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Governor Brownback proclaims September as Farm Safety Month

By
Kansas Department of Agriculture
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MANHATTAN, Kan. – To encourage all Kansas citizens to keep our state’s farm and ranches safe, Governor Sam Brownback has proclaimed September as Farm Safety Month and the week of September 21-27, as Farm Safety and Health Week.

The safety and health of Kansas farmers, ranchers and their families is imperative to the livelihood of agriculture. Through proper training and education, agricultural-related fatalities and incidents can be prevented. According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injury, agriculture is seven times more hazardous than other U.S. industries.

“Promoting the safety of agriculture to Kansas citizens is second to none. Agriculture is the driving force behind our daily lives.  Proper and persistent farm safety will help keep the valued and treasured heritage of Kansas agriculture alive,” said Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey.

The theme for National Farm Safety and Health Week is ‘Safety Counts, Protecting What Matters.’ This week is an opportunity to bring awareness to vital farm safety while celebrating Kansas’ largest industry that brings together, whether in the field or around the dinner table, the people who matter.

For more information, please contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture at 785-564-6700 or visit the KDA website: http://agriculture.ks.gov/home.

Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural – Paul Shirley

By
K-State
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0
kksu
K-State Research and Extension, Candice Shoemaker

By Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

The little boy dribbled the basketball on the gravel driveway and dreamed of playing in the NBA.  He imagined the announcer saying, “Paul Shirley shoots…it’s good!” Many small town Kansas kids have dreams of playing in the NBA, but today we’ll meet a young man who actually made it to the big leagues. Through his writings, he shared that experience with others.

Paul Shirley is a former basketball player and writer, the author of the book, “Can I Keep My Jersey? 11 teams, 5 countries and 4 years in My Life as a Basketball Vagabond.”  He grew up in rural Kansas. In fact, he described the location of the family home as being “at the intersection of two unnamed gravel roads” outside of the town of Meriden, population 701 people. Now, that’s rural.

Paul Shirley loved basketball. He and his brothers would watch games on television and, at halftime, go outside to re-enact those games with themselves as their favourite star players. He grew tall and went on to a successful career at Jefferson West High School, both academically and in basketball.

Unfortunately, he was not recruited to play for the biggest colleges. He was considering some of the mid-major colleges or Ivy League schools when he had a contact with Iowa State.

Iowa State had used up all its basketball scholarships, but Paul’s mother pointed out that Paul was a National Merit Scholar. Coach Tim Floyd was then able to put Paul on an academic scholarship and he joined the basketball team at Iowa State.

Paul proved he could play at a high level and went on to start. By his junior and senior years, Iowa State was in the NCAA top ten and contending for championships. After college, he did well at an NBA invitational camp and hired an agent with hopes of playing in the pros.

What followed was an emotional roller coaster of a career, where he would repeatedly catch on with an NBA team for a time and then get demoted and go play for teams in Europe. As the title of his book stated, he played for eleven teams in five countries during a span of approximately four years. As the book title also suggests, it was not always fun.

For example, he was invited by the then-world champion Los Angeles Lakers to Lakers training camp. After a few weeks, he was released. Paul said to the equipment manager, “Can I keep my jersey?” His request was turned down, illogically enough, even though Paul’s name and number was stitched on it. When Paul wrote his book a few years later, he gave it the title Can I Keep My Jersey?

Through the years, Paul Shirley played with the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, and Phoenix Suns of the NBA, while enduring several injuries and limited playing time. He also played for minor league teams in Kansas City and Yakima, Washington and for pro teams in Greece, Spain, and Russia.

Of course, there is a big gap between the salaries and creature comforts of an NBA star versus a minor leaguer. This makes for entertaining reading in Paul’s sardonic style. The book is like a window into the everyday life of an NBA bench player.

Paul’s professional writing career began when he chronicled one of his NBA road trips in an on-line journal. He has gone on to write for Esquire, Slate, ESPN.com, and the Wall Street Journal.

Today, Paul lives in southern California where he writes and teaches. He maintains a website called flipcollective.com and a writers workshop called Writers Blok. He also writes for a Spanish-language newspaper, teaches English at a preparatory program for Los Angeles policemen, and co-hosts a podcast about the NBA.

The little boy dribbles the ball on his parent’s driveway and then makes a layup. Little did he know that, one day, he would make a layup like that in the NBA as a member of the Chicago Bulls. We commend Paul Shirley for making a difference by sharing his experience inside pro basketball. When it comes to his writing about his experience, it’s good!

Cougars knocked from top spot in 5-2 loss at Coffeyville

By
Editor
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0

Battling for the top spot in the early conference race, the Barton Community College men’s soccer team couldn’t keep up with the Red Ravens as Coffeyville Community College scored a 5-2 victory Wednesday night in Coffeyville.  Taking an early one goal lead, Barton surrendered four straight goals to drop its first conference game of the season and fall to 2-1-1 in Jayhawk play and 2-3-2 overall while Coffeyville moves into the top spot at 3-0-0 and 6-2-0 overall.

Dominic Swindler got the Cougars on the board first with 29:16 remaining in first half action as the Red Ravens were unable to clear a Barton free kick leaving Swindler to beat the keeper for the lead.

Proving to be the difference maker for Coffeyville, Mike Dias scored the first of his four goals in the contest tying the game at the 20:23 mark.   Erasmo Tejada provided intermission in the Dias show giving the Red Ravens a 2-1 lead with eight minutes left with Dias pushing the Coffeyville lead out to two beating the defense once again with 5:35 remaining in the half.

As if a fifteen minute break between halves would cool down Dias, it took the sophomore speedster from Brasil only twenty-seven seconds into the second frame to ice the game away with the hat trick and the fourth unanswered Coffeyville goal.

Christopher Hogg gave Barton new life with 37:45 remaining as the sophomore launched a 30 yard strike to beat the Red Raven keeper and cut the deficit to two.   But it was as close as the Cougars would come and with Dias’ icing on the cake with just over a minute to play, Barton fell from the top spot in the conference standings.

Barton will stay in conference action this Saturday as both the men’s and women’s teams welcome Johnson County Community College to the Cougar Soccer Complex in key Jayhawk battles.   Kickoff for the women’s game is 1:00 p.m. followed by the men’s contest at approximately 3:00 p.m.

Broiler hatchery

By
Editor
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0

ISSN: 1949-1840

Released September 17, 2014, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

Broiler-Type Eggs Set in the United States Up 4 Percent

Hatcheries in the United States weekly program set 209 million eggs in
incubators during the week ending September 13, 2014, up 4 percent from a
year ago. Hatcheries in the 19 State weekly program set 201 million eggs in
incubators during the week ending September 13, 2014, up 4 percent from the
year earlier. Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week in the
United States was 84 percent. Average hatchability is calculated by dividing
chicks hatched during the week by eggs set three weeks earlier.

Broiler-Type Chicks Placed in the United States Up 1 Percent

Broiler growers in the United States weekly program placed 175 million
chicks for meat production during the week ending September 13, 2014, up 1
percent from a year ago. Broiler growers in the 19 State weekly program
placed
168 million chicks for meat production during the week ending September 13,
2014, up 1 percent from the year earlier. Cumulative placements from
December 29, 2013 through September 13, 2014 for the United States were 6.37
billion.
Cumulative placements were up slightly from the same period a year earlier.

Broiler-Type Eggs Set – 19 Selected States and United States: 2014
—————————————————————————-
————————————–
:                                    Week
ending
State
:—————————–———————————————-
——–
:  August 9,  : August 16,  : August 23,  :
August 30,  :September 6, :September 13,
:    2014     :    2014     :    2014     :
2014     :    2014     :    2014
—————————————————————————-
————————————–
:                                    1,000
eggs
:

Alabama ………………….:    28,150        27,963        28,733
28,729        27,926        28,501
Arkansas …………………:    21,235        21,550        21,553
21,592        21,725        21,399
Delaware …………………:     4,415         4,516         4,567
4,400         4,416         4,472
Florida ………………….:     1,224         1,222         1,222
1,225         1,224         1,222
Georgia ………………….:    34,983        34,809        34,589
33,568        34,459        33,795
Kentucky …………………:     8,033         7,920         8,020
7,823         7,836         7,845
Louisiana ………………..:     3,787         3,817         3,817
3,787         3,787         3,787
Maryland …………………:     7,875         7,489         7,579
7,806         7,218         7,125
Mississippi ………………:    18,042        18,088        18,017
17,536        16,743        17,529
Missouri …………………:     8,473         8,472         8,474
8,354         8,533         8,503
:

North Carolina ……………:    20,905        21,093        21,053
20,719        20,593        19,027
Oklahoma …………………:     6,632         6,600         6,662
6,615         6,700         6,337
Pennsylvania ……………..:     4,379         4,150         4,419
4,487         4,422         4,487
South Carolina ……………:     5,257         5,497         5,166
5,123         5,416         5,037
Texas ……………………:    14,790        14,749        14,394
14,267        13,596        14,543
Virginia …………………:     6,450         6,448         6,444
6,446         6,461         6,393
California, Tennessee,        :

and West Virginia ………..:    10,313        10,902        10,862
10,986        11,020        11,105
:

19 State total ……………:   204,943       205,285       205,571
203,463       202,075       201,107
Percent of previous year …..:       101           102           101
101           103           104
:

Other States ……………..:     8,192         7,994         7,913
7,782         7,644         7,746
:

United States …………….:   213,135       213,279       213,484
211,245       209,719       208,853
Percent of previous year …..:       101           102           101
101           103           104
—————————————————————————-
————————————–

Broiler-Type Chicks Placed – 19 Selected States and United States: 2014
—————————————————————————-
————————————–
:                                    Week
ending
State
:—————————–———————————————-
——–
:  August 9,  : August 16,  : August 23,  :
August 30,  :September 6, :September 13,
:    2014     :    2014     :    2014     :
2014     :    2014     :    2014
—————————————————————————-
————————————–
:                                   1,000
chicks
:

Alabama ………………….:    22,136        21,518        21,132
20,795        21,639        22,150
Arkansas …………………:    19,290        19,047        19,097
19,869        19,343        19,315
Delaware …………………:     5,511         4,199         4,621
4,790         4,985         5,411
Florida ………………….:     1,286         1,299         1,534
1,300         1,290         1,182
Georgia ………………….:    26,128        28,209        27,243
27,761        26,957        27,767
Kentucky …………………:     6,162         6,618         6,415
6,646         6,713         6,762
Louisiana ………………..:     3,265         3,145         3,318
3,331         3,395         3,404
Maryland …………………:     5,925         5,955         6,337
6,336         6,419         5,077
Mississippi ………………:    14,809        14,775        15,142
15,217        15,095        14,994
Missouri …………………:     5,627         6,529         6,196
5,989         6,082         6,166
:

North Carolina ……………:    16,241        16,849        15,813
16,588        16,317        16,250
Oklahoma …………………:     5,226         4,371         4,501
4,033         4,342         4,387
Pennsylvania ……………..:     3,699         3,641         3,511
3,519         3,349         3,622
South Carolina ……………:     5,993         4,077         4,923
4,621         4,507         4,539
Texas ……………………:    11,636        11,894        11,994
11,913        12,289        11,988
Virginia …………………:     5,048         5,916         5,313
5,334         4,673         5,759
California, Tennessee,        :

and West Virginia ………..:    11,275        10,846        10,893
9,573        10,390         9,703
:

19 State total ……………:   169,257       168,888       167,983
167,615       167,785       168,476
Percent of previous year …..:       102           101           102
100           101           101
:

Other States ……………..:     5,959         5,809         6,216
5,936         6,050         6,109
:

United States …………….:   175,216       174,697       174,199
173,551       173,835       174,585
Percent of previous year …..:       102           101           102
100           101           101
—————————————————————————-
————————————–

Statistical Methodology

Survey Procedures: Data for broiler hatchery estimates are collected weekly
from all broiler-type hatcheries that hatch at least one million chicks a
year. Individual NASS field offices maintain a list of all known hatcheries
and update their lists on a continual basis. All hatcheries that meet the
minimum size criteria are given adequate time to respond to the weekly
survey. Those that do not respond are contacted by telephone.

Estimating Procedures: All data are analyzed for unusual values. Data from
each operation are compared to their own past operating profile and to
trends from similar operations. Data for missing operations are estimated
based on similar operations or historical data. NASS field offices prepare
these estimates by using a combination of survey indications and historic
trends.
Individual State estimates are reviewed by the Agricultural Statistics Board
for reasonableness. Individual hatchery data are summed to State, 19 State
total, Other States, and the United States.

Revision Policy: Revisions are generally the result of late or corrected
data. Revisions made to the previous five-week’s data during the current
week are published in this report. Final estimates are published in the
annual Hatchery Production Summary released in April.

Reliability: Estimates are subject to errors such as omission, duplication,
and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. While these
errors cannot be measured directly, they are minimized through strict
quality controls in the data collection process and a careful review of all
reported data for consistency and reasonableness.

Information Contacts

Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the
National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional
information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to [email protected]

Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch …………………………….
(202) 720-3570

Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section ………..
(202) 720-4447
Alissa Cowell-Mytar – Cold Storage…………………..…………
(202) 720-4751
Heidi Gleich – Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery………………..
(202) 720-0585
Michael Klamm – Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised ..
(202) 690-3237
Tom Kruchten – Census of Aquaculture, Mink, Trout Production………
(202) 690-4870
Kim Linonis – Layers, Eggs ……………………………………
(202) 690-8632
Joshua O’Rear – Catfish Production, Honey ………………………
(202) 690-3676
Vacant – Egg Products ………………………………………..
(202) 720-3570

Access to NASS Reports

For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following
ways:

All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS
web
site: http://www.nass.usda.gov

Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-
mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit
http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the “Follow NASS” box under “Receive reports
by Email,” click on “National” or “State” to select the reports you would
like to receive.

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural
Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail:
[email protected].

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against
its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of
race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity,
religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status,
familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an
individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or
protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity
conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply
to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil
Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program
Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at
http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office,
or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter
containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed
complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at
[email protected].

Two second half goals propel Barton women’s soccer in 2-0 victory at Coffeyville

By
Editor
-
0

The Barton Community College women’s soccer team picked up a solid road conference win Wednesday shutting out Coffeyville Community College 2-0.   The victory improves the Lady Cougars to 2-1-1 in conference play and 3-4-2 on the season while giving Coffeyville their second straight loss in falling to 2-2-0 in the Jayhawk and 4-3-0 overall.

Following a scoreless first half, Millie York‘s free kick just missed the game winner off the crossbar but Aliya Marshall cleaned up the mess within the 8′ to give Barton the 1-0 lead with 38:07 remaining in the contest.

Scarlett Real gave the Lady Cougars a two goal cushion within two minutes later as the   reigning KJCCC Player of the Week took a Maria Munoz pass outside the 18′ dribbling past two defenders to strike the upper 90 on far post.

Barton will stay in conference action this Saturday as both the men’s and women’s teams welcome Johnson County Community College to the Cougar Soccer Complex in key Jayhawk battles.   Kickoff for the women’s game is 1:00 p.m. followed by the men’s contest at approximately 3:00 p.m.

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