If your loved one was incapacitated today would you be prepared to make decisions for them? A recent K-State news service announcement offered information on talking with your loved ones about end of life decisions. It’s the conversation no one wants to talk about. However, this is so important if you or a loved one would ever become incapacitated, permanently or temporarily, to know what that person would want. It is difficult to make decisions when you are under stress or grieving so having those conversations before hand can help relieve some of that stress.

Erin Yelland, Interim Director of the K-State Center on Aging stated, “Research shows that end-of-life conversations are fairly rare within families. Often, families are left to assume what a person might have wanted, and during a time of grief, those can be especially challenging decisions.” Recently, I was faced with many of these decisions when my mother became seriously ill and eventually incapacitated. We had some conservations in the past about her wishes but our conversations were not nearly extensive enough. The things we had talked about made decisions a lot easier for me. It relieved a lot of stress for me knowing we had talked about what she wanted and I could follow through on those for her. However, some things we had not talked about so I had to guess on what she would want. Thankfully, I was aided by a very supportive family and conversations mom and I had about other people that were no longer able to make decisions for themselves which helped me make those decisions. Those decisions were much harder to make because I felt like I was guessing rather than knowing exactly what she wanted.

If you do not have health care directives in place and become incapacitated then the decisions will automatically fall to your spouse. If you are not married then the decisions will fall to your oldest child. It would be a good idea to discuss your preferences with your health care provider as well as those people you are closest to.

It is never too early to have health care directives in place for yourself. Even an 18-year-old can have documents called health care directives or durable powers of attorney in place because you never know when a tragedy could happen. We always think we have plenty of time until that time arrives. 

Kansas law allows simple forms to be filled out and have one witness signature. The forms can be found at the K-State Research and Extension bookstore in the publication, “Advance Health Care Planning in Kansas” https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3280.pdf or at your local K-State Extension Office located at 601 Main Street in Hays or 3007 W. 10th Street in Great Bend.

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658934620122.png" alt="written by: Monique Koerner - Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. " />
 <figcaption>written by: Monique Koerner - Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. </figcaption>
 </figure>If your loved one was incapacitated today would you be prepared to make decisions for them? A recent K-State news service announcement offered information on talking with your loved ones about end of life decisions. It’s the conversation no one wants to talk about. However, this is so important if you or a loved one would ever become incapacitated, permanently or temporarily, to know what that person would want. It is difficult to make decisions when you are under stress or grieving so having those conversations before hand can help relieve some of that stress.Erin Yelland, Interim Director of the K-State Center on Aging stated, “Research shows that end-of-life conversations are fairly rare within families. Often, families are left to assume what a person might have wanted, and during a time of grief, those can be especially challenging decisions.” Recently, I was faced with many of these decisions when my mother became seriously ill and eventually incapacitated. We had some conservations in the past about her wishes but our conversations were not nearly extensive enough. The things we had talked about made decisions a lot easier for me. It relieved a lot of stress for me knowing we had talked about what she wanted and I could follow through on those for her. However, some things we had not talked about so I had to guess on what she would want. Thankfully, I was aided by a very supportive family and conversations mom and I had about other people that were no longer able to make decisions for themselves which helped me make those decisions. Those decisions were much harder to make because I felt like I was guessing rather than knowing exactly what she wanted.If you do not have health care directives in place and become incapacitated then the decisions will automatically fall to your spouse. If you are not married then the decisions will fall to your oldest child. It would be a good idea to discuss your preferences with your health care provider as well as those people you are closest to.It is never too early to have health care directives in place for yourself. Even an 18-year-old can have documents called health care directives or durable powers of attorney in place because you never know when a tragedy could happen. We always think we have plenty of time until that time arrives. Kansas law allows simple forms to be filled out and have one witness signature. The forms can be found at the K-State Research and Extension bookstore in the publication, “Advance Health Care Planning in Kansas” https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3280.pdf or at your local K-State Extension Office located at 601 Main Street in Hays or 3007 W. 10th Street in Great Bend.Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

KOERNER: Advance health care planning

Forage and cattle management considerations for this fall and into the next year will be the emphasis of a series of meetings planned across the state to help producers make decisions given limited on-farm forage production and high feed costs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Many producers have already culled and weaned earlier than normal to decrease forage demand, and going forward additional adjustments may be needed for the fall and winter,” said Sandy Johnson, a K-State Research and Extension beef specialist.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Johnson said forages that have been grown might have issues with high nitrates and prussic acid, which can be deadly if mismanaged. Many producers may need to use unfamiliar feedstuffs with unique management considerations, according to Johnson.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Topics to be covered at the upcoming meetings will include feedstuffs and projecting forage inventory needs; management strategies to avoid nitrate and prussic acid poisoning; considerations for feeding cows and backgrounded calves with limited forages and health concerns.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Presenters will vary depending on each meeting’s location.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The meeting scheduled for October 6th&nbsp;starting at 5:30PM will be at the Agricultural Research Center, located at 1232 240th&nbsp;Ave, Hays. To RSVP, call 785-628-9430 or email Theresa Meis at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tam3@ksu.edu" target="_blank">tam3@ksu.edu</a>. Other meetings throughout the region include:&nbsp;

Sept. 26&nbsp;-- 6 p.m., Cherryvale Community Center, 123 W Main St., Cherryvale, Kan. RSVP to Wildcat District office at 620-331-2690, or Wendie Powell,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:wendiepowell@ksu.edu" target="_blank">wendiepowell@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Oct. 4 --&nbsp;6 p.m.,&nbsp;Marlow-Leitz Memorial Building, 902 Grand St., Alma, Kan.&nbsp;RSVP to Wabaunsee County Extension office, 785-765-3821, or Shannon Spencer,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:spspencer@ksu.edu" target="_blank">spspencer@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Oct. 5&nbsp;-- 5:30 p.m. (CT), American Legion Hall, Bird City, Kan.. RSVP to Sunflower District, 785-332-3171, or Heather McDonald,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hmcdonald@ksu.edu" target="_blank">hmcdonald@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Oct.10&nbsp;-- 6 p.m., Inman Community Center, Inman, Kan. RSVP to McPherson County Extension, 620-241-1523, or Shad Marston,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:smarston@ksu.edu" target="_blank">smarston@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Oct. 11&nbsp;-- 6 p.m., Severy Community Building, Severy, Kan. RSVP to Greenwood County Extension, 620-583-7455, or Benjamin Sims,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:benjam63@ksu.edu" target="_blank">benjam63@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Oct. 13&nbsp;-- 6 p.m., Grainfield Extension Office, 230 Main St., Grainfield, Kan. RSVP to Golden Prairie Extension District, 785-673-4805, or Kelsi Wertz,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kjwertz@ksu.edu" target="_blank">kjwertz@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="written by: Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>Forage and cattle management considerations for this fall and into the next year will be the emphasis of a series of meetings planned across the state to help producers make decisions given limited on-farm forage production and high feed costs.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Many producers have already culled and weaned earlier than normal to decrease forage demand, and going forward additional adjustments may be needed for the fall and winter,” said Sandy Johnson, a K-State Research and Extension beef specialist.&nbsp;&nbsp;Johnson said forages that have been grown might have issues with high nitrates and prussic acid, which can be deadly if mismanaged. Many producers may need to use unfamiliar feedstuffs with unique management considerations, according to Johnson.&nbsp;&nbsp;Topics to be covered at the upcoming meetings will include feedstuffs and projecting forage inventory needs; management strategies to avoid nitrate and prussic acid poisoning; considerations for feeding cows and backgrounded calves with limited forages and health concerns.&nbsp;&nbsp;Presenters will vary depending on each meeting’s location.&nbsp;&nbsp;The meeting scheduled for October 6th&nbsp;starting at 5:30PM will be at the Agricultural Research Center, located at 1232 240th&nbsp;Ave, Hays. To RSVP, call 785-628-9430 or email Theresa Meis at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tam3@ksu.edu" target="_blank">tam3@ksu.edu</a>. Other meetings throughout the region include:&nbsp;Sept. 26&nbsp;-- 6 p.m., Cherryvale Community Center, 123 W Main St., Cherryvale, Kan. RSVP to Wildcat District office at 620-331-2690, or Wendie Powell,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:wendiepowell@ksu.edu" target="_blank">wendiepowell@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Oct. 4 --&nbsp;6 p.m.,&nbsp;Marlow-Leitz Memorial Building, 902 Grand St., Alma, Kan.&nbsp;RSVP to Wabaunsee County Extension office, 785-765-3821, or Shannon Spencer,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:spspencer@ksu.edu" target="_blank">spspencer@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Oct. 5&nbsp;-- 5:30 p.m. (CT), American Legion Hall, Bird City, Kan.. RSVP to Sunflower District, 785-332-3171, or Heather McDonald,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hmcdonald@ksu.edu" target="_blank">hmcdonald@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Oct.10&nbsp;-- 6 p.m., Inman Community Center, Inman, Kan. RSVP to McPherson County Extension, 620-241-1523, or Shad Marston,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:smarston@ksu.edu" target="_blank">smarston@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Oct. 11&nbsp;-- 6 p.m., Severy Community Building, Severy, Kan. RSVP to Greenwood County Extension, 620-583-7455, or Benjamin Sims,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:benjam63@ksu.edu" target="_blank">benjam63@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Oct. 13&nbsp;-- 6 p.m., Grainfield Extension Office, 230 Main St., Grainfield, Kan. RSVP to Golden Prairie Extension District, 785-673-4805, or Kelsi Wertz,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kjwertz@ksu.edu" target="_blank">kjwertz@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Drought meetings

I was having a conversation with a friend this week and they mentioned that they were vacuuming cobwebs out of their house only to have them appear again two days later. I told her to just get used to it because it was only going to get worse over the next several weeks.

Spiders live on insects and other insect like things even including other spiders. Many spiders do not survive the winter as an adult, they either overwinter as eggs or an adult female does hibernate so as to lay eggs and die in the spring. It all depends on the species. When spring starts out there aren’t a lot of insects necessarily available for food so spiders grow slowly. But as the summer progresses we see a constantly increasing population of insects and as the insect population grows, so do the creatures that live on insects, like spiders. By the time we get well into September things can get kind of out of hand. Then insects start trying to come inside our homes to find a safe place to overwinter. Right along with those insects come the things that live on insects—spiders.

Now that half of you are totally freaking out let me say that we really only have two “venomous” spiders in Kansas. I prefer venomous over poisonous because the only time they are a problem is if they bite you and inject their venom. Hemlock is poisonous, copperheads and brown recluses are venomous! With that out of the way, we have black widows and brown recluses in Kansas. Black widows are pretty rare. Brown recluses, on the other hand, are so common that I can find them in every house in the region, given enough time!

Both spiders can be a problem if they bite you, or it can honestly be a non- event. All spiders can bite. It’s how they live. But many of them either have jaws too small to puncture our skin, or if they do puncture the skin, the result won’t be much worse than a mosquito bite. If you ever have any apparent bite that won’t heal or causes excessive pain, redness and swelling, get to your family doctor as soon as possible. Brown recluses come by their name honestly. They don’t spin webs, they are stalk and attack predators and they want to avoid people. You’re going to find them in piles of newspapers, in boxes in rooms you don’t go into often, or deep in the garage where you rarely go!

To reduce spiders in your home take steps to reduce insects in your home. Make sure that doors and windows seal tight. This time of year treat the foundation and areas up and down from the foundation with a general lawn and garden insecticide. Use a ready to use home insect pest control product and treat the baseboard areas, locations where utilities enter your

house and thresholds of doorways into your house. Insects, and spiders, will often travel where the wall and floor meet because they are at less risk of attack when out in the open. Do not use “bombs” or glue traps. Bombs are really only effective on flying insects. Glue traps don’t really reduce populations and only show you how many insects and spiders are really in your house, which will ultimately only freak you out more!

We will have insects and spiders in our houses. That’s a fact. You can reduce those populations but not eliminate them. Once freezing weather starts to show up, things will start to get better. Well, at least until spring.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574181994278.png" alt="written by: Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>I was having a conversation with a friend this week and they mentioned that they were vacuuming cobwebs out of their house only to have them appear again two days later. I told her to just get used to it because it was only going to get worse over the next several weeks.Spiders live on insects and other insect like things even including other spiders. Many spiders do not survive the winter as an adult, they either overwinter as eggs or an adult female does hibernate so as to lay eggs and die in the spring. It all depends on the species. When spring starts out there aren’t a lot of insects necessarily available for food so spiders grow slowly. But as the summer progresses we see a constantly increasing population of insects and as the insect population grows, so do the creatures that live on insects, like spiders. By the time we get well into September things can get kind of out of hand. Then insects start trying to come inside our homes to find a safe place to overwinter. Right along with those insects come the things that live on insects—spiders.Now that half of you are totally freaking out let me say that we really only have two “venomous” spiders in Kansas. I prefer venomous over poisonous because the only time they are a problem is if they bite you and inject their venom. Hemlock is poisonous, copperheads and brown recluses are venomous! With that out of the way, we have black widows and brown recluses in Kansas. Black widows are pretty rare. Brown recluses, on the other hand, are so common that I can find them in every house in the region, given enough time!Both spiders can be a problem if they bite you, or it can honestly be a non- event. All spiders can bite. It’s how they live. But many of them either have jaws too small to puncture our skin, or if they do puncture the skin, the result won’t be much worse than a mosquito bite. If you ever have any apparent bite that won’t heal or causes excessive pain, redness and swelling, get to your family doctor as soon as possible. Brown recluses come by their name honestly. They don’t spin webs, they are stalk and attack predators and they want to avoid people. You’re going to find them in piles of newspapers, in boxes in rooms you don’t go into often, or deep in the garage where you rarely go!To reduce spiders in your home take steps to reduce insects in your home. Make sure that doors and windows seal tight. This time of year treat the foundation and areas up and down from the foundation with a general lawn and garden insecticide. Use a ready to use home insect pest control product and treat the baseboard areas, locations where utilities enter yourhouse and thresholds of doorways into your house. Insects, and spiders, will often travel where the wall and floor meet because they are at less risk of attack when out in the open. Do not use “bombs” or glue traps. Bombs are really only effective on flying insects. Glue traps don’t really reduce populations and only show you how many insects and spiders are really in your house, which will ultimately only freak you out more!We will have insects and spiders in our houses. That’s a fact. You can reduce those populations but not eliminate them. Once freezing weather starts to show up, things will start to get better. Well, at least until spring.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: You’re going to be seeing more spiders

On this episode of the Post Podcast Cottonwood Extension District agent Monique Koerner stops by to share updates from the district.

For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.

On this episode of the Post Podcast Cottonwood Extension District agent Monique Koerner stops by to share updates from the district.<div><iframe title="Cottonwood Extension District welcomes newest agent" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=z2359-12c9531-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.

🎙 Post Podcast: Cottonwood Extension District welcomes newest agent

I hope you had a chance to check out the Kansas State Fair this past week! Mostly, I hope you moved off the midway and away from the concerts to check out the incredible 4-H and Open Class exhibits.

I delivered over 70 4-H entries for our county and that doesn’t include the 4-H members who participated in the 4-H Dog Show, Communication Presentations, Judging Contests, Fashion Revue, or Livestock contests! Centennial Hall is a busy place on the day of check in as agents from all 105 counties deliver entries for evaluation by a judge. For perspective, there were 1596 4-H photos judged! There were at least 10 foods judges working through a crazy number of cakes, pies, cookies, and breads.

Communication Presentations include demonstrations, illustrated talks, and poetry/prose readings and we had the great problem of needing to secure an additional judge due to the number of entries! Watching 4-H members step onto a different stage with the distractions of people walking past and unfamiliar audiences is a fun and rewarding experience. I had to appreciate a judge the first weekend who awarded a low ribbon placing and said that the young man admitted that he hadn’t really practiced or adequately prepared; this is experiential learning at its finest!

In all events, 4-H members must have earned a purple ribbon at their local county fair or club day in order to be eligible to present at the Kansas State Fair. Even if they didn’t receive a top ribbon at State Fair, being chosen to participate is a great step.

Speaking of ribbons, we award purple, blue, red, white, and participation ribbons. A participation ribbon is usually reserved for our littlest 4-H members, our Cloverbuds and recognizes their participation in a non-competitive environment.

A purple ribbon indicates excellent quality and is usually reserved for the top few entries. A blue ribbon indicates superior quality and that basic standards have been met; it may have some minor flaws or issues. A red ribbon is awarded for average quality and often indicates that most standards are met with some areas

for improvement. A white ribbon is given when an entry is below average quality and minimum standards.

Most of our judges use a rubric to assist them in fairly and evenly evaluating a variety of entries. I will tell you from experience that it is much harder than it looks. 4-H judges always try to provide some positive feedback along with the critical information for improvement.

If you didn’t make it through 4-H Centennial Hall this year, be sure to put it on your agenda for next year. Check out the creative work from young people across our state and Barton County!

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.

Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579114162620.jpeg" alt="written by: Michelle Beran - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Michelle Beran - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>I hope you had a chance to check out the Kansas State Fair this past week! Mostly, I hope you moved off the midway and away from the concerts to check out the incredible 4-H and Open Class exhibits.I delivered over 70 4-H entries for our county and that doesn’t include the 4-H members who participated in the 4-H Dog Show, Communication Presentations, Judging Contests, Fashion Revue, or Livestock contests! Centennial Hall is a busy place on the day of check in as agents from all 105 counties deliver entries for evaluation by a judge. For perspective, there were 1596 4-H photos judged! There were at least 10 foods judges working through a crazy number of cakes, pies, cookies, and breads.Communication Presentations include demonstrations, illustrated talks, and poetry/prose readings and we had the great problem of needing to secure an additional judge due to the number of entries! Watching 4-H members step onto a different stage with the distractions of people walking past and unfamiliar audiences is a fun and rewarding experience. I had to appreciate a judge the first weekend who awarded a low ribbon placing and said that the young man admitted that he hadn’t really practiced or adequately prepared; this is experiential learning at its finest!In all events, 4-H members must have earned a purple ribbon at their local county fair or club day in order to be eligible to present at the Kansas State Fair. Even if they didn’t receive a top ribbon at State Fair, being chosen to participate is a great step.Speaking of ribbons, we award purple, blue, red, white, and participation ribbons. A participation ribbon is usually reserved for our littlest 4-H members, our Cloverbuds and recognizes their participation in a non-competitive environment.A purple ribbon indicates excellent quality and is usually reserved for the top few entries. A blue ribbon indicates superior quality and that basic standards have been met; it may have some minor flaws or issues. A red ribbon is awarded for average quality and often indicates that most standards are met with some areasfor improvement. A white ribbon is given when an entry is below average quality and minimum standards.Most of our judges use a rubric to assist them in fairly and evenly evaluating a variety of entries. I will tell you from experience that it is much harder than it looks. 4-H judges always try to provide some positive feedback along with the critical information for improvement.If you didn’t make it through 4-H Centennial Hall this year, be sure to put it on your agenda for next year. Check out the creative work from young people across our state and Barton County!Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

BERAN: Kansas State Fair wrap up

Extension in Kansas introduced a new way of sharing educational programs during the pandemic. While we were not doing face-to-face presentations, people of all ages found webinars recorded by Extension Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) professionals from across the state to be an effective way to learn about a variety of topics.

Dubbed as Living Well Wednesday, the topics touched on a wide variety of essential skills that empower you and your family to live, work, and thrive. The webinars were held over the lunch hour on the second and fourth Wednesday, throughout much of 2021 and during the first three months of 2022. The neat thing is that each session is recorded and available to listen to on your schedule. Just go to the KSRE website and in the search type in living well Wednesday.

The first presentation in 2022 was titled, “Parents Guide to Social Media.” A guest presenter, John Calvert, Director of Safe and Secure Schools Unit, shares his expertise about the apps to be aware of on a child’s phone. It was an eye-opening presentation that concerns me when I think of my four grandchildren, aged 7 to 14. Besides the recordings there are links to excellent handouts and additional resources to refer back to.

There are three upcoming Living Well Wednesday presentations that I want to highlight today. The three webinars will be provided in Spanish only. “Connecting Cultures – Celebrating our Diversity” is the title of the September 28th webinar. Elizabeth Brunscheen-Cartagena, Family Life and Resources Agent in Sedgwick County, is the presenter.

Guest presenters from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will be sharing “Chronic Illness – Prevention and Management” on October 12th. The discussion will cover the leading causes of chronic illnesses for the Latino population. Participants will learn strategies and efforts that one can do to reduce or prevent chronic illnesses.

The final Spanish webinar, on October 26th is titled, “Survive, Strive and Thrive.” This presentation, shared by Elizabeth Brunscheen-Cartagena, will help parents gain confidence in their ability to be a good parent and to gain the skills and attitudes necessary for rearing healthy, positive children.

The three Spanish only webinars are set for 12:15 – 1 PM each of the dates I mentioned. I’m happy to share the flyer with information about registering for the webinars.

And finally, plans are being made to offer another series of Living Well Wednesday in English in 2023. I look forward to sharing the topics with you as soon as they are announced. So, stay tuned!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="written by: Donna Krug - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Donna Krug - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>Extension in Kansas introduced a new way of sharing educational programs during the pandemic. While we were not doing face-to-face presentations, people of all ages found webinars recorded by Extension Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) professionals from across the state to be an effective way to learn about a variety of topics.Dubbed as Living Well Wednesday, the topics touched on a wide variety of essential skills that empower you and your family to live, work, and thrive. The webinars were held over the lunch hour on the second and fourth Wednesday, throughout much of 2021 and during the first three months of 2022. The neat thing is that each session is recorded and available to listen to on your schedule. Just go to the KSRE website and in the search type in living well Wednesday.The first presentation in 2022 was titled, “Parents Guide to Social Media.” A guest presenter, John Calvert, Director of Safe and Secure Schools Unit, shares his expertise about the apps to be aware of on a child’s phone. It was an eye-opening presentation that concerns me when I think of my four grandchildren, aged 7 to 14. Besides the recordings there are links to excellent handouts and additional resources to refer back to.There are three upcoming Living Well Wednesday presentations that I want to highlight today. The three webinars will be provided in Spanish only. “Connecting Cultures – Celebrating our Diversity” is the title of the September 28th webinar. Elizabeth Brunscheen-Cartagena, Family Life and Resources Agent in Sedgwick County, is the presenter.Guest presenters from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will be sharing “Chronic Illness – Prevention and Management” on October 12th. The discussion will cover the leading causes of chronic illnesses for the Latino population. Participants will learn strategies and efforts that one can do to reduce or prevent chronic illnesses.The final Spanish webinar, on October 26th is titled, “Survive, Strive and Thrive.” This presentation, shared by Elizabeth Brunscheen-Cartagena, will help parents gain confidence in their ability to be a good parent and to gain the skills and attitudes necessary for rearing healthy, positive children.The three Spanish only webinars are set for 12:15 – 1 PM each of the dates I mentioned. I’m happy to share the flyer with information about registering for the webinars.And finally, plans are being made to offer another series of Living Well Wednesday in English in 2023. I look forward to sharing the topics with you as soon as they are announced. So, stay tuned!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 KRUG: Living Well Wednesday programming announced

The latest drought monitor has most of the western half of Ellis County listed as extreme drought the rest of the county is severe with the exception of the northeast corner as moderate drought. Most of Barton County is listed as moderate drought with the exception of the very northwest corner as severe.

With wheat planting approaching growers are probably weighing out more than one option. They can choose to “dust in” the wheat at the normal seeding depth and normal planting date, and hope for rain. Some farmers may consider planting it shallower than normal, but this could increase the potential for winterkill or freeze damage. Planting the wheat crop at the normal depth and hoping for rain is probably the best option where soils are very dry. The seed will remain viable in the soil until it gets enough moisture.

The long-term outlook by NOAA for a good bit of the western half of Kansas and all of the southern half to one-third of counties across the state, is that the drought is expected to persist through the end of November.

There are three basic options for planting winter wheat into dry soils:

1. Plant normally and hope for rain but due to the current moderate to extreme drought conditions. K-State Wheat specialist Romulo Lollato would advise growers to treat their fields as if they were planting later than the optimum time, as the emergence date will likely be delayed. Rather than cutting back on seeding rates and fertilizer to save money on a lost cause, producers should increase seeding rates, consider using a fungicide seed treatment, and consider using a starter phosphorus fertilizer to improve early season development. However, producers should be cautious with in-furrow nitrogen or potassium fertilizers as these are salts and can make it more difficult for the seed/seedling to absorb water needed for germination. The idea is to make sure the wheat gets off to a good start and will have enough heads to have good yield potential, assuming it will eventually rain and the crop will emerge late. Wheat that emerges in October may still hold full yield potential, but wheat that emerges in November almost always has fewer fall tillers and therefore can have decreased yield potential. By planting normally and hoping for rain. Two unwanted results could occur: crusting after a hard rain and soil erosion due to strong wind. Crusting and soil erosion are less likely in no-till situations than in conventionally tilled fields.

2. Wait for rain, then plant. If you choose to do this and plant late then the recommendations from above to increase seeding rates, consider using a fungicide seed treatment, and using a starter phosphorus fertilizer are advisable.

3. Seed deeper to reach soil moisture. This will require seedlings to grow through more soil to emerge and absorb sunlight. Therefore, seeding a variety with a long coleoptile (first leaf

sheath) is preferable. Since there may be plant loss, increasing the seeding rate should be considered. It is recommended to plant winter wheat no deeper than 3 inches.

Crop insurance considerations and deadlines will play a role in these decisions. Another consideration is to delay the bulk of nitrogen application until topdress time in the spring, as wheat does not require much nitrogen in the fall. This would defer expenses until an acceptable wheat stand is assured.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574181994278.png" alt="written by: Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>The latest drought monitor has most of the western half of Ellis County listed as extreme drought the rest of the county is severe with the exception of the northeast corner as moderate drought. Most of Barton County is listed as moderate drought with the exception of the very northwest corner as severe.With wheat planting approaching growers are probably weighing out more than one option. They can choose to “dust in” the wheat at the normal seeding depth and normal planting date, and hope for rain. Some farmers may consider planting it shallower than normal, but this could increase the potential for winterkill or freeze damage. Planting the wheat crop at the normal depth and hoping for rain is probably the best option where soils are very dry. The seed will remain viable in the soil until it gets enough moisture.The long-term outlook by NOAA for a good bit of the western half of Kansas and all of the southern half to one-third of counties across the state, is that the drought is expected to persist through the end of November.There are three basic options for planting winter wheat into dry soils:1. Plant normally and hope for rain but due to the current moderate to extreme drought conditions. K-State Wheat specialist Romulo Lollato would advise growers to treat their fields as if they were planting later than the optimum time, as the emergence date will likely be delayed. Rather than cutting back on seeding rates and fertilizer to save money on a lost cause, producers should increase seeding rates, consider using a fungicide seed treatment, and consider using a starter phosphorus fertilizer to improve early season development. However, producers should be cautious with in-furrow nitrogen or potassium fertilizers as these are salts and can make it more difficult for the seed/seedling to absorb water needed for germination. The idea is to make sure the wheat gets off to a good start and will have enough heads to have good yield potential, assuming it will eventually rain and the crop will emerge late. Wheat that emerges in October may still hold full yield potential, but wheat that emerges in November almost always has fewer fall tillers and therefore can have decreased yield potential. By planting normally and hoping for rain. Two unwanted results could occur: crusting after a hard rain and soil erosion due to strong wind. Crusting and soil erosion are less likely in no-till situations than in conventionally tilled fields.2. Wait for rain, then plant. If you choose to do this and plant late then the recommendations from above to increase seeding rates, consider using a fungicide seed treatment, and using a starter phosphorus fertilizer are advisable.3. Seed deeper to reach soil moisture. This will require seedlings to grow through more soil to emerge and absorb sunlight. Therefore, seeding a variety with a long coleoptile (first leafsheath) is preferable. Since there may be plant loss, increasing the seeding rate should be considered. It is recommended to plant winter wheat no deeper than 3 inches.Crop insurance considerations and deadlines will play a role in these decisions. Another consideration is to delay the bulk of nitrogen application until topdress time in the spring, as wheat does not require much nitrogen in the fall. This would defer expenses until an acceptable wheat stand is assured.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Considerations when planting wheat into dry soil

Announcement that the Conservation Awards Program will again be held in this county was received by Alicia Boor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent representing Barton County, who has been asked to serve as chairman of a committee to select candidates for awards. 

"This program is being sponsored", said Alicia, "by the Kansas Bankers Association (KBA). This year the KBA, K-State Research and Extension, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism are excited to announce six award categories including Energy Conservation, Water Quality, Water Conservation, Soil Conservation, Windbreaks, and Wildlife Habitat.” 

The purpose of this program is to stimulate a greater interest in the conservation of the agricultural and natural resources of Kansas by giving recognition to those farmers and landowners who have made outstanding progress in practicing conservation on their farms. Last year 197 awards were made to Kansas producers and landowners for their efforts. 

Nominations can be made by any person in the county. They should be sent to the Alicia Boor, Cottonwood District at 620-793-1910 or aboor@ksu.edu by October 7, 2021. Please visit the following K-State Research and Extension website for more information: http://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/extension

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="written by: Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>Announcement that the Conservation Awards Program will again be held in this county was received by Alicia Boor, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent representing Barton County, who has been asked to serve as chairman of a committee to select candidates for awards. "This program is being sponsored", said Alicia, "by the Kansas Bankers Association (KBA). This year the KBA, K-State Research and Extension, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism are excited to announce six award categories including Energy Conservation, Water Quality, Water Conservation, Soil Conservation, Windbreaks, and Wildlife Habitat.” The purpose of this program is to stimulate a greater interest in the conservation of the agricultural and natural resources of Kansas by giving recognition to those farmers and landowners who have made outstanding progress in practicing conservation on their farms. Last year 197 awards were made to Kansas producers and landowners for their efforts. Nominations can be made by any person in the county. They should be sent to the Alicia Boor, Cottonwood District at 620-793-1910 or aboor@ksu.edu by October 7, 2021. Please visit the following K-State Research and Extension website for more information: http://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/extensionAlicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Conservation Awards Program to be held in Barton Co.

I must admit when I arrived back at my air-conditioned office last Wednesday after spending the day at Kid’s Ag Day, it felt good to sit down. The cool early morning temperatures gave way to a hot day, but that did not take away from the fun learning experienced by 4th graders in Barton County. Fourth grade is the perfect age for kids to learn about where their food and other products they use daily come from. The station that my team member, Monique, and I manned for the day emphasized the importance of adding whole grains and other nutritious foods to the diet. We also provided a snack of animal crackers and a serving of 100% fruit juice.

Fourth graders are old enough to learn about reading a nutrition fact label, found on food products. During our short session we talked about looking for whole wheat or another whole grain as the first ingredient and making sure that the food had very little added sugar. I know when we had young kids at home, our rule was that they could choose cereal that had seven grams or less of sugar in a serving. That is a harder assignment than you might think. Many of the popular cereals advertised today have upwards of fifteen or more grams of sugar per serving. And then what about the person who fills an enormous cereal bowl with two cups of cereal? You will need to double the amount of sugar that is consumed. Yikes!

Another benefit of eating whole grains is the amount of fiber that contributes to healthier bodies. A feeling of fullness and healthy elimination are achieved when we consume around 30 grams of fiber each day. Our demonstration showed how fast a slice of white bread disintegrates when dipped in water and how the 100% whole wheat slice held together.

Besides talking about eating whole grains, we had Kassie Linsner, from Hoisington, visit with the 4th graders about joining 4-H. It’s always good to see our young people sharing what they are passionate about.

Hats off to our Great Bend Chamber for putting together such a well-planned event. In it’s 28th year, many of the volunteers have helped lead a session or demonstration every year. I know I appreciated the help of June, Imogene, Aleta, Marilyn, and Kay who served the snacks.

Short after the calendar turns to October the Hays area 4th graders will be treated to a similar event. Their Kid’s Ag Day is sponsored by Farm Bureau on October 5th. Stacy Campbell, a Cottonwood District Ag and Natural Resources Agent, will have a station teaching young people about corn and the many by products they use daily.

I’m so glad we live in communities that value and promote the farming community and want our young people to develop an appreciation as well!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620) 793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="written by: Donna Krug - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Donna Krug - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>I must admit when I arrived back at my air-conditioned office last Wednesday after spending the day at Kid’s Ag Day, it felt good to sit down. The cool early morning temperatures gave way to a hot day, but that did not take away from the fun learning experienced by 4th graders in Barton County. Fourth grade is the perfect age for kids to learn about where their food and other products they use daily come from. The station that my team member, Monique, and I manned for the day emphasized the importance of adding whole grains and other nutritious foods to the diet. We also provided a snack of animal crackers and a serving of 100% fruit juice.Fourth graders are old enough to learn about reading a nutrition fact label, found on food products. During our short session we talked about looking for whole wheat or another whole grain as the first ingredient and making sure that the food had very little added sugar. I know when we had young kids at home, our rule was that they could choose cereal that had seven grams or less of sugar in a serving. That is a harder assignment than you might think. Many of the popular cereals advertised today have upwards of fifteen or more grams of sugar per serving. And then what about the person who fills an enormous cereal bowl with two cups of cereal? You will need to double the amount of sugar that is consumed. Yikes!Another benefit of eating whole grains is the amount of fiber that contributes to healthier bodies. A feeling of fullness and healthy elimination are achieved when we consume around 30 grams of fiber each day. Our demonstration showed how fast a slice of white bread disintegrates when dipped in water and how the 100% whole wheat slice held together.Besides talking about eating whole grains, we had Kassie Linsner, from Hoisington, visit with the 4th graders about joining 4-H. It’s always good to see our young people sharing what they are passionate about.Hats off to our Great Bend Chamber for putting together such a well-planned event. In it’s 28th year, many of the volunteers have helped lead a session or demonstration every year. I know I appreciated the help of June, Imogene, Aleta, Marilyn, and Kay who served the snacks.Short after the calendar turns to October the Hays area 4th graders will be treated to a similar event. Their Kid’s Ag Day is sponsored by Farm Bureau on October 5th. Stacy Campbell, a Cottonwood District Ag and Natural Resources Agent, will have a station teaching young people about corn and the many by products they use daily.I’m so glad we live in communities that value and promote the farming community and want our young people to develop an appreciation as well!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620) 793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

KRUG: 4th graders learn where their food comes from

As you drive around the county, you might notice that many trees are look like we are already in fall though summer is still here. Leaves of area Elm Trees have turned brown, and some may be falling off, giving them a sickly appearance. In many cases, the reason for this is, Elm Leaf Beetles feasting on their leaves. Elm Leaf Beetles are a yearly concern when the second generation hatches about Mid-July. This year is no exception.&nbsp;

Elm Leaf Beetles are a yearly nuisance pest that feed on Elm leaves. The small Green and yellow striped adults can be troublesome in homes during the fall and spring as they overwinter in houses. Adult Beetles become active when the new leaves on Elms emerge in the spring. They feed on the new foliage and the females lay their eggs in early May. Larva emerge and start feeding on the underside of leaves for two to three weeks, and then drop to the ground to pupate on the soil surface, or stay in the tree to pupate in the cracks of the bark. Most of the time this first generation goes unnoticed because of small numbers, and the tree producing new foliage to replace what leaves had been lost.&nbsp;

The second generation is where most of the damage is observed. The massive populations of beetles feeding on the leaves are what give the tree a burnt or brown appearance. This is when most people become alarmed and may notice the beetles all over their trees, or the yellow or yellow brown pupae in the cracks of the tree. Most of the time, although surprising to find, and disconcerting to see your tree looking brown early in the season, the trees is still alive and will leaf out just fine the following season.&nbsp;

Treatment for the beetles is usually not recommended. Most large healthy trees can withstand late season defoliation, and if anyone in the area also has beetles, then they are likely to come back to your tree. If you do want to treat, time and chemical sprays to coincide with egg hatch in either mid-May for the first generation, or early to mid-July for the second generation. Often a single application made to control the first generation is all that is required. There are several effective sprays on the market labeled for use in the control of Elm Beetles. Please make sure that you follow all directions on the container. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="written by: Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>As you drive around the county, you might notice that many trees are look like we are already in fall though summer is still here. Leaves of area Elm Trees have turned brown, and some may be falling off, giving them a sickly appearance. In many cases, the reason for this is, Elm Leaf Beetles feasting on their leaves. Elm Leaf Beetles are a yearly concern when the second generation hatches about Mid-July. This year is no exception.&nbsp;Elm Leaf Beetles are a yearly nuisance pest that feed on Elm leaves. The small Green and yellow striped adults can be troublesome in homes during the fall and spring as they overwinter in houses. Adult Beetles become active when the new leaves on Elms emerge in the spring. They feed on the new foliage and the females lay their eggs in early May. Larva emerge and start feeding on the underside of leaves for two to three weeks, and then drop to the ground to pupate on the soil surface, or stay in the tree to pupate in the cracks of the bark. Most of the time this first generation goes unnoticed because of small numbers, and the tree producing new foliage to replace what leaves had been lost.&nbsp;The second generation is where most of the damage is observed. The massive populations of beetles feeding on the leaves are what give the tree a burnt or brown appearance. This is when most people become alarmed and may notice the beetles all over their trees, or the yellow or yellow brown pupae in the cracks of the tree. Most of the time, although surprising to find, and disconcerting to see your tree looking brown early in the season, the trees is still alive and will leaf out just fine the following season.&nbsp;Treatment for the beetles is usually not recommended. Most large healthy trees can withstand late season defoliation, and if anyone in the area also has beetles, then they are likely to come back to your tree. If you do want to treat, time and chemical sprays to coincide with egg hatch in either mid-May for the first generation, or early to mid-July for the second generation. Often a single application made to control the first generation is all that is required. There are several effective sprays on the market labeled for use in the control of Elm Beetles. Please make sure that you follow all directions on the container. &nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Elm Leaf Beetles 

This article written by Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, K-State Extension Nutrient Management Specialist, gives a great summary on planning the best wheat fertility program through timely soil testing. It addresses the correlation between the amount of fall nitrate-N in the soil profile and wheat yield.

Taking 24-inch soil profile-N samples in the fall has been a recommended practice for making an N recommendation for winter wheat for many years. However, due to the mobility of nitrate-N in the soil, soil test values observed in the fall may be different from values observed in the spring, particularly on soils prone to leaching. Because many producers wait until spring green-up to make their N application, does soil sampling in the fall for nitrate-N, really provide useful information for N management in wheat? That is a legitimate question.

Analysis of yields taken from K-State research plots that received no N fertilizer shows a strong positive relationship with fall soil profile nitrate-N level and wheat yield.

We found that at low soil nitrate levels, wheat yields responded well to applied N fertilizer in the fall. We also found that when fall soil profile nitrate-N levels are greater than 80 to 100 lbs./acre, it is unlikely the site will respond to additional fertilizer N applied in the spring.

In short, a strong relationship was found between wheat yield and fall nitrate-N levels from 24-inch profile soil test analyses when no N fertilizer was applied. Although new practices have been developed to improve N management in winter wheat, soil sampling in the fall for nitrate-N remains an important practice to manage N efficiently and can result in considerable savings for producers.

When soil sampling for N is not done, the K-State fertilizer recommendation formula defaults to a standard value of 30 lbs./acre available N in the soil profile. In this particular dataset, the average profile N level was 39 lbs. N/acre. However, the N level at individual sites ranged from 11 to 197 lbs. N/acre. Most recommendation systems default to a standardized set of N recommendations based on yield goal and/or the cost of N. Without sampling for N or using some alternative method of measuring the soil’s ability to supply N to a crop, such as crop sensing, the recommendations made for N will

be inaccurate, resulting in a reduction in yield or profit per acre and increased environmental impact.

Failure to account for the N present in the soil wastes a valuable resource and can result in excess foliage, increased plant disease, inefficient use of soil water, and reduced yield. Twenty-four-inch profile soil sampling in fall for nitrate-N can have a significant impact on N recommendations and profitability for winter wheat in Kansas soils.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574181994278.png" alt="Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>This article written by Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, K-State Extension Nutrient Management Specialist, gives a great summary on planning the best wheat fertility program through timely soil testing. It addresses the correlation between the amount of fall nitrate-N in the soil profile and wheat yield.Taking 24-inch soil profile-N samples in the fall has been a recommended practice for making an N recommendation for winter wheat for many years. However, due to the mobility of nitrate-N in the soil, soil test values observed in the fall may be different from values observed in the spring, particularly on soils prone to leaching. Because many producers wait until spring green-up to make their N application, does soil sampling in the fall for nitrate-N, really provide useful information for N management in wheat? That is a legitimate question.Analysis of yields taken from K-State research plots that received no N fertilizer shows a strong positive relationship with fall soil profile nitrate-N level and wheat yield.We found that at low soil nitrate levels, wheat yields responded well to applied N fertilizer in the fall. We also found that when fall soil profile nitrate-N levels are greater than 80 to 100 lbs./acre, it is unlikely the site will respond to additional fertilizer N applied in the spring.In short, a strong relationship was found between wheat yield and fall nitrate-N levels from 24-inch profile soil test analyses when no N fertilizer was applied. Although new practices have been developed to improve N management in winter wheat, soil sampling in the fall for nitrate-N remains an important practice to manage N efficiently and can result in considerable savings for producers.When soil sampling for N is not done, the K-State fertilizer recommendation formula defaults to a standard value of 30 lbs./acre available N in the soil profile. In this particular dataset, the average profile N level was 39 lbs. N/acre. However, the N level at individual sites ranged from 11 to 197 lbs. N/acre. Most recommendation systems default to a standardized set of N recommendations based on yield goal and/or the cost of N. Without sampling for N or using some alternative method of measuring the soil’s ability to supply N to a crop, such as crop sensing, the recommendations made for N willbe inaccurate, resulting in a reduction in yield or profit per acre and increased environmental impact.Failure to account for the N present in the soil wastes a valuable resource and can result in excess foliage, increased plant disease, inefficient use of soil water, and reduced yield. Twenty-four-inch profile soil sampling in fall for nitrate-N can have a significant impact on N recommendations and profitability for winter wheat in Kansas soils.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Fall profile nitrate-N level and wheat yield

Have you ever run into the grocery store for just one or two items then realized that your arms were overflowing?

Life can be like that and especially for our youth! It is easy to over-schedule or underestimate the time needed to accomplish tasks and, suddenly, our day or week have been become overwhelming!

It is important to think about our options. Just like making the decision to grab a cart when our groceries are more than we planned, where do we need help? Do we need to put some things back, both at the grocery store or in life? Are there some things that we realize we don’t need at all?

4-H is about experiential learning and sometimes that learning includes how to balance. I encourage families to not take on too many projects at a time or take a reasonable number of entries to an event.

Some people thrive on dozens of balls in the air – they can make that grocery store run look effortless. Others maintain a streamlined focus – I need two items and two items is all I am picking up. I know that I fall somewhere in the middle most of the time! Youth need to see the adults in their world set parameters and ask for help when needed.

Yes, there are times when we are scrambling to hold everything. Be sure to stop and think about your bigger picture and what we teach young people when we must be “busy” all the time and can’t/won’t take time for a rest. That rest may be as simple as enjoying a star-filled sky, sharing a funny joke, or having lunch with a friend.

Kansas State University is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision, or hearing disability.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579114162620.jpeg" alt="written by: Michelle Beran - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Michelle Beran - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>Have you ever run into the grocery store for just one or two items then realized that your arms were overflowing?Life can be like that and especially for our youth! It is easy to over-schedule or underestimate the time needed to accomplish tasks and, suddenly, our day or week have been become overwhelming!It is important to think about our options. Just like making the decision to grab a cart when our groceries are more than we planned, where do we need help? Do we need to put some things back, both at the grocery store or in life? Are there some things that we realize we don’t need at all?4-H is about experiential learning and sometimes that learning includes how to balance. I encourage families to not take on too many projects at a time or take a reasonable number of entries to an event.Some people thrive on dozens of balls in the air – they can make that grocery store run look effortless. Others maintain a streamlined focus – I need two items and two items is all I am picking up. I know that I fall somewhere in the middle most of the time! Youth need to see the adults in their world set parameters and ask for help when needed.Yes, there are times when we are scrambling to hold everything. Be sure to stop and think about your bigger picture and what we teach young people when we must be “busy” all the time and can’t/won’t take time for a rest. That rest may be as simple as enjoying a star-filled sky, sharing a funny joke, or having lunch with a friend.Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.Kansas State University is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision, or hearing disability.

BERAN: Life's grocery store trips

Last week our K-State Research and Extension specialists shared an update with us about the work being done related to mental health in Kansas. A Strength and Resiliency team is working to train Extension Educators in Kansas in both Mental Health First Aid, which several of our team members have completed, and the QPR program. QPR stands for question, persuade, and refer and targets suicide prevention training.

Since Sept. 4-10 is noted as National Suicide Prevention Week, it seems like the perfect place to provide basic information about suicide prevention and the warning signs of suicide. It also aims to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and encourage the pursuit of mental health assistance because going to therapy should be as normalized as going to the gym.

Some of the things you can do this week to observe suicide prevention would be:

1) Raise awareness – One of the most helpful and effective ways we can observe Suicide Prevention Week is by raising awareness of it. We need to reduce the stigma around it so that more people can reach out for help.

2) Educate yourself – The best thing we can do is to learn more about it ourselves. We need to educate ourselves and facilitate proactive prevention in our communities so that we can shatter the silence around our mental health. About a year ago, my husband John, and I started attending the Suicide Prevention Task Force meetings. We always come away from the meetings with a “Wow, I had no idea” kind of feeling. Hearing from family members who have lost loved ones to suicide is heart wrenching but in the safe space at our meetings I know it is an important part of the healing process.

3) Look out for others – Many people suffering from poor mental health do not reach out for help for fear of being judged or misunderstood. We need to look out for others and check for warning signs. Find ways to help people feel heard and understood.

Some of the warning signs of suicide include:

· Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose

· Talking about being a burden to others

· Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the lifeline at 988 or text SAVE to 741741 for 24/7 anonymous, free crisis counseling.

Mark your calendars for a couple of upcoming events that our community has planned to raise awareness. The Suicide Prevention Task Force is hosting the 10th Annual Golden Belt Glow 4 Life one-mil walk and 5K remembrance ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 17. The 2nd annual Pedal for Prevention event will be on Sept. 24. It is a bike ride that starts by the skate park at Brit Spaugh and ends at the West shelter at Vets Park.

Registration forms for either event may be found at ckpartnership.org under the Suicide Prevention tab.

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="written by: Donna Krug - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Donna Krug - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>Last week our K-State Research and Extension specialists shared an update with us about the work being done related to mental health in Kansas. A Strength and Resiliency team is working to train Extension Educators in Kansas in both Mental Health First Aid, which several of our team members have completed, and the QPR program. QPR stands for question, persuade, and refer and targets suicide prevention training.Since Sept. 4-10 is noted as National Suicide Prevention Week, it seems like the perfect place to provide basic information about suicide prevention and the warning signs of suicide. It also aims to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and encourage the pursuit of mental health assistance because going to therapy should be as normalized as going to the gym.Some of the things you can do this week to observe suicide prevention would be:1) Raise awareness – One of the most helpful and effective ways we can observe Suicide Prevention Week is by raising awareness of it. We need to reduce the stigma around it so that more people can reach out for help.2) Educate yourself – The best thing we can do is to learn more about it ourselves. We need to educate ourselves and facilitate proactive prevention in our communities so that we can shatter the silence around our mental health. About a year ago, my husband John, and I started attending the Suicide Prevention Task Force meetings. We always come away from the meetings with a “Wow, I had no idea” kind of feeling. Hearing from family members who have lost loved ones to suicide is heart wrenching but in the safe space at our meetings I know it is an important part of the healing process.3) Look out for others – Many people suffering from poor mental health do not reach out for help for fear of being judged or misunderstood. We need to look out for others and check for warning signs. Find ways to help people feel heard and understood.Some of the warning signs of suicide include:· Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose· Talking about being a burden to others· Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs· Acting anxious, agitated, or reckless· Sleeping too little or too much· Withdrawing or feeling isolated.If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the lifeline at 988 or text SAVE to 741741 for 24/7 anonymous, free crisis counseling.Mark your calendars for a couple of upcoming events that our community has planned to raise awareness. The Suicide Prevention Task Force is hosting the 10th Annual Golden Belt Glow 4 Life one-mil walk and 5K remembrance ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 17. The 2nd annual Pedal for Prevention event will be on Sept. 24. It is a bike ride that starts by the skate park at Brit Spaugh and ends at the West shelter at Vets Park.Registration forms for either event may be found at ckpartnership.org under the Suicide Prevention tab.Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

KRUG: Mental health promotion and prevention

Wheat planting is just around the corner, so now is the time to get your soil sampling done to have good information on which to base your fertilizer inputs.

The nutrients for which wheat is most likely to show responses statewide are nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Wheat is the most P-responsive crop we grow in Kansas, and while P removal with wheat may be less than with corn or soybeans, the relative yield response is often the highest. Therefore, knowledge of P soil test levels and fertilizer needs will be valuable

A standard 0-6 inch surface sample is normally used to test for pH and the non-mobile nutrients such as P and K. Phosphorus and potassium (K) are buffered processes in our Kansas soils. This simply means that the soil contains significant quantities of these nutrients, and the soil tests we commonly use provide an index value of the amounts available to the plant, not a true quantitative measure of the amounts present. In the case of P, most Kansas soils require about 18 pounds of P2O5 to increase 1 ppm in soil test P; for K is around 8 pounds K2O to increase 1 ppm K soil test.

In addition to requesting the standard soil tests of pH, P, and K from the 0-6 inch surface sample, producers might also want to monitor soil organic matter levels and micronutrients such as zinc (Zn). Zinc is not a nutrient commonly found deficient in wheat production. However, it is important for corn and grain sorghum. Thus including it in your sample package would be helpful for planning for these rotation crops.

Soil organic matter (SOM) is an important source of nutrients such as N and sulfur (S). When calculating the fertilizer needs for both these nutrients, SOM is taken into consideration. For wheat production, 10 pounds of available N and 2.5 pounds of S is credited for every 1% SOM in the soil.

In addition to pH, SOM, P, K, and Zn -- all of which are non-mobile in soils and accumulate in the surface – the mobile nutrients N, S, and chloride can provide significant yield responses when deficient in soils. Since all three of these nutrients are mobile in soils and tend to accumulate in the subsoil, we strongly recommend the use of a 0 to 24 inch profile soil sample prior to growing wheat, corn, or grain sorghum.

In summary, wheat producers in Kansas should consider soil testing to help in making accurate fertilizer decisions. Wheat producers specifically, should use surface 0-6 inch samples to determine the need for lime on low pH soils, P, K, Zn, and soil organic matter. They also should be using 24-inch profile soil tests for N, S, and Cl. Now is the time to get those samples taken, to ensure there will be enough time to consider those test results when planning your fall fertilizer programs.

Stacy Campbell is the Crop Production agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578070283981.png" alt="written by: Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>Wheat planting is just around the corner, so now is the time to get your soil sampling done to have good information on which to base your fertilizer inputs.The nutrients for which wheat is most likely to show responses statewide are nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Wheat is the most P-responsive crop we grow in Kansas, and while P removal with wheat may be less than with corn or soybeans, the relative yield response is often the highest. Therefore, knowledge of P soil test levels and fertilizer needs will be valuableA standard 0-6 inch surface sample is normally used to test for pH and the non-mobile nutrients such as P and K. Phosphorus and potassium (K) are buffered processes in our Kansas soils. This simply means that the soil contains significant quantities of these nutrients, and the soil tests we commonly use provide an index value of the amounts available to the plant, not a true quantitative measure of the amounts present. In the case of P, most Kansas soils require about 18 pounds of P2O5 to increase 1 ppm in soil test P; for K is around 8 pounds K2O to increase 1 ppm K soil test.In addition to requesting the standard soil tests of pH, P, and K from the 0-6 inch surface sample, producers might also want to monitor soil organic matter levels and micronutrients such as zinc (Zn). Zinc is not a nutrient commonly found deficient in wheat production. However, it is important for corn and grain sorghum. Thus including it in your sample package would be helpful for planning for these rotation crops.Soil organic matter (SOM) is an important source of nutrients such as N and sulfur (S). When calculating the fertilizer needs for both these nutrients, SOM is taken into consideration. For wheat production, 10 pounds of available N and 2.5 pounds of S is credited for every 1% SOM in the soil.In addition to pH, SOM, P, K, and Zn -- all of which are non-mobile in soils and accumulate in the surface – the mobile nutrients N, S, and chloride can provide significant yield responses when deficient in soils. Since all three of these nutrients are mobile in soils and tend to accumulate in the subsoil, we strongly recommend the use of a 0 to 24 inch profile soil sample prior to growing wheat, corn, or grain sorghum.In summary, wheat producers in Kansas should consider soil testing to help in making accurate fertilizer decisions. Wheat producers specifically, should use surface 0-6 inch samples to determine the need for lime on low pH soils, P, K, Zn, and soil organic matter. They also should be using 24-inch profile soil tests for N, S, and Cl. Now is the time to get those samples taken, to ensure there will be enough time to consider those test results when planning your fall fertilizer programs.Stacy Campbell is the Crop Production agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Planning your wheat fertility program, start now by soil testing

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

Rains on Saturday and Monday evening will help a little but not much. The state continues to suffer through a drought with now 72 percent of Kansas listed in at least a moderate drought, 57 percent at a severe level, and 32 percent in extreme conditions. Ten percent of the state, mostly in the southwest, is listed at exceptional drought.

Last week, the National Weather Service reported the 1.10 inches of rain in Wichita through July and August were the third-least since 1888. The 1.08 inches during that span in Sedan, located in the southeast part of the state, is the lowest on record. Closer to home, Russell reported 2.10 inches in July and August, the least on record since 1950. Kansas State University's Mesonet reports 12.25 inches of rainfall this year in Great Bend, nine inches shy of normal year. According to agronomists at K-State, before the recent rains, August was the third driest on record behind 2000 and 1913.

The conditions are impacting virtually all plants in the state. Alicia Boor, agriculture and natural resources agent in the Cottonwood District for K-State Research, said trees are usually easy to forget. But try pushing a shovel into the dry dirt, and that's also what trees are up against to survive.

"The root systems, those very end roots that are there as a feed root trying to get the nutrients, it can't push through the soil either," she said. "They tend to die back, compromising the root system and making your tree weaker."

Boor said, like any other plant, trees need water. Keeping trees healthy now can prevent damage even after drought conditions end.

"By watering trees a good 12-18 inches deep in this massive heat, every other week or every three weeks, is a really good way to keep your tree healthy so other things don't come in like borers and diseases," she said.  "That can then take out the tree maybe not this year but in a couple years because it's still stressed over what is happening now."

Crops have also been affected by the conditions, especially those not irrigated. Milo and corn are dying in the field, and wheat took a hit but largely survived ahead of the 2022 harvest this summer. Conditions now could have an effect on the 2023 crop.

"This year, one of the issues we're seeing is some milo is not putting heads out," Boor said. "It doesn't have enough water to even get to the stage where it's putting out the seeds the producers can harvest. Other portions, a lot of corn was cut for sileage early because there wasn't enough of an ear to be able to make the bushels of grain they needed."

While plants suffer, certain insects thrive in drought conditions, including aphids and grasshoppers. Boor said the grasshoppers are out there but she's received no complaints about them being worse than usual. Damage from elm leaf beetles has been abundant but can be reduced with proper tree care.

"Elm leaf beetles are a yearly occurrence and this year just seems to be worse," said Boor. "That could be just because there's not as much leaf matter out there. The trees drop what they can't support. In a severe drought, they're not going to push out as many leaves. We're just seeing it look worse. It goes back to keeping them well cared for, then the elm leaf beetle is not as big of a deal."

The bad news: scientists are already warning the drought will likely continue through 2023.&nbsp;"There are a couple different options that might help alleviate it," Boor said, "but most signs are pointing that we're going to stay in this drought for a little bit longer."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661872681834.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostRains on Saturday and Monday evening will help a little but not much. The state continues to suffer through a drought with now 72 percent of Kansas listed in at least a moderate drought, 57 percent at a severe level, and 32 percent in extreme conditions. Ten percent of the state, mostly in the southwest, is listed at exceptional drought.Last week, the National Weather Service reported the 1.10 inches of rain in Wichita through July and August were the third-least since 1888. The 1.08 inches during that span in Sedan, located in the southeast part of the state, is the lowest on record. Closer to home, Russell reported 2.10 inches in July and August, the least on record since 1950. Kansas State University's Mesonet reports 12.25 inches of rainfall this year in Great Bend, nine inches shy of normal year. According to agronomists at K-State, before the recent rains, August was the third driest on record behind 2000 and 1913.The conditions are impacting virtually all plants in the state. Alicia Boor, agriculture and natural resources agent in the Cottonwood District for K-State Research, said trees are usually easy to forget. But try pushing a shovel into the dry dirt, and that's also what trees are up against to survive."The root systems, those very end roots that are there as a feed root trying to get the nutrients, it can't push through the soil either," she said. "They tend to die back, compromising the root system and making your tree weaker."Boor said, like any other plant, trees need water. Keeping trees healthy now can prevent damage even after drought conditions end."By watering trees a good 12-18 inches deep in this massive heat, every other week or every three weeks, is a really good way to keep your tree healthy so other things don't come in like borers and diseases," she said. "That can then take out the tree maybe not this year but in a couple years because it's still stressed over what is happening now."Crops have also been affected by the conditions, especially those not irrigated. Milo and corn are dying in the field, and wheat took a hit but largely survived ahead of the 2022 harvest this summer. Conditions now could have an effect on the 2023 crop."This year, one of the issues we're seeing is some milo is not putting heads out," Boor said. "It doesn't have enough water to even get to the stage where it's putting out the seeds the producers can harvest. Other portions, a lot of corn was cut for sileage early because there wasn't enough of an ear to be able to make the bushels of grain they needed."While plants suffer, certain insects thrive in drought conditions, including aphids and grasshoppers. Boor said the grasshoppers are out there but she's received no complaints about them being worse than usual. Damage from elm leaf beetles has been abundant but can be reduced with proper tree care."Elm leaf beetles are a yearly occurrence and this year just seems to be worse," said Boor. "That could be just because there's not as much leaf matter out there. The trees drop what they can't support. In a severe drought, they're not going to push out as many leaves. We're just seeing it look worse. It goes back to keeping them well cared for, then the elm leaf beetle is not as big of a deal."The bad news: scientists are already warning the drought will likely continue through 2023.&nbsp;"There are a couple different options that might help alleviate it," Boor said, "but most signs are pointing that we're going to stay in this drought for a little bit longer."

GB extension agent: Drought conditions impacting plant, insect life 

Beef cattle economic outlook, ongoing issues surrounding the transportation and cattle industry, and improving efficiency through feeding strategies and cattle comfort are among topics planned for the 2022 Kansas State University Beef Stocker Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 29.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The conference will be hosted at the K-State Beef Stocker Unit, located west of Manhattan off Marlatt Avenue.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“This year’s program reflects the challenging landscape our industry is experiencing,” said&nbsp;Dale Blasi, K-State Animal Sciences and Industry professor and beef cattle extension specialist. “The experiences and thoughts of our assembled speakers and panelists will provide insights as we progress into an unknown future.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The day will start with a welcome at 9:30 a.m. and conclude around 5 p.m. Sponsoring this year’s event is Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Topics for this year’s agenda include: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Registration is $25 and due Sept. 15. Walk-in registration is available for $35. To register, go to&nbsp;asi.ksu.edu/stockerfieldday.More information also is available by contacting Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lschrein@ksu.edu" target="_blank">lschrein@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="written by: Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>Beef cattle economic outlook, ongoing issues surrounding the transportation and cattle industry, and improving efficiency through feeding strategies and cattle comfort are among topics planned for the 2022 Kansas State University Beef Stocker Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 29.&nbsp;&nbsp;The conference will be hosted at the K-State Beef Stocker Unit, located west of Manhattan off Marlatt Avenue.&nbsp;&nbsp;“This year’s program reflects the challenging landscape our industry is experiencing,” said&nbsp;Dale Blasi, K-State Animal Sciences and Industry professor and beef cattle extension specialist. “The experiences and thoughts of our assembled speakers and panelists will provide insights as we progress into an unknown future.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The day will start with a welcome at 9:30 a.m. and conclude around 5 p.m. Sponsoring this year’s event is Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health.&nbsp;&nbsp;Topics for this year’s agenda include: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Beef cattle economic outlook.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Ongoing issues surrounding the transportation and cattle industries.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Evidence-based approach to improving stocker health and performance.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Triumphs and tribulations of respiratory disease in stocker calves.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Harnessing nature: How to use dung beetles to improve herd and pasture health.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Improving efficiency through feeding strategies and cattle comfort.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Native pasture burning strategies: Impacts on cattle performance and pasture vigor. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Registration is $25 and due Sept. 15. Walk-in registration is available for $35. To register, go to&nbsp;asi.ksu.edu/stockerfieldday.More information also is available by contacting Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lschrein@ksu.edu" target="_blank">lschrein@ksu.edu</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

BOOR: Beef cattle economic outlook

The past ten days have been a whirlwind of activity. Our Program Development Committee met to welcome Monique, our new Family and Community Wellness agent in the Hays office. Conversation was lively as we planned for some issue-based programming in the months ahead. Then three days on our K-State campus participating in an agent update reinforced the important work we do in Extension related to health and wellness in our communities.

We have all heard it a lot. The pandemic changed the way we do business. A hiring freeze with K-State Research and Extension was lifted late last year so many of the open Family and Community Wellness positions have been filled. There was good energy among the new hires at our conference and I loved it. I found out that many of them have an interest in some of the things I am passionate about. As my Extension career winds down and I retire early next year, I have a full schedule of classes and workshops to lead.

The fermentation workshop I mentioned in last week’s column now has a waiting list, so I am hoping to offer another session later this fall. Several colleagues at K-State asked if I would provide a “train the trainer” workshop for them to learn about fermentation so that is also in the works.

Then there is the signature program I have enjoyed teaching since I was trained in 2012; Stay Strong Stay Healthy. This eight-week program is designed to help older adults improve their strength, flexibility, and balance. When our class starts the last week of September, we’ll be missing Reta Brack, who passed away this summer. Reta sat in the front row of every SSSH class I led, and like many of the other participants, enjoyed the socialization as much as the exercises. To register for the last Stay Strong Stay Healthy workshop that I will be leading, you will want to call our office to reserve your spot. The cost is $20 and class size is limited.

I will be leading a one-hour Medicare Update at our Great Bend activity center on October 12th. As more people become eligible for Medicare it is a good time to review the basic parts of Medicare. My husband John, and I will also be providing appointments during open enrollment (October 15 – December 7) to help people review their prescription drug plan in either the Great Bend or Hays offices.

Besides the face-to-face programs that Extension is well-known for, watch our Cottonwood District website and Facebook page for messages and links to on-line learning resources that you can take advantage whenever you have a few spare moments.

Who would have guessed that when my Extension career started in Barton County in July 1989 (and I typed my column on a typewriter) that I would be talking about websites, internet links, and Zoom meetings in 2022? While a lot has changed technology wise, a lot remains the same. K-State Research and Extension and the Cottonwood District still want to be your go-to source for research-based information to help improve your life!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at (620)792-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The past ten days have been a whirlwind of activity. Our Program Development Committee met to welcome Monique, our new Family and Community Wellness agent in the Hays office. Conversation was lively as we planned for some issue-based programming in the months ahead. Then three days on our K-State campus participating in an agent update reinforced the important work we do in Extension related to health and wellness in our communities.We have all heard it a lot. The pandemic changed the way we do business. A hiring freeze with K-State Research and Extension was lifted late last year so many of the open Family and Community Wellness positions have been filled. There was good energy among the new hires at our conference and I loved it. I found out that many of them have an interest in some of the things I am passionate about. As my Extension career winds down and I retire early next year, I have a full schedule of classes and workshops to lead.The fermentation workshop I mentioned in last week’s column now has a waiting list, so I am hoping to offer another session later this fall. Several colleagues at K-State asked if I would provide a “train the trainer” workshop for them to learn about fermentation so that is also in the works.Then there is the signature program I have enjoyed teaching since I was trained in 2012; Stay Strong Stay Healthy. This eight-week program is designed to help older adults improve their strength, flexibility, and balance. When our class starts the last week of September, we’ll be missing Reta Brack, who passed away this summer. Reta sat in the front row of every SSSH class I led, and like many of the other participants, enjoyed the socialization as much as the exercises. To register for the last Stay Strong Stay Healthy workshop that I will be leading, you will want to call our office to reserve your spot. The cost is $20 and class size is limited.I will be leading a one-hour Medicare Update at our Great Bend activity center on October 12th. As more people become eligible for Medicare it is a good time to review the basic parts of Medicare. My husband John, and I will also be providing appointments during open enrollment (October 15 – December 7) to help people review their prescription drug plan in either the Great Bend or Hays offices.Besides the face-to-face programs that Extension is well-known for, watch our Cottonwood District website and Facebook page for messages and links to on-line learning resources that you can take advantage whenever you have a few spare moments.Who would have guessed that when my Extension career started in Barton County in July 1989 (and I typed my column on a typewriter) that I would be talking about websites, internet links, and Zoom meetings in 2022? While a lot has changed technology wise, a lot remains the same. K-State Research and Extension and the Cottonwood District still want to be your go-to source for research-based information to help improve your life!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at (620)792-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

KRUG: Extension learning opportunities around the corner

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood extension district agent Stacy Campbell shares information about the impacts and resources available to ag producers during the ongoing drought.

<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.</a>

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood extension district agent Stacy Campbell shares information about the impacts and resources available to ag producers during the ongoing drought. <div><iframe title="Cottonwood extension district offers resources for producers dealing with drought" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ay3bk-12a9c3a-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">For more about the Post Podcast, including a full list of episodes and episode transcripts click here.</a>

🎙Post Podcast: Cottonwood Extension offers resources for dealing with drought

Wheat is considered a highly responsive crop to band-applied fertilizers, particularly phosphorus (P). Application of P as starter fertilizer can be an effective method for part or all the P needs. Wheat plants typically show a significant increase in fall tillers and better root development with the use of starter fertilizer (P and N). Winterkill can also be reduced with the use of starter fertilizers, particularly in low P testing soils.

Phosphorus fertilizer application can be done through the drill with the seed. In-furrow fertilizer can be applied, depending on the soil test and recommended application rate, either in addition to or instead of, any pre-plant P applications. The use of dry fertilizer sources with air seeders is a very popular and practical option. However, other P sources (including liquid) are agronomically equivalent and decisions should be based on cost and adaptability for each operation.

When applying fertilizer with the seed, rates should be limited to avoid potential toxicity to the seedling. When placing 11-52-0 or 10-34-0 fertilizer in direct contact with wheat seed, producers should use the guidelines in the table below, assuming there is no added potassium K20.

Air seeders that place the starter fertilizer and seed in a 1- to 2-inch band, rather than a narrow seed slot, provide some margin of safety because the concentration of the fertilizer and seed is lower in these diffuse bands. In this scenario, adding a little extra N fertilizer to the starter is less likely to injure the seed - but it is still a risk.

Certain types of fertilizers should never be applied with the seed, even at low rates. No urea-containing fertilizer (urea, UAN solution) should be placed in direct seed contact. The hydrolysis of urea to ammonia can result in ammonia toxicity to seedlings.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574181994278.png" alt="written by: Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Stacy Campbell - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>Wheat is considered a highly responsive crop to band-applied fertilizers, particularly phosphorus (P). Application of P as starter fertilizer can be an effective method for part or all the P needs. Wheat plants typically show a significant increase in fall tillers and better root development with the use of starter fertilizer (P and N). Winterkill can also be reduced with the use of starter fertilizers, particularly in low P testing soils.Phosphorus fertilizer application can be done through the drill with the seed. In-furrow fertilizer can be applied, depending on the soil test and recommended application rate, either in addition to or instead of, any pre-plant P applications. The use of dry fertilizer sources with air seeders is a very popular and practical option. However, other P sources (including liquid) are agronomically equivalent and decisions should be based on cost and adaptability for each operation.When applying fertilizer with the seed, rates should be limited to avoid potential toxicity to the seedling. When placing 11-52-0 or 10-34-0 fertilizer in direct contact with wheat seed, producers should use the guidelines in the table below, assuming there is no added potassium K20.Air seeders that place the starter fertilizer and seed in a 1- to 2-inch band, rather than a narrow seed slot, provide some margin of safety because the concentration of the fertilizer and seed is lower in these diffuse bands. In this scenario, adding a little extra N fertilizer to the starter is less likely to injure the seed - but it is still a risk.Certain types of fertilizers should never be applied with the seed, even at low rates. No urea-containing fertilizer (urea, UAN solution) should be placed in direct seed contact. The hydrolysis of urea to ammonia can result in ammonia toxicity to seedlings.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: In-furrow fertilizer for wheat

With many areas of Kansas experiencing significant drought, plant triage may be in order. This may mean that you need to prioritize what plants are most important. Large, established trees should be first on your list as they are expensive to remove, expensive to replace and take years to become large enough to fulfill their purpose. Next would be trees planted in the last 2 to 3 years as their root systems are still not completely established. Normally, these trees would be first on our list as the larger, more mature trees are more drought resistant. However, sometimes a drought will be severe enough that even large trees may die or become so weakened that borers move in and take them out. Next would be shrubs, then perennial flowers and finally lawns, annual flowers and vegetables. You probably see the pattern here. Start with what is most expensive to replace and move down from there. &nbsp;

If you are planning on watering your trees, one of the more common means is the use of soaker hoses. Soaker hoses are notorious for non-uniform watering. In other words, you often receive too much water from one part of the hose and not enough from another. On small trees, circling the tree several times with the soaker hose will even out the amount of water applied but this isn’t practical for larger trees. On larger trees, hooking both the beginning and the end of the soaker hose to a Y-adapter helps equalize the pressure and therefore provide a more uniform watering. The soaker hose can circle the trunk at a distance within the dripline of the tree but at least ½ the distance to the dripline. The dripline of the tree is outermost reach of the branches. On smaller trees, you may circle the tree several times so that only soil which has tree roots will be watered. Soil should be wet at least 12 inches deep as 80% of a trees roots are in the top foot of soil. Use a metal rod, wooden dowel, electric fence post or something similar to check depth. Dry soil is much harder to push through than wet and your probe will stop when it hits dry soil. How long it takes water to reach a 12 inch depth varies depending on the rate of water flow and soil. Record the amount of time it takes to reach 12 inches the first time the tree is watered. After that, simply water for that same amount of time&nbsp;

&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910 .

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="written by: Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>With many areas of Kansas experiencing significant drought, plant triage may be in order. This may mean that you need to prioritize what plants are most important. Large, established trees should be first on your list as they are expensive to remove, expensive to replace and take years to become large enough to fulfill their purpose. Next would be trees planted in the last 2 to 3 years as their root systems are still not completely established. Normally, these trees would be first on our list as the larger, more mature trees are more drought resistant. However, sometimes a drought will be severe enough that even large trees may die or become so weakened that borers move in and take them out. Next would be shrubs, then perennial flowers and finally lawns, annual flowers and vegetables. You probably see the pattern here. Start with what is most expensive to replace and move down from there. &nbsp;If you are planning on watering your trees, one of the more common means is the use of soaker hoses. Soaker hoses are notorious for non-uniform watering. In other words, you often receive too much water from one part of the hose and not enough from another. On small trees, circling the tree several times with the soaker hose will even out the amount of water applied but this isn’t practical for larger trees. On larger trees, hooking both the beginning and the end of the soaker hose to a Y-adapter helps equalize the pressure and therefore provide a more uniform watering. The soaker hose can circle the trunk at a distance within the dripline of the tree but at least ½ the distance to the dripline. The dripline of the tree is outermost reach of the branches. On smaller trees, you may circle the tree several times so that only soil which has tree roots will be watered. Soil should be wet at least 12 inches deep as 80% of a trees roots are in the top foot of soil. Use a metal rod, wooden dowel, electric fence post or something similar to check depth. Dry soil is much harder to push through than wet and your probe will stop when it hits dry soil. How long it takes water to reach a 12 inch depth varies depending on the rate of water flow and soil. Record the amount of time it takes to reach 12 inches the first time the tree is watered. After that, simply water for that same amount of time&nbsp;&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910 .

BOOR: Drought landscape

I saw a funny post on a friend’s Facebook page a few years ago that said “If parenthood came with a GPS, it would mostly just say ‘recalculating’”. While I had to giggle, it resonated with me as a former 4-H parent and now 4-H agent.

We talk a lot in 4-H about Experiential Learning – Learning by Doing; and having good adults to help youth by setting examples and modeling behavior. This is also much of how we learn to parent!

It is tough to talk through a situation with your child and then, watch them make a mistake in handling it. Unless it has grave consequences, it is much better for them to stub their toe while they are under our direction and guidance than to face plant as a 25-or 30-year old because they have never been allowed to make their own decisions. Are they going to make good decisions all of the time – NOPE! But I would challenge that neither did you or I at that age.

One of my favorite youth development authors, Dr. Tim Elmore, noted in a 2019 article in “Growing Leaders” that parents can make a couple of critical mistakes when it comes to youth and responsibility.

In his opinion, the first occurs when parents take responsibility too often when we should let go. He bases this thought on a 2019 nationwide survey that noted “Parents help their kids in a variety of ways, and that includes financial support, even when their children grow older. Nearly half of millennials get some level of financial help from mom and dad on a monthly basis, according to a new survey released by Money Under 30.”

I agree with Dr. Elmore that sometimes our adult children need our help but does that continued dependence on parents delay a young adult’s ability to shoulder responsibility? He goes on to state that “millions of today’s young adults are forced to delay professional goals because we’ve failed to teach them how to do without luxuries: smartphones, eating out, big tv’s” – which means their life goals….IF they have set them…..are pushed further away.

The second part of Dr. Elmore’s article also notes that parents let go of responsibility too often when we should still be taking it on and modeling appropriate behaviors. Do we expect our schools to teach money management, time management, daily living tasks such as preparing a meal, laundry, or basic car maintenance? Or, are we modelling these behaviors for our kids? Even if we are not great money managers or fantastic cooks, are we looking for resources to improve our own skills knowing that those young people are watching?

Dr. Elmore wraps up his article with a couple of great thoughts about committing to long-term thinking. He states “Let’s delegate responsibility to our young adults for their sake, so they can learn what it means to experience self-efficacy and autonomy. Let’s assume responsibility for our young adults for their sake, so they can see what it looks like to act from honor and justice.”

I see parents who are frustrated that their teens/young adults don’t seem to be responsible but this is not a skill that suddenly appears. It takes practice and some failed attempts to get better. Starting out with small responsibilities as young children and seeing adults model responsibility, good decision-making, and acknowledging their own errors is the best way to help youth develop solid life-time skills. It is Experiential Learning for all of us!

Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

Kansas State University is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision, or hearing disability.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579114162620.jpeg" alt="written by: Michelle Beran - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Michelle Beran - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>I saw a funny post on a friend’s Facebook page a few years ago that said “If parenthood came with a GPS, it would mostly just say ‘recalculating’”. While I had to giggle, it resonated with me as a former 4-H parent and now 4-H agent.We talk a lot in 4-H about Experiential Learning – Learning by Doing; and having good adults to help youth by setting examples and modeling behavior. This is also much of how we learn to parent!It is tough to talk through a situation with your child and then, watch them make a mistake in handling it. Unless it has grave consequences, it is much better for them to stub their toe while they are under our direction and guidance than to face plant as a 25-or 30-year old because they have never been allowed to make their own decisions. Are they going to make good decisions all of the time – NOPE! But I would challenge that neither did you or I at that age.One of my favorite youth development authors, Dr. Tim Elmore, noted in a 2019 article in “Growing Leaders” that parents can make a couple of critical mistakes when it comes to youth and responsibility.In his opinion, the first occurs when parents take responsibility too often when we should let go. He bases this thought on a 2019 nationwide survey that noted “Parents help their kids in a variety of ways, and that includes financial support, even when their children grow older. Nearly half of millennials get some level of financial help from mom and dad on a monthly basis, according to a new survey released by Money Under 30.”I agree with Dr. Elmore that sometimes our adult children need our help but does that continued dependence on parents delay a young adult’s ability to shoulder responsibility? He goes on to state that “millions of today’s young adults are forced to delay professional goals because we’ve failed to teach them how to do without luxuries: smartphones, eating out, big tv’s” – which means their life goals….IF they have set them…..are pushed further away.The second part of Dr. Elmore’s article also notes that parents let go of responsibility too often when we should still be taking it on and modeling appropriate behaviors. Do we expect our schools to teach money management, time management, daily living tasks such as preparing a meal, laundry, or basic car maintenance? Or, are we modelling these behaviors for our kids? Even if we are not great money managers or fantastic cooks, are we looking for resources to improve our own skills knowing that those young people are watching?Dr. Elmore wraps up his article with a couple of great thoughts about committing to long-term thinking. He states “Let’s delegate responsibility to our young adults for their sake, so they can learn what it means to experience self-efficacy and autonomy. Let’s assume responsibility for our young adults for their sake, so they can see what it looks like to act from honor and justice.”I see parents who are frustrated that their teens/young adults don’t seem to be responsible but this is not a skill that suddenly appears. It takes practice and some failed attempts to get better. Starting out with small responsibilities as young children and seeing adults model responsibility, good decision-making, and acknowledging their own errors is the best way to help youth develop solid life-time skills. It is Experiential Learning for all of us!Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.Kansas State University is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision, or hearing disability.