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NEWS RELEASES

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tuesday, March 16 - Beginning Farmer Fishbowl 3 Farminar
7:00 to 8:30pm Central  Time
For more info, see below.

Monday-Friday, March 15-19 - Renewable Energy Course
Colby Community College, Colby KS
For more info, see below.

Wednesday, March 17 - Prescribed Burning Workshop
Concordia, KS
See below for location and contact information.

Friday, March 19 - 2010 Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) Certification
Conference call, from 10-11 AM
For more info, see below.

Tuesday, March 23 - Beginning Farmer Fishbowl 4 Farminar
7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time
For more info, see below.

Wednesday, March 24 - Prescribed Burning Workshop
Garnett, KS
See below for location and contact information.

Thursday, March 25 - Prescribed Burning Workshop
Fredonia, KS
See below for location and contact information.

Thursday, March 25 - Creeks and Woodlands Workshop
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Eskridge, Ks.
For more info, see below.

Friday, March 26 - 2010 Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) Certification
Conference call, from 10-11 AM
For more info, see below.

Wednesday, March 31 - Prescribed Burning Workshop
Wichita, KS
See below for location and contact information.

March31 - April 2: Cheese Making Workshop in Columbia MO
9 AM to 4 PM each day
For more info, see below.

Friday, April 2 - 2010 Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) Certification
Conference call, from 10-11 AM
For more info, see below.

Friday, April 9 - 2010 Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) Certification
Conference call, from 10-11 AM
For more info, see below.

Monday, April 12 - Grazing Management Telecall
Beginning at 7:30 PM
For more info, see below.

Tuesday April 13 - Improving Livestock Production Workshop
5:30 - 8:30 PM, in Frankfort, Ks.
For more info, see below.

April 17 - Rain Water Harvesting Workshop
9:00am-5:00pm in Peabody, KS
Registration $35/person, DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS APRIL 10
  For full details, click the icon for the workshop flyer
Questions? Contact: Debbie McSweeney at 620-983-9234 or angelgardend@yahoo.com

Thursday April 22 - Northeast Kansas Four Season Graziers Re-Organization Meeting
6:30 p.m. Supper meeting at Seneca, Ks.
For more info, see below.

Saturday, June 12 - 5th Anniversary Symphony in the Flint Hills
Near Bazaar, Ks. See below for details.

July 6-8 - Mid/Short-Grass Range School at the Nature Conservancy's Smoky Hill Ranch
Lodging and meals at Camp Lakeside at scenic Lake Scott
Agenda and registration details TBA.

August 17-19 - Tallgrass Range School, White Memorial Camp
Near Council Grove, Agenda and registration details TBA.

September 8-9 - Eastern Kansas/Tame Grass Grazing School
Lawrence. Agenda and registration details TBA.


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Grazing Management Teleconference Conversations

Join other grazers from across the state of Kansas in a telephone conversation with Kansas State University’s Gary Kilgore and Keith Harmoney at 7:30 pm on the second Monday of the month. Hosted by the Kansas Rural Center, these informal discussions will cover all aspects of grazing management.

Who should participate?
Farmers, ranchers and educators. Anyone who is interested in grazing!

What’s the benefit to me?
This is an opportunity to learn how you can use complementary forages to extend your grazing season, gain management tips and explore ideas to improve profitability while you responsibly manage your natural resources.

How do I participate in the call?
Our conference call will be hosted by Copper Conferencing.

Anyone can join in the call by simply dialing in 1-888-387-8686. You will then be prompted to dial in a Conference Room Number. Please dial in 4699043 and follow it with the # sign. This will be a toll free call. You are welcome to leave or join the call at anytime between 7:30 and 9 pm.

For more information or to receive an email reminder of the call, please contact the Kansas Rural Center at 785-873-3431 or send an email to Connie Pantle, KRC’s Information & Education Coordinator at cpantle@rainbowtel.net

Support for this networking opportunity comes from a partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

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Farminar Series from Practical Farmers of Iowa

Practical Farmers of Iowa continues the popular farm webinar "Farminar" Series with 8 new sessions in the months of January, February, and March.  What's a Farminar? An interactive seminar broadcast over the internet with information slideshow, and audio presentation on farming topics. 90-minute farminars Tuesday nights this Winter feature topics of interest to beginning farmers.

Winter Schedule

  • Tuesday, March 16 - Beginning Farmer Fishbowl III
    7:00 to 8:30pm Central  Time

  • Tuesday, March 23 - Beginning Farmer Fishbowl IV
    7:00 to 8:30pm Central Time

For more information, or to participate, just go to http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/farminar

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March Prescribed Burning Workshops

Fire safety is a priority topic of the upcoming late winter and early spring Prescribed Burning Workshops scheduled to be held in central and eastern Kansas in late winter and early spring.

Carol Blocksome, Grassland Water Quality Extension Staff at Kansas State University (KSU), Manhattan, said that these workshops are a continuation of workshops conducted in central and eastern Kansas last fall. It was evident from the workshops that producers needed and wanted more information and education on how to conduct a safe and successful prescribed burn.

"Safe burning requires proper planning, education, and training," she said. "Producers may want to burn native and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grassland to improve vegetative quality, control weeds, manage for wildlife, or fulfill CRP contractual obligations," said Blocksome.

"I would encourage any producer who is thinking of burning grassland in central and eastern Kansas to attend one of these workshops," Blocksome said.

There is a registration charge to attend the workshops, which covers the cost of handouts and a notebook. Lunch will be served. RSVP deadline is a week prior to the workshop date. For more information, please contact your office listed below.

Prescribed Burning workshops are being held at several locations in central and eastern Kansas. The content of all the workshops is very similar, so producers can attend the most convenient location.

Workshop Agenda includes:

  • CRP Maintenance and Management Practices

  • Burn Considerations: Why and When to Burn

  • Burn Notification and Local Regulations

  • Producer Panel

  • Using a Burn Contractor

  • Burn Terminology and Fire Behavior:
    Smoke Management, Eddy Currents, Fire Guards, Burning Techniques

  • Planning and Conducting a Burn

  • Burn Equipment

Presenters include representatives from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), Kansas Forest Service (KFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), KSU, as well as local fire and emergency management staff and local producers with burn experience. Presenters vary by workshop, but all will be presenting essentially the same information.

Workshops are sponsored by local conservation districts, Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS), Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Environmental Protection Agency, Kansas Water Plan funds, Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, Kansas Fire Council, local fire departments and emergency management personnel, KFS, KDWP, National Weather Service, KSU Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies in Kansas--FSA and NRCS. Sponsors vary for meal and burn workbook by workshop.

Workshop Date - Location - Phone Number for Reservations

March 17 - Concordia 785-527-2718-Kansas Farm Bureau-Debbie Beems
March 24 - Garnett 785-448-6323, Ext 101-Anderson County Conservation District-Debbie Davis,
March 25 - Fredonia 620-378-2866-Wilson County ConservationDistrict-Gina Thompson
March 31 - Wichita 316-660-0100-Kansas State University-Greg Cramer

For more information about developing a prescribed burn plan for native grass or acres enrolled in the CRP, contact your local USDA Service Center (listed in the telephone book under United States Government or on the Internet at http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app).

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2010 Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) Certification

Kansas farmers wanting to obtain certification in the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) have the option of attending a mandatory certification meeting by conference call or by visiting your local extension office. The 30-45 minute training sessions are required for all vendors that hope to accept checks from Seniors participating in the SFMNP. If you would like to attend the training at your local extension office, please contact Jennifer Church (see below). You do not need to RSVP for the conference call option. Certification will be valid for 3 years.

To become certified to accept SFMNP checks, you must:

  1. Attend a Certification Training by conference call or through your local extension office.

  2. Complete the Farmers’ agreement located on the website:
    http://www.kdheks.gov/sfmnp/farmers_agreement.htm

Please make a note of the following dates and times to attend a session by phone:

  • Every Friday from 10-11 AM from March 12 through April 30.

To participate, call: (866) 620-7326 and when prompted, enter the conference code: 6294786980. This is a toll-free number. The presentation PowerPoint is available on the website: www.kdheks.gov/sfmnp

If you have any additional questions, please call or e-mail Jennifer Church:
jchurch@kdheks.gov or 785-296-8060
You can also visit the website: www.kdheks.gov/sfmnp

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Renewable Energy COURSE

This training series at Colby Community College will acquaint the participant with the world of alternative energy.  The curriculum includes guest speakers and field trips.  Topics covered include wind power big & small, solar power, geothermal, biofuel/bioenergy and magnetic generation.

College credit is available for the course. It will be held from 7-10 PM March 15-19, 2010 at the Bedker Memorial Complex, located at the SW corner of the campus of Colby Community College in Colby KS.  Click here for a Google Map of the location..

SCHEDULE:

  • First evening:
    - Large wind turbines & community wind, power purchase agreements

  • Second evening:
    - Small wind turbines - horizontal, vertical, cost
      - Installation
      - Net-metering
      - Federal and state tax incentives

  • Third evening:
    - Trip to Oasis Travel Center, Colby, for geothermal presentation
    - Hydroelectric generation

  • Fourth evening:
    - Biofuel, biomass, bioenergy
      - Fast-food power
      - Animal waste power
      - Switch grass & town dump power

  • Fifth evening:
    - Using magnetism to power your home

For more information contact: Tom Moorhous 785-460-5534 or Barry Kaaz 785-460-5429.

Visit the CCC website for the course description and podcasts on Wind Energy and Energy Efficiency Technology..

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Creeks and Woodlands Workshop

A workshop on managing the Flint HIlls riparian areas will be held Thursday March 25, 2010 at the Eskridge PRIDE Community Center from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Topics for discussion include:

  • What are riparian areas

  • Micro forest management

  • Livestock, grass and trees

  • Creek Science 101

  • Funding Riparian Improvements.

Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.
Supper is included if you RSVP by Monday March 22
to 785-765-3821 or  kamayer@ksu.edu

Sponsors include: K-State Research and Extension Wabaunsee County, Wabaunsee County Conservation District, Flint HIlls Bank of Eskridge, Flint Hills Insurance, Flint Hills RC&D, Melvern Lake Watershed, Pomona Lake Watershed, USDA NRCS, and Kansas Rural Center.

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Cheese Making Workshop in Columbia MO

The University of Missouri will sponsor a cheese making workshop March 31- April 2 in Columbia, Missouri. Day one is designed for farmers and cheese makers who are beginners to cheese making and will provide participants with a better understanding of the business and provide information on facility and equipment needs and a spreadsheet template for capital expenses. Day 2 and 3 will include cheese making in small groups with two experienced cheese makers.

Registration ranges from $300 for one day to $750 for all three days.

  Workshop brochure

For more information, contact:
Andrew Clarke, 573-882-4114 or ClarkeA@missouri.edu
Brenda McNaughton at 314-409-2252 or brevitalized@yahoo.com.

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Improving Livestock Production Workshop

A workshop on “Improving Your Livestock Production and Management” will be held Tuesday April 13, at the Cigna Center, 402 North Maple, Frankfort, Kansas from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 
Google map link

The workshop is sponsored by the Tuttle Creek WRAPS, the Middle Kansas WRAPS, Kansas Rural Center, and several county conservation districts and county extension offices, including Marshall and Pottawatomie County Extension offices, and the Jackson County Conservation District. The Cigna Center is located south of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Frankfort.

Presentations will include:

  • The Four Seasons of Grazing
    by Dr. Gary Kilgore, Professor Emeritus KSU

  • Water Development
    by Will Boyer, KSU Watershed Specialist

  • Wintering, Feeding, Watering Options and Solutions
    by Dale Kirkham and Jason Schmidt, Kansas Rural Center Clean Water Farm Project field staff

  • What is WRAPS?
    by Barbara Donovan, Tuttle Creek WRAPS coordinator

  • Cattle Herd Health and Profitability
    by Dr. Larry Hollis, DVM.

A catered supper at $5 per person will be included; RSVP for the meal count by noon April 12.

For more information or to register for the meal, contact: Mike Vogt, 785-562-3531 (Marshall County Extension); Glen Brunkow, 785-457-3319 (Pottawatomie County Extension); Roberta Spencer 785-364-4638, (Jackson County Conservation District); or Mary Howell, 785-292-4955 (Kansas Rural Center).

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Organizational Meeting of Northeast Kansas Four Season Graziers
Thursday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. Supper Meeting
Windmill Inn, 603 N. 4th Street, Seneca Kansas

All interested graziers from northeast Kansas counties are welcome to attend this meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to “re-kindle” the Four Season Grazing Group that previously offered livestock producers’ valuable information on grass management, alternative forages, grazing practices, ranch economics, water development and resource protection; as well as the opportunity for participants to share stories, personal successes and challenges, and raise questions among their peers for information exchange. Watch for an additional news release in the area newspapers.

For more information, call: Mary Howell 785-292-4955 (home) or 785-562-8726 (cell) or contact your local extension office. Please RSVP to Mary Howell for meal reservations.

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Symphony in the Flint Hills Set for June 12

The 5th Anniversary Symphony in the Flint Hills will be on Saturday, June 12. The site this year is on privately owned ranch land, approximately eight miles west of Highway 177 south of Cottonwood Falls, near the small community of Bazaar. Rain date is Sunday, June 13

Tickets Are Sold Out for This Event

For more information, see the concert website:
http://www.symphonyintheflinthills.com/

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