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Wheat Scoop: Kansas Wheat launches campaign conveying the benefits of wheat beyond the value of grain

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Guest Columnist
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Kansas Wheat

For audio version, visit kswheat.com.

Kansas Wheat, in collaboration with Kansas State University researchers, has officially kicked off a new educational campaign aimed at farmers, landowners, financial institutions and policymakers. “Wheat: Beyond the Value of the Grain” emphasizes the wide-ranging advantages of including winter wheat in a cropping system, extending far beyond the grain’s market price.

 

“The role that wheat plays in global food security is unquestioned,” said Aaron Harries, Kansas Wheat vice president of research and operations. “But what about wheat’s role in a sustainable cropping system? There is more value to winter wheat than the price received for the grain. And now a study has been done to analyze wheat beyond the value of the grain.”

 

To further explain the campaign and the research behind it, Harries sat down with Romulo Lollato, K-State associate professor of wheat and forage production, for an episode of the “Wheat’s On Your Mind” podcast. The duo discussed the well-documented, multifaceted role of winter wheat in a sustainable cropping system, including its economic and environmental advantages.

 

“Wheat as a crop brings many benefits to the cropping system,” Lollato said. “In areas such as Kansas, where wheat historically has been an important crop, by excluding it from rotations, we may be missing out on some of those benefits that have made our cropping systems here successful.”

 

The idea behind the “Wheat: Beyond the Value of the Grain” campaign kicked off just before the 2020 pandemic after the pair investigated a continued reduction in winter wheat planted acres, particularly in Kansas. The project started with a review of the multitude of studies that have been published over the years, not only looking at grain production, but also at the other benefits wheat provides as part of a cropping system. That initial review yielded more than 60 pages of benefits cited from more than 300 studies, highlighting the incredible versatility of winter wheat.

 

“For us, the versatility and the flexibility of winter wheat gives options to the wheat farmer,” Harries said.

 

From the very first steps in the growing season, winter wheat offers a significant advantage to producers through its broad planting window, providing much-needed flexibility in managing farm operations. This adaptability also extends to its dual-purpose nature, allowing for both grain and high-quality forage production, ultimately increasing potential economic returns.

 

Research has also consistently demonstrated the positive impact of incorporating winter wheat into crop rotations. Studies conducted globally, including long-term projects in Kansas, Illinois and Wisconsin, show that including wheat in a cropping rotation significantly boosts yields of other crops like corn and soybeans, compared to monoculture systems. A long-term Kansas study reported a 12-bushel-per-acre increase in soybean yields when rotated with winter wheat, regardless of the tillage system used, compared to continuous soybean cultivation. Similarly, western Kansas corn yields were 14.7 bushels per acre higher after wheat than after grain sorghum.

 

Furthermore, wheat helps improve soil structure, organic matter content and nutrient cycling, enhancing soil health. Wheat’s presence also helps control pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

 

The research is clear — integrating winter wheat into cropping systems represents a strategic approach to maximizing crop yields and productivity. By leveraging winter wheat’s diverse benefits and addressing associated challenges through informed management practices, farmers can achieve sustainable agricultural practices that support long-term profitability and environmental stewardship.

 

These quantified benefits of winter wheat and more are now a research paper, but the campaign’s goal is to disseminate more digestible, two-page extension-style publications that focus on each benefit separately.

 

Read the full publication and keep watch for additional added resources as they are released this winter at kswheat.com/wheatrx. Listen to the full conversation between Harries and Lollato and all other episodes of the “Wheat’s on Your Mind” podcast at wheatsonyourmind.com.

 

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Written by Julia Debes for Kansas Wheat

Four Seasons

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Guest Columnist
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We are finally getting some much needed rain in Harvey County! I enjoy rain especially after the long dry spell we’ve had and I like living where we have four seasons each year. I love the fall and spring the best and I know that I have to adjust my clothing as well. Plants have to adjust also and houseplants are not exception.

 

Newly bought houseplants or those brought in from outside often lose their leaves. In order to understand why this occurs, we need to look at how these plants are grown and what the plant needs to do to adapt to its new environment. Houseplants are normally produced either under shade outdoors in southern states or in greenhouses. Also, many homeowners move their houseplants outside during the summer. Regardless, the plants receive much more sunlight than they do in an indoor environment. Research done in Florida in the late 1970s revealed that tropical plants grown under high light conditions produce “sun leaves” while those grown under low light conditions have “shade leaves.” These leaf types differ structurally in that sun leaves have less chlorophyll (the substance that plants use to convert sunlight to energy) and the chlorophyll that is present is located deeper inside the leaf. Sun leaves also tend to be thick, small and numerous while shade leaves are more thin, larger, and fewer in number. When plants are moved from one light condition to another they need time to adjust. This process is known as acclimatization. If they are forced to acclimatize too quickly, they will drop their sun leaves and produce a new set of shade leaves. If the acclimatization process is slower and less drastic, the plant can convert their sun leaves to the shade leaves that do better under low light. If going from shade to sun, this process is reversed.

 

Some houseplants are acclimatized before they are sold but many are not. So how do we help our new houseplants or those moved inside acclimatize to their new home environment? Houseplants should start out in an area of the home that receives plenty of light and then gradually moved to their permanent, darker location. This process should take 4 to 8 weeks depending on the degree of difference in light levels between the initial and final location of the plant. Remember, plants need to be acclimatized whether they are moved from a sunny location to one that receives less light or from shade to sun. Understanding plant processes allows us to anticipate potential problems. Acclimatization gives our houseplants a greater chance of retaining leaves and avoiding the stress of completely replacing them.

 

Good News Stories from America

By
Dylan Yoder
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The Presidential Election has been concluded and with it came a whole host of happy, sad, and “meh” reactions. Whether you feel one way or another, ultimately, it’s important to remember that we will continue living regardless of who takes office. There are so many news outlets, social media sources, and people focused on dividing us over this matter, and for what? So we can be more upset with one another? How about we focus on lifting each other up instead? There are so many uplifting stories from across our great nation that we can all enjoy with one another for the benefit of mutual understanding, despite who your neighbor happened to vote for.

In a world where there is so much mistrust of media sources and misinformation, the US Government has started to take a step in fixing it. The Federal Trade Commission made rulings earlier this Fall to combat fake reviews and testimonials across the nation. It specifically seeks to target the recent rise of AI-generated reviews. By trying to limit the amount of false or misleading information, we can focus more on what is real. While we may not see the direct effects of this ruling, it’s good to know they make such efforts.

Over the last couple of years, many companies have looked into what it would take to use more environmentally friendly methods of transportation across our oceans. Surprisingly (or perhaps not so surprisingly), the answer was found in the past. Cargo ships of the modern era are now being outfitted with massive sails for their trans-Atlantic / trans-Pacific adventures. 65 ft sails, able to move 5000-tonne cargo carriers. I don’t know about you, but that seems incredible and improbable to me. These new riggings are estimated to cut global climate emissions by a third overall.

10 million tons of plastic waste are dumped into the ocean every year. Now, I know what you’re thinking. How is that good news? It’s not, but it did prompt BioLogiQ, a research lab based in Idaho Falls to create a plant-based, degradable plastic. Which plant you may ask? The only one Idaho is known for, of course, the potato. By using plant-based sources, the plastic is easier for microorganisms to break down, which severely limits the time that this plastic waste would be around after we throw it out.

Another story comes to us from Massachusetts, where a good samaritan returned some lost money. We’ve all been there, walking down the street when we find a five dollar bill on the ground and we think: “Well, that’s 5 extra dollars for me!”. Now picture that but with 12’000 dollars. Such was the case in the local grocery store with a gentleman who found the cash lying in an envelope. Instead of pocketing it, he realized just how important it was to return that money to the proper owner. In fact, the woman who lost it came speeding back to the grocery store, frantically asking the cashier if they had seen anything. Luckily for them, there are still good, honorable people in this world, and all of the money was returned to her happily.

Whew! That was a rather random, extensive list of stories, wasn’t it? It just goes to show how many good news stories there truly are out there in the world. The extent of human goodness is often overlooked in our society, but it’s ever so important to recognize it. Just remember, above all else, no matter who your neighbor voted for, be kind to one another.

Packin’ out a Deer Kansas Style

By
Steve Gilliland
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Our raised deer blind sits on family land just a stone’s throw away from the property line, and each year as I sit and stare over into the neighboring property, I’m reminded of this deer harvest several years back.

The glowing full moon that had bathed the land in orange for two nights in a row was quickly fading and the pink light of morning was struggling to emerge from behind a bank of clouds when the deer began to appear. Like tawny ghosts they silently slipped, one at a time from the tall grass and weeds of the neighbor’s overgrown pasture that concealed them so well. The first two deer to show themselves were mature does, then tagging along were 3 little does we had seen often and figured to be this year’s fawns and maybe even siblings. They were all a little nervous that morning and headed quickly away from our blind toward a nearby open wheat field. Out of the corner of my eye I saw antlers appear from the same spot at the edge of the grassy pasture and a young 6-point buck stepped into view. I should have let him come out a bit farther into the open, but I was afraid he too would be spooky and run, so I put the scope crosshairs just behind his shoulder and shot. He spun and disappeared across the corner of the pasture.

I’ve never put much stock in hunting deer according to moon phases, but I remember that both that day and the day before were rated by the moon phase hunting calendar as “Best” and the previous morning Joyce and I had seen more deer in 5 minutes than in the last 7 days combined; one young buck had even found his way into our freezer via my wife’s invitation, so my interest in the subject was piqued. I still had my tag to fill, so that morning, there I was in the blind, bright and early, awaiting to see what a second day in a row rated as “Best” by the moon sign hunting calendar would offer.

It took only a short while to find my buck, the problem was that the dead deer was completely landlocked because of a deep creek that snaked its way like a tangled garden hose all through the pasture. He had managed to cross the steep-sided creek bed and wound up on the other side. It would be impossible to drag him back across the creek, and going the other direction would mean dragging his carcass a couple hundred yards to a fence I couldn’t get him across when I got there. The landowner has been clearing the trees from the pasture, so stacks of brush and piles of thorny trees and limbs were everywhere. No vehicle of any sort with rubber tires would stand a chance among all the thorny brush. I cleaned the deer, walked out to my truck and drove around the corner to the landowner’s house in search of options.

Turns out, to help clear the brush, the landowner used a Bobcat skid loader on hard rubber tracks, the perfect tool for “packing-out” my deer. Deer had been playing havoc with his electric fences, so he was glad to help me remove one of his “trouble-makers.” Because of a steep hill and downed tree limbs and brush, it took the farmer awhile to figure a way back to where the deer lay. Once we were past those obstacles, I walked ahead and guided him as he maneuvered the skid loader around stacks of cut trees and limbs, occasionally having to stop long enough to push brush and overhanging limbs from his path. Finally, with the deer laid across the pallet he’d carried in on the forks, we retraced our winding path back and deposited the deer in the back of my truck.

If not for the help of the landowner and his skid loader on tracks, I might still be wondering that overgrown pasture dragging that deer carcass and looking for a way out. A Bobcat skid loader, forks and a pallet; that’s what I call packin’ out a deer Kansas style! Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

Steve can be contacted by email at [email protected].

Shrimp Creole

By
Debbie Dance Uhrig
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Well readers last week was another busy one as we prepare for the winter months at our home. Last weekend found Ervin, Phillip and I cleaning in the garage and getting ready for a big load coming from my parents home, back in Lewistown, Missouri. We are thankful for the 20 foot enclosed trailer that Phillip uses for his race car. It was ideal as we brought home miscellaneous items from my parents’ home.

I’ve been busy washing jars, and organizing family things, at our home, until I can have more time to sort things thoroughly. We didn’t bring much furniture back; when you’re my age you pretty much have everything that you need! I have the great job of sorting the family pictures. I haven’t even done my own, now here I am going back a couple of generations.

I am hoping the market in Edina, Missouri will still have apples for sale. I’d really like to go up to Cantrell, Iowa, but I’m not sure where I’ll find the time. For those who haven’t made this road trip, it can be a lot of fun. You can find things in this store that you won’t find anywhere else. (Not to mention the prices.)

While I was in the garage last weekend, I cleaned and sorted and cleaned some more. The last chore is to clean the deep freeze and start the freezer board showing what is in the freezer! It was rather amusing how much fun the cleaning was when the entire family was doing it together.

As we begin to approach a super busy time of the year I’d like to bring to the table a super simple, healthy recipe for Shrimp Creole. Do remember I said ‘simple’. You will want to play around with this recipe from beginning to end. What I like the most is the ability to make the sauce and then freeze it. Set it in the refrigerator a couple of days before you want to serve it and all you have to do is make rice and add the shrimp. I could eat this with other seafood stirred in too. Here in the Ozarks it might be crappie or something like Tilapia ,for those of you purchasing something from the store. I have some scallops in the freezer which may make their way into my next batch of Creole.

You know we touched upon rice & making it just before the meal.

If needed you can always cook rice and then freeze it for home or for lunchboxes.

It’s about time for me to prepare my rice, bean and vegetable dish that I enjoy served on the side of a grilled or baked piece of meat. I prepare wild rice, white and/or brown rice, black beans, chopped peppers and onions, herbs galore, possibly canned diced

tomatoes, and my favorite, cilantro. I mix this up, sampling as I go, Oh yes, I forgot the quinoa, I usually add that and/or barley. Freeze this up and serve it with more ‘fresh’ cilantro on top. Sauces like soy and teri yaki are good additions. If you really want to turn it into a full meal deal the rice ‘mess’ could have strips of beef or steak cooked right into it. Box it up and you’ll have lots of lunches and pre-made sides.

Right back with the Creole, same idea base, you pretty much get the picture here.

I’m already thinking about making a good batch to have this coming week, and then a batch of creole for the freezer for one big meal or several small. Friends just called, next week when they come over we may be having creole!

Enjoy the uplifting November weather, Simply Yours, The Covered Dish.

Easy Shrimp Creole

1 Tablespoon olive oil

½ green bell pepper, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

½ cup chopped celery (about 2 ribs)

1 garlic clove, minced

2 cans (14 ½ oz.) stewed tomatoes, undrained

2 teaspoons hot sauce

1 teaspoon creole seasoning

1 lb. peeled large fresh/frozen shrimp

Saute pepper, onion and celery in hot oil in a large nonstick skillet about 8 minutes or until tender. Add garlic and saute one minute. Stir in chopped tomatoes, hot sauce and creole seasoning. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered about 20 minutes. Stir in shrimp, cover and simmer about 3 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. Serve hot over cooked rice. Serves about 4 persons.

Our son, Phillip, likes me to saute the shrimp and then stir them into the sauce. This works good too, he enjoys the saute with herbs, garlic and butter!

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