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Soil Testing – First Step in Garden Preparation
District Extension Agent, Horticulture
Southwind Extension District
111 S. Butler
Erie, KS 66733
Office: 620-244-3826
Cell: 620-496-8786
Whether you are new to gardening or have been gardening for years, all gardeners should think about their soil fertility levels. Just looking at your plants won’t provide the proper information. Soil fertility is something that cannot be seen, felt or guessed about. As we get ready for planting time, consider having a soil analysis on your garden soil.
A soil test reveals the base line nutritional values of soil. From this test, the type and amount of fertilizer to be used can be determined. In addition, a soil test will find the pH level of the soil. This kind of information is basic for developing a good plant nutrition program. For example, if your soil doesn’t need phosphorus or potassium – which may very well be the case – applying it is a waste of time and money.
Nutrient levels can change over time of course. K-State recommends testing garden soil every three to five years. But soil tests are only as good as the samples submitted. To take a soil sample, follow these steps:
- Mentally divide your garden into areas. Each area should be fairly uniform in soil color, texture and slope, as well as ability to grow plants. Avoid or sample separately any places that could give misleading results: low spots, old fence rows, etc.
- You will need a clean bucket and a soil probe or spade. Take 10 thin core or slices from different spots in the garden. Include soil down 6 to 8 inches deep. This is much easier to do if you don’t take samples when the soil is really wet.
- Put all samples into a bucket, crumble and mix them thoroughly. Remove any stones, grass, roots and thatch. Then take out a cup to a pint’s worth of soil, air dry it, and put it in a sealable container. You can spread the soil out on a newspaper to dry.
- Put soil into a lock-seal plastic bag or plastic food container. Label each container with your name, mailing address and phone number.
- Bring soil sample to the Southwind District Extension Office in Erie, Iola, Fort Scott or Yates Center. Chanute residents can drop soil of at Breiner’s Feed Store for pick-up. Soil sampling cost is $20 per sample. Sample results are usually available in 7 to 10 days.
Phosphorus and potassium levels tend to build up in the soil. Excess can harm growth, or worse yet, leach out and pollute streams and lakes. In recent years, the soil testing lab at K-State has found some Kansas garden and landscape samples contained so much phosphorus and potassium that testing couldn’t measure the amounts. The results literally were “off the charts.” By soil testing, you can determine if these nutrients need to be applied or not.
Did your garden just not perform the way you wanted it to last year? It could have been because the soil fertility level is not what it should be or the soil pH is off. Soil testing will determine that.
Don’t put off sampling until after the garden is planted. Do it now so soil fertility corrections can be made!
Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Horticulture agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.
K-State Research and Extension is an equal
Ezekiel’s Spinning Wheels by Carolyn Tucker
Keys to the Kingdom by Carolyn Tucker
Around 1971, the Mt. Zion Bible School choir from Ava, MO, came to my church at Stockton and presented an enthralling concert. The piano and organ were masterfully played by two students and the musical talents of the chorale had my steadfast attention. I was completely taken by a song I’d never heard before and I don’t believe I’ve heard it since. Some of the lyrics in the refrain was, “He’s my Rock my Sword my Shield, He’s my wheel in the middle of the wheel.” My heart grabbed that song and it’s still in there!
While reading through the Old Testament recently, I felt a strong prompting to study Ezekiel and his God-given vision of the wheels. During this time, I purchased a large round decorative piece of aluminum which reminded me of Ezekiel‘s wheels. I attached the circular décor to my east fence where I can see it from my front porch.
Ezekiel was about 30 years old when God commissioned him as a prophet and watchman and gave him a bizarre vision of the glory of God. He was beside the Kebar River and the heavens opened and he saw visions of God and felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him. “From the center of the cloud came four living beings that looked human, except that each had four faces and four wings. Each had a human face in the front, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle at the back. They went in whatever direction the spirit chose, and they moved straight forward in any direction without turning around. As I looked at these beings, I saw four wheels touching the ground beside them, one wheel belonging to each. …each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it. The rims of the four wheels were tall and frightening, and they were covered with eyes all around. When the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. The spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. So wherever the spirit went, the wheels and the living beings also went“ (Ezekiel 1:5,6,10,12,15,16,18-20 NLT).
Bible scholars believe the wheels display the omnipotence and omnipresence of God. The explanation of the four faces are as follows: Man is considered the king of the earth and has dominance over the animals and rules the earth. The lion is considered the king of the jungle and represents strength, fierceness, and commands respect. The ox symbolizes strength, honesty, and hard work. The eagle is the king of the air, has an all-seeing eye, and represents victory, speed, royalty, release from bondage, longevity, inspiration, and power. The eyes around the wheel portray an all-knowing God who sees the good and the bad no matter which way humans turn. Ezekiel’s wheels are said to be a symbol of moving forward with the presence of God. As we study Ezekiel’s calling and visions, we can think about the Spirit of God resting on him while moving him forward into the prophetic ministry. May our eyes be opened to the unique ways God still works today.
The amount of time it takes believers to move up spiritually depends on how long we spin our wheels trying to make things happen on our own. When the hand of the Lord takes hold of us, we must be willing and ready to move forward with Him. As we worship and respond in obedience to the moving of the Spirit, heavenly things can be released upon us that we couldn’t have made happen ourselves. Let’s intently ask and expect God to move in our lives daily.
The Key: Allow the Holy Spirit to move you forward in your life and calling.
USD234 Board of Education Agenda for March 6
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 6, 2023 – 5:30 P.M.
PUBLIC AGENDA
1.0 Call Meeting to Order
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
4.1 Board Minutes
- 02-13-23 Minutes
- 02-27-23 Minutes
4.2 Financials-Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – February 17, 2023 – $1,583,201.90
4.5 Activity Fund accounts
4.6 Items of Interest: Preschool Spring Fling – April 6, 2023 5:30 – 7 pm
5.0 Student Recognition (Information/Discussion Item)
5.1 FSHS Thespians
6.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
6.1 Superintendent’s Report
6.2 Assistant Superintendent’s Report
6.3 Finance Director’s Report
7.0 Old Business
7.1 Summary of Work Session (Information/Discussion Item)
7.2 HVAC Proposal (Information/Discussion Item)
7.3 MOU – Community Health Center & FSHS Clinic Space discussion (Information/Discussion Item)
7.4 Tennis Courts Resurface – Pro Track and Tennis, Inc. (Action Item)
8.0 New Business
8.1 Activity Bus Purchase – $129,342 (Action Item)
8.2 Football Uniform Bids & Recommendation (Action Item)
8.3 Roof Payment 1 & Roof Payment 2 (Action Item)
8.4 Kansas Infinitec Coalition for 2023-24 (Action Item)
8.5 Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) – Kansas School-to-Work Program (Action Item)
8.6 Pre-Funding Early Retirement Payments (Action Item)
8.7 Greenbush Contracts for Low-Incidence and Audiology for the 2023-24 school year (Action Item)
8.8 FSHS Courses for 2022-23 (Action Item)
9.0 Public Forum
10.0 Other Business – Negotiations
10.1 Enter Executive Session – Negotiations (Action Item)
10.2 Exit Executive Session
11.0 Other Business – Personnel Matters
11.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
11.2 Exit Executive Session
11.3 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
11.4 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
11.5 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
12.0 Adjourn Meeting
Kansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children Conference March 28
Kansas Alliance for
Drug Endangered Children
Conference
March 28th, 2023
8:30am – 4:45pm at
Manhattan Conference Center
410 S. 3rd Street Manhattan, Kansas
The agenda includes:
Drug Endangered Children Community Awareness Training
Speaker: Jennifer Gassmann, Kansas Children’s Service
League and Kansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children
Helping Traumatized Children Learn and Succeed
Speaker: Edward Jacobs, MSW; Plymouth County,
Massachusetts Alliance for Drug Endangered Children
Marijuana and Children
Speaker: Amy Ronshausen, Drug Free America Foundation,
Inc. and Save our Society from Drugs
Current Drug Trends
Speaker: Chris Bumgarner, Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Registration fee: $75
Lunch will be provided
7.25 CEUs available
Learn more and register at: wichita.edu/gphc
FS Commission: Work Session Before Commission Meeting on March 7
TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023
5:00 PM – City Commission Work Session regarding Memorial Hall
6:00 PM – Regular City Commission Meeting
Both are open meetings and will be held at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street. Both meetings will also be available on the City of Fort Scott YouTube Channel.
FS City Commission Agenda for March 7
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR REGULAR
MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
To view entire packet:
CITY HALL COMMISSION ROOM – 123 SOUTH MAIN ST.
March 7, 2023 – 6:00 P.M.
Roll Call:
- J. Jones T. Van Hoecke E. Woellhof K. Harrington M. Wells
- Flag Salute:
- Invocation: Regan Wells
- Approval of Agenda:
- Consent Agenda:
- Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of February 21, 2023
- Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1331-A totaling $311,195.45
- Public Comment:
Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at Commission discretion.
VII. Old Business:
- Contract – City Manager, Brad Matkin
VIII. Appearances:
- Mike Miles – Fire Department Retention presentation
- Bourbon County Casa – Requesting donation from the City
- 3. Healthy Bourbon County Action Team – Update on Center for Economic Growth – Jody Hoener, Rachel Carpenter, Dacia Clark
- Cory Bryars – Request to close Riverfront Park September 29th and 30th, 2023 for the Care to Share Event
- Update on status of 1107 W. 6th St. – Contract of Sale – James Malveaux
- Public Hearing: None
- New Business:
- Discussion of 10 N. National property
- Consideration of Utility Easement Adjustment on Purchased Lake Lot
- Consideration for purchase of Storm Siren – Walnut Hill – Chief Bruner
- Consideration for purchase of Body Cameras – Chief Pickert
- Consideration of Paint for Striping Machine – Tom Coffman
- Purchase of Attachment for Skid Loader – Tom Coffman
- Consideration of Annual Water Meter Changeout Program – Bill Lemke
- Consideration 1107 W. 6th Street Bids
- Consideration of Banking Service Bids
- Consideration of Ground Lease Bids
- Consideration of Fort Scott Pavilion Bids – J. Dickman
- Consideration of CDBG Sewer Project Bids – J. Dickman
- Consideration of RFQ for US 54-CCLIP Geometric Improvements – Phase I
- Reports and Comments:
- Interim City Manager Comments:
- Engineering Comments:
- Commissioners Comments:
- VanHoecke –
- Woellhof –
- Harrington –
- Jones –
- Wells –
- City Attorney Comments:
XII. Executive Session – If requested, (please follow script in all motions for Executive Sessions)
XIII. Adjournment:
Celebrate National Reading Month
K-State Research and Extension
Family and Consumer Science Agent
Southwind District
211 W. Butler
Yates Center, KS 66783
620-625-8620
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Many people recognize this quote from Dr. Seuss’s book, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”. March is designated as National Reading Month to celebrate the birthday of this famous author and his impact on creative storytelling. This national celebration was established as a way to promote reading to individuals of all ages.
Reading is a crucial part of every individual’s life, regardless of age. For children, it is a large component of education while for adults, it is part of professional development. Reading is also a leisure time activity that has many immediate and long-lasting health benefits. Studies have found increased cognitive function, memory, vocabulary, empathy, and decreased levels of stress in individuals that read regularly. When done before bedtime, it has the potential to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Reading even has the power to strengthen relationships through shared learning.
There are several ways you can celebrate this national holiday all month long. One of the simplest would be to visit a library or read the books you already have on hand. Libraries provide great environments for young children where they can access books for free while being immersed in a learning atmosphere. Another easy way to celebrate is to read with a family member or friend. Studies indicate that when parents read to their children, it helps with bonding and attachment. Read aloud even if it’s for a short period. Reading aloud develops fundamental skills, promotes social interaction, and improves vocabulary, word recognition, listening comprehension, and cognitive development.
The importance of reading extends far beyond educational development. Pick up a book and enjoy all the benefits of reading during National Reading Month. You might even create a positive habit that lasts throughout your whole life! For more information, contact Cassidy Lutz at [email protected] or by calling 620-625-8620.
New BBQ Restaurant Coming to Fort Scott in May
Carissa, 34, and Alex Bowman, 33, have plans to open a bbq restaurant at 3 W. Oak Street, called Brickstreet BBQ.
“We plan to open hopefully in May, 2023,” Carissa said. “We felt that Fort Scott residents and ourselves missed being able to get good barbecue in town and thought since we’ve been able to manage and maintain a local restaurant that we have the know-how and the will power to make it happen!”
Alex is the manager and cook at Nu Grille Restaurant. just across the street from Brickstreet BBQ.
Carissa is the Family and Consumer Science teacher at Fort Scott High School.
They have started some social media to help the public get to see their progress:
Facebook- Brickstreet Barbecuehttps://www.facebook.
The Bowman’s plan on employing about 40 full-time and part-time people. The employment application can be accessed on their Facebook page.
Contact info: One can contact Carissa at her email: [email protected]
Ag Producers Safety Net Program
Agricultural Producers Have Until March 15 to Enroll in USDA’s Key Commodity Safety Net Programs
Manhattan, Kansas, March 3, 2023 – Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2023 crop year have until March 15, 2023, to elect and enroll a contract. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers these two safety net programs to provide vital income support to farmers experiencing substantial declines in crop prices or revenues.
“The Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs provide critical protection to many American farmers. As producers across the country deal with market volatility and natural disasters, these programs offer much-needed stability,” said Dennis McKinney, State Executive Director for FSA in Kansas. “I am encouraging producers to reach out to their county offices to learn about program eligibility and election options today, so that they can begin the enrollment process as soon as possible.”
Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County or PLC, which are both commodity-by-commodity, or ARC-Individual, which covers the entire farm. Although election changes for 2023 are optional, producers must enroll through a signed contract each year. Additionally, if a producer has a multi-year contract on their farm and makes an election change for 2023, they will need to sign a new contract.
If producers do not submit an election by the March 15, 2023, deadline, the election remains the same as the 2022 election for commodities on the farm. Farm owners cannot enroll in either program unless they have a share interest in the commodity.
In Kansas, producers have completed 74,828 contracts to date, representing 72% of the more than 104,000 expected contracts.
Producers who do not complete enrollment by the deadline will not be enrolled in ARC or PLC for the 2023 year and will not receive a payment if triggered.
Producers are eligible to enroll farms with base acres for the following commodities: barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.
Decision Tools
In partnership with USDA, two web-based decision tools are available to assist producers in making informed, educated decisions using crop data specific to their respective farming operations:
- Gardner-farmdoc Payment Calculator, a tool available through the University of Illinois allows producers to estimate payments for farms and counties for ARC-CO and PLC.
- ARC and PLC Decision Tool, a tool available through Texas A&M University that allows producers to estimate payments and yield updates and expected payments for 2023.
Crop Insurance Considerations and Decision Deadline
ARC and PLC are part of a broader safety net provided by USDA, which also includes crop insurance and marketing assistance loans.
Producers are reminded that ARC and PLC elections and enrollments can impact eligibility for some crop insurance products.
Producers on farms with a PLC election have the option of purchasing Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) through their Approved Insurance Provider. However, producers on farms where ARC is the election are ineligible for SCO on their planted acres for that crop on that farm.
Unlike SCO, the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) is unaffected by an ARC election. Producers may add ECO regardless of the farm program election.
Upland cotton farmers who choose to enroll seed cotton base acres in ARC or PLC are ineligible for the stacked income protection plan (STAX) on their planted cotton acres for that farm.
Producers should contact their crop insurance agent to make certain that the election and enrollment made at FSA follows their intention to participate in STAX or SCO coverage. Producers have until March 15, 2023, to make the appropriate changes or cancel their ARC or PLC contract.
More Information
For more information on ARC and PLC, producers can visit the ARC and PLC webpage or contact their local USDA Service Center.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
Take Down Tobacco
Kansas Department of Health and Environment Resist Program, and the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition host National Take Down Tobacco Day at the Capitol
TOPEKA – Today, members of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Resist program and the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition hosted Take Down Tobacco Day at the Capitol – a national day of activism where youth are encouraged to speak out against commercial tobacco companies and speak with policymakers about tobacco prevention.
“Take Down Tobacco Day is a great opportunity to unite communities and create a unified voice to stand up to commercial tobacco companies,” said Bryce Chitanavong, youth tobacco prevention coordinator. “Tobacco companies use deceitful marketing tactics to target the youth because they see them as future customers. We want them to know that we won’t allow it.”
For most people, tobacco use starts when they are young. Nearly 9 out of 10 adults who smoke cigarettes daily first try smoking by the age of 18. Young people are even more vulnerable to nicotine addiction as their brains develop. Commercial tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the United States. The use of tobacco products in any form is unsafe, regardless of whether it is smoked or not.
Previously known as Kick Butts Day, Take Down Tobacco Day provides an opportunity to educate students about the importance of youth advocacy in tobacco prevention. The American Heart Association provided advocacy training on the evening of March 1 to prepare students to speak with their policymakers. Each group that registered will get a chance to meet with their local representative and discuss tobacco prevention with them.
Resist is a youth-led program focusing on peer-to-peer education, awareness and policies preventing tobacco and electronic cigarette/vaping use. Resist chapters are locally established and hold community awareness events to promote tobacco-free environments. Resist is made possible with the support of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition.
Resources are available for people who want to quit smoking or vaping. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) or visit ksquit.org.
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Schedule An Appointment For U234’s Kindergarten Round-up
The USD 234 Kindergarten Round-Up is coming next month.
The event is Wednesday, April 19th from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Please bring your child’s Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, Immunization Records and a Physical.
Your student must be 5 years old before September 1st to attend Round-Up.
Please call the Winfield Scott Office at 620-223-0450 to schedule an appointment.