Personal experience illustrates need for grass filters

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 26 June 2012 18:25

Austin Jost has started her professional career with a challenging assignment: Sign up more farmers and landowners for grass filter strips.

Jost has been on staff since April with the Natural Resources Conserva­tion Service office in Marion while working to finish her degree at Butler County Community College. Jost plans to study ag business and advertising at Kansas State.

The Hillsboro High School alum is motivated to be successful at her task because she has had first-hand negative experience with the consequences of having too few filter strips.

In short, grass strips planted along the outer edges of fields and hedges can greatly reduce the soil runoff that brings nitrogen and phosphorous into Marion Reservoir.

The two...

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CRP accepts 3.9 million acres

Written by Bill Harmon Tuesday, 26 June 2012 18:25

The U.S. Department of Agri­culture has accepted 3.9 million acres offered by producers under the Conservation Reserve Pro­gram’s 43rd general signup period.

Contract terms on these acres will begin Oct. 1 for the 2013 CRP program year. USDA selected offers for CRP enrollment based on an environmental benefits index comprised of specific environmental and cost factors.

The agriculture secretary has asked those producers not accepted in CRP under this enrollment period, or having untreated highly erodible lands, to consider other federal conservation program initiatives, such as the continuous CRP or Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help manage and preserve sensitive lands.

Under CRP, producers plant approved species of...

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Baling wheat straw a response of possible feed needs this winter

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 19 June 2012 09:40

Stuart Penner was baling wheat straw last week in his field east of Hillsboro along U.S. Highway 56. If it seems like the amount of straw being baled is higher than normal this year, you may be right, according to Rickey Roberts, Marion County‘s agricultural extension agent. “I think there was quite a bit baled last year, too,” Roberts said. “But there’s a lot baled this year.” He said farmers are hearing of a potential shortage in hay feed again around the Midwest. “If this summer turns out anything like last summer, people will be willing to feed about anything,” he said. Normally, wheat straw is baled primarily for bedding cattle and other livestock as the straw itself has minimal food value. A process has been...

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County FSA office inviting candidates for local committee

Written by Bill Harmon Tuesday, 19 June 2012 09:39

The Marion County Farm Service Agency committee is seeking interested farmers to serve as candidates for the local county committee election to be held this fall.

Nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the FSA county office by close of business on Aug. 1.

Marion County farmers and ranchers can nominate themselves or any other producer in Local Administration Area 2 to run for a seat on the committee.

Organizations representing minorities and women producers are especially encouraged to nominate candidates. LAA 2 consists of Catlin, Centre, Doyle, Fairplay, Gale, Grant, Milton, Peabody, Summit and Wilson township units.

FSA county committees make decisions on commodity price support loans, conservation programs, disaster...

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Double cropping may be golden…risk

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 19 June 2012 09:38

We’re back to the idea that if you like to gamble, why go to casinos when you could just double-crop farm instead.

It seems like the golden opportunity, with perhaps the earliest wheat harvest ever in this area, to plant soybeans after wheat.

That’s especially so with soybean prices in the mid-teens per bushel.

In the normal years, the beans after wheat may have been planted at a riskier time—such as in hot July with its normally drier weather.

But this year we are in early summer with another big “if, and or but,” it’s awfully dry for the time of year.

Thursday night a highly beneficial rain fell on many parts of the county with 1.5 to 2 inches reported.

Marion County Extension agent Rickey Roberts said that with the...

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