Farmers Union to host state budget presentations across Kansas

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September 3, 2014

McPHERSON, KS – Kansas Farmers Union (KFU), a group of county Farmers Union chapters, and the Kansas Beginning Farmers Coalition (KBFC) are hosting four state budget education presentations featuring former state budget director, Duane Goossen during the month of September. All presentations are open to KFU members and the general public.

Goossen, a former member of the Kansas House of Representatives (1983-1997), served as state budget director for 12 years in the administrations of three governors – Republican Bill Graves and Democrats Kathleen Sebelius and Mark Parkinson. He was appointed by Sebelius in 2004 to concurrently serve as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration, the agency that manages state facilities, accounting, information services and employee programs, and during that time chaired the Kansas Health Care Commission.

More recently, he served as Vice President for Fiscal and Health Policy for the Kansas Health Institute, overseeing KHI’s research and analysis of state fiscal policy, health reform, and other health policy issues. Drawing on his long experience in both Republican and Democratic administrations, Goossen currently writes and speaks with news reporters, civic organizations, and other Kansans on issues related to the Kansas budget.

“Spending too much can certainly drive a budget out of balance. However, the income side of the equation has equal importance,” Goossen says. “A dramatically sharp revenue decline in Kansas has destabilized the state’s finances. Even though spending has been reduced in many areas, the state spent hundreds of millions more than it received in FY 2014 (July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014), and will do so again in FY 2015, emptying the state’s bank account.”

Information like this is concerning, to say the least, and Kansas Farmers Union would like Kansans to have the opportunity to hear Mr. Goossen’s historical knowledge about our state’s finances and current financial situation. “The goal in hosting these presentations is to educate our citizens on the impact recent decisions may have on rural property taxes, services, and the future of our state, especially in regards to our rural schools,” says KFU President Donn Teske. “KFU is concerned about the effect this deficit will have on its members, the farmers and ranchers across rural Kansas, and is eager to know how the Kansas Legislature will remedy the issue in the next legislative session and beyond.”

Four locations have been selected for the presentations:

McPherson, KS: Thursday, September 18, 6:00-8:00 PM – hosted by KFU and McPherson County Farmers Union at Perkins Family Restaurant & Bakery meeting room, 2111 E Kansas Ave.

Lawrence, KS: Monday, September 22, 7:00-8:00 PM – hosted by KFU and Kansas Beginning Farmers Coalition at Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont St. Convenient parking is located south of the library in the new parking garage. Light refreshments will be served, but an evening meal will not be part of this presentation. We invite you to patronize one of the local downtown Lawrence dining establishments prior to or following the presentation.

Seneca, KS: Wednesday, September 24, 6:00-8:00 PM – hosted by KFU and Nemaha County Farmers Union at Windmill Inn Restaurant & Lounge meeting room, 603 N. 4th St.

Belleville, KS: Thursday, September 25, 6:00-8:00 PM – hosted by KFU and Republic County Farmers Union at Bel Villa Restaurant meeting room, 213 U.S. Hwy 36

All presentations are open to the public. A “Dutch treat” meal will be served at the McPherson, Seneca, and Belleville locations at 6:00 PM with Goossen’s presentation at 7:00 PM, followed by questions and wrap-up by 8:00 PM. Due to no meal service at the Lawrence Public Library, the meeting will start at 7:00 PM.

Please contact Nick Levendofsky at (785) 527-0941 or [email protected] at least three days prior to the meeting date if you plan to attend the presentation and/or eat so KFU can assist staff in meal planning and room/seating accommodations.

Auditions for season closer over Desert Cities

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Editor

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September 3, 2014

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Hutchinson Theatre Guild holds open auditions for final season production, Jon Robin Baitz’s Other Desert Cities

Hutchinson, Kan. – September 20 and 21, bring auditions for the Hutchinson Theatre Guild’s 2014 Season finale: Other Desert Cities, written by Jon Robin Baitz. Roles are available for two male and three female actors. As with every Hutchinson Theatre Guild production, all parts are cast from auditions which are open to all community members.

Other Desert Cities is fresh from a smash-hit Broadway run in 2011. Featuring themes of family, conflict, secrecy and betrayal, Other Desert Cities is a biting dramedy featuring a cast of two men (ages 20s and 60s) and three women (ranging in age from late 20s to 60s).

Show Teaser:

Brooke Wyeth, an up and coming New York author, returns home for a family reunion in Palm Springs, California. On this fateful Christmas Eve, Brook greets her parents at their mansion with news that is anything but a present. Brooke has written a memoir of her family’s storied past and with the manuscript plans to unearth a devastating family secret for all to see. Can the family survive Brooke’s desire to publish the ugly truth?

Auditions will take place on Saturday, September 20^th, 2014 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. and on Sunday, September 21^st, 2014 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Auditions will consist of actors reading short scenes from the play. A cast list will be posted on the Hutchinson Theatre Guild’s Facebook page, www.hutchtheatre.com and at Stage 9 no later than 12 p.m. Monday, September 22^nd, 2014. Rehearsals will commence with a read-thru on Monday, September 22^nd, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. Performances are November 6 – 8, 2014 and November 13 – 15, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. and November 9 and 16, 2014 at 2 p.m.

Rehearsals for all Guild productions are four to five times a week (Sunday 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. and Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday 6:30 p.m.– 9:30 p.m.). All interested actors should bring their schedules and conflicts to let the director know when they are available to rehearse. If you have previous acting experience, please feel free to bring a headshot, resume and/or your experiences to share with the director, though none of these are required.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an interview, please contact Charles Johnston, director of Other Desert Cities. The Hutchinson Theatre Guild is always looking for people interested in participating in the productions and/or the organization behind the scenes. If you are interested, please contact the director.

Other Desert Cities is performed by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

America’s taste for beef continues, even at historically high prices

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K-State

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September 3, 2014

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Kansas State University agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor said beef demand this year has been surprisingly strong, especially in light of historically high prices. He spoke about the outlook for the U.S. beef and cattle industry and herd expansion at the 2014 K-State Risk and Profit Conference.

Second-quarter demand was the strongest for beef and pork in 10 years.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Beef continues to be on shoppers’ grocery lists, even as prices have soared to record highs this year. That says a lot about Americans’ appetite for beef, said Kansas State University agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor.

“On the demand side, the second quarter – April through June – was the best quarter for beef and pork demand in 10 years; better than expected, especially in view of historically high prices,” said Tonsor, livestock marketing specialist with K-State Research and Extension.

Speaking at the 2014 K-State Risk and Profit Conference in Manhattan on Aug. 21, Tonsor said beef demand in 2014 was stronger than in 2013, and stronger than most industry watchers expected, including him.

“If the price of beef was up 3 percent, I would have said demand was flat,” he said. “But, prices have been up 10 percent, and people are still buying beef.”

The fact prices notably exceeded the increase expected given the reduced volume consumed highlights the magnitude of beef demand strength.

Tonsor said he concurs with quarterly forecasts by the Livestock Marketing Information Center, which projected the average 2014 price for slaughter-ready steers in the five primary cattle markets at $152.00 to $154.00 per hundredweight, up 21.5 percent from the average of $125.88 in 2013. The average price in 2015 is projected at $157.00 to $161.00, which if realized, would be a 3.9 percent increase from 2014.

Fewer cattle spark higher prices

In its Cattle Inventory Report issued Jan. 31, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated the total number of cattle and calves in the United States as of Jan. 1 at 87.7 million head, down 2 percent from the 89.3 million a year earlier and the lowest Jan. 1 inventory since 1951.

Tight cattle supplies are also reflected in the number of cattle being fed to market weight. The total number of cattle and calves in U.S. feedlots (with capacity of 1,000 head or more) on Aug. 1 was 9.8 million head, down 2 percent from a year ago. The number of cattle placed in feedlots during July was 1.56 million, 7 percent below July 2013 and the lowest since USDA began keeping such records in 1996.

Based on the cattle supply and beef demand so far this year, Tonsor believes that beef prices may be record high for the remainder of this year.

Higher prices typically spur herd expansion

Tight beef and cattle supplies and lofty prices are usually enough to encourage cattle producers to expand their herds. There were signs of such an expansion in 2012-2013, Tonsor said, but the buildup appears to have stalled this year. Some in the industry are concerned that the price of cows is high enough that producers are selling them rather than retaining them to produce more calves.

Based on various data and a survey conducted by Beef Magazine, he believes herd expansion will start in the coming months, but that it will not occur uniformly. The survey indicated that producers in the southern Plains will rebuild somewhat while those in the central and northern Plains will resume relative growth. Those in the southeast U.S. and the Midwest will likely continue the trend of relative decline in their beef cattle herd size compared to the national herd.

Raising replacement heifers may make sense, particularly if it costs a producer less to raise than buy them and if the genetic base (calving ease and milk production) is acceptable already. It also may be the best route if a producer is concerned about the availability of heifers on the open market.

Alternatively, a producer might be better off to buy replacement heifers if the cost to buy is truly less than the cost to raise them – especially if they put a value on their uses of time and money. This route may also make sense if producers value the reduced bull needs and want to grow their herd faster.

Whether raising or buying replacement heifers, Tonsor said producers must know their situation and comparative advantage. One handy resource, he said, is the Iowa State University publication (B1-73 “Buying Heifers for Beef Cow Replacement,” http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/livestock/html/b1-73.html which helps identify changes in returns and costs that follow from buying rather than raising.

In some cases, it might make more sense to buy cows rather than heifers, he said. Market forces should help drive that decision.

In considering whether to expand their herds, Tonsor encourages producers to ask: Do I regularly utilize available resources, such as herd expansion tools and continuing education workshops? Do I know my comparative advantage? Do I have a favorable cost structure? Do I know the costs of retaining heifers?

Given the long-term commitment of expanding a herd, he also encourages producers to ask how comfortable they are with the current environment, including political and regulatory uncertainty and technology feasibility and acceptance.

Tonsor’s presentations, as well as others from K-State’s Risk and Profit Conference, are available at: http://www.agmanager.info/events/risk_profit/2014/Papers.asp.

Trees coloring early

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K-State

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September 2, 2014

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We are seeing a number of trees, especially maples, that are showing
fall colors early. Often it is not the whole tree but sections. As a
rule, we consider early coloration as bad news as it often means the
tree is under a great deal of stress. However, this year, many of the
trees showing coloration look perfectly healthy. We think what has
happened is the trees have come through a cooler than normal early
summer and never hardened off to hot temperatures. Also, many areas are
very dry including some that had heavy rains in June. Now that the
weather has changed, the tree is simply entering dormancy early.
The tree has had plenty of time to store the energy reserves it needs to
survive the winter.
So, do we need to do anything? Yes, we do. Keep the soil moist as many
trees have had root
systems damaged from the last couple of years. We need to give that root
system time to
recover. This is especially important for areas that are still
experiencing drought or have had so
much rain earlier in the summer that soils were saturated for a period
of time. Lack of oxygen from saturated soils is just as damaging to a
root system as lack of water.

By: Ward Upham

Asparagus and rhubarb in the autumn season

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K-State

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September 2, 2014

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Harvest is long past but now is the time asparagus and rhubarb plants
build up needed reserves for the next year. Be sure to water during dry
weather and keep plants weed free. Foliage should be left until all
green is gone. It can then be removed or left for the winter to help
collect snow.

By: Ward Upham

WSU mathematics to host weekly learning sessions this fall

By

Editor

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September 2, 2014

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Tuesday, September 2, 2014 12:00 PM

Wichita State University mathematics, statistics and physics will host free Math Circle sessions for 5th-7th grade students from 2-3 p.m. every Sunday from Sept. 7 through Nov. 23, in 372 Jabara Hall.

Each weekly lecture, discussion or activity will be led by a Wichita State professor. Only students in 5th through 7th grades may attend.

For more information and to register, call 316-708-7684 or email [email protected].

WSU Math Circle provides students with the opportunity to meet with math professionals after school or on weekends in an informal setting to work on interesting problems or topics in mathematics. The goal is to get students excited and passionate about math.

# # # # #

Contact: Tinka Davis, instructor, WSU mathematics and statistics, 316-978-3160 or [email protected].

Storing apples

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K-State

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September 2, 2014

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You can enjoy apples from January to June – with the right conditions.
Some apple cultivars can be stored for longer periods than others. Some
cultivars will stay in firm, crisp condition for about 6 to 8 months
with good storage conditions. The approximate length of time cultivars
will keep well under refrigerated conditions are as follows:
Wealthy: 60 days
Paulared: 90 days
Gala: 120 days
Jonathan: 120 days
Grimes Golden: 120 days
Golden Delicious: 150 days
Empire:150 days
Delicious: 160 days
Braeburn: 180 days
Idared: 200 days
Rome Beauty: 220 days
Winesap: 220 days
Fuji: 240 days
Granny Smith: 240 days
Arkansas Black: 240 days
The condition of the apples and how they are stored will strongly
influence the storage period. Some guidelines to help assure good
quality and maximum storage life of apples include:
* Store only the best quality.
* Pick as they are first maturing.
* Avoid skin breaks, disease or insect damage, and bruises on individual
fruit.
* Store in a plastic bag to help retain moisture in the apples. The bag
should have a few small holes for air exchange. The bags of apples may
be stored in boxes to prevent bruising if they must be stacked or moved
from time to time.
* Refrigerate at about 35 degrees F. An extra refrigerator works well.
*Sort about every 30 to 40 days to remove fruit that may be beginning to
rot.

By: Ward Upham

KDA to host Ninth Annual Kansas Grape Stomp at the Kansas State Fair

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Kansas Department of Agriculture

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September 2, 2014

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Manhattan, Kan. – To celebrate the Kansas grape and wine industries, the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) will host the ninth annual Kansas Grape Stomp Saturday, September 6, at 3:00 p.m. on the Lake Talbott Stage at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Public officials, agricultural and economic leaders and other dignitaries have been stomping grapes at the Kansas State Fair since 2004. After a competitive stomp-off by 2014 participants, Kansas State Fair attendees are welcome to join in for an open stomp. Kansans young and old who plan to be at the fair on September 6 are encouraged to stop by to try their hand in grape stomping and learn more about growing grapes in Kansas.

For more information about the event please contact Nellie Hill at [email protected] or 785-431-5049.

State Climatologist: Models show above normal precipitation for this Fall

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University of Nebraska

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September 2, 2014

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LINCOLN, Neb. — A big question this fall: will there be harvest delays due to wet weather?

Tendencies for above-normal precipitation statewide with the highest probability south and west of a line from Scottsbluff to Grand Island are showing up for September according to the Climate Prediction Center, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln climatologist says.

October through December forecasts also show above normal moisture is projected for the southeast half of the state with equal chance of above or below normal moisture for the remainder of the state, said Al Dutcher, state climatologist in the university’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

There are equal chances statewide of temperatures being above or below normal, Dutcher said.

However, during El Nino winters, Nebraska typically sees above-normal temperatures with below-normal temperatures across the southern United States.

“We are borderline now with the expectation of a weak El Nino event starting as early as this fall,” Dutcher said. Dutcher said forecasts indicate that El Nino conditions will become established during the fall period. However, he expects it to be weak and short lived.

As for precipitation this growing season, Dutcher said, certain areas of the state did well as there was heavy precipitation this spring after a dry winter. June precipitation brought 12-17 inches of precipitation to northeastern Nebraska during June, which dropped off to the 5-9 inches across east central and southeast Nebraska.

During the July through mid-August period, dry conditions developed across a substantial portion of eastern Nebraska, with pockets of dryness reported across the Panhandle. There has been crop damage in spotty areas across dryland cropping areas of east central and southeast Nebraska, Dutcher said.

However, the “million dollar question” is how much of an impact did early season freeze events and multiple rounds of severe weather have on crop production this growing season. He said there is so much variability from field to field as several places across the state saw freezing, flooding, hail and having to replant once, twice, even three times.

“For the majority of people that did not get freeze, hail or flooding, crop development is fairly close to normal, especially with these last two weeks of warmer temperatures,” he said.

However, those farmers that had to replant are the “big open-ended question,” he said.

“Based on available climate data and fall freeze probabilities, as long as producers that replanted corn varieties that require at least 300 less Growing Degree Day to reach maturity, there is less than 50 percent likelihood at this point in the game that they will incur hard freeze damage, based on a normal freeze date.”

Dutcher said soybeans may also be a “big story” this season due to the drier weather in July and August during pod fill.

“We’ve been under stress in east and east central Nebraska where rains have not been as generous,” he said. “To what extent crops may have been damaged is still up in the air.”

If forecasts play out, Dutcher said the entire state could see generous moisture during the final 10 days of August. Forecasts indicate heavy rainfall with over 2 inches of rain possible across the state, with isolated pockets receiving more than 5 inches. This would provide excellent moisture to finish grain fill and begin building soil moisture for the 2015 growing season.

Dutcher said with winter wheat planting beginning in September, beneficial big rains also will be good for building soil moisture in top three feet of the soil profile prior to planting.

Overall the Platte River system is doing well. Irrigation demand came later in the season and reservoir declines didn’t occur until late July.

Dutcher said if there is above normal snow in the central Rockies this winter, having enough room to store the spring runoff could be a problem.

“Right now we are sitting at 2.5 million acre-feet in the Platte reservoir system,” Dutcher said. “We were just under 2 million acre-feet in storage entering into the spring run off season. Net storage declined 500,000 acre-feet this growing season, but typically we see a 600,000 to 800,000 acre-foot decline.

“So if we get a normal snow season and the fall precipitation forecast by the Climate Prediction Center verifies, we would be looking at essentially filling up all upstream reservoirs from Lake McConaughy upward.”

The North Platte River Basin generally has a positive response during El Nino events. In addition, an El Nino also typically brings beneficial moisture to California.

“However, because this El Nino is so weak, it may not bring the rains they need,” he said.

For more information about weather and crops, visit CropWatch, UNL Extension’s crop production newsletter, at cropwatch.unl.edu

Fall chores are necessary to keep up with the home landscape

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K-State

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September 2, 2014

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By: Scott Eckert, County Extension Agent, Horticulture

Fall chores are necessary to keep up with the home landscape. One of my favorite fall activities is teaching the new class of Master Gardeners beginning next week!

Another fun chore is to plant new trees. The fall season can be an excellent time to plant trees. During the spring, soils are cold and may be so wet that low oxygen levels inhibit root growth. The warm and moist soils associated with fall encourage root growth. Remember to dig a wider hole, 2 to 3 times wider than the root ball of the new tree and plant the tree a few inches higher than the original ground level to help with drainage in our tight clay soil. Fall root growth means the tree becomes established well before a spring-planted tree and is better able to withstand summer stresses. However, certain trees do not produce significant root growth during the fall and are better planted in the spring.

These include beech, birch, redbud, magnolia, tulip poplar, willow oak, scarlet oak, black oak, willows, and dogwood. Fall-planted trees require some special care. Remember, that roots are actively growing even though the top is dormant.

Make sure the soil stays moist but not soggy. This may require watering not only in the fall but also during the winter months if we experience warm spells that dry the soil. Mulch also is helpful because it minimizes moisture loss and slows the cooling of the soil so root growth continues as long as possible. Evergreens should be moved earlier in the fall than deciduous plants. They need at least six weeks before the ground freezes for the roots to become established.