Cindy 'Cynthia' Lee Lindquist, a cherished soul known for
her kind heart and adventurous spirit, passed away peacefully due to natural
causes on February 5, 2026, in Wichita, Kansas. 

Born on December 19, 1952, in
Chanute, Kansas to Ralph Browne Lindquist and Virginia Lee (Hoepker) Lindquist.
Cindy grew up in Yates Center and graduated from Yates Center High School in
1970 and continued her education at Neosho County Community College and then
finished her education at West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas. 

Her
passion for flora led her to a fulfilling career working in several greenhouses
in Kansas and she retired as a greenhouse manager for Tree Top Nursery,
Wichita, where she nurtured plants and people alike with her extensive
knowledge and warm presence. Horses and horticulture were the cornerstones of
Cindy interests. 

A competitor in the Kansas High School rodeo queen contest,
she was also a lifelong member of the Kansas and American Quarter Horse
Associations. Cindy’s love for these majestic animals was evident as she showed
quarter horses in local, state, national and world shows, sharing her passion
and commitment with the equestrian community. Cindy loved to compete in shows,
but she took great joy in watching owners compete I world class shows with
horses that she had trained. 

Cindy green thumb was legendary, especially when
it came to her collection of over 1000 daylilies at her home near Valley
Center, Kansas. As a respected judge at state and national daylily shows, her
expertise was sought after and deeply valued. Her involvement with the Wichita
Rose Club and Hosta Club further showcased her dedication to the beauty of
nature and her desire to bring it into the lives of others. The Air Capital
Daylily Society also benefited from her longtime membership and the enthusiasm
she brought to every meeting and event. 

Her professional journey in the equine
world included time working for many horse training facilities in Kansas
including Karen Russell training stables, and later, she continued to share her
talents at her own training stables in Yates Center. 

Cindy love for animals was
not limited to horses; she adored her dogs, particularly her Australian
Shepherds, and held a special place in her heart for all breeds. Her pets were
more than companions; they were family, cherished and loved with every ounce of
her being. S

he is survived by her sisters, Patricia (Doug) Howard, Baldwin, KS
and Kathleen (Mark) Fabrizius, Ogallah, KS; her adoring nephews, Nicholas
(Molly) Howard and Alex (Maygan) Howard; and her beloved nieces, Savannah
(Gordon) Butler, and Sierra (Cory) Lampe. She also is survived by 10 great
nieces and nephews. 

Cindy legacy is one of passion, dedication, and unwavering
love for the natural world and the creatures within it. Her memory will
continue to blossom in the gardens she tended, the horses she cared for, and
the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing her. 

Graveside service
will be at 1:00 PM Friday February 13, 2026, at Neosho County Memorial Park,
1864 W. 21 st St, Chanute, Kansas. 

Memorial donations may be made to the Air
Capital Daylily Society in care of the funeral home. Those who wish may stop by
Affinity Mortuary to pay their respects and sign the book on Thursday February
12, 2026, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770666148184.jpeg" alt="Cindy 'Cynthia' Lee Lindquist" />
 <figcaption>Cindy 'Cynthia' Lee Lindquist</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy 'Cynthia' Lee Lindquist, a cherished soul known for
her kind heart and adventurous spirit, passed away peacefully due to natural
causes on February 5, 2026, in Wichita, Kansas. Born on December 19, 1952, in
Chanute, Kansas to Ralph Browne Lindquist and Virginia Lee (Hoepker) Lindquist.
Cindy grew up in Yates Center and graduated from Yates Center High School in
1970 and continued her education at Neosho County Community College and then
finished her education at West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas. Her
passion for flora led her to a fulfilling career working in several greenhouses
in Kansas and she retired as a greenhouse manager for Tree Top Nursery,
Wichita, where she nurtured plants and people alike with her extensive
knowledge and warm presence. Horses and horticulture were the cornerstones of
Cindy interests. A competitor in the Kansas High School rodeo queen contest,
she was also a lifelong member of the Kansas and American Quarter Horse
Associations. Cindy’s love for these majestic animals was evident as she showed
quarter horses in local, state, national and world shows, sharing her passion
and commitment with the equestrian community. Cindy loved to compete in shows,
but she took great joy in watching owners compete I world class shows with
horses that she had trained. Cindy green thumb was legendary, especially when
it came to her collection of over 1000 daylilies at her home near Valley
Center, Kansas. As a respected judge at state and national daylily shows, her
expertise was sought after and deeply valued. Her involvement with the Wichita
Rose Club and Hosta Club further showcased her dedication to the beauty of
nature and her desire to bring it into the lives of others. The Air Capital
Daylily Society also benefited from her longtime membership and the enthusiasm
she brought to every meeting and event. Her professional journey in the equine
world included time working for many horse training facilities in Kansas
including Karen Russell training stables, and later, she continued to share her
talents at her own training stables in Yates Center. Cindy love for animals was
not limited to horses; she adored her dogs, particularly her Australian
Shepherds, and held a special place in her heart for all breeds. Her pets were
more than companions; they were family, cherished and loved with every ounce of
her being. She is survived by her sisters, Patricia (Doug) Howard, Baldwin, KS
and Kathleen (Mark) Fabrizius, Ogallah, KS; her adoring nephews, Nicholas
(Molly) Howard and Alex (Maygan) Howard; and her beloved nieces, Savannah
(Gordon) Butler, and Sierra (Cory) Lampe. She also is survived by 10 great
nieces and nephews. Cindy legacy is one of passion, dedication, and unwavering
love for the natural world and the creatures within it. Her memory will
continue to blossom in the gardens she tended, the horses she cared for, and
the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing her. Graveside service
will be at 1:00 PM Friday February 13, 2026, at Neosho County Memorial Park,
1864 W. 21 st St, Chanute, Kansas. Memorial donations may be made to the Air
Capital Daylily Society in care of the funeral home. Those who wish may stop by
Affinity Mortuary to pay their respects and sign the book on Thursday February
12, 2026, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Cindy 'Cynthia' Lee Lindquist

By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

Yards may need another shot of moisture even after recent rain and snow to alleviate stress in lawns and gardens, said Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini.

“A good, deep watering with moisture reaching at least a foot down into the soil is much better than several light sprinklings that just wet the top portions of the soil,” Domenghini said. “A deep watering will ensure that the majority of roots have access to water.”

Domenghini urged homeowners to test the moisture content in their yard’s soil by pushing a metal rod or wooden dowel into the ground. “Dry soil is much harder to push through than wet,” she said. Measure how far down the implement goes to determine the amount of moisture is in the soil.

“Although all perennial plants benefit from moist soils before winter, it is especially important for newly planted or over-seeded lawns, as well as newly transplanted trees and shrubs due to their limited root systems,” Domenghini said.

“Even trees and shrubs planted within the last 2-3 years are more sensitive to drought than a well-established plant. Evergreens are more at risk because moisture is lost from the foliage.”

Domenghini shared a few tips for watering common areas of the yard:

Trees and shrubs planted within the last year. Drill a small hole in a five-gallon bucket near the bottom, then fill the bucket and let the water dribble out slowly next to the tree. Refill the bucket once so that you apply 10 gallons. Slow release bags with micropores can be purchased as an alternative to using a bucket. Larger trees planted 2-3 years prior may require more water.

Large trees. Using a soaker hose, circle the trunk one-half the distance to the dripline, or the outermost reach of branches. On smaller trees, you may need to circle the tree several times so that tree roots will be watered.

Newly established bed or foundation plantings. Hook the beginning and end of a soaker hose to a Y-adapter to equalize pressure, which encourages more uniform watering.

Fall planted or overseeded lawns. Use an overhead sprinkler. Watering to a depth of 12 inches is more difficult; try to reach at least six inches deep.

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698682262753.jpeg" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension DistrictYards may need another shot of moisture even after recent rain and snow to alleviate stress in lawns and gardens, said Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini.“A good, deep watering with moisture reaching at least a foot down into the soil is much better than several light sprinklings that just wet the top portions of the soil,” Domenghini said. “A deep watering will ensure that the majority of roots have access to water.”Domenghini urged homeowners to test the moisture content in their yard’s soil by pushing a metal rod or wooden dowel into the ground. “Dry soil is much harder to push through than wet,” she said. Measure how far down the implement goes to determine the amount of moisture is in the soil.“Although all perennial plants benefit from moist soils before winter, it is especially important for newly planted or over-seeded lawns, as well as newly transplanted trees and shrubs due to their limited root systems,” Domenghini said.“Even trees and shrubs planted within the last 2-3 years are more sensitive to drought than a well-established plant. Evergreens are more at risk because moisture is lost from the foliage.”Domenghini shared a few tips for watering common areas of the yard:Trees and shrubs planted within the last year. Drill a small hole in a five-gallon bucket near the bottom, then fill the bucket and let the water dribble out slowly next to the tree. Refill the bucket once so that you apply 10 gallons. Slow release bags with micropores can be purchased as an alternative to using a bucket. Larger trees planted 2-3 years prior may require more water.Large trees. Using a soaker hose, circle the trunk one-half the distance to the dripline, or the outermost reach of branches. On smaller trees, you may need to circle the tree several times so that tree roots will be watered.Newly established bed or foundation plantings. Hook the beginning and end of a soaker hose to a Y-adapter to equalize pressure, which encourages more uniform watering.Fall planted or overseeded lawns. Use an overhead sprinkler. Watering to a depth of 12 inches is more difficult; try to reach at least six inches deep.Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.

BOOR: Watering winter land

President Donald J. Trump alongside U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins&nbsp; announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make $12 billion available in one time bridge payments to American farmers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs still impacting farmers, according to a media release from the USDA.

Of the $12 billion provided, up to $11 billion will be used for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, which provides broad relief to United States row crop farmers who produce Barley, Chickpeas, Corn, Cotton, Lentils, Oats, Peanuts, Peas, Rice, Sorghum, Soybeans, Wheat, Canola, Crambe, Flax, Mustard, Rapeseed, Safflower, Sesame, and Sunflower. 

FBA will help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation, and market losses from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impede exports. The FBA Program applies simple, proportional support to producers using a uniform formula to cover a portion of modeled losses during the 2025 crop year. This national loss average is based on FSA reported planted acres, Economic Research Service cost of production estimates, World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates yields and prices and economic modeling.

Farmers who qualify for the FBA Program can expect payments to be released by February 28, 2026. Eligible farmers should ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is factual and accurate by 5pm ET on December 19, 2025. Commodity-specific payment rates will be released by the end of the month. Crop insurance linkage will not be required for the FBA Program; however, USDA strongly urges producers to take advantage of the new OBBBA risk management tools to best protect against price risk and volatility in the future.

The remaining $1 billion of the $12 billion in bridge payments will be reserved for commodities not covered in the FBA Program such as specialty crops and sugar, for example, though details including timelines for those payments are still under development and require additional understanding of market impacts and economic needs.

The $12 billion in farmer bridge payments, including those provided through the FBA Program, are authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act and will be administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

To submit questions, justification for USDA farmer bridge aid, or to request a meeting on farmer bridge aid, producers can reach out to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:farmerbridge@usda.gov">farmerbridge@usda.gov</a>.

“Four years under the failed Biden Administration continues to leave the American farm economy reeling from record inflation, a depleted farm safety net, and delayed disaster assistance. 

The lack of new trade deals under the last Administration turned a trade surplus under Trump into a $50 billion trade deficit, causing our farmers to lose markets and feel acute pain from lower commodity prices. President Trump will not let our farmers be left behind, so he directed our team to build a bridge program to see quick relief while the President’s dozens of new trade deals and new market access take effect,”&nbsp;said Secretary Brooke Rollins. 

“The plan we are announcing today ensures American farmers can continue to plan for the next crop year. It is imperative we do what it takes to help our farmers, because if we cannot feed ourselves, we will no longer have a country. With this program serving as a bridge to the improvements President Trump and Republicans in Congress have made, it will allow farmers to leverage strengthened price protection risk management tools and the reliability of fair trade deals so they do not have to depend on large ad hoc assistance packages from the government.”

Additional Farmer First Actions Taken by the Trump Administration

In addition to $12 billion in bridge payments announced today, the Trump Administration has been working around the clock since January 20th to put American farmers first after inheriting one of the worst farm economies the country has experienced in decades. The following actions have been taken to date and together show historic investments and bold and unrelenting dedication to helping our nation’s farmers thrive again.

Over $30 Billion in Ad Hoc Assistance Delivered to Farmers Since January 2025

Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (<a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/emergency-commodity-assistance-program/dashboard">ECAP</a>)&nbsp;is helping farmers recover from the economic hardships of 2024. This program distributed more than $9.3 billion to over 560,000 farmers for soy, corn, sorghum, and other row crops.

Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (<a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/marketing-assistance-specialty-crops-masc">MASC</a>)&nbsp;is helping specialty crop producers recover from rising input costs and other market disruptions stemming from the Biden Administration. This program distributed over 1.8 billion in assistance to over 52,000 producers.

The&nbsp;Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (<a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/supplemental-disaster-relief-program-sdrp/dashboard">SDRP</a>)&nbsp;is helping producers recover from severe weather events in 2023 and 2024. This program has distributed nearly $6 billion to over 388,000 farmers with up to an additional $9 billion to be distributed over the next four months.

Over $2.5 billion via&nbsp;block grants&nbsp;delivered to states and sugar beet and cane processors via block grants to cover losses from 2023 and 2024 that were left uncovered by existing USDA programs.

With the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill in July, President Trump has made crop insurance more workable and affordable for American farmers and ranchers. Crop insurance is an essential risk management tool that allows American farmers and ranchers endure weather and market volatility. The bill increases crop insurance premium support for beginning farmers and ranchers by expanding the definition from five to 10 years of experience, enabling more producers to qualify for assistance over a longer period. These improvements will result in over $400 million in savings every year for America’s farmers on insurance premiums.

For the first time in over a decade the statutory reference prices for the farm safety net programs, ARC and PLC, were raised by 10-21% for major commodities such as corn, soybeans, and wheat. Thanks to OBBBA USDA is also expanding eligibility for these price support programs by adding more than 30 million new base acres to the program making them eligible for future PLC or ARC payments starting in crop year 2026.

OBBBA extended the marketing assistance loan programs through 2031 and updated loan rates for major commodities beginning in the 2026 crop year, providing stronger loan rates for crops like wheat, corn, cotton and soybeans.

The bill included historic investments to the domestic sugar programs and USDA made them available starting October 1, 2025. The loan rate for raw cane sugar has increased to an average 24 cents per pound for the 2025 - 2031 crop years, with refined beet sugar rates increased to an average of 32.77 cents per pound.

OBBBA invested in USDA’s major conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). These funds will result in over $34B in conservation work on agricultural land over the next 10 years.

OBBBA provides $285 million a year for agricultural trade promotion and facilitation. This is in addition to the existing $234M per year of funding for MAP and FMD. These dollars are key to opening and expanding foreign markets.

OBBBA included many important tax provisions for farmers and ranchers. Some of the most impactful provisions for agriculture are the permanency of the 20% qualified business income deduction, full bonus depreciation and the $15 million per individual estate tax exemption, now also indexed for inflation. With the current land values, equipment costs and input prices, even modest-sized farms can easily exceed that threshold, meaning upon the owner’s death, far more family operations would face massive tax bills than previously estimated. A permanent bonus depreciation means that farmers can continue to write off the entire cost of new equipment, land improvements, new barns and other capital upgrades in the year of purchase, rather than depreciating them over many years.

Oversight on Competition &amp; Farmer Input Costs

On September 26, 2025, the USDA and the Department of Justice signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-09-29-doj-usda-mou-farm-inputs.pdf">Memorandum of Understanding</a>&nbsp;(PDF, 1.3 MB) that represents a joint commitment by both agencies to protect American farmers and ranchers from the burdens imposed by high and volatile input costs—such as feed, fertilizer, fuel, seed, equipment, and other essential goods—while ensuring competitive supply chains, lower consumer prices, and the resilience of U.S. agriculture and the food supply.

On December 6, 2025, President Trump signed an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/addressing-security-risks-from-price-fixing-and-anti-competitive-behavior-in-the-food-supply-chain/" target="_blank">Executive Order</a>&nbsp;to stop price fixing, anti-competitive behavior, and foreign influence that drives up prices and threatens the security of America’s food supply. This EO recognizes that sectors including seed, fertilizer, and farm equipment may be vulnerable to anti-competitive manipulation that result in higher prices for farmers and seeks to take aggressive action in part by the establishment of Task Forces created to investigate price fixing and anti-competitive behavior, especially regarding foreign owned entities.

These actions combined reiterate the Trump Administration’s commitment to scrutinizing competitive conditions in the agricultural marketplace, including antitrust enforcement that promotes free market competition.

Lowering Farm Labor Costs through Deregulatory Actions

Farm labor costs alone increased 47% since 2020 largely due to the high cost of utilizing the H-2A program to secure seasonal labor under the Biden Administration who artificially inflated Adverse Effect Wage Rates set by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) using USDA’s Farm Labor Survey which was never designed to be used for setting government-mandated wage rates and is duplicative of other DOL data sources. As such, USDA discontinued this survey while DOL issued a bold new interim final rule which decreased wage costs for H-2A agricultural employers resulting in initial savings of at least $2 billion. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a final rule, effective October 2, 2025, to streamline the filing process for certain temporary agricultural worker petitions. These actions combined are making farm labor more affordable and more accessible for American agriculture.

USDA is Prioritizing the Purchase of Healthy U.S. Grown Commodities to Feed Those Most in Need through Section 32 Buys

This year alone, USDA has provided nearly $1 billion in Section 32 purchases, all which benefit the charitable feeding network.

On November 24, 2025, Secretary Rollins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/11/24/secretary-rollins-announces-30-million-food-purchase-back-us-producers-and-strengthen-americas-food">announced a $30 million Section 32 buy</a>&nbsp;of American grown oranges, grapefruit, and mandarins.

On August 6, 2025, Secretary Rollins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/08/06/secretary-rollins-targets-invasive-species-announces-next-steps-clear-chesapeake-harmful-catfish">announced a $2 million Section 32 buy</a>&nbsp;of invasive Chesapeake Bay blue catfish.

On August 1, 2025, Secretary Rollins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/08/01/secretary-rollins-announces-local-food-purchases-communities-need">announced up to $230 million Section 32 buy</a>&nbsp;of Alaska pollock, catfish, apples, beans and cranberries.

On May 23, 2025, Secretary Rollins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/05/23/secretary-rollins-announces-food-purchases-communities-need">announced a $67 million Section 32 buy</a>&nbsp;of American groundfish, pears, cherries, shrimp and beans.

USDA will continue to buy Section 32 commodity purchases to support American seafood, fruit, vegetable, and tree-nut producers for distribution to U.S. food banks, schools, and other outlets serving low-income individuals. These actions support President Trump’s vision to Make America Healthy Again through U.S. local farmer grown, healthy, and nutritious commodities.

This is the most pro-biofuels Administration in history

President Trump recognizes how important the Renewable Fuel Standard is for American corn and soybean farmers. EPA Administrator Zeldin delivered the boldest Renewable Volume Obligations ever and provided much certainty in the market for our producers while delivering lower prices at the pump for consumers. The RVO gives the markets the incentive to invest in American products for American consumers and to export around the world.

EPA’s decision to allow the summer sale of E-15 constituted 2025 year-round E15 and continues to deliver immediate relief to consumers, give more choices at the pump, and drive demand for corn grown, processed, and used right here in America. America’s national security depends on our energy security, and biofuels are a crucial asset that brings more jobs and helps farmers in rural America.

List of Trade &amp; Market Access Wins to Date

USDA announced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/america-first-trade-promotion-program">applications are now open</a>&nbsp;through January 23, 2026, for the $285 million America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP), a key component of the Trump Administration’s work to expand global market access and create new export opportunities for America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers.

Additionally, President Trump and his administration have worked to pen new trade deals and trade frameworks with more than 15 countries.

Switzerland and Liechtenstein&nbsp;will invest at least $200 billion in the United States, remove tariffs on several agricultural products, allow for market access for American beef, bison, and poultry, and remove non-tariff barriers for poultry and dairy.

El Salvador&nbsp;has removed non-tariff barriers including fumigation requirements and arbitrary geographic indicator restrictions on dairy product names.

Argentina&nbsp;will allow access for U.S. poultry and poultry products, within one year, and simplify red tape for U.S. exporters of beef, beef products, pork, and pork products. Argentina also has agreed to protect U.S. exporters’ use of certain meat and cheese terms, preserving market access and creating the potential for new opportunities in the region.

Ecuador&nbsp;has reduced or eliminated tariffs on American nuts, wheat, and wine; and will reduce major non-tariff barriers for many agricultural products regarding import licensing and facility registration requirements.

Guatemala&nbsp;will address and prevent barriers to U.S. agricultural products in its market; maintain science- and risk-based regulatory frameworks; and efficient authorization processes for agricultural products.

China&nbsp;committed to delaying new export controls on rare earth minerals, resume large purchases of U.S. soybeans, sorghum, and more. To date, China is already purchasing additional soybeans, wheat, and sorghum.

Malaysia&nbsp;will provide significant market access for U.S. products like dairy, horticultural products, poultry, pork, rice, and ethanol; recognize the U.S. food safety systems for U.S. meat, poultry, and dairy products; streamline its halal certification of U.S. food and agricultural products; and open market access for U.S. sorghum.

Cambodia&nbsp;will eliminate 100% of its tariffs on U.S. products, while the U.S. maintains a 19% reciprocal tariff rate for imports from Cambodia. It will also recognize the U.S. scientific guidelines for most U.S. agricultural goods and food.

Thailand&nbsp;will eliminate tariffs on 99% of U.S. goods, including most food and agricultural products and expedite access for USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service-certified meat and poultry products, giving American producers unprecedented access to the market.

Vietnam&nbsp;will accept preferential access for U.S. agricultural goods, including specialty cheese and meats, and is already improving access for U.S. peaches and nectarines. Vietnam will pay the United States 20% tariffs on all goods and 40% on any transshipped goods

South Korea&nbsp;will pay 15 percent tariff to the United States.

European Union&nbsp;will purchase $750 billion of American energy and addressing non-tariff barriers for farmers and ranchers - pork and dairy products. Market access for U.S. agricultural goods like tree nuts, sorghum, and more will also be provided as we work to commit to a simpler regulatory agenda.

Philippines&nbsp;is opening their market to the United States and charging us zero tariffs while the Philippines will pay 19 percent tariffs to the United States.

Indonesia&nbsp;will&nbsp;eliminate 90 percent of tariffs on American exports including for all agricultural products.

Japan&nbsp;agreed to $8 billion in American agricultural purchases including corn, soybeans, ethanol, fertilizer, and sustainable aviation fuel. Japan will increase US rice imports by 75%.

United Kingdom&nbsp;will create $5 billion in new agricultural export opportunities. $700 million in ethanol and better market access for American beef.

At the same time, President Trump is securing new, unprecedented market access for American agricultural producers around the world. For example, wine exports to Mexico are up 30 percent in 2025, reaching $18 million; South Korea has purchased $1 billion in corn, more than double from 2024; Bangladesh purchased $172 million in soybeans; Costa Rica streamlined its dairy access for U.S. producers; and India cut its bourbon tariff in half.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625596705829.png" alt="Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>President Donald J. Trump alongside U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins&nbsp; announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make $12 billion available in one time bridge payments to American farmers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs still impacting farmers, according to a media release from the USDA.Of the $12 billion provided, up to $11 billion will be used for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, which provides broad relief to United States row crop farmers who produce Barley, Chickpeas, Corn, Cotton, Lentils, Oats, Peanuts, Peas, Rice, Sorghum, Soybeans, Wheat, Canola, Crambe, Flax, Mustard, Rapeseed, Safflower, Sesame, and Sunflower. FBA will help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation, and market losses from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impede exports. The FBA Program applies simple, proportional support to producers using a uniform formula to cover a portion of modeled losses during the 2025 crop year. This national loss average is based on FSA reported planted acres, Economic Research Service cost of production estimates, World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates yields and prices and economic modeling.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;I&#39;m delighted to announce this afternoon that the United States will be taking a small portion of the hundreds of billions of dollars we receive in tariffs... We&#39;re going to use that money to provide $12B in economic assistance to American farmers.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/upHPD6a9eP">pic.twitter.com/upHPD6a9eP</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1998115240983019905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Farmers who qualify for the FBA Program can expect payments to be released by February 28, 2026. Eligible farmers should ensure their 2025 acreage reporting is factual and accurate by 5pm ET on December 19, 2025. Commodity-specific payment rates will be released by the end of the month. Crop insurance linkage will not be required for the FBA Program; however, USDA strongly urges producers to take advantage of the new OBBBA risk management tools to best protect against price risk and volatility in the future.The remaining $1 billion of the $12 billion in bridge payments will be reserved for commodities not covered in the FBA Program such as specialty crops and sugar, for example, though details including timelines for those payments are still under development and require additional understanding of market impacts and economic needs.The $12 billion in farmer bridge payments, including those provided through the FBA Program, are authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act and will be administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA).To submit questions, justification for USDA farmer bridge aid, or to request a meeting on farmer bridge aid, producers can reach out to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:farmerbridge@usda.gov">farmerbridge@usda.gov</a>.“Four years under the failed Biden Administration continues to leave the American farm economy reeling from record inflation, a depleted farm safety net, and delayed disaster assistance. The lack of new trade deals under the last Administration turned a trade surplus under Trump into a $50 billion trade deficit, causing our farmers to lose markets and feel acute pain from lower commodity prices. President Trump will not let our farmers be left behind, so he directed our team to build a bridge program to see quick relief while the President’s dozens of new trade deals and new market access take effect,”&nbsp;said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “The plan we are announcing today ensures American farmers can continue to plan for the next crop year. It is imperative we do what it takes to help our farmers, because if we cannot feed ourselves, we will no longer have a country. With this program serving as a bridge to the improvements President Trump and Republicans in Congress have made, it will allow farmers to leverage strengthened price protection risk management tools and the reliability of fair trade deals so they do not have to depend on large ad hoc assistance packages from the government.”Additional Farmer First Actions Taken by the Trump AdministrationIn addition to $12 billion in bridge payments announced today, the Trump Administration has been working around the clock since January 20th to put American farmers first after inheriting one of the worst farm economies the country has experienced in decades. The following actions have been taken to date and together show historic investments and bold and unrelenting dedication to helping our nation’s farmers thrive again.Over $30 Billion in Ad Hoc Assistance Delivered to Farmers Since January 2025Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (<a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/emergency-commodity-assistance-program/dashboard">ECAP</a>)&nbsp;is helping farmers recover from the economic hardships of 2024. This program distributed more than $9.3 billion to over 560,000 farmers for soy, corn, sorghum, and other row crops.Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (<a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/marketing-assistance-specialty-crops-masc">MASC</a>)&nbsp;is helping specialty crop producers recover from rising input costs and other market disruptions stemming from the Biden Administration. This program distributed over 1.8 billion in assistance to over 52,000 producers.The&nbsp;Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (<a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/supplemental-disaster-relief-program-sdrp/dashboard">SDRP</a>)&nbsp;is helping producers recover from severe weather events in 2023 and 2024. This program has distributed nearly $6 billion to over 388,000 farmers with up to an additional $9 billion to be distributed over the next four months.Over $2.5 billion via&nbsp;block grants&nbsp;delivered to states and sugar beet and cane processors via block grants to cover losses from 2023 and 2024 that were left uncovered by existing USDA programs.Trump Supported OBBBA Farmer WinsWith the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill in July, President Trump has made crop insurance more workable and affordable for American farmers and ranchers. Crop insurance is an essential risk management tool that allows American farmers and ranchers endure weather and market volatility. The bill increases crop insurance premium support for beginning farmers and ranchers by expanding the definition from five to 10 years of experience, enabling more producers to qualify for assistance over a longer period. These improvements will result in over $400 million in savings every year for America’s farmers on insurance premiums.For the first time in over a decade the statutory reference prices for the farm safety net programs, ARC and PLC, were raised by 10-21% for major commodities such as corn, soybeans, and wheat. Thanks to OBBBA USDA is also expanding eligibility for these price support programs by adding more than 30 million new base acres to the program making them eligible for future PLC or ARC payments starting in crop year 2026.OBBBA extended the marketing assistance loan programs through 2031 and updated loan rates for major commodities beginning in the 2026 crop year, providing stronger loan rates for crops like wheat, corn, cotton and soybeans.The bill included historic investments to the domestic sugar programs and USDA made them available starting October 1, 2025. The loan rate for raw cane sugar has increased to an average 24 cents per pound for the 2025 - 2031 crop years, with refined beet sugar rates increased to an average of 32.77 cents per pound.OBBBA invested in USDA’s major conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). These funds will result in over $34B in conservation work on agricultural land over the next 10 years.OBBBA provides $285 million a year for agricultural trade promotion and facilitation. This is in addition to the existing $234M per year of funding for MAP and FMD. These dollars are key to opening and expanding foreign markets.OBBBA included many important tax provisions for farmers and ranchers. Some of the most impactful provisions for agriculture are the permanency of the 20% qualified business income deduction, full bonus depreciation and the $15 million per individual estate tax exemption, now also indexed for inflation. With the current land values, equipment costs and input prices, even modest-sized farms can easily exceed that threshold, meaning upon the owner’s death, far more family operations would face massive tax bills than previously estimated. A permanent bonus depreciation means that farmers can continue to write off the entire cost of new equipment, land improvements, new barns and other capital upgrades in the year of purchase, rather than depreciating them over many years.Oversight on Competition &amp; Farmer Input CostsOn September 26, 2025, the USDA and the Department of Justice signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-09-29-doj-usda-mou-farm-inputs.pdf">Memorandum of Understanding</a>&nbsp;(PDF, 1.3 MB) that represents a joint commitment by both agencies to protect American farmers and ranchers from the burdens imposed by high and volatile input costs—such as feed, fertilizer, fuel, seed, equipment, and other essential goods—while ensuring competitive supply chains, lower consumer prices, and the resilience of U.S. agriculture and the food supply.On December 6, 2025, President Trump signed an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/addressing-security-risks-from-price-fixing-and-anti-competitive-behavior-in-the-food-supply-chain/" target="_blank">Executive Order</a>&nbsp;to stop price fixing, anti-competitive behavior, and foreign influence that drives up prices and threatens the security of America’s food supply. This EO recognizes that sectors including seed, fertilizer, and farm equipment may be vulnerable to anti-competitive manipulation that result in higher prices for farmers and seeks to take aggressive action in part by the establishment of Task Forces created to investigate price fixing and anti-competitive behavior, especially regarding foreign owned entities.These actions combined reiterate the Trump Administration’s commitment to scrutinizing competitive conditions in the agricultural marketplace, including antitrust enforcement that promotes free market competition.Lowering Farm Labor Costs through Deregulatory ActionsFarm labor costs alone increased 47% since 2020 largely due to the high cost of utilizing the H-2A program to secure seasonal labor under the Biden Administration who artificially inflated Adverse Effect Wage Rates set by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) using USDA’s Farm Labor Survey which was never designed to be used for setting government-mandated wage rates and is duplicative of other DOL data sources. As such, USDA discontinued this survey while DOL issued a bold new interim final rule which decreased wage costs for H-2A agricultural employers resulting in initial savings of at least $2 billion. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a final rule, effective October 2, 2025, to streamline the filing process for certain temporary agricultural worker petitions. These actions combined are making farm labor more affordable and more accessible for American agriculture.USDA is Prioritizing the Purchase of Healthy U.S. Grown Commodities to Feed Those Most in Need through Section 32 BuysThis year alone, USDA has provided nearly $1 billion in Section 32 purchases, all which benefit the charitable feeding network.On November 24, 2025, Secretary Rollins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/11/24/secretary-rollins-announces-30-million-food-purchase-back-us-producers-and-strengthen-americas-food">announced a $30 million Section 32 buy</a>&nbsp;of American grown oranges, grapefruit, and mandarins.On August 6, 2025, Secretary Rollins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/08/06/secretary-rollins-targets-invasive-species-announces-next-steps-clear-chesapeake-harmful-catfish">announced a $2 million Section 32 buy</a>&nbsp;of invasive Chesapeake Bay blue catfish.On August 1, 2025, Secretary Rollins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/08/01/secretary-rollins-announces-local-food-purchases-communities-need">announced up to $230 million Section 32 buy</a>&nbsp;of Alaska pollock, catfish, apples, beans and cranberries.On May 23, 2025, Secretary Rollins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/05/23/secretary-rollins-announces-food-purchases-communities-need">announced a $67 million Section 32 buy</a>&nbsp;of American groundfish, pears, cherries, shrimp and beans.USDA will continue to buy Section 32 commodity purchases to support American seafood, fruit, vegetable, and tree-nut producers for distribution to U.S. food banks, schools, and other outlets serving low-income individuals. These actions support President Trump’s vision to Make America Healthy Again through U.S. local farmer grown, healthy, and nutritious commodities.This is the most pro-biofuels Administration in historyPresident Trump recognizes how important the Renewable Fuel Standard is for American corn and soybean farmers. EPA Administrator Zeldin delivered the boldest Renewable Volume Obligations ever and provided much certainty in the market for our producers while delivering lower prices at the pump for consumers. The RVO gives the markets the incentive to invest in American products for American consumers and to export around the world.EPA’s decision to allow the summer sale of E-15 constituted 2025 year-round E15 and continues to deliver immediate relief to consumers, give more choices at the pump, and drive demand for corn grown, processed, and used right here in America. America’s national security depends on our energy security, and biofuels are a crucial asset that brings more jobs and helps farmers in rural America.List of Trade &amp; Market Access Wins to DateUSDA announced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/america-first-trade-promotion-program">applications are now open</a>&nbsp;through January 23, 2026, for the $285 million America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP), a key component of the Trump Administration’s work to expand global market access and create new export opportunities for America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers.Additionally, President Trump and his administration have worked to pen new trade deals and trade frameworks with more than 15 countries.Switzerland and Liechtenstein&nbsp;will invest at least $200 billion in the United States, remove tariffs on several agricultural products, allow for market access for American beef, bison, and poultry, and remove non-tariff barriers for poultry and dairy.El Salvador&nbsp;has removed non-tariff barriers including fumigation requirements and arbitrary geographic indicator restrictions on dairy product names.Argentina&nbsp;will allow access for U.S. poultry and poultry products, within one year, and simplify red tape for U.S. exporters of beef, beef products, pork, and pork products. Argentina also has agreed to protect U.S. exporters’ use of certain meat and cheese terms, preserving market access and creating the potential for new opportunities in the region.Ecuador&nbsp;has reduced or eliminated tariffs on American nuts, wheat, and wine; and will reduce major non-tariff barriers for many agricultural products regarding import licensing and facility registration requirements.Guatemala&nbsp;will address and prevent barriers to U.S. agricultural products in its market; maintain science- and risk-based regulatory frameworks; and efficient authorization processes for agricultural products.China&nbsp;committed to delaying new export controls on rare earth minerals, resume large purchases of U.S. soybeans, sorghum, and more. To date, China is already purchasing additional soybeans, wheat, and sorghum.Malaysia&nbsp;will provide significant market access for U.S. products like dairy, horticultural products, poultry, pork, rice, and ethanol; recognize the U.S. food safety systems for U.S. meat, poultry, and dairy products; streamline its halal certification of U.S. food and agricultural products; and open market access for U.S. sorghum.Cambodia&nbsp;will eliminate 100% of its tariffs on U.S. products, while the U.S. maintains a 19% reciprocal tariff rate for imports from Cambodia. It will also recognize the U.S. scientific guidelines for most U.S. agricultural goods and food.Thailand&nbsp;will eliminate tariffs on 99% of U.S. goods, including most food and agricultural products and expedite access for USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service-certified meat and poultry products, giving American producers unprecedented access to the market.Vietnam&nbsp;will accept preferential access for U.S. agricultural goods, including specialty cheese and meats, and is already improving access for U.S. peaches and nectarines. Vietnam will pay the United States 20% tariffs on all goods and 40% on any transshipped goodsSouth Korea&nbsp;will pay 15 percent tariff to the United States.European Union&nbsp;will purchase $750 billion of American energy and addressing non-tariff barriers for farmers and ranchers - pork and dairy products. Market access for U.S. agricultural goods like tree nuts, sorghum, and more will also be provided as we work to commit to a simpler regulatory agenda.Philippines&nbsp;is opening their market to the United States and charging us zero tariffs while the Philippines will pay 19 percent tariffs to the United States.Indonesia&nbsp;will&nbsp;eliminate 90 percent of tariffs on American exports including for all agricultural products.Japan&nbsp;agreed to $8 billion in American agricultural purchases including corn, soybeans, ethanol, fertilizer, and sustainable aviation fuel. Japan will increase US rice imports by 75%.United Kingdom&nbsp;will create $5 billion in new agricultural export opportunities. $700 million in ethanol and better market access for American beef.At the same time, President Trump is securing new, unprecedented market access for American agricultural producers around the world. For example, wine exports to Mexico are up 30 percent in 2025, reaching $18 million; South Korea has purchased $1 billion in corn, more than double from 2024; Bangladesh purchased $172 million in soybeans; Costa Rica streamlined its dairy access for U.S. producers; and India cut its bourbon tariff in half.

Details from USDA on $12 billion assistance for farmers

By MIRANDA HUSTON K-State Extension Horticulture Program Asst.&nbsp;

The Hays community got their hands dirty in the best way possible during a recent kokedama workshop held at the K-State Extension office. 

The event invited plant lovers of all ages to learn the Japanese art of kokedama. Translation: “koke” meaning moss and “dama” meaning ball, which involves creating a soil ball wrapped in moss and twine to create a living plant sculpture that effectively regulates water usage. 

Although the promotion of this event occurred over a short amount of time, it was still well attended and all the students had a blast. &nbsp;

Participants were guided step-by-step through the process of crafting their own kokedama, blending creativity with practical horticulture knowledge. The atmosphere was lively and welcoming, with attendees sharing laughs, tips, and stories as they followed the masterful guidance of our instructor to shape and form their moss balls. 

Our host Wei Li of Simple Morea was an amazing guide throughout the process. Based out of Wichita, Li is knowledgeable, charismatic, patient, and full of pride in the work he does. Throughout the class, Li made sure all participants were taken care of and had all of the help they needed to create the best sculpture possible, making a light and fun environment during the creative process. 

Li travels all across the United States to attend conferences, festivals, and plant shows to share his artistic and horticultural knowledge. At these events he displays and sells plants he has grown from propagation, all while sharing his knowledge over any houseplant you might have questions about. His true wealth of knowledge doesn't stop at kokedama and tropical plants, but he also offers classes on wall mounted plants and more variety of creative plant displays. Li also offers these classes as a service for corporate team-building seminars.&nbsp;

In addition to the hands-on class, a pop-up plant sale offered a variety of houseplants, including unique varieties of those you know and love but also rare varieties that are difficult to find. Li also sold pedestals and displays for our kokedama creations to add an additional flair in their presentation. These displays were designed and 3D printed all from Wei Li. 

A pleasant surprise product he offered for the coming cold-season was a collection of handcrafted knit and crochet winter hats and neck wraps in a wide display of colors, some designed and hand dyed by Li himself and assembled by his mother. I myself could not resist the plant sale and bought more plants to add to my ever-growing collection, and did a little Christmas shopping as well. &nbsp;

You can be involved in all of the fun next year as we plan to have him back and for a longer time! Wei Li wishes to return to Ellis County to showcase more of what he does and offer more delightful classes. 

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just plant-curious, events like these offer a fun, low-pressure way to explore new hobbies and connect with the local community. Organizers are already brainstorming for more workshops to come, so keep an eye out for future opportunities to create and take home a practical creation you can display and be proud of.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763490984672.png" alt="Plant lovers learned the Japanese art of kokedama. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Plant lovers learned the Japanese art of kokedama. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIRANDA HUSTON K-State Extension Horticulture Program Asst.&nbsp; The Hays community got their hands dirty in the best way possible during a recent kokedama workshop held at the K-State Extension office. The event invited plant lovers of all ages to learn the Japanese art of kokedama. Translation: “koke” meaning moss and “dama” meaning ball, which involves creating a soil ball wrapped in moss and twine to create a living plant sculpture that effectively regulates water usage. Although the promotion of this event occurred over a short amount of time, it was still well attended and all the students had a blast. &nbsp;Participants were guided step-by-step through the process of crafting their own kokedama, blending creativity with practical horticulture knowledge. The atmosphere was lively and welcoming, with attendees sharing laughs, tips, and stories as they followed the masterful guidance of our instructor to shape and form their moss balls. Our host Wei Li of Simple Morea was an amazing guide throughout the process. Based out of Wichita, Li is knowledgeable, charismatic, patient, and full of pride in the work he does. Throughout the class, Li made sure all participants were taken care of and had all of the help they needed to create the best sculpture possible, making a light and fun environment during the creative process. Li travels all across the United States to attend conferences, festivals, and plant shows to share his artistic and horticultural knowledge. At these events he displays and sells plants he has grown from propagation, all while sharing his knowledge over any houseplant you might have questions about. His true wealth of knowledge doesn't stop at kokedama and tropical plants, but he also offers classes on wall mounted plants and more variety of creative plant displays. Li also offers these classes as a service for corporate team-building seminars.&nbsp;In addition to the hands-on class, a pop-up plant sale offered a variety of houseplants, including unique varieties of those you know and love but also rare varieties that are difficult to find. Li also sold pedestals and displays for our kokedama creations to add an additional flair in their presentation. These displays were designed and 3D printed all from Wei Li. A pleasant surprise product he offered for the coming cold-season was a collection of handcrafted knit and crochet winter hats and neck wraps in a wide display of colors, some designed and hand dyed by Li himself and assembled by his mother. I myself could not resist the plant sale and bought more plants to add to my ever-growing collection, and did a little Christmas shopping as well. &nbsp;You can be involved in all of the fun next year as we plan to have him back and for a longer time! Wei Li wishes to return to Ellis County to showcase more of what he does and offer more delightful classes. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just plant-curious, events like these offer a fun, low-pressure way to explore new hobbies and connect with the local community. Organizers are already brainstorming for more workshops to come, so keep an eye out for future opportunities to create and take home a practical creation you can display and be proud of.

Kokedama workshop brings greenery, joy to Hays 

Drive around prairie communities or rural farmsteads, and you’ll find numerous overgrown lilac hedges attesting to early residents’ fondness for this sweet-scented flower. These rows of easy-to-grow woody bushes require little attention even during harsh weather and when mature, break gusty winds around a house, outbuilding, or patio. As a bonus, they perfume spring breezes about the time housekeepers throw open windows to freshen winter-stale rooms. Like poppies, daffodils, iris, and other spring flowers, their short blooming season invites folks to appreciate them when those multitudinous tubular blooms are most glorious. To my surprise, Western Kansans got another chance to see a favorite flower during this autumn’s unusual second bloom.

A few weeks ago, I noted local lilac bushes producing their signature palm perfect bouquets—again…. To my marveling eye, hedges set enough blossoms a person could create several lovely lavender arrangements. Granted, these weren’t densely flowered like we expect each spring, but it was notable due to the number of out of season blooms on each plant. I made a point of driving around towns like Herndon, Oberlin, Hill City, and Atwood to note the same phenomena of lilacs blooming while tree leaves turned gold and orange. My first thought was Mother Nature is off her meds. Then I investigated.

Multiple horticultural journal articles explained stressed lilacs produce second blooms to guarantee survival of the species. My first thought was what stress? We had more rain and gentler temperatures this summer than we normally experience in Western Kansas. As I read university research articles, I discovered that just as humans experience continued stress with resulting symptoms, lilac bushes also suffer post-incident stress-induced consequences.

That made sense. Western Kansans have survived a sequence of drought years combined with periods of hot or frigid winds. To multiple those effects, most plains residents expect lilac hedges to take care of themselves. After all, that was one reason early settlers planted them. They don’t require focused attention to keep growing and blooming. Researchers suggest this possibly led to this year’s producing seeds twice to save the species reaction.

As a bonafide worrywart, I thought that this expenditure of extra energy in a second bloom might wipe out one of my favorite plantings. Those journal articles calmed my fears and let me know the hedges will most likely survive unless they have other issues. What did happen is the new buds that emerged after the spring bloom became this fall’s bouquets. This fall flowering will limit production of next spring’s blossoms. Next April and May, don’t count on as many perfumed breezes as we enjoyed this year.

Nature has so many ways of keeping us on our toes if we pay attention. While I’ve seen the odd lilac bloom out of turn, this is the first time in 8 decades I saw entire hedges producing multiple blossoms. Since that won’t likely happen again during my lifetime, I’ve purposely sought those out of season flowers and rolled down the window on warmish autumn days to enjoy Spring in the Fall.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761738281092.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINDrive around prairie communities or rural farmsteads, and you’ll find numerous overgrown lilac hedges attesting to early residents’ fondness for this sweet-scented flower. These rows of easy-to-grow woody bushes require little attention even during harsh weather and when mature, break gusty winds around a house, outbuilding, or patio. As a bonus, they perfume spring breezes about the time housekeepers throw open windows to freshen winter-stale rooms. Like poppies, daffodils, iris, and other spring flowers, their short blooming season invites folks to appreciate them when those multitudinous tubular blooms are most glorious. To my surprise, Western Kansans got another chance to see a favorite flower during this autumn’s unusual second bloom.A few weeks ago, I noted local lilac bushes producing their signature palm perfect bouquets—again…. To my marveling eye, hedges set enough blossoms a person could create several lovely lavender arrangements. Granted, these weren’t densely flowered like we expect each spring, but it was notable due to the number of out of season blooms on each plant. I made a point of driving around towns like Herndon, Oberlin, Hill City, and Atwood to note the same phenomena of lilacs blooming while tree leaves turned gold and orange. My first thought was Mother Nature is off her meds. Then I investigated.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761738339066.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Multiple horticultural journal articles explained stressed lilacs produce second blooms to guarantee survival of the species. My first thought was what stress? We had more rain and gentler temperatures this summer than we normally experience in Western Kansas. As I read university research articles, I discovered that just as humans experience continued stress with resulting symptoms, lilac bushes also suffer post-incident stress-induced consequences.That made sense. Western Kansans have survived a sequence of drought years combined with periods of hot or frigid winds. To multiple those effects, most plains residents expect lilac hedges to take care of themselves. After all, that was one reason early settlers planted them. They don’t require focused attention to keep growing and blooming. Researchers suggest this possibly led to this year’s producing seeds twice to save the species reaction.As a bonafide worrywart, I thought that this expenditure of extra energy in a second bloom might wipe out one of my favorite plantings. Those journal articles calmed my fears and let me know the hedges will most likely survive unless they have other issues. What did happen is the new buds that emerged after the spring bloom became this fall’s bouquets. This fall flowering will limit production of next spring’s blossoms. Next April and May, don’t count on as many perfumed breezes as we enjoyed this year.Nature has so many ways of keeping us on our toes if we pay attention. While I’ve seen the odd lilac bloom out of turn, this is the first time in 8 decades I saw entire hedges producing multiple blossoms. Since that won’t likely happen again during my lifetime, I’ve purposely sought those out of season flowers and rolled down the window on warmish autumn days to enjoy Spring in the Fall.

MADORIN: Mother nature’s surprise

I always love the changing of the seasons, especially summer to fall. After the heat of the summer, the cool, crisp mornings and cooler days makes me happy. One of the first signs that I can tell that summer is on its way out is the first leaves on the cottonwood trees starting to turn yellow. The reds and oranges of the maples and oaks quickly follow suite. Although the New England states is the place to view the changing of the seasons, Kansas is no slouch. I found an article this week for you for the Horticulture Department about why trees change the colors they do and how you get the striking colors of fall.

Part of the allure of fall foliage is color variation. There are trees that turn red, purple, yellow, orange and brown.

Specific plant pigments determine individual colors. Foliage derives its normal green color from chlorophyll, the substance that captures the energy of the sun. Other pigments produce fall colors. Reds and purples are caused by anthocyanins, yellows by xanthophylls, and oranges by a combination of carotenes and xanthophylls. Browns are the result of tannins present in the leaf. Most of these substances are present throughout the growing season but are masked by the green color produced by chlorophyll. Anthocyanins are the exception and are produced after the chlorophyll is destroyed in the fall.

If you have ever seen pictures of New England in the fall, you have probably wondered why trees in Kansas usually do not color as well. This difference is partly because of the tree species prevalent in New England. Certain oaks and maples naturally produce good color. Coloring also is influenced by the weather.

Warm, sunny days and cool nights are ideal for good color. The sunny days encourage photosynthesis and, thus, sugar accumulation in the leaves. As fall progresses, each leaf develops an abscission layer at the base of the petiole, or leaf stem, that prevents these sugars from being transported down the trunk to the roots for storage. This high sugar content in the leaves produces more intense colors. Cloudy days and warm nights prevent some of the sugar accumulation in the leaves and results in less vibrant colors.

Weather during other parts of the growing season also can have an effect. Heavy rains in the early spring or hot, dry weather during the summer can both have a deleterious effect on fall color.

The length of time a tree maintains fall color also depends on weather. Reds, yellows and oranges are short-lived when trees undergo frosts and freezes.

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910

K-State Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698682262753.jpeg" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension DistrictI always love the changing of the seasons, especially summer to fall. After the heat of the summer, the cool, crisp mornings and cooler days makes me happy. One of the first signs that I can tell that summer is on its way out is the first leaves on the cottonwood trees starting to turn yellow. The reds and oranges of the maples and oaks quickly follow suite. Although the New England states is the place to view the changing of the seasons, Kansas is no slouch. I found an article this week for you for the Horticulture Department about why trees change the colors they do and how you get the striking colors of fall.Part of the allure of fall foliage is color variation. There are trees that turn red, purple, yellow, orange and brown.Specific plant pigments determine individual colors. Foliage derives its normal green color from chlorophyll, the substance that captures the energy of the sun. Other pigments produce fall colors. Reds and purples are caused by anthocyanins, yellows by xanthophylls, and oranges by a combination of carotenes and xanthophylls. Browns are the result of tannins present in the leaf. Most of these substances are present throughout the growing season but are masked by the green color produced by chlorophyll. Anthocyanins are the exception and are produced after the chlorophyll is destroyed in the fall.If you have ever seen pictures of New England in the fall, you have probably wondered why trees in Kansas usually do not color as well. This difference is partly because of the tree species prevalent in New England. Certain oaks and maples naturally produce good color. Coloring also is influenced by the weather.Warm, sunny days and cool nights are ideal for good color. The sunny days encourage photosynthesis and, thus, sugar accumulation in the leaves. As fall progresses, each leaf develops an abscission layer at the base of the petiole, or leaf stem, that prevents these sugars from being transported down the trunk to the roots for storage. This high sugar content in the leaves produces more intense colors. Cloudy days and warm nights prevent some of the sugar accumulation in the leaves and results in less vibrant colors.Weather during other parts of the growing season also can have an effect. Heavy rains in the early spring or hot, dry weather during the summer can both have a deleterious effect on fall color.The length of time a tree maintains fall color also depends on weather. Reds, yellows and oranges are short-lived when trees undergo frosts and freezes.Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910K-State Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.

BOOR: Fall colors

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (AP) — A California engineer and gardening enthusiast won the top prize at an annual pumpkin-weighing contest in Northern California after growing a giant jack-o’-lantern gourd weighing 2,346 pounds (1,064 kilograms).

Brandon Dawson, of Santa Rosa, California, clinched the victory at the 52nd World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco.

Dawson pumped his arms in the air and sat his two children on top of the giant pumpkin — roughly the same weight as a small sedan or a large bison — after being crowned this year’s winner.

“My mind is kind of racing because I was in this position last year when I lost by 6 pounds (3 kilograms),” he said in an interview.

Dawson, a manufacturing engineer at electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive, said he has been growing massive pumpkins for five years. Precision skills acquired at his job helped him with the right watering and sunlight to help his gourd grow, he said.

He said he enjoys getting his children involved in the process.

“We like to spend time out in the patch and watch the thing grow,” Dawson said about his 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter.

“My 4-year-old now can really pay attention to the growing process,” especially since the giant pumpkins can grow by 50 to 70 pounds (23 to 32 kilograms) a day, he added.

The pumpkin champ won a $20,000 prize for growing the biggest pumpkin.

Dawson’s pumpkin was the runner up in last year’s contest at Half Moon Bay when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-giant-pumpkin-winner-71cc6201bb732f057261d452bdf97ba5">the winning gourd grown</a>&nbsp;by Minnesota horticulture teacher Travis Gienger came in at 2,471 pounds (1,121 kilograms).

Gienger, of Anoka, Minnesota,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-giant-pumpkin-world-record-dbe2b22743e332998c204f2191b2a46f">set a world record</a>&nbsp;at the California contest in 2023 for the heaviest pumpkin when his giant jack-o’-lantern gourd weighed 2,749 pounds (1,247 kilograms). Gienger’s pumpkin was damaged earlier this season and he couldn’t enter this year’s contest in California.

Two brothers in England earlier this month broke Gienger’s record with a gourd that weighed 2,819 pounds (1,278kg).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760471418748.jpeg" alt="Brandon Dawson, center, celebrates after winning the Safeway 52nd annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)" />
 <figcaption>Brandon Dawson, center, celebrates after winning the Safeway 52nd annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)</figcaption>
 </figure>HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (AP) — A California engineer and gardening enthusiast won the top prize at an annual pumpkin-weighing contest in Northern California after growing a giant jack-o’-lantern gourd weighing 2,346 pounds (1,064 kilograms).Brandon Dawson, of Santa Rosa, California, clinched the victory at the 52nd World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco.Dawson pumped his arms in the air and sat his two children on top of the giant pumpkin — roughly the same weight as a small sedan or a large bison — after being crowned this year’s winner.“My mind is kind of racing because I was in this position last year when I lost by 6 pounds (3 kilograms),” he said in an interview.Dawson, a manufacturing engineer at electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive, said he has been growing massive pumpkins for five years. Precision skills acquired at his job helped him with the right watering and sunlight to help his gourd grow, he said.He said he enjoys getting his children involved in the process.“We like to spend time out in the patch and watch the thing grow,” Dawson said about his 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter.“My 4-year-old now can really pay attention to the growing process,” especially since the giant pumpkins can grow by 50 to 70 pounds (23 to 32 kilograms) a day, he added.The pumpkin champ won a $20,000 prize for growing the biggest pumpkin.Dawson’s pumpkin was the runner up in last year’s contest at Half Moon Bay when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-giant-pumpkin-winner-71cc6201bb732f057261d452bdf97ba5">the winning gourd grown</a>&nbsp;by Minnesota horticulture teacher Travis Gienger came in at 2,471 pounds (1,121 kilograms).Gienger, of Anoka, Minnesota,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-giant-pumpkin-world-record-dbe2b22743e332998c204f2191b2a46f">set a world record</a>&nbsp;at the California contest in 2023 for the heaviest pumpkin when his giant jack-o’-lantern gourd weighed 2,749 pounds (1,247 kilograms). Gienger’s pumpkin was damaged earlier this season and he couldn’t enter this year’s contest in California.Two brothers in England earlier this month broke Gienger’s record with a gourd that weighed 2,819 pounds (1,278kg).

Biggest pumpkin in America, just in time for Halloween  

By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

September is the best time to give cool-season grasses in Kansas a boost, but homeowners should take note of an important fact before choosing which variety to plant.&nbsp;

Not all grass seed is created equal.&nbsp;

Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini urges homeowners to read the label on the bag of seed before re-seeding the lawn.&nbsp;

“Depending on the seed quality,” she said, “you could be planting weeds along with the desired grass.”&nbsp;

She adds: “Check the percentage of weed seed listed. This will tell you how much weed you will be introducing if you plant this seed mix. For example, if this number is 0.5% weed seed, approximately 12-16 weeds will be planted per square foot.”&nbsp;

Domenghini suggests looking for seed that lists weed seed at less than 0.01%, but 0% is best.&nbsp;

“Check the listing for ‘Other Crop’ on the label, as well, and choose a grass seed with a low percentage,” Domenghini said, noting that ‘Other Crop’ includes any species grown intentionally such as turf and pasture grasses.&nbsp;

Some species of grassy weeds qualify as ‘Other Crop’ and legally do not have to be named if they constitute less than 5% of the contents. ‘Other Crop’ can also include more desirable species that won’t impact the lawn.&nbsp;

“But,” Domenghini notes, “without knowing what is included, it’s best to choose a seed where this number is as close to zero as possible. Quality seed typically has 0.01% ‘Other Crop’ or less.”&nbsp;

Domenghini shared more tips for seeding fall lawns:&nbsp;

· Use recommended seeding rates and distribute well. Seeding at a rate higher than recommended can cause issues with disease and environmental stress.&nbsp;

· Good seed to soil contact is critical. Aeration prior to seeding is one way to promote this. Topdressing and raking to cover seed are other good methods.&nbsp;

· Light, frequent irrigation is necessary the first few weeks after planting and may be required several times daily. Soil should remain moist, but not waterlogged.&nbsp;

· Minimize traffic on the area until seedlings are ready to be mowed. Begin mowing once seedlings reach 3-4 inches tall.&nbsp;

Overseeding an existing lawn&nbsp;

· Prior to planting, mow the area low (1 to 1 ½ inches) to reduce competition with seedlings and help improve seed contact with soil.&nbsp;

· Water light, but often, keeping soil moist but not waterlogged.&nbsp;

Fertilize cool-season grasses&nbsp;

· Use a quick-release source of nitrogen.&nbsp;

· Apply 1 to 1 ½ pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.&nbsp;

· Soil should be moist, but not saturated.&nbsp;

· Holes should be 2-3 inches apart and 2 ½ to 3 inches deep.&nbsp;

· Cores can be left on surface and will break down naturally.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756223517825.jpeg" alt="Fescue grass. Photo by K-State Research and Extension" />
 <figcaption>Fescue grass. Photo by K-State Research and Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension DistrictSeptember is the best time to give cool-season grasses in Kansas a boost, but homeowners should take note of an important fact before choosing which variety to plant.&nbsp;Not all grass seed is created equal.&nbsp;Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini urges homeowners to read the label on the bag of seed before re-seeding the lawn.&nbsp;“Depending on the seed quality,” she said, “you could be planting weeds along with the desired grass.”&nbsp;She adds: “Check the percentage of weed seed listed. This will tell you how much weed you will be introducing if you plant this seed mix. For example, if this number is 0.5% weed seed, approximately 12-16 weeds will be planted per square foot.”&nbsp;Domenghini suggests looking for seed that lists weed seed at less than 0.01%, but 0% is best.&nbsp;“Check the listing for ‘Other Crop’ on the label, as well, and choose a grass seed with a low percentage,” Domenghini said, noting that ‘Other Crop’ includes any species grown intentionally such as turf and pasture grasses.&nbsp;Some species of grassy weeds qualify as ‘Other Crop’ and legally do not have to be named if they constitute less than 5% of the contents. ‘Other Crop’ can also include more desirable species that won’t impact the lawn.&nbsp;“But,” Domenghini notes, “without knowing what is included, it’s best to choose a seed where this number is as close to zero as possible. Quality seed typically has 0.01% ‘Other Crop’ or less.”&nbsp;Domenghini shared more tips for seeding fall lawns:&nbsp;Seeding new lawns&nbsp;· Use recommended seeding rates and distribute well. Seeding at a rate higher than recommended can cause issues with disease and environmental stress.&nbsp;· Good seed to soil contact is critical. Aeration prior to seeding is one way to promote this. Topdressing and raking to cover seed are other good methods.&nbsp;· Light, frequent irrigation is necessary the first few weeks after planting and may be required several times daily. Soil should remain moist, but not waterlogged.&nbsp;· Minimize traffic on the area until seedlings are ready to be mowed. Begin mowing once seedlings reach 3-4 inches tall.&nbsp;Overseeding an existing lawn&nbsp;· Prior to planting, mow the area low (1 to 1 ½ inches) to reduce competition with seedlings and help improve seed contact with soil.&nbsp;· Water light, but often, keeping soil moist but not waterlogged.&nbsp;Fertilize cool-season grasses&nbsp;· Use a quick-release source of nitrogen.&nbsp;· Apply 1 to 1 ½ pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.&nbsp;Core-aerating&nbsp;· Soil should be moist, but not saturated.&nbsp;· Holes should be 2-3 inches apart and 2 ½ to 3 inches deep.&nbsp;· Cores can be left on surface and will break down naturally.Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Giving cool-season grasses a boost for fall

Homeowners who are looking for ways to promote healthy growing trees in their yard are well-advised to remember this axiom: A ring is a tree’s best friend.&nbsp;

Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini said a mulch ring is a circular border surrounding the base of a tree. When planting a new tree, she recommends including a mulch ring that covers the soil beneath the tree canopy.

&nbsp;“One benefit of using a mulch ring around trees in a lawn area is to prevent maintenance equipment from coming too close and damaging the trunk,” she said. “Also, plants grown directly beneath the tree canopy compete for water and nutrients, so a mulch ring keeps that soil covered without creating competition for the tree.”&nbsp;

Domenghini suggests using organic mulch, “for the same reasons it is selected for planter beds,” she said. Those reasons include conserving and extending available water, protecting from soil erosion, and reducing competition by suppressing weeds.

&nbsp;“The mulch ring around trees in a lawn should be at least 3-6 feet in diameter depending on the overall size of the tree,” Domenghini said. “Ideally, the mulch ring should extend to the drip line of the tree, which means the ground beneath the entire canopy of the tree should be covered.”&nbsp;

The mulch ring should include a 4-6 inch diameter circle of bare soil at the center so that mulch is not right up next to the trunk, to prevent rotting. The mulch should be 2-4 inches deep and re-applied annually.&nbsp;“If mulch is applied too deep (more than four inches), the mulch can actually restrict oxygen from the soil and negatively affect the tree’s root development,” Domenghini said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698682229509.jpeg" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension DistrictHomeowners who are looking for ways to promote healthy growing trees in their yard are well-advised to remember this axiom: A ring is a tree’s best friend.&nbsp;Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini said a mulch ring is a circular border surrounding the base of a tree. When planting a new tree, she recommends including a mulch ring that covers the soil beneath the tree canopy.&nbsp;“One benefit of using a mulch ring around trees in a lawn area is to prevent maintenance equipment from coming too close and damaging the trunk,” she said. “Also, plants grown directly beneath the tree canopy compete for water and nutrients, so a mulch ring keeps that soil covered without creating competition for the tree.”&nbsp;Domenghini suggests using organic mulch, “for the same reasons it is selected for planter beds,” she said. Those reasons include conserving and extending available water, protecting from soil erosion, and reducing competition by suppressing weeds.&nbsp;“The mulch ring around trees in a lawn should be at least 3-6 feet in diameter depending on the overall size of the tree,” Domenghini said. “Ideally, the mulch ring should extend to the drip line of the tree, which means the ground beneath the entire canopy of the tree should be covered.”&nbsp;The mulch ring should include a 4-6 inch diameter circle of bare soil at the center so that mulch is not right up next to the trunk, to prevent rotting. The mulch should be 2-4 inches deep and re-applied annually.&nbsp;“If mulch is applied too deep (more than four inches), the mulch can actually restrict oxygen from the soil and negatively affect the tree’s root development,” Domenghini said.&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: A ring is a tree's best friend

It may be mid-summer, but veteran gardeners know it’s time to start planning the fall vegetable garden.&nbsp;

“Fall gardens may face additional pressures of pests and heat, but the flavor that comes from these late season crops are often better (than summer crops),” said Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini.&nbsp;She notes that gardeners should count the number of days to harvest, as well as the crops’ tolerance to frost, before deciding when to plant fall crops.

 Crops may be seeded directly, or transplanted into the garden.&nbsp;“Growing transplants is a good choice when the temperature is too warm for starting seeds in the ground, assuming you have grow lights and space available for starting them indoors,” Domenghini said.

&nbsp;She provides some tips for successful fall crops:

&nbsp;· When seeding crops directly into the garden, plant slightly deeper than recommended in the spring to take advantage of the cooler soil temperatures and moisture available

· Water more frequently to prevent the seeds from drying out.

&nbsp;· Overhead watering often causes soil to crust, making it more difficult for young, tender plants to emerge. Prevent this by applying a light sprinkling of vermiculite or compost over the row after seeding, or use a soak hose or drip irrigation right next to the row to allow water to slowly seep into the ground.&nbsp;

Domenghini also suggests a timeline for planting fall crops:

Mid-July Plant potatoes if you can find seed stock or have saved seed potatoes. Do not use freshly dug potatoes as they have built-in dormancy that will prevent growth. Also, grocery store potatoes are often treated, so they don’t sprout.&nbsp;Cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower can be started from seed at this time. Choose a protected place where the soil can be kept moist and rabbits will not bother them. This will not be where they will grow the entire season; these crops will be transplanted in August.

Late July Seed beets, carrots and beans.

Late July to early August Seed spinach and long-season maturing lettuce. Leaf lettuce will be seeded later.&nbsp;

Second week of August Transplant cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower to their final location.

Mid to late August Seed radishes and leaf lettuce. There is no need to fertilize these crops before planting. Side-dress two weeks after transplanting, or four weeks after sowing seed, by applying two tablespoons of a 16-0-0 or one tablespoon of 27-3-3, 30-3-4 fertilizer (or something similar) per plant.&nbsp;

More information about fall gardening is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/download/kansas-garden-guide_S51">available in the Kansas Garden Guide</a>, available online from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/">K-State Research and Extension bookstore</a>.&nbsp;

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698682262753.jpeg" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension DistrictIt may be mid-summer, but veteran gardeners know it’s time to start planning the fall vegetable garden.&nbsp;“Fall gardens may face additional pressures of pests and heat, but the flavor that comes from these late season crops are often better (than summer crops),” said Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini.&nbsp;She notes that gardeners should count the number of days to harvest, as well as the crops’ tolerance to frost, before deciding when to plant fall crops. Crops may be seeded directly, or transplanted into the garden.&nbsp;“Growing transplants is a good choice when the temperature is too warm for starting seeds in the ground, assuming you have grow lights and space available for starting them indoors,” Domenghini said.&nbsp;She provides some tips for successful fall crops:&nbsp;· When seeding crops directly into the garden, plant slightly deeper than recommended in the spring to take advantage of the cooler soil temperatures and moisture available· Water more frequently to prevent the seeds from drying out.&nbsp;· Overhead watering often causes soil to crust, making it more difficult for young, tender plants to emerge. Prevent this by applying a light sprinkling of vermiculite or compost over the row after seeding, or use a soak hose or drip irrigation right next to the row to allow water to slowly seep into the ground.&nbsp;Domenghini also suggests a timeline for planting fall crops:Mid-July Plant potatoes if you can find seed stock or have saved seed potatoes. Do not use freshly dug potatoes as they have built-in dormancy that will prevent growth. Also, grocery store potatoes are often treated, so they don’t sprout.&nbsp;Cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower can be started from seed at this time. Choose a protected place where the soil can be kept moist and rabbits will not bother them. This will not be where they will grow the entire season; these crops will be transplanted in August.Late July Seed beets, carrots and beans.Late July to early August Seed spinach and long-season maturing lettuce. Leaf lettuce will be seeded later.&nbsp;Second week of August Transplant cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower to their final location.Mid to late August Seed radishes and leaf lettuce. There is no need to fertilize these crops before planting. Side-dress two weeks after transplanting, or four weeks after sowing seed, by applying two tablespoons of a 16-0-0 or one tablespoon of 27-3-3, 30-3-4 fertilizer (or something similar) per plant.&nbsp;More information about fall gardening is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/download/kansas-garden-guide_S51">available in the Kansas Garden Guide</a>, available online from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/">K-State Research and Extension bookstore</a>.&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Planning time for fall vegetable gardens

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Ellis County Fair is giving everyone a chance to showcase their talents through friendly competitions.

The fair runs from July 11 to 19 and includes car races, rodeos, family-friendly fun and contests.

Participants must register at <a href="https://fairentry.com/Fair/SignIn/21262">fairentry.com</a> by July 7, with drop-off and judging dates varying by category. An account will need to be created if not already. Afterwards, you can choose your class and electronically enter it. There is no cost to enter.

Ellis County Fair Vice President Jill Pfannenstiel highlighted divisions such as gardening, child care art and photography.

Although many people are familiar with the 4-H competitions, the fair offers open classes to all residents.

“Photography is a real popular division at the fair,"&nbsp;Pfannenstiel said.

Most entries should be dropped off from 3 to 7 p.m. July 14 at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. Entries for food, crops and horticulture must be dropped off between 8 and 9 a.m. July 15.

Floriculture entries will be accepted on July 16. Participants are eligible to receive cash prizes based on ribbon awards.

Open Class judging will be July 15 and is closed to the public. Entries and prizes can be picked up from 8 to 10 a.m. on July 20 at the Schenk Building.

Exhibits and entries at the fair are judged into four ribbon groups: purple, blue, red and white. Purple ribbons represent the highest standard, and only entries in this group are eligible for advanced awards.

If judges determine the quality merits it, a champion and reserve champion may be selected in each subdivision. Prize money is awarded in the open class division, with champions earning $15, reserve champions $10 and purple ribbon winners receiving $5 for first, $3 for second, and $2 for third.

Pfannenstiel said there will be extra cash prizes for open class foods and photography that will get an additional $15.

You can find a complete list of Ellis County Fair Open Class competitions, including categories, classes, rules and entry requirements <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/DocumentCenter/View/5779/2025-Open-Class-Fair-Book">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750273149957.jpeg" alt="Award-winning open class entries at the Ellis County Fair. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Award-winning open class entries at the Ellis County Fair. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe Ellis County Fair is giving everyone a chance to showcase their talents through friendly competitions.The fair runs from July 11 to 19 and includes car races, rodeos, family-friendly fun and contests.Participants must register at <a href="https://fairentry.com/Fair/SignIn/21262">fairentry.com</a> by July 7, with drop-off and judging dates varying by category. An account will need to be created if not already. Afterwards, you can choose your class and electronically enter it. There is no cost to enter.Ellis County Fair Vice President Jill Pfannenstiel highlighted divisions such as gardening, child care art and photography.Although many people are familiar with the 4-H competitions, the fair offers open classes to all residents.“Photography is a real popular division at the fair,"&nbsp;Pfannenstiel said.Most entries should be dropped off from 3 to 7 p.m. July 14 at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. Entries for food, crops and horticulture must be dropped off between 8 and 9 a.m. July 15.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750273127620.jpeg" alt="Award-winning open class entries at the Ellis County Fair. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Award-winning open class entries at the Ellis County Fair. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750273171674.jpeg" alt="Open class entries at the Ellis County Fair. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Open class entries at the Ellis County Fair. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750273196525.jpeg" alt="Open class entries at the Ellis County Fair. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Open class entries at the Ellis County Fair. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750273250992.jpeg" alt="Open class entries at the Ellis County Fair. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Open class entries at the Ellis County Fair. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Floriculture entries will be accepted on July 16. Participants are eligible to receive cash prizes based on ribbon awards.Open Class judging will be July 15 and is closed to the public. Entries and prizes can be picked up from 8 to 10 a.m. on July 20 at the Schenk Building.Exhibits and entries at the fair are judged into four ribbon groups: purple, blue, red and white. Purple ribbons represent the highest standard, and only entries in this group are eligible for advanced awards.If judges determine the quality merits it, a champion and reserve champion may be selected in each subdivision. Prize money is awarded in the open class division, with champions earning $15, reserve champions $10 and purple ribbon winners receiving $5 for first, $3 for second, and $2 for third.Pfannenstiel said there will be extra cash prizes for open class foods and photography that will get an additional $15.You can find a complete list of Ellis County Fair Open Class competitions, including categories, classes, rules and entry requirements <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/DocumentCenter/View/5779/2025-Open-Class-Fair-Book">here</a>.The Ellis County 4-H Youth Development program will also be held, featuring its own contests and judging process. A full list of 4-H class competitions can be found <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/DocumentCenter/View/5699/2025-4HDivisionECFBook---Updated">here</a>.