Status of wheat crop remains uncertain

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 16 May 2007 06:45

WheatP5141716.jpg Marion County ag-agent Rickey Roberts said farmers will have to make difficult decisions regarding their wheat. In some fields, the grain can mostly be gone with only foliage still there, while in others tillers that come from the base of plants are growing and may still produce adequate grain. Don Ratzlaff / Free Press

Click image to enlarge.

A couple of guys were sitting in the Hillsboro Pizza Hut last week wearing crop insurance adjuster ballcaps.

Since the hats made it obvious who they were, they were asked the question they said they’re being asked everywhere, “What’s happening with the wheat?”

 

They replied they were just happy to be asked the question during what little of the...

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Looking at crop insurance

Written by John Morris / Kansas Wheat Growers Association Wednesday, 16 May 2007 06:29

Ask any Kansas farmer and the answer will be the same. Crop insurance is one of the more complicated risk-management issues with which the Kansas farmer needs to deal.

Because of that complicated nature, it is confusing to consumers, taxpayers and the media. With the damage in many parts of Kansas resulting from the Easter weekend deep freezes, crop-insurance questions sprouted anew.

Here’s how the system works.

First, crop insurance can protect the Kansas wheat producer from many hazards, including freeze damage and drought losses.

The producer needs to determine the coverage he wants to purchase for his farm operation. Again, using the wheat producer as an example, he can purchase coverage ranging around 50 percent up to 85...

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Producers must file planted acreage by May 31

Written by Bill Harmon /Farm Service Agency Wednesday, 16 May 2007 06:27

Farmers planning to earn and receive farm program payments and benefits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are required by existing farm-bill regulations to file acreage reports for all cropland on their enrolled farms. Terms within the Direct & Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) make it mandatory for producers to report by May 31 of each year all planted wheat, barley, & oats acreage.

Reporting producers should be prepared to accurately certify planted acres and provide approximate planting dates on a field-by-field basis, regardless of use.

Producers who have already reported planted crops such as wheat, and intend to destroy the crop, need to report to Farm Service Agency the number of acres that will be destroyed prior to May 31...

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Marion County Fairground hosts annual Spring Beef Show

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Wednesday, 16 May 2007 06:23

TyGoossenJudgeP4281419.JPG Ty Goossen of Hillsboro shows the angus heifer that won grand champion for the breeding heifers in the annual Spring Beef Show April 28 at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro. Don Ratzlaff / Free Press Click image to enlarge.

Sixty-six 4-Hers from Marion County and beyond competed April 28 in the annual Spring Beef Show at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro.

The show is an indicator of the growth rate and condition of animals intended for show in upcoming county fairs, according to Rickey Roberts, Marion County extension agent who coordinated the event.

 Following are the results.

 BREEDING HEIFERS

Grand champion: Ty Goossen (Angus)

Reserve grand champion: Haley Lauer (AOB)

Angus Champion...

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