pring is finally here! It was a cold and wet winter and the crops are about a week or two behind schedule. Usually some eager farmers have a little corn planted by the last week of March but this year the planters are in waiting. Still, fields are being fertilized in preparation and the wheat is really kicking it into gear.
As the farmers get back into the field, K-State Research and Extension educational crop programs start to dwindle. March was a busy month with Land Use and Lease meeting on March 5, Donuts and Dicamba training on March 7, 4-H Gardening Institute on March 11 through 14, and Dirt Day in Neodesha on March 18.
The Donuts and Dicamba trainings had a big turnout as private and commercial applicators received the training they needed to use Dicamba products on Dicamba ready soybeans. Although we technically had donuts at the meeting, the homemade cinnamon rolls won the popularity contest. Dirt Day in Neodesha had some great topics and speakers for a full day that went beyond the standard “N, P and K”.
There are still lots of fun educational things to do in April. Coming up with have youth events like Ag Day in Girard and Jeri’s youth Wildlife Programs. At the end of the month we will have two Mushroom Growing workshops in Independence and Girard. Participants will learn how grow Oyster mushrooms in straw bags and Shitake mushrooms in oak logs. Growing mushrooms is surprising easy so please join us if you are curious how.
In addition to corn planting, April is also the beginning of crop inspection. Wheat rust has a good chance of blowing up from Texas and Oklahoma this year and the Wildcat District is on the front line for Kansas. I plan to be keep a watchful eye on crop insects and diseases and getting the notifications out to farmers and state extension agronomists.
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