Better Kansas - Ideas for Living, Growing and Succeeding

Better Kansas – Jan. 21, 2021

Posted on January 21, 2021January 20, 2021 by Mary Lou Peter

Welcome to Better Kansas! Today I shed a little light on eggs and oats, taking a hike, taking care of yourself (if you don’t, who will?!), pawpaws and other horticulture topics, corn production and a new podcast devoted to managing weeds – yes, weeds. This is a small glimpse of what K-State Research and Extension across the state has to offer. Share on social media and subscribe! – Mary Lou Peter mlpeter@ksu.edu

Better Living, Better Communities

AS YOU CRACK EGGS FOR YOUR MORNING SCRAMBLE, HAVE YOU WONDERED WHAT THE WHITE SPOT ON THE YOLK IS? A recent You Asked It post from the Rapid Response Center explains that it’s there because the egg was not fertilized. That’s a good thing. There’s also an article on the history of oats. Incredible that humans were grinding wild oats to consume as far back as 32,000 years ago. I’ve never been a fan of hot cereal, although I know how good oatmeal is for us. But I do love granola that contains oats and oatmeal cookies are awesome, if that counts!? Take a look to learn more about these and other food-related topics.

SOME PEOPLE HEAR “TAKE A HIKE” AND THINK IT MEANS SCRAM! But it may carry a different, more literal positive meaning for so many of us largely house-bound because of the coronavirus pandemic. For that reason, I’m sharing a new resource, Take a Hike, produced by Kansas 4-H as a health and wellness project challenge. It has some great tips for young Kansans but also for anyone – adults included – who could benefit from getting outdoors, getting exercise and connecting with their community. Check with Kansas 4-H or your local K-State Research and Extension office to learn more about the Health and Wellness Challenge: Take a Hike and other 4-H projects.

Finally, to my friends, family and colleagues, if I say “take a hike,” I mean it in the most loving and caring of ways ;).

WHO’S TAKING CARE OF YOU? Whether you’re single and living alone or have a house full of toddlers, teens and in-betweens (you know … tweens), there are few times in recent memory that rival the stress so many are living in right now. And while you’re taking care of those around you in your family, friend and workplace sphere, who’s taking care of you? Take a little time and invest in your own well being by accessing a free K-State Research and Extension virtual session on Jan. 28, Who’s Taking Care of You? It’s one of a series of online educational programs titled Living Well Together launched late last year. Upcoming topics in February include A Parent’s Guide to Social Media (Feb. 4); Love Languages (Feb. 11); Make Active Habits Stick (Feb. 18); and Living Well With Diabetes (Feb. 25). Registration for the February programs is available online now. All sessions are recorded and available to those who register.

Better Farming, Ranching and Gardening

PAWPAWS ANYONE? I tasted pawpaws for the first time a couple of years ago. I can’t say I was inspired to go out and plant a pawpaw tree but it’s interesting to try something new. They’re native to eastern Kansas but apparently, I wasn’t the only one who hadn’t tasted one all those years. If you’ve tried them or not … or just want to learn more, check out Pawpaw Trees: A Native Fruit in a recent K-State Horticulture Newsletter. For those of you who ARE interested in growing them, the Kansas Forest Service has seedling trees to sell. Other newsletter topics touch on frost and its effect on fruit trees, American elm trees that are resistant to Dutch Elm Disease (research done at our own John C. Pair Horticulture Center), starting newly-planted trees off right, bird feeding, plus an item on using these winter months to plan your landscape design. Take a look.

THE NEW KANSAS CORN MANAGEMENT 2021 GUIDE is now available online, with research-backed information on planting practices, weed management, nutrient management, diseases, insect management, machinery and more. In just seven pages (eight if you count the authors’ names), it provides a quick overview for growers who are planning this important crop for the upcoming season. Kind of important for a state that ranked No. 5 out of all 50 states in overall area planted to corn for all purposes in 2018, according to Kansas Corn and the USDA.

But wait, there’s more. Next week I’ll share information for soybean growers.

WEEDS ARE A PERENNIAL PROBLEM FOR OUR NATION’S FARMERS, consistently biting into profits and adapting to obstacles humans put in their way. To keep crop producers up on the latest weed management information, K-State extension weed scientists teamed with their counterparts from the University of Missouri and North Dakota State University to offer the “War Against Weeds” podcast. This first podcast introduces us to the specialists who host it and their goals in producing it. They’re an engaging group. Listen in . This may just become the next Car Talk. Again, I digress!

For more resources and activities, contact the K-State Research and Extension office in your area. Check out our other blogs and subscribe to our weekly emails here: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/blogs/

Better Kansas – Jan. 14, 2021

Posted on January 14, 2021January 13, 2021 by Mary Lou Peter

Welcome to this week’s Better Kansas, where I touch on resources for caregivers, cooking basics, parenting during the coronavirus pandemic, Cheyenne Bottoms (and community vitality resources), the Women Managing the Farm conference, and beef herd management. That’s quite a wide range of topics! This is a small glimpse of what K-State Research and Extension across the state has to offer. Feel free to share on social media and subscribe! – Mary Lou Peter mlpeter@ksu.edu

Better Living, Better Communities

AN ESTIMATED 65.7 MILLION AMERICANS ARE FAMILY CAREGIVERS FOR AN ILL OR DISABLED RELATIVE, according to the National Alliance of Caregiving. That’s 29% of the adult population and involves 31% of all U.S. households. And many of those caregivers are also holding down fulltime jobs, working to advance their careers and responsible for their own nuclear family. Stress can run high in the best of circumstances. Throw in a pandemic and its financial, health and social implications and political angst during election season, it’s no wonder that caregivers feel beyond pressured. K-State Research and Extension offers help for caregivers, including programs like Powerful Tools for Caregivers. Check with your local extension office to determine if a similar program is planned in your area. In the meantime, if you’re a caregiver, please take a break; forgive yourself – often; ask for and accept help when offered; and find your best way to relax, whether it’s reading a book, gardening or meditating. Also, check out Dr. Erin Yelland’s work in Adult Development and Aging resources and in the North Central Region Aging Network.

WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUCH AN INNATE SENSE OF FOODS, HERBS, SPICES AND COOKING that they instinctively put meals together without a second thought. I’ve always been envious. I am not one of those people. For those of us who feel like we must follow a recipe to a T, take a look at Cooking Basics: Make a Meal from What’s on Hand. It’s similar to a guide I shared a year or so ago, breaking recipes into protein, vegetable, starch, liquid, sauce and flavor, but this one’s a little more comprehensive, I think. It provides suggestions for stir fry, soup, salad and more. This whole segment also conjures up thoughts of those who have an innate sense of fashion …. you know those people who can put on anything and look FABULOUS. But that’s another topic … another day.

IT’S BEEN AWHILE SINCE I’VE REFERENCED THE GROWING ARRAY OF RESOURCES IN ‘SUDDENLY IN CHARGE,’ an effort begun early last year as part of the K-State Research and Extension response to the coronavirus pandemic. This time, I was drawn to the resources for parents, which include talking to young children and teens about coronavirus. Now that we’re approaching our second year in this pandemic, it might be a good idea to go over the basics again, especially if they’re chafing at the idea of social distancing and not readily seeing friends or family members. Who can blame them?!

Better Farming, Ranching and Gardening

LAST FALL I HAD THE THRILL OF VISITING CHEYENNE BOTTOMS in the heart of Kansas. I’d heard of it and driven by it but was always on my way to somewhere else, so had not actually driven into this incredible gem of nature right here in our own state. Thanks to a patient friend, that’s been remedied. Thousands of birds were stopping by this vast wetland that day … waves and waves of seemingly every kind of bird you can think of, including some surprises. Pelicans in Kansas? This photo was taken that day. Where had they been? Where were they going? I had visions of opening a bed and breakfast or other small business to accommodate the people who visit this site. Those of you with an entrepreneurial spirit might want to listen to Growing Kansas Agritourism, one of the many informative First Friday e-Call webinars offered to support businesses and community vitality across the state.

THE ‘WOMEN MANAGING THE FARM CONFERENCE’ set for Feb. 10-12 is going virtual this year. The conference offers a supportive setting where women can develop the skills, resources and knowledge needed for success in a competitive agricultural environment. Several keynote speakers are slated, plus breakout sessions on machinery and maintenance, fence building, fence law, estate planning, farm finances and more. New this year is a resource library to support attendees in maintaining a healthy and sustainable home and business life. I attended this conference a couple of years ago and met a woman from out of state who owned farmland in Kansas. She’d come back to check on the farm, which she was leasing to someone else, and to learn more about farm management at the conference. Take a look at the agenda and register at http://womenmanagingthefarm.com/.

THE JANUARY ‘BEEF TIPS’ NEWSLETTER IS OUT, and features information about K-State’s Winter Ranch Management Seminar series, heifer development program considerations, balanced nutrition and calving, recordkeeping and financial decisions (Tally Time), and sampling grain for mycotoxins – those naturally occurring toxins produced by certain molds that can be found in food or feed. Some of those mycotoxins can cause illness and death in humans and animals. Take a look.

FARMERS HAVE ABOUT TWO MONTHS to make some important crop insurance decisions. The 2018 Farm Bill now allows producers to make an annual election for Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). The deadline to change your election with the Farm Service Agency from previous year’s selections is March 15, 2021 which will be the program elected for the crop harvested in 2021 (Marketing Year 2021/2022). The Agricultural Economics Department at K-State has again published the popular “Trade-off” spreadsheet to assist producers in making this election.

Better Kansas – Jan. 7, 2021

Posted on January 7, 2021January 6, 2021 by Mary Lou Peter

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US AT K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION and from yours truly, Better Kansas writer Mary Lou Peter. Today, we offer info on webinars to keep rural grocery stores thriving, using convection ovens, fraudulent unemployment claims (again), fencing know-how, a virtual land lease meeting and mini-Risk & Profit Conferences in January and February. This is a small glimpse of what K-State Research and Extension across the state has to offer. Share on social media and subscribe! – Mary Lou Peter mlpeter@ksu.edu

Better Living, Better Communities

WE’RE TEAMING UP AGAIN, THIS TIME TO KEEP RURAL GROCERY STORES THRIVING. A webinar series, Keeping Groceries Alive: Successful Ownership Transitions for Rural Grocery Stores, is set to begin Jan. 28. The eight-part series is sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and presented by the Rural Grocery Initiative. The sessions will help grocery owners understand their options during the process of transitioning to new ownership, including the possibilities of community partnerships. Several topics will be covered, including Assessing Markets & Community Needs, Planning Your Business, Funding the Transition and Recruiting Store Managers. The Rural Grocery Initiative is itself a partnership of K-State Research and Extension, NetWork Kansas, the Kansas Rural Center, the Food Co-Op Initiative, and the Kansas Center for Business Transition.

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO I BOUGHT A TOASTER/CONVECTION OVEN – my adult children swear by them for their convenience and time-saving ways. However, once out of the box I was reminded that I really don’t know a thing about using a convection oven – even after reading the manual, which featured several languages, but that didn’t help me either. So, I was happy to see the article Convection Know-How in a recent extension newsletter. Sheesh, I’ve learned that it’s not just for warming up pizza … I can bake cookies and actually roast meats and vegetables in it. Good to know.

AT THE RISK OF REPEATING MYSELF, a few weeks back I wrote that thousands of Kansans are receiving notices that their personal information has been used to file false unemployment claims. Now, it’s personal. Last week I had a déjà vu moment, when I too received a form from the Kansas Department of Labor stating that they had received MY application for unemployment benefits. Say what? Not true. As far as I know, I’m still employed! If you or someone you know has received such a letter, take a look at Fraudulent unemployment claims are up; specialist outlines ways to protect yourself to start your journey to protect yourself. Believe me, I was revisiting the information myself.

Better Farming, Ranching and Gardening

THE POET ROBERT FROST WROTE “FENCES MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS.” That is, unless you have a neighbor who doesn’t like fences, as I once did in a suburban neighborhood. But fences keep pets and livestock in (or out), define property boundaries and can be incredibly useful. To learn more about fences, take a look at Fences Moving Property Lines: Squatter’s Rights. By the way, Robert Frost wrote the famous line as a part of his poem, Mending Wall. And I can’t write this entry without mentioning that Kansas has some of the most visually interesting limestone fenceposts. Okay, yes, that link is to that university down the road, but thought the page was informative. More on this another time.

I SAW AN ITEM RECENTLY THAT ABOUT 25% OF FARMLAND IN KANSAS IS LEASED, so for property owners as well as lessees, it’s important to keep up with current laws. To address the latest, an Ag Lease Basics virtual meeting is set for Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. The session will cover commonly misunderstood parts of leases, as well as general information. This meeting is typically held in Geary County in person, but in the interest of keeping Kansans safe from COVID-19, it’s offered via Zoom this year. The big upside to that is you can be anywhere and participate. For more information and a link to the meeting, contact Chuck Otte at cotte@ksu.edu.

EVEN AS COVID-19 CONTINUES TO STARE US IN THE FACE, FARMING STILL GOES ON. To provide information that helps shape farm business decisions, a series of virtual Risk & Profit Mini-Conferences are planned for Wednesdays, starting Jan. 13. Topics, presented by K-State Research and Extension agricultural economists, include livestock options; beef market outlook; domestic grain markets and outlook, macroeconomic and interest rate outlook; ag policy and farm bill; ag technology and farmland value interactive dashboard; farm profitability; agricultural finance; and international grain markets and outlook for 2021. A fee of $20 provides access to all sessions, recordings and materials. Check it out.

Better Kansas – Dec. 17, 2020

Posted on December 17, 2020December 16, 2020 by Mary Lou Peter

Better Kansas – Dec. 17, 2020

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ALL OF US AT K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION! I’ve enjoyed providing glimpses of what our folks across the state have to offer over this past, rather challenging year. Check out your local office for a lot more. I’m taking a break for a couple of weeks but look forward to being back with you on Jan. 7 in what we all hope is a better year.

In today’s Better Kansas, I address the benefits of sitting down for family meals, ageism, what to do with that fresh Christmas tree after the holidays, staying connected with all things crops and calving schools. This is a small glimpse of what K-State Research and Extension across the state has to offer. Share on social media and subscribe and as always, I appreciate your feedback. – Mary Lou Peter mlpeter@ksu.edu

Better Living, Better Communities

IF EVER THERE WAS A TIME FOR FAMILIES TO SIT DOWN FOR MEALS TOGETHER, it’s during this pandemic. I know that watching your toddler put peas up his nose and listening to your tween complain about online classes does not necessarily spell fun on a daily basis, but there truly are benefits to this ritual. The opportunity to help kids develop healthier eating habits and give young children a chance to build conversational skills and to be heard are just some. And studies show benefits beyond that – better mental health for your kiddos, fewer depressive symptoms for teens, and better grades. Check out The Science of Family Mealtime to learn more. I was aware of “mindfulness” before, but “scaffolding” as a way to learn was a new one for me. Family mealtimes were important when I was raising my kids (and yes, occasionally it was McDonald’s or pizza), but I didn’t know the science behind it. Now, I do.

I’VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT AGEISM IN RECENT YEARS, WHICH PROBABLY says something about where I am in life. Just like sexism, racism, and other forms of bias or discrimination, ageism can be so veiled and such a part of our everyday culture that it’s often not even recognized – unless you or someone you know is negatively impacted. From my perspective, everyone is negatively impacted. Listen in to a recent Sound Living radio interview with specialists on aging and gerontology from three universities as they discuss the consequences of ageism, implicit bias and how extension systems are working to better serve older adults.

Better Farming, Ranching and Gardening

I’VE HEARD THAT SALES OF FRESH CHRISTMAS TREES have been unusually brisk this year. Maybe it’s because we’ve wanted to get outside and do SOMETHING and even picking out a fresh tree from a lot – or better yet, a farm – is a lot more of an experience than dragging the artificial ….. excuse me, faux Christmas tree …. out of the basement. But what to do with that fresh tree after the holiday season? Some municipalities will collect them curbside, but they can also become part of the circle of life, so to speak, meaning they can be sunk in a pond or lake to provide fish habitat, or moved outdoors to provide winter cover for birds. Take a look at the recent extension Horticulture Newsletter for more tips plus information on caring for fruit baskets, storing pecans and other nuts and a link to a video about the dilemma of low light for indoor plants and what to do about it. You might also enjoy this article from the New York Times.

WITH IN-PERSON EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES SEVERELY CURTAILED as COVID-19 settled over the U.S. this year, it became clear that the tech savvy folks had an advantage over the rest of us. The K-State extension agronomy team was already using social media and other digital platforms to reach agricultural audiences and were able to pivot and build on that expertise, and offer a broad array of research-based information to crop producers, grain processors, agricultural lenders, equipment manufacturers and other related industries through the weekly eUpdate newsletter, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and more. Take a look at a recent Agronomy eUpdate article to learn more. Pretty impressive, especially for someone who doesn’t know her platforms from her filters from her domains!

ONE THING’S FOR SURE DESPITE THIS PANDEMIC, COWS WILL BE CALVING SOON! And it won’t be long before our Kansas landscape will be dotted with cows and their babies. Love that sight. That means it’s time for 2021 Calving Schools which start in early January:

Wed., Jan. 6 – Emporia – Contact Brian Rees brees@k-state.edu

Mon., Jan. 11 – Winfield – Contact Kelsey Nordyke klnordyke@ksu.edu

Wed., Jan. 13 – Blue Rapids – Contact Anastasia Johnson Meyer anastasia@ksu.edu

Thurs., Jan. 21 – Dodge City – Contact Andrea Burns aburns@ksu.edu

Speakers include K-State Research and Extension veterinarian A.J. Tarpoff, who will outline overall calving management including stages of normal calving and tips to handle difficult situations. Presenters will demonstrate proper use of calving equipment and other topics, depending on site. Check out the possibilities.

K-State Research and Extension