Research shows that one in four homes in Kansas tests high for radon. Many home inspectors are now testing for radon, which is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking.

K-State Research and Extension is partnering with the Kansas Radon Program to bring three learning sessions to southeast Kansas. The hour-long program is free to attend and will feature information on radon risks and how to test your home. A light meal will be served.

Sessions will be held at the following locations:
Independence – Wed 2/15 at 12pm – 410 Peter Pan Rd.
Parsons – Wed 2/15 at 5:30pm – 25092 Ness Rd.
Iola – Thursday 2/16 at 12pm – 1006 N. State St.

While there is no cost to attend, registration is required to allow for food count. Register online at https://bit.ly/krpsekc or by calling (620) 365-2242.

This event is sponsored by Security 1^st Title, with offices throughout southeast Kansas. Other sponsors include Kansas Radon Program and KSRE’s Southwind and Wildcat Districts.

For more information, contact Clara with the Southwind District at (620) 365-2242 or Julie with the Wildcat District at (620) 784-5337.

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Tara Solomon-Smith, is the new Family and Community Wellness Extension Agent for K-State Extension Service.

She began work on January 9, 2023,  at her home office  in Erie, which serves Allen, Bourbon, Neosho, and Woodson Counties, which comprises the Southwind District.

Smith is in the Fort Scott office, located at the Bourbon County Courthouse on Thursdays.

Her hometown is Yates Center.

Smith earned a bachelors degree in Family Studies and Human Services from Kansas State University, and has been working in community education and engagement for over sixteen years.

The K-State Extension offers support to the community.

She offers these programs:

In her spare time she enjoys being on the family farm and exploring the outdoors with her husband and two boys, Smith said.

Much of Southeast Kansas experienced drought through the late summer and fall months of 2022. This has affected pasture health, forage yields, and hay prices, causing some producers to worry if they will have enough forage to maintain their herd numbers. In this article we will lay out a few forage options that producers may not be utilizing.

Many tall fescue pastures in SEK went into dormancy early last summer, and never seemed to come out, leaving producers to worry if the fescue is dead. While it is difficult to tell how much will recover, we know that stand health will be poor this spring. In some cases, spring oats can be drilled into fescue stands to provide additional forage. Using low seeding rates and a no-till drill, oats make a great companion crop allowing the fescue to rest.

Winter wheat can be used as a dual-purpose crop, where producers graze the stand early in the spring, and then pull cattle off to have a harvestable wheat crop. Winter wheat can be grazed until the first hallow stem stage without impacting yield potential. Research has shown a 0% yield impact from grazing prior to the first hallow stem stage, and then a 2% yield loss each day the wheat is grazed after the first hallow stem stage. The first hallow stem stage can be identified by splitting the main tiller on the wheat plant and finding the developing wheat head. The first hallow stem stage begins when the developing wheat head is approximately 1.5 centimeters above ground, roughly the diameter of a dime.

Winter wheat can also be used solely as a forage crop with the ability to rotate to a summer crop. In this system, wheat can be grazed until planting time. Wheat can be terminated via tillage or herbicides.

For producers who did not plant winter wheat in the fall there are a number of spring- planted cereal crops that make excellent grazing options.

Cereal rye is a cold-hardy, fast growing cereal crop that will produce a large amount of forage quickly. Cereal rye is most often planted in the fall, but in SEK, late winter plantings can also achieve adequate stands. Rye is best served as a silage crop because it matures quickly, but it will also give producers the earliest grazing option.

Spring oats is the next earliest forage option. Spring oats can be planted as early as February 15 in a warm and dry winter, or as late as March 10 in a cold and wet winter. Oats will freeze kill, so plan to plant after the last threat of a freeze.

Spring oats will not produce tillers, so yield potential will not be as high as other cereal crops. Grazing should begin when plants reach 6-8 inches tall and then grazing should end when plants reach 2-3 inches tall to maintain regrowth.

For producers looking to get more forage from their spring crop, spring triticale can be a great option. Spring triticale will mature later in the season than cereal rye and spring oats, so it is not recommended if producers want to rotate to corn in that field. Double-cropped soybeans would be an option in SEK.

Spring triticale has many hybrids that are designed for different forage types, meaning it can have good grazing potential, but triticale is best served as a hay/silage crop.

With a glim outlook on spring pasture health, producers may need to look beyond their typical spring grazing options. Cereal crops can be an inexpensive and high-quality forage to fill a need while tall fescue pastures recover from last year’s drought. For more information on using alternative forages, contact Chad Guthrie, crop production and forage management agent, at any Southwind Extension District office.

By Clara Wicoff

Southwind Extension District

Have you had your home tested for radon? According to Wichita State University, asking just this one question can reduce your whole family’s risk of cancer. The Kansas Radon Program reports that residential radon gas exposure is the top cause of lung cancer death for non-smokers. Radon is sometimes referred to as the “silent killer” because you can’t see it, smell it, or taste it.

One in four Kansas homes tests high for radon. The only way to know the radon level in your home is to test for it. According to the Kansas Radon Program, winter is an excellent time to test your home. You can obtain a radon test kit from any K-State Research and Extension office, including our Southwind District offices in Iola, Fort Scott, Erie, and Yates Center.

If you want to learn even more about radon, join us for an educational program on February 16^th at 12 PM in our Iola office! The professionals from the Kansas Radon Program will be presenting on the dangers of radon exposure and how to test your home. This program is free, but registration is required at bit.ly/krpsek. A light meal will be provided.

For more information, please contact me at [email protected] or 620-365-2242. You can also learn more from the Kansas Radon Program at kansasradonprogr

We have just barely dipped into winter and so far it’s not been too bad. Living in southeast Kansas, we all know that can change in the blink of an eye! We continue to be in a drought situation with the counties being classified in the severe to extreme drought categories. The extent of the drought on our landscape ornamentals will show up this spring. Unfortunately, the drought has already taken out some green giant arborvitae in the area.

More than likely, we still have the potential for extremely cold weather in the next month. How will it affect our landscape ornamentals? Of course low temperatures can directly damage plants, especially those that produce fruit. For example, fruit buds of peaches and nectarines are likely to be damaged at 5° to –5° F. Blackberries are generally damaged at temperatures near 5°F though some of the newer varieties can withstand temperatures to -10°F. Some fruit buds of apple cultivars, however, can survive temperatures as low as –20° to -25° F.

What about wind chills? Are wind chills harmful to plants? Not really. Wind chills have a huge effect on warm-blooded animals and their ability to keep warm. But plants do not respond to wind chills indexes because they do not need to maintain a temperature above that of the outside temperature. For example, a -40°F wind chill at 0 degrees F will not cause any more cold injury to plant tissue than a wind chill of -20°F at 0 degrees F.

However, the wind alone can dry out plant tissues. A high wind velocity can cause moisture loss from plant tissues and even cause enough loss to injure or even kill tissues, especially in smaller size wood that is found in peach tree twigs, apple spurs and blackberry canes.

Because we haven’t had moisture on a regular basis this fall and winter, landscape plants will need some additional water to survive. Any newly transplanted woody plants and evergreens should be high on your priority list for watering. Water all of the area from the trunk to the edge of the outermost branches and not just near the trunk. In order for the water to soak in, wait until the temperature is above freezing and the soil is unfrozen.

Landscapes have a tendency to be dark and rather drab this time of year. But certain kinds of plants can add color and interest to the winter landscape. If you’re looking to brighten your landscape in the winter, consider planting a red or yellow twig Dogwood shrub this spring. The Red Osier Dogwood has bright red young stems during the winter months that become even more intense closer to spring. The Yellow Twig Dogwood is much like the red except the twigs are bright yellow instead of red.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District.  She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

January is Family Fit Lifestyle Month! This is a great time for you to create healthy lifestyle habits as a family that can last all year long. One healthy lifestyle habit is fitting physical activity into your day. Physical activity can help kids feel better right away by supporting better sleep, a better mood, and even better grades. This month, try to get active together!

The Move Your Way® campaign for the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans suggests trying things like making your morning walks a race, dancing while dinner is in the oven, or showing your kids your favorite ways to move. According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, kids ages 6 to 17 need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. As part of that daily 60 minutes, they also need muscle-strengthening activity (like swinging on the monkey bars) at least three days a week and bone-strengthening activity (like running and jumping) at least three days a week. Wondering what counts as physical activity for your kids? Anything that gets them moving! You can learn more about ways to help your kids get active every day at bit.ly/Get-Kids-Active.

Nebraska Extension also has some great tips for keeping your family active during these cold winter months, including brainstorming how your favorite family activities during warmer months can be adapted for winter months, enjoying a dance party, making story time active time by having everyone hop on one foot or do a jumping jack every time a certain word is read in a story, and more. They also recommend limiting screen time to no more than two hours per day. You can read all of their tips online at bit.ly/Tips-For-Winter-Activity.

For more information, please contact me at [email protected] or 620-365-2242

The Importance of Colostrum: Do We Really Need to Talk About This Again?

As producers in the Southwind District gear up for the spring calving season, calf health is of upmost importance. In this article published by Dr. Gregg Hanzlicek of Kansas State University, he discusses colostrum, or the first milk of a cow, and what that means for the health of the calf.

At the beginning of every calving season, we find ourselves discussing the importance of colostrum (first milk) in cow-calf herds. We discuss this topic so often; it makes one wonder if we shouldn’t move on to other topics? The short answer to that question is NO because of the great importance of this single dietary ingredient to calf health and growth.

The bovine species is special and almost perfect in every way except the design of the placenta. Unfortunately, because of the way the placenta is structured, the dam cannot pass any of her antibodies through the placenta to the calf. Therefore, the calf is completely devoid of any antibody protection against infections at the time of birth.

To overcome the inability to pass antibodies to the calf before birth, the bovine dam secretes large amounts of antibodies into her colostrum. Colostrum contains ten times more IgG1 (one of the major antibodies) compared to milk produced during the rest of lactation. If the calf rises and suckles within the first few hours after birth, it will absorb the antibodies contained in the colostrum. Protection will be immediate upon absorption. If the calf does not nurse and absorb these antibodies, then a very important part of their ability to fight infections will be absent for several weeks.

Several factors are involved to assure colostrum antibody protection.

1) The length of time from birth to consuming colostrum is very important. Immediately after birth, the calf’s digestive system begins to lose its ability to absorb colostrum antibodies. At six hours after birth, only about 60% of the colostrum antibodies consumed will be absorbed into the calf’s system and by 24 hours virtually none will be absorbed. It is very important that each calf receive colostrum as soon as possible after birth to maximize antibody absorption.

2) Colostrum quantity is also important. The level of antibody protection provided by colostrum is dependent on the total amount of antibodies consumed by the calf. This amount is dependent on the amount of colostrum that is produced and consumed. Colostrum quantity is largely dependent on dam age and her pre-calving nutritional status.

3) Colostrum quality is the third component of a successful colostrum management program. The term quality means the number of diseases that are represented by the colostrum antibodies. The antibodies are disease specific. For example, antibodies that target E. coli infections will not be the same antibodies that target Rotavirus infections. The range of disease specific antibodies produced by the dam is dependent on the variety of diseases she has been exposed to in her lifetime and the number of diseases she has been vaccinated against. A well-designed vaccination program can greatly improve colostrum quality.

The importance of colostrum in neonatal calves goes beyond antibody protection. Compared to milk, colostrum concentration of fat and protein are two to four times greater. The concentration of the major vitamins, including A, B, D, and E is also much higher in colostrum compared to milk. In addition to these nutrients, colostrum contains several enzymes that possess antimicrobial properties. These nutrients and enzymes are extremely important to the calf’s ability to survive and grow during early life.

For most herds there will be times when a calf is unable to rise and nurse as quickly as needed. Typical cases include a calf that has experienced dystocia and is tired or hurt or is born to a dam with poor mothering ability or born to a dam that doesn’t produce enough colostrum. In these cases what are the best ways to manage the colostrum program?

In the case where the calf is hurt or the dam’s mothering ability is lacking, hand-milking the dam and collecting the colostrum is the best intervention. This should only be attempted if it can be accomplished in a facility that provides safety to both human and dam. Never use dairy colostrum or colostrum from neighboring cow-calf operations. There are several diseases, including Johne’s disease and bovine leukosis, that may not be on your operation and can be passed to the calf through the colostrum.

The second-best intervention would be to administer a commercial powdered-colostrum replacer. Do not use colostrum supplements as they do not contain the appropriate concentration of antibodies for protection. It is also best to choose a colostrum replacer made from bovine colostrum, not bovine plasma. Research has shown that absorption is higher in colostrum-based replacers.

It is also important that electrolytes or probiotics NOT be mixed with colostrum or colostrum replacers. Research is clear that these products interfere with colostrum/replacer digestion and absorption.

Does feeding method impact colostrum absorption? It is always best to use a nipple bottle. When the calf nurses, the colostrum will by-pass the rumen and will arrive in the intestinal area where absorption occurs much faster. Research indicates that by-passing the rumen is more important if feeding 1 quart or less of colostrum/replacer. An 80-pound calf needs about 2 quarts of colostrum and most commercial replacers are formulated to be fed in 2-quart amounts to all sizes of calves. In these cases, using an esophageal feeder is certainly acceptable.

Colostrum is one of the most important components in any calf-health program not only because of the antibodies but also because of the many other nutritional products that it provides. Colostrum quantity and quality, in addition to timing from birth to consumption, are important aspects of any colostrum management program.

If you have specific colostrum related questions, or want to purchase a commercial colostrum supplement, please contact your local veterinarian. If you would like more information on this article or have questions for Dr. Hanzlicek, please contact Hunter Nickell at [email protected] or at any of the Southwind Extension District Offices.

By Clara Wicoff

Southwind Extension District

It’s hard to believe that 2023 is almost here! With the start of a new year, you may be thinking about setting New Year’s resolutions. But you may also be remembering previous New Year’s resolutions that were set with the best of intentions and abandoned by February. So, how can you set yourself up for success this time around? Set SMART goals, which are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-framed.

To make your goals SMART, ensure they answer the following questions:

Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve? (Try to answer: Who? What? When? Why? How?)

Measurable: How will you know you have reached your goal?

Achievable: Is there a realistic chance you can achieve this goal?

Relevant: How does this goal match what really matters to you?

Time-framed: When will you aim to achieve this goal?

As an example, let’s say you want to exercise more. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week. (Moderate-intensity activity includes activity where you are breathing hard but can still easily have a conversation.) A SMART goal which aligns with this recommendation could be: “I will exercise for at least thirty minutes on five days each week in 2023.” However, it is important to consider whether this goal is achievable for you personally. If you are tight on time and need to start small, make sure your goal reflects that. Even when starting with just five minutes of exercise, it all adds up!

For each SMART goal you set, it may also be helpful to write out specific action steps that you will take to achieve that goal. For the sample goal provided here, that may include deciding how and where you will exercise. It may also include an action step of signing up for Walk Kansas, which is a team-based program that can help you and others lead a healthier life through physical activity. This eight-week program takes place from March to May each year. For more information, please contact me at [email protected] or 620-365-2242.

Do you have a spring calving herd getting ready to calve or a fall herd that just finished up? Or maybe you want a little more practice to become more confident in your abilities to help a cow have a calf. In anticipation of calving season, Kansas State University Animal Sciences and Industry and K-State Research and Extension are planning a series of calving schools in January.

The program will outline overall calving management that includes stages of the normal calving process as well as tips to handle difficult calving situations. A.J. Tarpoff, K-State extension beef veterinarian, explains the goals of the event are to increase knowledge, practical skills, and to increase the number of live calves born if they need assistance.

The schools will also share tips on when and how to intervene to assist the cow or heifer. Presenters will demonstrate proper use of calving equipment on a life-size cow and calf model.

“Our goal is for producers to leave better prepared for calving season,” Tarpoff adds. “We will discuss timelines on when to examine cows for calving problems, and when to call your vet for help if things are not going well. We will also discuss calf care early in life. It’s an excellent program regardless of experience level.” The meeting will also feature a presentation on vaccine handling, presented by local agents Ben Sims (Greenwood County) and Hunter Nickell (Southwind District)

This meeting will be held on Thursday, January 12, 2023, at the 4-H Building at the Old Iron Club, Fredonia, Kansas at 6 pm. RSVP to Southwind District at 620-365-2242, Wildcat District at 620-378-2167, or Greenwood County at 620-583-7455. Dinner will be provided, so an accurate head count is required by January 4th. The meal is sponsored by Merck Animal Health and Salt Creek Vet Clinic of Fredonia.

For more and updated information about the Calving Schools or local flyers, go to KSUBeef.org or contact Hunter Nickell, Livestock Production Agent, (620) 365-2242, [email protected].

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K – State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer

The Kansas Forest Service is offering low-cost conservation tree and shrub seedlings for purchase again this year. These seedlings are to be used in conservation plantings, such as home/livestock windbreaks, living snow fences, Christmas tree plantations, firewood lots, habitats for game birds and wildlife, barriers to reduce noise pollution, blocking ugly views, marking property lines and creating habitat for songbirds.

These plants are 1 or 2 years old, and their sizes vary from 12 to 18 inches, depending on species.  Most of the trees are bare-root seedlings, however some are available as container-grown seedlings such as Ponderosa pine and Southwestern white pine. Some of the deciduous trees that are available include: bald cypress, black walnut, bur oak, cottonwood, hackberry, redbud, and sycamore.  Shrubs available include American plum, chokecherry, lilac, and sand hill plum. This is not a complete listing of available trees and not all trees are recommended for this area.

The Kansas Forest Service also offers tree “bundles” for purchase. The Quail Bundle offers a variety of shrubs designed to attract quail, including American plum, fragrant sumac, golden current and chokecherry. It was created in cooperation with Quail Forever to provide excellent food and habitat for upland bird species in eastern Kansas.

Another popular favorite is the pollinator bundle. Designed to improve the habitat for a diverse array of pollinating insects, it primarily focuses on native bees, honey bees, butterflies and moths. This bundle is composed of seven species of shrubs and small trees – American plum, chokecherry, golden currant, false indigo, elderberry, buttonbush and eastern redbud.

Not certain what you would like to order? Stop by the Extension office and pick up a brochure that has color pictures of various trees and shrubs at maturity. Orders for conservation trees are accepted December 1^st through the first full week of May, with shipments beginning in March.  However, I recommend that you order early to ensure availability of trees.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District.  She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.  

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.