Extension News & Insight

It seems as though the news is full of headlines about nothing but bickering at all levels of government. I don’t know about you but at times I want to send them all to their corners until they can be civil to each other.

Securing Agriculture Greg Doering Kansas Farm Bureau The official dedication and ribbon cutting for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan this week is very welcome news. It also makes me feel old since the process to get here has taken nearly the entirety of my adult life.

Butterfly Gardening Butterfly gardening continues to grow in popularity. With the lengthy list of pollinator plants, knowing what species butterflies prefer can facilitate gardeners with their selections.

Pest Control on Fruit Trees It can be a challenge to know how to spray fruit trees for pest control. Spray schedules will vary depending on whether the trees have fruit or not.

Cow Herd Mineral Supplementation When thinking about meeting the nutritional needs of beef cow-calf herds, the first focus should be on the ability of the base forage to meet the energy and protein needs of the various groups of cattle on the ranch that differ by age and lactation status.

Water the Landscape Much of Kansas is in a severe or exceptional drought this spring. Therefore, watering now is very important to help alleviate moisture stress even in your windbreak.

By Glenn Brunkow Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher I don’t know about you, but spring is here and I am ready for it. After a cold winter, there is nothing better than the sun on your face that first warm spring day. That same sunshine brings new growth, and we can see our pastures greening up.