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Soil conservation awardsBy Richard C. Snell Barton County Extension Agent It's that time of year again. It's time to select the award winners for soil conservation and windbreaks in Barton County. Why do we do it? In central Kansas, we sometimes get pounding rains and strong winds that can cause soil erosion and discomfort for people and livestock. So, you have to have your soil prepared and protected and have some trees planted in a shelterbelt to slow down the winter cold and summer dust. All of us should be practicing soil and water conservation on the farm and in town as well. Besides that we should be promoting it. One of the ways we can promote it brings me to my lead topic of the day--the Kansas Bankers Association Conservation Awards Program. If you know of a farmer or landowner who is doing an outstanding job of conserving the soil and water by good farming practices, let us know, too. We would like to recognize them and encourage others to do the same. The purpose of this program is to stimulate a greater interest in the conservation of the agricultural resources of Kansas by giving recognition to those farmers and landowners who have made outstanding progress in the establishment of soil and water conservation on their farms. Included in the awards program are a soil conservation award and a windbreak award. Points to be considered in selecting soil conservation award winners include: --Use of land according to its capabilities. --Completeness of farm plan applied. --Balance of farm enterprise. --Quality of conservation work done and maintenance of practices. --Special practices unique to the farming operation. In addition to traditional soil and water conservation practices, please consider nominating persons eligible for energy, forestry, grassland management, pollution control, and wildlife habitat conservation. The windbreak award considers windbreaks which provide protection from damaging winds for residential (or other structures) areas, livestock, or fields. Windbreaks should be a minimum of three years old. Points to be considered in selecting awards winners include windbreak design, management, location, density, and length. I, as county extension agent for agriculture, always have the pleasure of serving as chairman of the awards selection committee as requested by the Bankers Association. Other members of the committee include: The Key County Banker; the Natural Resources Conservation Service District Conservationist; the chairman of the County Extension Council Executive Board; Chairman of the County Conservation District Board and the chairman of the Farm Service Agency county committee. This group will be taking a tour soon to select the winners. Nominations for these awards can be made by any person in the county. They should be sent to Rick Snell, Barton County Extension Agricultural Agent, 1800 12th Street, Great Bend, KS 67530 by Aug. 15. K-State to host farm profitability conference Plan to attend and ride with me to K-State's "2007 Risk and Profit Conference" at the K-State Ag Alumni Center in Manhattan, Aug. 16 and 17. The theme of this year's conference is "Wild Weather, Policy Politics, and Energy Equilibriums." The conference begins at 10:30 a.m., on Aug. 16 with registration, with lunch at 11:30. After lunch, Dr. Elwynn Taylor, Ag Meteorologist at Iowa State University will discuss long-term weather trends and crop yields. That will be followed by concurrent breakout sessions through the afternoon and the following day. The agenda also features a social hour and a evening banquet. The conference concludes late Aug. 17. On Aug. 16 in the evening, Sarah Fogelman, Extension Agricultural Economist at Kansas State University and nationally recognized in the field of human resources and farm labor management, will speak on "Cultivating a Culture of Success." The Aug. 17 general session will feature Extension marketing specialists James Mintert and Mike Woolverton. Dr. Mintert will share his Livestock Outlook and Dr. Woolverton will offer his Grain Outlook. Conference fees are $180 per person if paid by Aug. 8, and $160 after that date. $20 discounts are available for additional persons from the same operation. Late registration is $200. For more information, interested persons can contact Rich Llewlyn at 785-532-1504. Information and registration forms are also available at www.agmanager.info/events. Click on the link for the Risk and Profit Conference. Did you know? --The State 4-H Wheat Show will be held on Aug. 10 in Manhattan. --K-State will hold its first ever Summer Beef Conference on Aug. 9 and 10 at Weber Hall on the campus in Manhattan. --Asian Soybean Rust has been discovered in Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas along the Red River. This is the first time this disease has been found in Oklahoma. Kansas soybean growers should be on guard for this potentially devastating disease. We have yet to ever have this disease in Kansas. --The annual Dryland Ag Day will be held on Aug. 14 at the K-State Experiment Field near Tribune. It begins at 9 a.m. Topics will include no-till crop and soil management, wheat varieties, fertility and government farm programs. --A Professional Development Conference focusing on Current Issues in Farm Tax Planning and Farm Estate Planning will be held at the K-State Student Union on August 6-8. Registration fee is $325. We have a complete schedule and registration form at the county extension office. Date: 8/16/07
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