed and Crabgrass Killer,” he said. “Each contains quinclorac for crabgrass control, and other active ingredients that control broadleaf weeds. Quinclorac not only controls crabgrass but also has good activity on foxtail and certain broadleaf plants, such as field bindweed, black medic and clover.”&nbsp;Those who choose not to apply more herbicide to their lawn can be comforted in knowing that crabgrass starts declining by the middle of August.&nbsp;“That’s about the time that such cool-season grasses as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass start to come out of their summer doldrums,” Upham said. “By the first of September, the crabgrass will be less noticeable. So, a small infestation is best ignored. Crabgrass is a warm-season annual and will be killed by the first frost.”&nbsp;Hot temps call for watering trees, fruit&nbsp;Upham advised homeowners to water trees and fruit to give them an extra boost as temperatures top 90 degrees Fahrenheit.&nbsp;“If you have fruit plants such as trees, vines and canes, check the soil moisture at the roots,” he said. “Insert a pointed metal or wood probe or even a long screwdriver to check the depth of watering. Push the rod into the soil with the goal of reaching eight to 12 inches.”&nbsp;“If you cannot reach the recommended depth, the plants should be irrigated to prevent drooping and promote fruit enlargement.&nbsp;Upham said fruit plants can be watered with sprinklers, soaker hose, drip irrigation or even a small trickle of water running from the hose for a few hours. Strawberries, which have a shallow root system, and newly-planted fruit tress in sandy soils may need to be watered more often.&nbsp;For landscape trees, Upham recommends a perforated soaking hose circling the tree several times to even out the amount of water applied. Soil should be wet at least 12 inches deep. New trees may not have enough of a root system to absorb enough water, so water weekly and apply mulch at the base.&nbsp;Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining gardens and home landscapes. The newsletter is&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html">available to view online</a>&nbsp;or can be delivered by email each week.&nbsp;Interested persons can also send their garden- and yard-related questions to Upham at<a href="mailto:wupham@ksu.edu">wupham@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html">local K-State Research and Extension office</a>.&nbsp;Brand names appearing in this article are for product identification purposes only and are not intended as an endorsement of any specific product.&nbsp;

Crabgrass making its annual summer appearance 

These large (1-1/3- to 1-5/8-inch long) wasps fly slowly above the ground. Cicada killers have a black body with yellow marks across the thorax and abdomen. Wings are reddish-orange.&nbsp;

Although these wasps are huge, they usually ignore people. Males may act aggressively if they are threatened, but are unable to sting. Females can sting, but are so passive that they rarely do. Even if they do sting, the pain is less than that of smaller wasps such as the yellow jacket or paper wasp and is similar to the sting of a sweat bee.&nbsp;

The cicada killer is a solitary wasp rather than a social wasp like the yellow jacket. The female nests in burrows in the ground. These burrows are quarter-size in diameter and can go 6 inches straight down and another 6 inches horizontally. Adults normally live 60 to 75 days from mid-July to mid-September and feed on flower nectar and sap. The adult female seeks cicadas on the trunks and lower limbs of trees. She stings her prey, flips it over, straddles it and carries it to her burrow. If she has a tree to climb, she will climb the tree so they can get airborne and fly with cicada back to the nest. If not, she will drag it. She will lay one egg per cicada if the egg is left unfertilized. Unfertilized eggs develop into males only. Fertilized eggs develop into females and are given at least two cicadas. Cicadas are then stuffed into the female’s burrow. Each burrow normally has three to four cells with one to two cicadas in each. However, it is possible for one burrow to have 10 to 20 cells.&nbsp;

Eggs hatch in two to three days, and larvae begin feeding on paralyzed cicadas. Feeding continues for four to 10 days until only the outer shell of the cicada remains. The larva overwinters inside a silken case. Pupation occurs in the spring. There is one generation per year. Cicada killers are not dangerous, but they can be a nuisance. If you believe control is necessary, treat the burrows after dark to ensure the female wasps are in their nests. The males normally roost on plants near burrow sites. They can be captured with an insect net or knocked out of the air with a tennis racket during the day. &nbsp; Permethrin may be used for control.&nbsp; Products with permethrin include the following.

&nbsp; Eight Garden Dust - Bonide&nbsp; &nbsp; Multipurpose Garden and Pet Dust - Green Thumb &nbsp; Garden, Pet &amp; Livestock Dust - Hi-Yield&nbsp;

&nbsp; 38 Plus Turf, Termite &amp; Ornamental Insect Spray - Hi-Yield&nbsp; &nbsp; Eight Vegetable, Fruit &amp; Flower&nbsp; Conc. - Bonide&nbsp; &nbsp; Eight Yard &amp; Garden RTS - Bonide&nbsp; &nbsp; Garden and Farm Insect Control- Hi-Yield

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595861237756.png" alt="Cicada killer wasp. Photo courtesy of Kansas State University." />
 <figcaption>Cicada killer wasp. Photo courtesy of Kansas State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>These large (1-1/3- to 1-5/8-inch long) wasps fly slowly above the ground. Cicada killers have a black body with yellow marks across the thorax and abdomen. Wings are reddish-orange.&nbsp;Although these wasps are huge, they usually ignore people. Males may act aggressively if they are threatened, but are unable to sting. Females can sting, but are so passive that they rarely do. Even if they do sting, the pain is less than that of smaller wasps such as the yellow jacket or paper wasp and is similar to the sting of a sweat bee.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. " />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. </figcaption>
 </figure>The cicada killer is a solitary wasp rather than a social wasp like the yellow jacket. The female nests in burrows in the ground. These burrows are quarter-size in diameter and can go 6 inches straight down and another 6 inches horizontally. Adults normally live 60 to 75 days from mid-July to mid-September and feed on flower nectar and sap. The adult female seeks cicadas on the trunks and lower limbs of trees. She stings her prey, flips it over, straddles it and carries it to her burrow. If she has a tree to climb, she will climb the tree so they can get airborne and fly with cicada back to the nest. If not, she will drag it. She will lay one egg per cicada if the egg is left unfertilized. Unfertilized eggs develop into males only. Fertilized eggs develop into females and are given at least two cicadas. Cicadas are then stuffed into the female’s burrow. Each burrow normally has three to four cells with one to two cicadas in each. However, it is possible for one burrow to have 10 to 20 cells.&nbsp;Eggs hatch in two to three days, and larvae begin feeding on paralyzed cicadas. Feeding continues for four to 10 days until only the outer shell of the cicada remains. The larva overwinters inside a silken case. Pupation occurs in the spring. There is one generation per year. Cicada killers are not dangerous, but they can be a nuisance. If you believe control is necessary, treat the burrows after dark to ensure the female wasps are in their nests. The males normally roost on plants near burrow sites. They can be captured with an insect net or knocked out of the air with a tennis racket during the day. &nbsp; Permethrin may be used for control.&nbsp; Products with permethrin include the following.<h2>Dusts</h2>&nbsp; Eight Garden Dust - Bonide&nbsp; &nbsp; Multipurpose Garden and Pet Dust - Green Thumb &nbsp; Garden, Pet &amp; Livestock Dust - Hi-Yield&nbsp;<h2>Liquids</h2>&nbsp; 38 Plus Turf, Termite &amp; Ornamental Insect Spray - Hi-Yield&nbsp; &nbsp; Eight Vegetable, Fruit &amp; Flower&nbsp; Conc. - Bonide&nbsp; &nbsp; Eight Yard &amp; Garden RTS - Bonide&nbsp; &nbsp; Garden and Farm Insect Control- Hi-YieldLauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions she can be contacted by e-mail at lfick@k-state.edu or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

FICK: Cicada killer wasps

This is the time of year when people really notice crabgrass infestations. By far the best way to control crabgrass is to prevent it by maintaining a good, thick lawn. Crabgrass is an annual that must come up from seed each year and the seed must have light in order to germinate. If a lawn is thick enough that sunlight does not reach the soil, the crabgrass will not germinate. Under Kansas conditions it is not easy to maintain such a lawn; so many gardeners do the next best thing and apply a crabgrass preventer in the spring. Crabgrass preventers kill the seed as it germinates. Most do not have any effect on crabgrass that has already come up. If we are too late to apply a preventer, we do have other herbicides that will kill crabgrass plants including Ortho Weed-B-Gon Max +Crabgrass Control, Fertilome Weed-Out with Crabgrass Control, Monterey Crab-E-Rad and BioAdvanced Lawn Weed &amp; Crabgrass Killer. Each contains quinclorac, which is a crabgrass herbicide, as well as other active ingredients that control broadleaf weeds. Quinclorac is an excellent crabgrass killer that controls not only crabgrass, but also has good activity on foxtail and certain broadleaves such as field bindweed, black medic, and clover. However, it does little to nothing to goosegrass.

​Fortunately, crabgrass starts declining about the middle of August. This is about the same time that cool- season grasses such as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass start to come out of their summer doldrums. By the first of September, the crabgrass will be less noticeable. Therefore, a small infestation is best ignored. Remember that crabgrass is a warm-season annual and will be killed by the first frost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>This is the time of year when people really notice crabgrass infestations. By far the best way to control crabgrass is to prevent it by maintaining a good, thick lawn. Crabgrass is an annual that must come up from seed each year and the seed must have light in order to germinate. If a lawn is thick enough that sunlight does not reach the soil, the crabgrass will not germinate. Under Kansas conditions it is not easy to maintain such a lawn; so many gardeners do the next best thing and apply a crabgrass preventer in the spring. Crabgrass preventers kill the seed as it germinates. Most do not have any effect on crabgrass that has already come up. If we are too late to apply a preventer, we do have other herbicides that will kill crabgrass plants including Ortho Weed-B-Gon Max +Crabgrass Control, Fertilome Weed-Out with Crabgrass Control, Monterey Crab-E-Rad and BioAdvanced Lawn Weed &amp; Crabgrass Killer. Each contains quinclorac, which is a crabgrass herbicide, as well as other active ingredients that control broadleaf weeds. Quinclorac is an excellent crabgrass killer that controls not only crabgrass, but also has good activity on foxtail and certain broadleaves such as field bindweed, black medic, and clover. However, it does little to nothing to goosegrass.​Fortunately, crabgrass starts declining about the middle of August. This is about the same time that cool- season grasses such as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass start to come out of their summer doldrums. By the first of September, the crabgrass will be less noticeable. Therefore, a small infestation is best ignored. Remember that crabgrass is a warm-season annual and will be killed by the first frost.Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions she can be contacted by e-mail at lfick@k-state.edu or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

FICK: Crabgrass control

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

From pitches to plants. From hardballs to hibiscus. From the strike zone to the root zone. Those phrases are a way of describing the transition made by a Major League Baseball player who, with his daughter, has developed one of the leading plant nurseries in the nation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lyndsi Oestman is vice president of Loma Vista Nursery in Ottawa, Kansas. She shared this remarkable story.

Lyndsi’s dad, Mark Clear, grew up in California where he worked at his best friend’s family’s avocado ranch. Mark enjoyed tree pruning and avocado picking. He also enjoyed baseball. In fact, he was such a good player that he was drafted into Major League Baseball as a pitcher.

While being developed in the minor leagues, he was playing in Des Moines when he met the young woman who would become his wife. He went on to a 17-year major-league career, serving as a two-time all-star relief pitcher for the California Angels, Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers.

One year, Mark bought a tree nursery in California with his childhood friend from the avocado ranch. He played baseball during the season and worked at the nursery during the offseason.

One of his buddies on the Red Sox was traded to the Kansas City Royals. When Mark came for a visit, he found he loved the hunting and fishing in the KC area. In fact, he liked it so well that he moved his family to Olathe after retiring from baseball. He also sold his share of the partnership in California and bought a home with a tree nursery in Olathe. He called it Loma Vista Nursery.

“That was the place I grew up in,” Lyndsi said. “My brother and I drove tractors and planted trees.” The company became one of the first wholesale suppliers in the Kansas City area.

Lyndsi went to Kansas State University and studied marketing and business. She met and married her husband and entered corporate work after graduation, but found it wasn’t the same as a family business.

As Loma Vista Nursery continued to grow and evolve, Lyndsi came back to work at the nursery. She worked in every department and became vice president of the company, which is now headquartered in Ottawa, Kansas.

Today, Loma Vista Nursery is one of the nation’s leading wholesale suppliers of plants, trees and shrubs for independent garden centers, landscape contractors, and wholesale distributors in the Midwest. The operation consists of 300 acres of containerized production at Ottawa plus a 600-acre tree farm in the Willow Springs area of Douglas County. Willow Springs is a rural township with a population of 1,409 people. Now, that’s rural.

Loma Vista Nursery offers various varieties of pot-in-pot trees, shrubs, roses, grasses, perennials and groundcovers. The tree farm produces field-grown shade and ornamental trees, upright junipers and spruce, as well as many other deciduous and evergreen varieties. Loma Vista serves customers from Denver to Indianapolis.&nbsp;

“We’re focused on being the best grower we can be,” Lyndsi said. Loma Vista was a pioneer in the adoption of what is called SANC: Systems Approach to Nursery Certification, developed in partnership with regulatory agencies and the industry. In simplest terms, SANC takes a holistic approach to the processes and protocols necessary to assure plant health. “We are super proud of that,” Lyndsi said. “Our SANC handbook has become one of the national models.”

In 2019, Loma Vista Nursery won the national sustainability award from Greenhouse Grower magazine. “We want to do the right thing for our plants, our people, and our customers,” Lyndsi said.

Loma Vista employs 100 people and is home to more than 1 million propagated plants and more than 2 million containerized plants. “The team we have right now is awesome, and we’re very proud to be part of the Ottawa community,” Lyndsi said.&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lomavistanursery.com/">www.lomavistanursery.com</a>.

From baseball fields to fields of plants, Mark Clear successfully made the adjustment.&nbsp;&nbsp;We commend Mark Clear, Lyndsi Oestman, and all the people of Loma Vista Nursery for making a difference with commitment, horticultural knowledge, and entrepreneurship. They’ve gone from major league to major landscape.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589981083710.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural DevelopmentFrom pitches to plants. From hardballs to hibiscus. From the strike zone to the root zone. Those phrases are a way of describing the transition made by a Major League Baseball player who, with his daughter, has developed one of the leading plant nurseries in the nation.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lyndsi Oestman is vice president of Loma Vista Nursery in Ottawa, Kansas. She shared this remarkable story.Lyndsi’s dad, Mark Clear, grew up in California where he worked at his best friend’s family’s avocado ranch. Mark enjoyed tree pruning and avocado picking. He also enjoyed baseball. In fact, he was such a good player that he was drafted into Major League Baseball as a pitcher.While being developed in the minor leagues, he was playing in Des Moines when he met the young woman who would become his wife. He went on to a 17-year major-league career, serving as a two-time all-star relief pitcher for the California Angels, Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers.One year, Mark bought a tree nursery in California with his childhood friend from the avocado ranch. He played baseball during the season and worked at the nursery during the offseason.One of his buddies on the Red Sox was traded to the Kansas City Royals. When Mark came for a visit, he found he loved the hunting and fishing in the KC area. In fact, he liked it so well that he moved his family to Olathe after retiring from baseball. He also sold his share of the partnership in California and bought a home with a tree nursery in Olathe. He called it Loma Vista Nursery.“That was the place I grew up in,” Lyndsi said. “My brother and I drove tractors and planted trees.” The company became one of the first wholesale suppliers in the Kansas City area.Lyndsi went to Kansas State University and studied marketing and business. She met and married her husband and entered corporate work after graduation, but found it wasn’t the same as a family business.As Loma Vista Nursery continued to grow and evolve, Lyndsi came back to work at the nursery. She worked in every department and became vice president of the company, which is now headquartered in Ottawa, Kansas.Today, Loma Vista Nursery is one of the nation’s leading wholesale suppliers of plants, trees and shrubs for independent garden centers, landscape contractors, and wholesale distributors in the Midwest. The operation consists of 300 acres of containerized production at Ottawa plus a 600-acre tree farm in the Willow Springs area of Douglas County. Willow Springs is a rural township with a population of 1,409 people. Now, that’s rural.Loma Vista Nursery offers various varieties of pot-in-pot trees, shrubs, roses, grasses, perennials and groundcovers. The tree farm produces field-grown shade and ornamental trees, upright junipers and spruce, as well as many other deciduous and evergreen varieties. Loma Vista serves customers from Denver to Indianapolis.&nbsp;“We’re focused on being the best grower we can be,” Lyndsi said. Loma Vista was a pioneer in the adoption of what is called SANC: Systems Approach to Nursery Certification, developed in partnership with regulatory agencies and the industry. In simplest terms, SANC takes a holistic approach to the processes and protocols necessary to assure plant health. “We are super proud of that,” Lyndsi said. “Our SANC handbook has become one of the national models.”In 2019, Loma Vista Nursery won the national sustainability award from Greenhouse Grower magazine. “We want to do the right thing for our plants, our people, and our customers,” Lyndsi said.Loma Vista employs 100 people and is home to more than 1 million propagated plants and more than 2 million containerized plants. “The team we have right now is awesome, and we’re very proud to be part of the Ottawa community,” Lyndsi said.&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lomavistanursery.com/">www.lomavistanursery.com</a>.From baseball fields to fields of plants, Mark Clear successfully made the adjustment.&nbsp;&nbsp;We commend Mark Clear, Lyndsi Oestman, and all the people of Loma Vista Nursery for making a difference with commitment, horticultural knowledge, and entrepreneurship. They’ve gone from major league to major landscape.

Now That’s Rural: Lyndsi Oestman, Loma Vista Nursery

Thatch control for cool-season lawn grasses such as bluegrass and tall fescue is usually done in the fall, but now is the time we should perform this operation for warm-season turfgrasses such as bermudagrass and zoysiagrass. 

Because these operations thin the lawn, they should be performed when the lawn is in the best position to recover. For warm-season grasses that time is June through July. Buffalograss, our other common warm-season grass, normally does not need to be dethatched. 
 
When thatch is less than one-half inch thick, there is little cause for concern; on the contrary, it may provide some protection to the crown (growing point) of the turfgrass. However, when thatch exceeds one-half inch in thickness, the lawn may start to deteriorate. Thatch is best kept in check by power-raking and/or core-aerating.

If thatch is more than 3/4 inch thick, the lawn should be power-raked. Set the blades just deep enough to pull out the thatch. The lawn can be severely damaged by power-raking too deeply. In some cases, it may be easier to use a sod cutter to remove the existing sod and start over with seed, sprigs or plugs. 
 
If thatch is between one-half and a 3/4- inch, thick, core-aeration is a better choice. The soil-moisture level is important to do a good job of core-aerating. It should be neither too wet nor too dry, and the soil should crumble fairly easily when worked between your fingers. Go over the lawn enough times so that the aeration holes are about 2 inches apart.&nbsp; 
 
Excessive thatch accumulation can be prevented by not over-fertilizing with nitrogen. Frequent, light watering also encourages thatch. Water only when needed, and attempt to wet the entire root zone of the turf with each irrigation. 
 
Finally, where thatch is excessive, control should be viewed as a long-term, integrated process (i.e., to include proper mowing, watering, and fertilizing) rather than a one-shot cure. One power-raking or core-aeration will seldom solve the problem.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Thatch control for cool-season lawn grasses such as bluegrass and tall fescue is usually done in the fall, but now is the time we should perform this operation for warm-season turfgrasses such as bermudagrass and zoysiagrass. Because these operations thin the lawn, they should be performed when the lawn is in the best position to recover. For warm-season grasses that time is June through July. Buffalograss, our other common warm-season grass, normally does not need to be dethatched. 
 
When thatch is less than one-half inch thick, there is little cause for concern; on the contrary, it may provide some protection to the crown (growing point) of the turfgrass. However, when thatch exceeds one-half inch in thickness, the lawn may start to deteriorate. Thatch is best kept in check by power-raking and/or core-aerating. If thatch is more than 3/4 inch thick, the lawn should be power-raked. Set the blades just deep enough to pull out the thatch. The lawn can be severely damaged by power-raking too deeply. In some cases, it may be easier to use a sod cutter to remove the existing sod and start over with seed, sprigs or plugs. 
 
If thatch is between one-half and a 3/4- inch, thick, core-aeration is a better choice. The soil-moisture level is important to do a good job of core-aerating. It should be neither too wet nor too dry, and the soil should crumble fairly easily when worked between your fingers. Go over the lawn enough times so that the aeration holes are about 2 inches apart.&nbsp; 
 
Excessive thatch accumulation can be prevented by not over-fertilizing with nitrogen. Frequent, light watering also encourages thatch. Water only when needed, and attempt to wet the entire root zone of the turf with each irrigation. 
 
Finally, where thatch is excessive, control should be viewed as a long-term, integrated process (i.e., to include proper mowing, watering, and fertilizing) rather than a one-shot cure. One power-raking or core-aeration will seldom solve the problem.Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions she can be contacted by e-mail at lfick@k-state.edu or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

FICK: Thatch control in warm-season lawns

For those of you that have been waiting patiently by reading another book or counting your stockpile of toilet paper, or for some…impatiently; it is time to look for bagworms. Although the cool weather we have experienced this spring will slow development, and consequently larvae hatching from eggs, bagworm caterpillars will eventually be present throughout Kansas feeding on broadleaf and evergreen trees and shrubs. 

Therefore, be prepared to act against bagworms once they are observed on plants. Bagworms are primarily a pest of conifers; however, they feed on a wide-range of host plants including a number of broadleaf plants, such as; rose, honey locust, hackberry, and flowering plum. It is important to apply insecticides when bagworms are less than 1/4 inch long to maximize effectiveness of insecticide applications and subsequently reduce plant damage.

Several insecticides are labeled for use against bagworms including those with the following active ingredients: acephate, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, cyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, trichlorfon, indoxacarb, chlorantraniliprole, and spinosad. Most of these active ingredients are commercially available and sold under various trade names or as generic products. However, several insecticides may not be directly available to homeowners.

The key to managing bagworms with insecticides at this time of year is to apply insecticides early and frequently enough to kill the highly susceptible young caterpillars feeding on plant foliage.

Applying insecticides weekly for four to five weeks when bagworms are first noticed will reduce problems with bagworms later in the year. The bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, which is sold under various trade names, is only active on young caterpillars and must be consumed or ingested to be effective. Therefore, thorough coverage of all plant parts and frequent applications are required. The insecticide is sensitive to ultra-violet light degradation and rainfall, which can reduce residual activity (persistence). Spinosad is the active ingredient in several homeowner products, including: Natural Guard Spinosad; Captain Jack’s DeadBug Brew; and Monterey Garden Insect Spray. The insecticide works by contact and ingestion; however, activity is greatest when ingested by bagworms.

Cyfluthrin (BioAdvanced Vegetable &amp; Garden Insect Spray, lambda-cyhalothrin&nbsp; (Spectracide Triazicide, Bonide Caterpillar Killer, trichlorfon, chlorantraniliprole, and indoxacarb can also be used against young caterpillars. Again, thorough coverage of all plant parts, especially the tops of trees and shrubs, where bagworms commonly start feeding, and frequent applications are essential in achieving sufficient suppression of bagworm populations. 

The reason multiple applications are needed is that bagworm larvae do not hatch from eggs simultaneously, but hatch over time depending on temperature. In addition, young bagworms can ‘blow in’ (called ‘ballooning’) from neighboring plants on silken threads. If left unchecked, bagworms can cause significant damage and ruin the aesthetic quality of plants. In addition, bagworms may kill plants, especially newly transplanted small evergreens, since evergreens do not usually produce another flush of growth after being fed upon or defoliated by bagworms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>For those of you that have been waiting patiently by reading another book or counting your stockpile of toilet paper, or for some…impatiently; it is time to look for bagworms. Although the cool weather we have experienced this spring will slow development, and consequently larvae hatching from eggs, bagworm caterpillars will eventually be present throughout Kansas feeding on broadleaf and evergreen trees and shrubs. Therefore, be prepared to act against bagworms once they are observed on plants. Bagworms are primarily a pest of conifers; however, they feed on a wide-range of host plants including a number of broadleaf plants, such as; rose, honey locust, hackberry, and flowering plum. It is important to apply insecticides when bagworms are less than 1/4 inch long to maximize effectiveness of insecticide applications and subsequently reduce plant damage.Several insecticides are labeled for use against bagworms including those with the following active ingredients: acephate, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, cyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, trichlorfon, indoxacarb, chlorantraniliprole, and spinosad. Most of these active ingredients are commercially available and sold under various trade names or as generic products. However, several insecticides may not be directly available to homeowners.The key to managing bagworms with insecticides at this time of year is to apply insecticides early and frequently enough to kill the highly susceptible young caterpillars feeding on plant foliage.Applying insecticides weekly for four to five weeks when bagworms are first noticed will reduce problems with bagworms later in the year. The bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, which is sold under various trade names, is only active on young caterpillars and must be consumed or ingested to be effective. Therefore, thorough coverage of all plant parts and frequent applications are required. The insecticide is sensitive to ultra-violet light degradation and rainfall, which can reduce residual activity (persistence). Spinosad is the active ingredient in several homeowner products, including: Natural Guard Spinosad; Captain Jack’s DeadBug Brew; and Monterey Garden Insect Spray. The insecticide works by contact and ingestion; however, activity is greatest when ingested by bagworms.Cyfluthrin (BioAdvanced Vegetable &amp; Garden Insect Spray, lambda-cyhalothrin&nbsp; (Spectracide Triazicide, Bonide Caterpillar Killer, trichlorfon, chlorantraniliprole, and indoxacarb can also be used against young caterpillars. Again, thorough coverage of all plant parts, especially the tops of trees and shrubs, where bagworms commonly start feeding, and frequent applications are essential in achieving sufficient suppression of bagworm populations. The reason multiple applications are needed is that bagworm larvae do not hatch from eggs simultaneously, but hatch over time depending on temperature. In addition, young bagworms can ‘blow in’ (called ‘ballooning’) from neighboring plants on silken threads. If left unchecked, bagworms can cause significant damage and ruin the aesthetic quality of plants. In addition, bagworms may kill plants, especially newly transplanted small evergreens, since evergreens do not usually produce another flush of growth after being fed upon or defoliated by bagworms.Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions she can be contacted by e-mail at lfick@k-state.edu or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

FICK: Controlling bagworms 

Lauren Fick, Horticulture Agent for the K-State Research &amp; Extension office in the Cottonwood District, talks about tree blight. Tree blight can be detrimental to the health of the tree and, if left unchecked, could result in a need for tree removal.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8OQZviDqtSc"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Lauren Fick, Horticulture Agent for the K-State Research &amp; Extension office in the Cottonwood District, talks about tree blight. Tree blight can be detrimental to the health of the tree and, if left unchecked, could result in a need for tree removal.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick" />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick</figcaption>
 </figure>

🎥 Green and Growing: Tree blight

Sedgwick County agent helping to set up gardeners nationwide for success

WICHITA – When Rebecca McMahon saw a newspaper article in March indicating that garden stores in Wichita were already selling out of supplies, she had an idea what was going on.

The state’s stay-at-home order as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic was inspiring many homeowners to plant their own garden, she thought.

So McMahon, the horticultural food crops agent for K-State Research and Extension’s Sedgwick County office, quickly made plans to help out. In April, she launched an eight-week online gardening course, titled Victory Garden 101, to set up aspiring gardeners for success.

“The topics are geared toward first-time gardeners, or those who have dabbled in the past without a whole of success, and at the time were taking advantage of the stay-at-home order to jump back into vegetable gardening,” McMahon said. “But anyone who gardens knows that there is always something more to learn.”

The live class is being held on Tuesday evenings through the end of May, but all of the lessons are available for free, seven days a week on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sedgwick.k-state.edu/gardening-lawn-care/fruits-vegetables-nuts/victorygarden101.html">Sedgwick County extension office’s website</a>.

As of early May, people from across the United States were still signing up for the course, using the online videos to catch up to current course content. McMahon said there were 820 participants in the class as of May 5.

“Everyone can access the materials on the website, but they need to register if they want email updates and the chance to join the live class,” McMahon said.

The concept of a ‘Victory Garden’ dates back to World War II when Americans were encouraged to plant a home garden to provide a certain amount of their food during a time when many of the country’s agricultural products were being used to support the military.

“I saw a statistic that indicated about 40% of fruits and vegetables consumed by Americans at that time were provided by Victory Gardens during World War II,” McMahon said. “That’s a huge number.”

Similarly, the basis for McMahon’s class is to encourage consumers to grow some of their own food, adding to their community’s food security, while also saving a little money on their grocery bill.

“Gardening is a great thing anytime, pandemic or not,” McMahon said. “I encourage folks to pick up vegetable gardening as a great opportunity for learning for their kids, activity for themselves and a great way to add vegetables and healthy foods to your diet.”

McMahon noted that it doesn’t take a lot of room to grow a few vegetables or other garden crop. People who live in apartments can grow vegetables or other crops in small containers on a balcony or patio, for example.

“Even in a small yard, you can grow a few things,” she said. “You don’t have to till up a rectangular section of your yard in order to have a garden.”

McMahon added that the weekly lessons provide a nifty template for getting started. Starting with week one, Victory Garden 101 is leading gardeners through preparing a site, planning the garden, growing your own salad, tips for great tomatoes, using vertical space, watering, and dealing with insect of disease problems.

It’s also not too late to get some of Kansans’ favorites into the ground.

“Right now is a great time to plant tomatoes and green beans,” McMahon said. “And over the next couple weeks, other warm season vegetables like cucumbers, squash, melons, peppers and eggplant can be planted.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589312987137.jpeg" alt="Rebecca McMahon" />
 <figcaption>Rebecca McMahon</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Sedgwick County agent helping to set up gardeners nationwide for success</h2>K-State Research &amp; ExtensionWICHITA – When Rebecca McMahon saw a newspaper article in March indicating that garden stores in Wichita were already selling out of supplies, she had an idea what was going on.The state’s stay-at-home order as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic was inspiring many homeowners to plant their own garden, she thought.So McMahon, the horticultural food crops agent for K-State Research and Extension’s Sedgwick County office, quickly made plans to help out. In April, she launched an eight-week online gardening course, titled Victory Garden 101, to set up aspiring gardeners for success.“The topics are geared toward first-time gardeners, or those who have dabbled in the past without a whole of success, and at the time were taking advantage of the stay-at-home order to jump back into vegetable gardening,” McMahon said. “But anyone who gardens knows that there is always something more to learn.”The live class is being held on Tuesday evenings through the end of May, but all of the lessons are available for free, seven days a week on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sedgwick.k-state.edu/gardening-lawn-care/fruits-vegetables-nuts/victorygarden101.html">Sedgwick County extension office’s website</a>.As of early May, people from across the United States were still signing up for the course, using the online videos to catch up to current course content. McMahon said there were 820 participants in the class as of May 5.“Everyone can access the materials on the website, but they need to register if they want email updates and the chance to join the live class,” McMahon said.The concept of a ‘Victory Garden’ dates back to World War II when Americans were encouraged to plant a home garden to provide a certain amount of their food during a time when many of the country’s agricultural products were being used to support the military.“I saw a statistic that indicated about 40% of fruits and vegetables consumed by Americans at that time were provided by Victory Gardens during World War II,” McMahon said. “That’s a huge number.”Similarly, the basis for McMahon’s class is to encourage consumers to grow some of their own food, adding to their community’s food security, while also saving a little money on their grocery bill.“Gardening is a great thing anytime, pandemic or not,” McMahon said. “I encourage folks to pick up vegetable gardening as a great opportunity for learning for their kids, activity for themselves and a great way to add vegetables and healthy foods to your diet.”McMahon noted that it doesn’t take a lot of room to grow a few vegetables or other garden crop. People who live in apartments can grow vegetables or other crops in small containers on a balcony or patio, for example.“Even in a small yard, you can grow a few things,” she said. “You don’t have to till up a rectangular section of your yard in order to have a garden.”McMahon added that the weekly lessons provide a nifty template for getting started. Starting with week one, Victory Garden 101 is leading gardeners through preparing a site, planning the garden, growing your own salad, tips for great tomatoes, using vertical space, watering, and dealing with insect of disease problems.It’s also not too late to get some of Kansans’ favorites into the ground.“Right now is a great time to plant tomatoes and green beans,” McMahon said. “And over the next couple weeks, other warm season vegetables like cucumbers, squash, melons, peppers and eggplant can be planted.”For ideas on what can be planted in Kansas – and the best time to do so – interested persons should read the&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/mf315.pdf">Vegetable Garden Planting Guide</a>, published through K-State Research and Extension. McMahon notes that the third page of that guide has a planting calendar that serves as an easy-to-use reference for planting fruits and vegetables.“I really encourage people to start with some leafy greens because they grow to maturity a lot faster than other crops,” McMahon said. “Plus, they’re a short project. If you grow some lettuce and after harvesting it in 50 to 60 days you decide this gardening thing is not for you, then you haven’t invested too much time and you still got something out of it.“Tomatoes, potatoes and squash…they’re flashy vegetables, but they are an investment of time, and you have a lot of gardening work to do to get to your harvest endpoint.”For more information regarding gardening, interested persons are also encouraged to join the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/victorygarden101/">Victory Garden 101 Facebook page</a>.