have attempted to hit the ground running in my first few weeks in Wildcat Extension. I have meet with board members, been on a few farm visits, and been introduced to a number people in Wildcat District community.
The first week on Wildcat started off fast as my second day I was already on the KGGF radio introducing myself. The second week I meet with a few board members to see what kind of programming they would like to see this winter. By the third week I was already in rotation around the district, getting to know each office and the Wildcat District team. Some other highlights include helping at the State Fair crops judging and joining Jeri with the Montgomery County Water Festival, teaching kids about how they use the crops we grow here in Kansas.
Although it took me some time to figure out how to script an extension radio report, a few have been created and sent off. This is first experience I’ve had with radio communications, but I think it is a great way to connect and educate our area producers and communities. Sometimes things move fast in agriculture and topics need to be timely and received quickly. Radio seems to do a good job at that.
I have had the pleasure to meet the director and researchers of the Southeast Area Station, including Dr. McNutt, Dr. Sassenrath, and Dr. Farney (though I’ve meet her previously). They are going to be a great group to work with and I look forward to teaming up with their expertise to bring some great programming and research to the Wildcat District. Dr. Sassenrath and I are already in the plans for a workshop program this winter that is a hands-on workshop teaching producers how to turn their own combine yield data into useable yield maps. Later they will be able to add soil fertility data and this can lead to variable rate applications.
Other programs ideas include financial programs such as farm secession and controlling costs and taxes. Financial programs like this would also be a great time to team up with FACS to cover the often difficult to address topic of farm mental health. A corn school has been set in February for the district, likely in the Southeast Area Station on February 11 but many details still need to be planned. A soybean school is possible as well.
It is great to be back in Southeast Kansas and the Wildcat District had already proven to be a great place to serve the communities by spreading the knowledge and passion of K-State Research and Extension.
James Coover
Crop Production
I
Cover Crops
Soil Testing
for Wheat
Wheat Seeding Rate