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Harvey County

Scam Season

Posted on by Harvey County K-State Research and Extension

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Hello Scam Season! After all, it is the season for giving! Although consumer scams occur throughout the year, the holiday season provides fertile ground for scammers to target unknowing consumers.

Knowing about the potential of scams is important to your personal financial well-being, but reporting the scams also helps organizations like the Better Business Bureau, and Federal Trade Commission track scammers and catch them for the purpose of prosecution. Continue reading “Scam Season” →

Enrollment Deadline

Posted on by Harvey County K-State Research and Extension

Don’t miss out! The deadline for returning 4-H members to enroll in the program is right around the corner, January 1st, 2018. The deadline for new 4-H members to enroll will be May 1st, 2018. The deadline to add or drop 4-H projects is May 1st, 2018. 4-H enrollment is completely online at https://ks.4honline.com.

The new state 4-H program fee begins this enrollment period. The fee is $15 per member per year. This fee does not apply to five and six-year-old 4-H members, or Cloverbuds; their membership is free. Waivers are available by request through the online enrollment process for any family with a financial need. Families should pay the amount due for membership at the time of enrollment, either by credit card or mailing a check to the State 4-H Office, or by selecting a waiver. Please do not send payments to the local Extension Office, these payments will not be processed. The mailing address for the state office is 4-H Youth Development, 201 Umberger Hall, 1612 Claflin Rd. Manhattan, KS 66506. If mailing a personal check is your desired form of payment, be sure to write the name of the 4-H youth member(s) on the memo line or on an additional sheet of paper, enclosed with the check so the payment may be applied to the appropriate member(s). Please note that cash cannot be accepted. Payment is due within (7) days of submitting 4-H enrollment. Continue reading “Enrollment Deadline” →

Composting Leaves

Posted on by Harvey County K-State Research and Extension

Everywhere I go I see leaves on the ground or in bags.   The good thing is we don’t have to send all of our fallen leaves to the landfill but instead we can compost them at home and use in the garden later.  Compost is a great addition to any garden!  How is the composting process accomplished?

Microorganisms and small invertebrates account for most of the decomposition that takes place within the compost pile. With the required oxygen and water, these organisms break down yard and food wastes, producing carbon dioxide, heat, water, and soil-enriching compost in the process.

One way to determine success is to monitor pile temperature. During composting, the pile warms to 150° to 160° F. and gradually returns to ambient temperatures after organic materials decompose. Warm temperatures increase water evaporation. A decrease in the pile’s weight and volume is another way to measure composting effectiveness. Decomposing organisms include naturally occuring bacteria, fungi, and molds, and small invertebrate animals such as mites, millipedes, insects, and earthworms. With a wide range of organisms, there is a better chance that composted materials will be broken down completely. Aerobic bacteria, which require oxygen, are the most important decomposers in the compost pile. Continue reading “Composting Leaves” →

Cold Temperatures with Late Developed Wheat

Posted on by Harvey County K-State Research and Extension

When you get a combination of low temperatures, dry soils and poorly developed wheat crops it creates a concern among farmers about the wheats chances of surviving the winter. Will the wheat survive the combination of those conditions?

“Where wheat plants have a good crown root system and two or more tillers, they will tolerate the cold better. If plants are poorly developed going into winter, with very few secondary roots and no tillers, they will be more susceptible to winterkill or desiccation, especially when soils remain dry,” Jim Shroyer, K-State Research and Extension crop production specialist said. “Poor development of secondary roots may not be readily apparent unless the plants are pulled up and examined” he added.

If the seed is not planted at the correct depth, about one and a half to two inches, the crown will not be protected good enough from the weather conditions. The crown needs to be reasonably well protected in the soil so it can be protected from cold temperatures. If the wheat seed was planted to shallowly then the crown will not be buffered from the winter weather and will be more susceptible to winterkill.

Temperature ranges in the fall also have an effect on winterkill. If the temperatures suddenly drop into the low teens the wheat plants will not have had enough time to winter harden. If the fall temperatures gradually drop then the wheat will be adequately cold harden and should be able to handle the winter.

In most cases, producers won’t know for sure if the wheat has survived cold temperatures until early next spring.

Mindfulness Tips during the Holidays 

Posted on by Harvey County K-State Research and Extension

The holiday season can be stressful for many people.  There are several activities people try to manage.  There are several mindfulness strategies that can help reduce stress and allow you to experience a calmer holiday season.

  • Practice active listening
    • It can be easy to tune out during all the holiday hustle and bustle. By minimizing distractions, you may be surprised how much more you observe and hear which can be very rewarding.
  • Be open to the emotions of others
    • Consider the feelings of others around you during the holiday season. You can increase your ability to connect by being observant and receptive to them.
  • Be open to a range of emotions in yourself
    • Unfortunately, the holiday season can trigger a mixture of emotions that are not always joyful.  Consider allowing yourself space and recognize these feelings you may experience instead of seeking to lose them.
  • Let go of old habits or patterns that might be hold you back
    • There are many traditions and memories that the holidays bring; however, sometimes, old patterns can disseminate negativity. Be mindful of patterns that are bothersome. Allow yourself to be open to new experiences.
  • Expand how you communicate care
    • Many cultures practice gift-giving during the holidays; however, there are many additional ways to show you care. Before making a purchase, consider asking yourself what you are trying to communicate through the gift. There may be alternative ways to express your feelings or care like spending quality time or doing something nice for them.
  • Let go of judgment – both for yourself and others
    • Try to avoid conflict with others during the holiday season. This can lead to judgment and self-esteem issues. Take a step back and enjoy even the little things.
  • Balance the “should’s” with awareness of your own needs and practice self-compassion
    • Although, the holidays can bring many obligations, try to make time for yourself to avoid burnout and bitterness. Engage in fun and relaxing activities. When you do this, you may discover you will be more giving to others.

(information from www.psychologytoday.com)

Fall Application of Anhydrous

Posted on by Harvey County K-State Research and Extension

Soils in parts of Kansas are now cool enough to allow producers to apply anhydrous ammonia for their 2017 corn crop, and have been for the past couple weeks in northern Kansas. This practice has some appeal. For one thing, fall fertilizer application spreads out the workload so that there’s more time to focus on corn planting in the spring. Secondly, wet spring weather sometimes prevents producers from applying lower-cost anhydrous ammonia in the spring ahead of corn planting, and forces them to apply more expensive sources after planting. Equally important for many producers have been issues with ammonia availability at times in the spring.

Despite those advantages, producers should be aware that there is potential for higher nitrogen (N) loss in the spring following a fall application, as a result of nitrification of the ammonium during late winter and very early spring and subsequent leaching, or denitrification. If anhydrous ammonia has already been applied this fall for the 2017 corn crop, this article will discuss what to expect if soil temperatures have not been cold enough until now. Continue reading “Fall Application of Anhydrous” →

Adding Organic Matter to Garden Soil

Posted on by Harvey County K-State Research and Extension

My experience with Harvey County lawns and gardens is that for the most part our soil is clay dominated and low in organic matter. Organic matter is needed in soil to increase soil drainage, make soil friable, create a better root growing zone for plants and provide some nutrients for plant growth. Organic materials can be applied directly to garden soil and incorporated with a plow or tiller, allowing decomposition to occur directly in the soil rather than in the compost pile. This time of year is an ideal time to do this when a variety of organic materials are available in the form of prunings, leaves, garden refuse, and lawn clippings. Continue reading “Adding Organic Matter to Garden Soil” →