One for the money, two for the show...

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Wednesday, 02 May 2007 07:35

TyGoossenP4281416.JPG

Don Ratzlaff / Free Press. Click photo to enlarge

With some last-minute grooming help from his father, Tim (background), Ty Goossen of the South Cottonwood 4-H Club prepares to lead his Angus spring heifer into the show ring at the annual 4-H Spring Beef Show held Saturday at the Marion County Faigrounds. As it turned out, Goossen had reason to smile: his heifer won the top prize in its age category, then won the top prize for all Angus heifers. Rickey Roberts, Marion County extension agent, said this year’s spring show was the largest one he’s been a part of yet. Complete results of the show were not available by press time.

Wheat farmers gather for information, seek patience

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 25 April 2007 06:24

WheatKilgoreP4171222.JPG Gary Kilgore (foreground), KSU crops and soils specialist, offers his view of the wheat situation in Marion County during Tuesday’s gathering at the test plots southeast of Hillsboro. Click thumbnail to enlarge.


Local wheat producers hoping to receive clear direction about what to do with their freeze-bitten wheat fields were probably disappointed following two separate gatherings with crop experts.

The bottom line at both gathering was essentially the same: Be patient. It’s too early to know if the damage caused by the Easter-season freeze is devastating or merely discouraging.

About 100 farmers turned out Tuesday morning for a meeting with Gary Kilgore, a crops and soils extension specialist with Kansas State...

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Chase County Conservation District taking help requests

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 17 April 2007 13:02

The Chase County Conserva­tion District is conducting a signup through May 31 to accept requests for state cost-share assistance.

The conservation district administers state cost-share programs that provide landowners financial assistance to implement approved conservation practices.

Following the signup deadline, the Chase County Conservation District will be developing the county program based on conservation needs being assessed, in part, by the project proposals.

Projects will be approved by the conservation district on a priority bases. The signup does not guarantee approval or cost-share assistance.

Applications approval by the Chase County Conservation District and State Conservation Commission (SCC) may be implemented after...

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State agencies extend CRP burn

Written by Bill Harmon /Farm Service Agency Tuesday, 17 April 2007 13:01

The Kansas Farm Service Agency has authorized the extension of the specific contract maintenance activities for acreages enrolled under the Conservation Reserve Program.Controlled burning has been a widespread and beneficial tool used by many CRP participants to assist them in preserving good vigor and native grass establishment in their contract stands. It has become apparent due to this period of unseasonable wet and cold weather that a routine and scheduled maintenance or required management burn may not be able to be timely performed within prescribed conservation plan dates.

Therefore, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and FSA, at the state level, have agreed that due to the current...

Read more: State agencies extend CRP burn

County Fairgrounds to host cattle dog trial April 28-29

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 17 April 2007 12:59

The second annual Cotton­wood Crossing Cattle Dog Trial will be April 28 and 29 at the Marion County Fairgrounds at Hillsboro.

Competitors from Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa exhibited last year to a large receptive audience.

The competition includes an open class, a novice class for dogs under 30 months of age, and a ranch class for dogs over 30 months of age, but not ready for the open class.

A beginners class will be offered for new or inexperienced handlers.

For the competition, the handler and his or her dog will gather three head of cattle and put them through as many obstacles as possible in a timed event. Points are given for completion of each obstacle.

The dog that gets all its cattle through the obstacles...

Read more: County Fairgrounds to host cattle dog trial April 28-29