Better Kansas – Feb. 25, 2021
In this week’s Better Kansas I highlight sunshine and Vitamin D, George Crum and other food topics, tractor safety education for teens, grain marketing and Cattlemen’s Day. This is a small glimpse of what K-State Research and Extension across the state has to offer. Share by email and on social media and subscribe! – Mary Lou Peter mlpeter@ksu.edu
Better Living, Better Communities
SUNSHINE IS STILL IN SHORT SUPPLY THIS MONTH but get out there and get some when you can. It’s good for your bones! Vitamin D is unique among vitamins because it’s made in the human body when skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light in the sun’s rays. Plus, very few foods contain Vitamin D, although some such as milk, yogurt and orange juice are fortified with it by food processors. Research has shown that more than three out of four Americans have inadequate Vitamin D levels. Check out Vitamin D: From Sunshine to Supplements to learn more. Can’t help it … the whole time I’ve been writing this I’ve been thinking of John Denver’s Sunshine on my Shoulders. What a song.
THANK YOU, GEORGE CRUM! Who is George Crum you might ask? We have Mr. Crum to thank for potato chips, one of my weaknesses. Read about how he and his sister, Kate Crum, invented potato chips in the March 2021 You Asked It newsletter. Plus, there is good information about food safety when it comes to home delivery, food preservation, runny jams or jellies, preparing for Walk Kansas and more. I typically write about more healthy foods in this space, but it’s hard to resist those kettle cooked chips…. or any chips for that matter. Wish I could have frequented Crum’s House restaurant back in the day.
Better Farming, Ranching and Gardening
IT’S ALMOST SPRING and that means there’s a new crop of teens helping out on farms and ranches – a wonderful earning and learning opportunity for them and a huge help for producers. But teaching them safety is imperative. That’s where the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program (NSTMOP) comes in. Through the program, teens learn how to operate equipment safely and much more. And keep in mind, the USDA says that a “farm” can be anywhere from 10 acres to 10,000 acres, so whether you grow lettuce on a few acres or wheat on thousands, this program is for you. Take a look at this website for more information or check with your local K-State Research and Extension office to see if there’s a training in your area. The program was developed by Penn State University, one of our many land grant university partners that shares resources. I might have come up with a different name and catchier acronym, but hey, they didn’t ask me! Seriously, it’s a really good, important program.
THIS PANDEMIC WREAKED HAVOC FOR SO MANY, but we’ve become pretty good at compensating in some ways. Check out the virtual Managing Risk & Marketing Grain webinars on March 3 & 5. They’re free but participants still need to register. K-State specialists will cover crop insurance, cost of production estimates for 2021, a price protection net for Kansas crops, plus using options and futures to manage risk in grain marketing.
THE 2021 CATTLEMEN’S DAY IS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR AS IT’S ALL ONLINE MARCH 5, but there’s no shortage of good information for participants. Featured speakers include Jayson Lusk, distinguished professor and ag economics department head at Purdue University, addressing the pandemic’s effects on the U.S. beef industry. Jason Rumley and Robert Norris, both of Radian Group, will provide insights on beef processing, retail and foodservice in light of COVID-19. K-State specialists will give updates on research projects across the spectrum. We’ll miss seeing everyone in and around Weber and Call halls, not to mention that heavenly barbecue, but we’ll be back in person when it’s much safer.
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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/
