The Office of Farm and Ranch Transition at Kansas State university will be partnering with the Southwind Extension District to host the 2022 Farm and Ranch Transition Conference on December 15, at the Neosho Valley Event Center in Erie, KS.

The conference invites keynote speaker Dr. Shannon Ferrell, of Oklahoma State University, to speak on the process of farm transitioning. As and educator and speaker, Dr. Ferrell helps audiences all over North America understand the fundamental legal elements of farm and business management and farm transition planning. He has provided presentations and workshops to a cumulative audience of over 30,000 across the US and Canada while authoring over fifty publications, including serving as lead author on the Farm Transition Workbook. In addition, he has testified before Congress and the Oklahoma state legislature on multiple policy issues involved in farm transitions from regulatory barriers to retirement savings. In private practice, he helps farm families with both the conversations involved in forming the best transition planning approach and creating the mechanisms to make their transitions successful.

Ashlee Westerhold, Director of the Kansas State Office of Farm and Ranch Transitions will speak on the services the office provides following their three main objectives: 1. Development of a land-link program to introduce exiting landowners with beginning farmers/ranchers through an application and curated matching process. 2. Provide one-on-one technical services to facilitate transitioning the operation. 3. Develop an extensive training program for beginning farmers/ranchers to master critical financial and business issues.

Participants will also learn about when and how to utilize lawyers in their farm transitioning process and hear from a peer panel on real experiences of going through the transitioning process.

Farmers, Ranchers, Landowners, and consultants are all encouraged to attend this conference to gain valuable insight on transitioning out of, or into a farm or ranch. Participants can sign up by visiting www.agkansitions.org or by calling Chad at any Southwind Extension District office. The deadline to sign up for this conference is Dec. 1.

Even though we didn’t get enough rain last week to be a true drought buster, we did receive enough moisture to get the cool season broadleaf weeds to germinate. My residence is in the far southern portion of Neosho county, and my lawn had been brown as brown could be for several months. However, I did notice over the weekend that the fescue was trying to green up and there were little green weeds poking through the soil. It was henbit!

Cool season broadleaf weeds such as henbit, dandelions and chick weed all germinate in the cool moist periods of September and October. It was actually a bit delayed this year because of the dry conditions. They overwinter as small plants, barely visible unless you get down close to the ground to look. Once warm weather arrives in the spring, the plants grow rapidly and flower.

Fall control is ideal for these cool season broadleaf weeds. The weeds are storing food in their roots and will send a leaf applied herbicide to their roots as well. The herbicides will translocate to the roots and will kill the plants from the roots up. These plants are also small and easily controlled right now.

There are several products on the market that are effective on these fall germinating weeds. Herbicides such as 2,4-D or combination products that contain 2,4-D, MCCP and Dicamba, sold under the trade names of Trimec, Weed-B-Gon, or Weed-Out, can be used. A product called Weed Free Zone is also an option. It contains the three active ingredients mentioned above plus carfentrazone.

Newly planted lawns should not be treated with any herbicide until the new grass seedlings have been mowed two or three times depending on the product. Read and follow label directions closely.

Herbicide drift can be a problem during the spring when warm temperatures prevail along with winds. The cooler fall temperatures and the dormant state of most plants reduce this problem considerably, making it an ideal time for application.

As we enter November, it is also the time to give cool-season lawns the last nitrogen application of the season. Why November? November is a good time because it will really help the grass next spring.  As the top growth slows due to the cool temperatures in November, grass plants continue making food (carbohydrates). Carbohydrates that are not used in growth are stored in the crown and other storage tissues in the plant. These reserves help the turfgrass green up earlier in the spring and sustain growth into May without the need for early spring nitrogen application.

How much fertilizer should you apply? One to 1½ pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn area is sufficient. A quick nitrogen carrier such as urea or ammonium sulfate should be used.

Weed control is going to be more important this year than ever because our turf has taken such a hit from the drought. Because some of the turf may have actually died out, it makes the perfect opportunity for weeds to take over. Take action now to have a beautiful, weed-free lawn next spring!

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.

By Clara Wicoff

Southwind Extension District

If you’ve been shocked by food prices this year, you aren’t alone. Try these tips for dealing with food price inflation. Not every idea will work for you, so pick the ones that best fit you and your lifestyle!

Start by making a list before grocery shopping. Stick to that list and avoid shopping on an empty stomach to prevent impulse purchases. When possible, also try to shop when you are well-rested because you will make better decisions. Consider eliminating high-cost “junk food” snacks and beverages that provide empty calories with little or no beneficial nutrients. Take advantage of coupons (but only on products you already use). Look up and down when selecting a product, since eye-level products can be more expensive. When purchasing produce, plan to purchase produce which is in season and less expensive.

If you are concerned about maintaining a nutrient-rich diet amid high food prices, consider choosing canned fruits and vegetables. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, these can be just as nutrition as fresh and frozen foods. There are some steps you can take to ensure you are choosing a nutritious option. Pick fruits canned in water or 100% fruit juice versus those packed in syrup. When it comes to canned vegetables, choose ones labeled “no salt added” or “low sodium.”

If you are eating out at a restaurant, rethink your drink and make the switch from soda to water. You can also investigate if local restaurants have specials like “kids eat free” nights. If you have leftovers, bring them home to eat for another meal. For food safety purposes, leftovers should be refrigerated or frozen within two hours of eating or preparation. Place the leftovers in a prominent spot in your refrigerator to remind yourself to consume them promptly.

Another important way to cut down on food costs is to reduce food waste and eat everything you buy. The average family of four loses $1,500 each year on wasted food. Some of the tips listed above will help you reduce food waste, including shopping from a list. Proper food storage is also key. Use thermometers in your refrigerator and freezer to ensure food is kept at a safe temperature (40°F or less for the refrigerator and 0°F or less for the freezer). Implement the “first in, first out” storage method to ensure the food you buy first is used first. For more food storage tips, check out the USDA FoodKeeper app at bit.ly/AppFoodKeeper.

Please contact Clara Wicoff, Nutrition, Food and Health Extension Agent, for more information at [email protected] or 620-365-2242.

Southeast Kansas has been in a severe drought for most of this year’s growing season.

Poor crop and pasture yields have led to limited feed options and increased forage price tags for cattle producers.
Two thousand twelve offered very similar conditions to the Plains they could get their hands on.
One option many Kansas producers found was to ammoniate wheat straw.
Wheat straw is widely considered a poor forage that is better served as bedding, but research conducted by Kansas State University shows ammoniating bales can greatly improve protein content
and digestibility. Wheat straw typically tests around 3.3% crude protein and 31% in–vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). Ammoniation rates of 1.5% (lbs anhydrous ammonia/dry matter lbs wheat straw) can increase crude protein content to 8.6% and IVDMD to 42%. An ammoniation rate of 3% increased
crude protein to 10.8% and IVDMD to 46.2%.
The process of ammoniating wheat straw is not overly complicated. An area large enough to hold the stacks of bales will need to be cleared, with some soil pulled away to be used later. Bales
should be gathered in rows and stacked in a pyramid (three bales on the base, two on the second level and one on top). The entire stack should be covered with a black plastic sheet, about 6 to 8 mm thick. A 40’ x 100’ sheet can cover 12 rows of pyramid–stacked bales. The edges of the plastic should hit theground and be covered with loose soil to seal the bales inside the plastic. Any holes in the sheet will
need to be patched with tape. Next, a pipe (6 – 8 ft long) should be placed on the ground and inserted into the center of the stack. Attach the pipe to the anhydrous tank and slowly empty
Once the stacks of bales are covered, it is time to let the anhydrous ammonia go to work. The ammoniation process is dependent on heat, so the straw will be ready to feed sooner with warmer
temperatures. Average temperatures above 86°F will need to be sealed for one week, temperatures between 59 – 86°F need to remain sealed for two to four weeks, and temperatures below 59°F need to remain sealed for up to eight weeks. The October 2021 average daily high and low temperatures at the
Kansas Mesonet Station near Uniontown, KS were 71°F and 51°F, respectively. With expectations of a warmer than average October for 2022, we could expect the ammoniation process to take around 4 weeks if started the first week of October.
Now, what is the cost?
Any producer who fertilized his pasture or crop ground this past spring knows that fertilizer prices have gone through the roof, especially compared to 2012, when producers were using this
alternative feed source.
The price of anhydrous ammonia at Midwest Fertilizer in Iola, Kansas, was $1,206.67 as of Sept 28, 2022. That equates to $0.60/lb. A 40’x100’ sheet of black plastic can seal a row of 12 pyramids.
Assume a tightly wrapped wheat straw bale (tightly wrapped bales work better for ammoniating) weigh on average 1100lbs. 72 total bales, at 90% dry matter, means you will have roughly 35.64 dry tons of wheat straw to ammoniate.

1.5% rate will require 1,069.2 lbs anhydrous ammonia
1,069.2lbs x $0.60/lb = $641.52 = $18/dry ton wheat straw
3.0% rate will require 2,138.4 lbs anhydrous ammonia
2,138.4lbs x $0.60.lb = $1,283.04 = $36/dry ton wheat straw
Anhydrous ammonia will not be the only cost associated with this process. Let’s assume another
$15/dry ton wheat straw to account for fuel, the plastic sheeting, labor, and other miscellaneous costs.
This will bring our cost of ammoniating wheat straw to:
1.5% rate: $33/dry ton wheat straw
3.0% rate: $51/dry ton wheat straw
Today’s prices may make the decision more challenging than it was in 2012, but with prairie hay
trading in southeast Kansas at $100–130/ton and wheat straw only trading at $60/ton, ammoniating
wheat straw is an option for those lacking feed this fall.
For more questions regarding ammoniating wheat straw and other forage questions, contact
Chad Guthrie, crop production and forage management agent, or Hunter Nickell, Livestock Production
Agent at any Southwind Extension District office. Locations in Erie, Fort Scott, Iola, and Yates Center.
Disclaimer: Caution should be taken as anhydrous ammonia is a dangerous chemical. Releasing the
anhydrous too quickly could cause the plastic sheeting to rupture. The plastic will also balloon out
during the ammoniation process, so strong winds, hail, or wildlife could puncture the plastic.