By MARSHA BOSWELL Kansas Wheat

On Wednesday, 69 people on the Wheat Quality Council’s 2024 winter wheat tour made their way from Colby to Wichita, Kansas, stopping in wheat fields along six different routes.

Wednesday’s wheat tour scouts made 216 stops at wheat fields across western, central and southern Kansas, and into northern counties in Oklahoma.

The calculated yield from all cars was 42.4 bushels per acre. Scouts were able to use the late season formula provided by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, which includes counting wheat heads, number of spikelets and kernels per spikelet. The yield formula doesn’t take disease, pests or weed pressure into consideration.

Romulo Lollato said the theme of the day was variability, even within fields. Groups saw a lot of drought stress and freeze damage, with some fields already being destroyed. Not as much stripe rust or Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus were observed on Wednesday, compared to Tuesday, likely due to drought conditions.

Farmers in the area reported that combines will probably start rolling by June 1 in south central Kansas, about seven to ten days earlier than average. There wasn’t as much fungicide applied in the southern areas of Kansas because the stripe rust started coming on in a later growth stage.

“This year is a testament to the wheat breeders and researchers and the work they’ve done,” said Derek Sawyer, who farms near McPherson. “This year, everything has been stressed across the state, but we’re still looking at a decent crop.”

Dennis Schoenhals from Oklahoma Wheat Commission reported that the state’s production was estimated at 96.2 million bushels this year, up from 68.6 million bushels last year, according to USDA’s NASS. USDA/NASS estimates the Oklahoma crop will yield 37 bushels per acre, compared with 28 last year. Harvested acres are estimated at 2.6 million acres. A tour of agronomists and others in the industry estimated the production slightly lower than the NASS estimate, at 89.3 million bushels and a yield of 33 bushels per acre. He said the Oklahoma wheat crop had good moisture through the end of January, but then they had an 83 day flash drought, which took the top end of the crop. He said it has had good, cool grainfill weather.

Wheat Tour 24 continues Thursday with six routes between Wichita and Manhattan. Follow along with the tour at #wheattour24. A final production estimate will be announced Thursday afternoon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684379707210.png" alt="Kansas Wheat Commission logo.PNG" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Wheat Commission logo.PNG</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARSHA BOSWELL Kansas WheatOn Wednesday, 69 people on the Wheat Quality Council’s 2024 winter wheat tour made their way from Colby to Wichita, Kansas, stopping in wheat fields along six different routes.Wednesday’s wheat tour scouts made 216 stops at wheat fields across western, central and southern Kansas, and into northern counties in Oklahoma.The calculated yield from all cars was 42.4 bushels per acre. Scouts were able to use the late season formula provided by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, which includes counting wheat heads, number of spikelets and kernels per spikelet. The yield formula doesn’t take disease, pests or weed pressure into consideration.Romulo Lollato said the theme of the day was variability, even within fields. Groups saw a lot of drought stress and freeze damage, with some fields already being destroyed. Not as much stripe rust or Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus were observed on Wednesday, compared to Tuesday, likely due to drought conditions.Farmers in the area reported that combines will probably start rolling by June 1 in south central Kansas, about seven to ten days earlier than average. There wasn’t as much fungicide applied in the southern areas of Kansas because the stripe rust started coming on in a later growth stage.“This year is a testament to the wheat breeders and researchers and the work they’ve done,” said Derek Sawyer, who farms near McPherson. “This year, everything has been stressed across the state, but we’re still looking at a decent crop.”Dennis Schoenhals from Oklahoma Wheat Commission reported that the state’s production was estimated at 96.2 million bushels this year, up from 68.6 million bushels last year, according to USDA’s NASS. USDA/NASS estimates the Oklahoma crop will yield 37 bushels per acre, compared with 28 last year. Harvested acres are estimated at 2.6 million acres. A tour of agronomists and others in the industry estimated the production slightly lower than the NASS estimate, at 89.3 million bushels and a yield of 33 bushels per acre. He said the Oklahoma wheat crop had good moisture through the end of January, but then they had an 83 day flash drought, which took the top end of the crop. He said it has had good, cool grainfill weather.Wheat Tour 24 continues Thursday with six routes between Wichita and Manhattan. Follow along with the tour at #wheattour24. A final production estimate will be announced Thursday afternoon.

Day Two, Wheat Tour 2024

Participants on the northern routes of this year’s Hard Winter Wheat Tour saw some of the better-looking wheat that they’ve seen in years, while participants on the southern routes saw drought-stricken fields. They calculated yields based on head counts and number of spikelets in the heads; however, tour scouts saw stripe rust, wheat streak mosaic virus and freeze damage.

About 69 people from 19 U.S. states, traveled in 18 cars on six routes between Manhattan and Colby, Kan., Tuesday, stopping at wheat fields every 15-20 miles along the routes, as part of the Wheat Quality Council’s 66th Annual Hard Winter Wheat Evaluation Tour.

About half the participants had not been on the tour before. They were shown how to take yield measurements from tour alumni, using the formula provided by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). This formula is based on 2014-2023 Kansas wheat objective yield data. Farmers can calculate their own field estimates using the same formula with instructions at <a href="http://kswheat.com">kswheat.com</a>.

Every tour participant makes yield calculations at each stop based on three to four different area samplings per field. These individual estimates are averaged with the rest of their route mates, and eventually added to a formula that produces a final yield estimate for the areas along the routes. While yields tend to be the spotlight of the Wheat Quality Tour, the real benefit is the ability to network among the ‘grain chain.’ This tour gives Kansas farmers the chance to interact with and influence their customers around the globe, on the tour, as well as at the #wheattour24 hashtag.

Tuesday’s cars of wheat tour scouts made 206 stops at wheat fields across north central, central and northwest Kansas, and into southern counties in Nebraska. The calculated yield is based on what scouts saw at this point in time. A lot can happen between now and harvest. The calculated yield from all cars was 49.9 bushels per acre, which was above trendline yields and is representative of areas of the state that are not most impacted by drought conditions. Day 2 of the tour will travel through southwest and south central Kansas, areas that have missed out on any recent precipitation.

Statewide, based on May 1 conditions, Kansas' 2024 winter wheat crop is forecast at 267.9 million bushels, up 66 million bushels from last year's crop, according to NASS. Average yield is forecast at 38 bushels per acre, up 3 bushels from last year. Acreage to be harvested for grain is estimated at 7.05 million acres, up from last year’s 5.75 million acres.

For the week ending May 12, 2024, Kansas winter wheat condition rated 13% very poor, 22% poor, 34% fair, 28% good and 3% excellent. Kansas winter wheat jointed was 97%, ahead of 84% last year and 89% for the five-year average. Headed was 73%, well ahead of 48% last year and 43% average. Coloring was 1%.

In addition to Kansas reports, scouts from Nebraska and Colorado met the group in Colby to give reports from their states.

Royce Schaneman from Nebraska Wheat Board reported that USDA estimates the Nebraska crop at 40.8 million bushels, which is up from 36.96 million bushels last year. Yield is estimated at 48 bushels per acre.

A report from Colorado estimated the crop at 72 million bushels, based on a yield of 44 bushels per acre and 2.1 million acres planted. This is lower than the May 1 USDA estimate of 81.4 million bushels, based on slightly higher abandonment. Last year’s production was 74.62 million bushels.

These estimates are for this year’s hard winter wheat crop during this current snapshot in time.

Wheat Tour 24 continues Wednesday with six routes between Colby and Wichita, Kansas.

&nbsp; For audio version, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001wh3RpXx0B7_GSFOSgk9TbDT0PUf7PknksYYwErQIIByE7xDUcs0bl-fzj2rDrXGcg1MEcrlblvt_CItmrrAdjoTeTOEy2TcTcQe6dbRJI9aLc9JAWjlrhQXMXWquC4kQ6f86jrUMPY7jvA727Y4h5lckUuda-PSafG5Tmnr5oxI=&amp;c=qhcRUhPnrDxUN179bRLottIl5E0Zj4PaFVq7EIVdgchKUUIuPNH7Rw==&amp;ch=wl3YeHeqydKJiL_l6aJs51rBAqBcKklO8QYki-kYG9Ffpdi303E0yg==" target="_blank">kswheat.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655426692793.jpeg" alt="Kansas Wheat Commission logo.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Wheat Commission logo.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas WheatParticipants on the northern routes of this year’s Hard Winter Wheat Tour saw some of the better-looking wheat that they’ve seen in years, while participants on the southern routes saw drought-stricken fields. They calculated yields based on head counts and number of spikelets in the heads; however, tour scouts saw stripe rust, wheat streak mosaic virus and freeze damage.About 69 people from 19 U.S. states, traveled in 18 cars on six routes between Manhattan and Colby, Kan., Tuesday, stopping at wheat fields every 15-20 miles along the routes, as part of the Wheat Quality Council’s 66th Annual Hard Winter Wheat Evaluation Tour.About half the participants had not been on the tour before. They were shown how to take yield measurements from tour alumni, using the formula provided by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). This formula is based on 2014-2023 Kansas wheat objective yield data. Farmers can calculate their own field estimates using the same formula with instructions at <a href="http://kswheat.com">kswheat.com</a>.Every tour participant makes yield calculations at each stop based on three to four different area samplings per field. These individual estimates are averaged with the rest of their route mates, and eventually added to a formula that produces a final yield estimate for the areas along the routes. While yields tend to be the spotlight of the Wheat Quality Tour, the real benefit is the ability to network among the ‘grain chain.’ This tour gives Kansas farmers the chance to interact with and influence their customers around the globe, on the tour, as well as at the #wheattour24 hashtag.Tuesday’s cars of wheat tour scouts made 206 stops at wheat fields across north central, central and northwest Kansas, and into southern counties in Nebraska. The calculated yield is based on what scouts saw at this point in time. A lot can happen between now and harvest. The calculated yield from all cars was 49.9 bushels per acre, which was above trendline yields and is representative of areas of the state that are not most impacted by drought conditions. Day 2 of the tour will travel through southwest and south central Kansas, areas that have missed out on any recent precipitation.Statewide, based on May 1 conditions, Kansas' 2024 winter wheat crop is forecast at 267.9 million bushels, up 66 million bushels from last year's crop, according to NASS. Average yield is forecast at 38 bushels per acre, up 3 bushels from last year. Acreage to be harvested for grain is estimated at 7.05 million acres, up from last year’s 5.75 million acres.For the week ending May 12, 2024, Kansas winter wheat condition rated 13% very poor, 22% poor, 34% fair, 28% good and 3% excellent. Kansas winter wheat jointed was 97%, ahead of 84% last year and 89% for the five-year average. Headed was 73%, well ahead of 48% last year and 43% average. Coloring was 1%.In addition to Kansas reports, scouts from Nebraska and Colorado met the group in Colby to give reports from their states.Royce Schaneman from Nebraska Wheat Board reported that USDA estimates the Nebraska crop at 40.8 million bushels, which is up from 36.96 million bushels last year. Yield is estimated at 48 bushels per acre.A report from Colorado estimated the crop at 72 million bushels, based on a yield of 44 bushels per acre and 2.1 million acres planted. This is lower than the May 1 USDA estimate of 81.4 million bushels, based on slightly higher abandonment. Last year’s production was 74.62 million bushels.These estimates are for this year’s hard winter wheat crop during this current snapshot in time.Wheat Tour 24 continues Wednesday with six routes between Colby and Wichita, Kansas.&nbsp; For audio version, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001wh3RpXx0B7_GSFOSgk9TbDT0PUf7PknksYYwErQIIByE7xDUcs0bl-fzj2rDrXGcg1MEcrlblvt_CItmrrAdjoTeTOEy2TcTcQe6dbRJI9aLc9JAWjlrhQXMXWquC4kQ6f86jrUMPY7jvA727Y4h5lckUuda-PSafG5Tmnr5oxI=&amp;c=qhcRUhPnrDxUN179bRLottIl5E0Zj4PaFVq7EIVdgchKUUIuPNH7Rw==&amp;ch=wl3YeHeqydKJiL_l6aJs51rBAqBcKklO8QYki-kYG9Ffpdi303E0yg==" target="_blank">kswheat.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Day One — Kansas Wheat Tour 2024

<a href="mailto:lmoser@ksu.edu">By LISA MOSER</a> <a href="mailto:lmoser@ksu.edu"></a>K-State Research and Extension news service

Anyone who’s ever lived in a house with newborn twins knows they can be a lot of work to take care of. When twin births happen in the beef herd, it often brings about special management considerations, say the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute.

Speaking on a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattle-chat-managing-twins">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast, K-State assistant professor of animal welfare Eduarda Bortoluzzi and K-State veterinarian Bob Larson discussed steps producers should take in managing twins.

“Twins in beef herds are more common than people might think,” Bortoluzzi said. “But they need to be watched closely in the first 24 hours to make sure both calves get colostrum from the dam.”

Larson added the biggest concern with twin births is that both calves will not get adequate nutrition early on in life.

“I recommend separating the cow and her twins away from the rest of the herd so they can be closely monitored,” Larson said.

If the cow isn’t accepting both calves or she cannot produce enough milk to adequately nourish the twins, then it might be time to consider grafting the calf to another cow that has recently lost her calf or hand-raising one of the twins by bottle-feeding them, Larson said.

“Oftentimes twins are not born the same size and so one of them tends to be more rigorous than the other,” Larson said.

He also said producers need to make sure both calves are thriving.

“A calf that is thriving will get up and run around to play, while one that isn’t is slow to get up and just lacks energy,” Larson said.

To make it easier to monitor the twins, Bortoluzzi recommends putting the cows with twins in the same pasture as the first-calf heifers.

“By grouping the cows with twins in the heifer pasture, producers can easily make sure the twins are eating well and maintaining good health,” Bortoluzzi said.

To hear the full discussion, listen to&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattle-chat-managing-twins">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715262287835.jpeg" alt="K-State beef cattle experts share tips for raising twin calves. Photo Courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>K-State beef cattle experts share tips for raising twin calves. Photo Courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:lmoser@ksu.edu">By LISA MOSER</a> <a href="mailto:lmoser@ksu.edu"></a>K-State Research and Extension news serviceAnyone who’s ever lived in a house with newborn twins knows they can be a lot of work to take care of. When twin births happen in the beef herd, it often brings about special management considerations, say the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute.Speaking on a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattle-chat-managing-twins">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast, K-State assistant professor of animal welfare Eduarda Bortoluzzi and K-State veterinarian Bob Larson discussed steps producers should take in managing twins.“Twins in beef herds are more common than people might think,” Bortoluzzi said. “But they need to be watched closely in the first 24 hours to make sure both calves get colostrum from the dam.”Larson added the biggest concern with twin births is that both calves will not get adequate nutrition early on in life.“I recommend separating the cow and her twins away from the rest of the herd so they can be closely monitored,” Larson said.If the cow isn’t accepting both calves or she cannot produce enough milk to adequately nourish the twins, then it might be time to consider grafting the calf to another cow that has recently lost her calf or hand-raising one of the twins by bottle-feeding them, Larson said.“Oftentimes twins are not born the same size and so one of them tends to be more rigorous than the other,” Larson said.He also said producers need to make sure both calves are thriving.“A calf that is thriving will get up and run around to play, while one that isn’t is slow to get up and just lacks energy,” Larson said.<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/2GFsMX0A3vHFxvbQMUj5nl?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>To make it easier to monitor the twins, Bortoluzzi recommends putting the cows with twins in the same pasture as the first-calf heifers.“By grouping the cows with twins in the heifer pasture, producers can easily make sure the twins are eating well and maintaining good health,” Bortoluzzi said.To hear the full discussion, listen to&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattle-chat-managing-twins">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.

🎙KSRE Cattle Chat — Managing stress in calves, twins in beef herds 

<a href="mailto:lmoser@ksu.edu">By LISA MOSER </a>K-State Research and Extension news service

Depending on the job, some people may have to complete a fitness test to prove that they can complete what will be required of them to be successful.

For bulls whose job it is to breed cows, the fitness test often comes in the form of a breeding soundness exam completed by a veterinarian in the weeks ahead of pasture turnout, say the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute.

Speaking on a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattle-chat-bulls-fail-breeding-exam">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast, K-State veterinarian Bob Larson said there are several components to a breeding soundness exam.

“With that exam, we make sure the bull is in good body condition and that his feet and legs are sound. We also palpate the scrotum and observe his penis to be sure it moves freely. And then we test a semen sample to assess the quality of the sperm he is producing,” Larson said.

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/34c0200d-54c2-42ed-8c22-c5b544676d44">Dry fields contribute to damage by alfalfa weevils, says K-State entomologist</a>

Relating to the semen sample, K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers explained what the base criteria are for the semen to pass.

“We want 70% of the bull’s sperm cells to be normal morphology and 30% of those cells to have a normal, forward-progressive motility,” Lubbers said.

These tests are typically done in the spring before the bulls are turned out into breeding pastures with the females.

Unfortunately, not all bulls pass their breeding soundness exam. That can happen for a variety of reasons, said the veterinarians.

So that begs the question: What should producers do with a bull who fails the exam?

“It really depends on the age of the bull and why he failed,” Lubbers said.

If the bull is around 12 months of age and he fails on semen quality, Larson recommends producers retest the bull in a few weeks.

“Because of the cattle breeds that we have in the U.S., I don’t expect all bulls will be fertile at 12 months of age, but by the time they are 15 months old, their age should not be a limiting factor,” Larson said.

Lubbers said there are some health challenges relating to a bull’s movement that can cause him to fail on exam day, but as he recovers that should not be a barrier to him passing a future evaluation.

“If he has a foot abscess, he will fail the exam but that is easy to treat and his prognosis of being able to return to breeding is good,” Lubbers said. “However, if he only has 20% normal sperm under the microscope, he may never pass. And that is why some fails are different than others.”

To hear the full discussion, listen to&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattle-chat-bulls-fail-breeding-exam">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/95a4c0cb-94f9-49fc-b6f3-0949cee40f68">North Central Kansas counties prepare for 'Big Kansas Road Trip'</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714569477275.jpeg" alt="K-State veterinarians offer recommendations about how to manage a bull if he doesn’t pass his breeding soundness exam." />
 <figcaption>K-State veterinarians offer recommendations about how to manage a bull if he doesn’t pass his breeding soundness exam.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:lmoser@ksu.edu">By LISA MOSER </a>K-State Research and Extension news serviceDepending on the job, some people may have to complete a fitness test to prove that they can complete what will be required of them to be successful.For bulls whose job it is to breed cows, the fitness test often comes in the form of a breeding soundness exam completed by a veterinarian in the weeks ahead of pasture turnout, say the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute.Speaking on a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattle-chat-bulls-fail-breeding-exam">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast, K-State veterinarian Bob Larson said there are several components to a breeding soundness exam.“With that exam, we make sure the bull is in good body condition and that his feet and legs are sound. We also palpate the scrotum and observe his penis to be sure it moves freely. And then we test a semen sample to assess the quality of the sperm he is producing,” Larson said.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/34c0200d-54c2-42ed-8c22-c5b544676d44">Dry fields contribute to damage by alfalfa weevils, says K-State entomologist</a>Relating to the semen sample, K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers explained what the base criteria are for the semen to pass.“We want 70% of the bull’s sperm cells to be normal morphology and 30% of those cells to have a normal, forward-progressive motility,” Lubbers said.These tests are typically done in the spring before the bulls are turned out into breeding pastures with the females.Unfortunately, not all bulls pass their breeding soundness exam. That can happen for a variety of reasons, said the veterinarians.So that begs the question: What should producers do with a bull who fails the exam?“It really depends on the age of the bull and why he failed,” Lubbers said.If the bull is around 12 months of age and he fails on semen quality, Larson recommends producers retest the bull in a few weeks.“Because of the cattle breeds that we have in the U.S., I don’t expect all bulls will be fertile at 12 months of age, but by the time they are 15 months old, their age should not be a limiting factor,” Larson said.Lubbers said there are some health challenges relating to a bull’s movement that can cause him to fail on exam day, but as he recovers that should not be a barrier to him passing a future evaluation.“If he has a foot abscess, he will fail the exam but that is easy to treat and his prognosis of being able to return to breeding is good,” Lubbers said. “However, if he only has 20% normal sperm under the microscope, he may never pass. And that is why some fails are different than others.”To hear the full discussion, listen to&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattle-chat-bulls-fail-breeding-exam">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/95a4c0cb-94f9-49fc-b6f3-0949cee40f68">North Central Kansas counties prepare for 'Big Kansas Road Trip'</a>

KSRE Cattle Chat: What to do when a bull fails breeding soundness exam

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Lead Reporter - Salina Post

The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce visited AJ Honey Honey Farms, LLC, on Friday, April 26, to celebrate a ribbon cutting for joining the chamber and the business's brick-and-mortar location on Ninth Street.

AJ Honey Farms co-owner Allen Stovall told the packed storefront of visitors his and his wife's, co-owner Judy Stovall, journey to opening AJ Honey Farms.

Allen Stovall also shared his passion for helping other beekeepers and spreading awareness and education about the benefits and conservation that stem from beekeeping.

"We always want to see new beekeepers coming in. We're happy to teach it and of course we do not charge to teach something we do because we enjoy helping people learn this trade," Allen Stovall said. "So teaching is a large part of this."

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/468bc8ee-a938-49e5-aa9d-286e2f02e11d">AJ Honey Farms — leading local beekeepers toward success</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714240606251.jpeg" alt="AJ Honey Farms, LLC, celebrates a ribbon cutting with the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday, April 26, in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>AJ Honey Farms, LLC, celebrates a ribbon cutting with the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday, April 26, in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Lead Reporter - Salina PostThe Salina Area Chamber of Commerce visited AJ Honey Honey Farms, LLC, on Friday, April 26, to celebrate a ribbon cutting for joining the chamber and the business's brick-and-mortar location on Ninth Street.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714241210929.jpeg" alt="AJ Honey Farms, LLC, owners Judy and Allen Stovall share about their business and their focus on beekeeping education in the region during a Ribbon ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, April 26, in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>AJ Honey Farms, LLC, owners Judy and Allen Stovall share about their business and their focus on beekeeping education in the region during a Ribbon ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, April 26, in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>AJ Honey Farms co-owner Allen Stovall told the packed storefront of visitors his and his wife's, co-owner Judy Stovall, journey to opening AJ Honey Farms.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714241383997.jpeg" alt="Visitors pack the storefront of AJ Honey Farms, LLC, to celebrate a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, April 26, in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Visitors pack the storefront of AJ Honey Farms, LLC, to celebrate a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, April 26, in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>Allen Stovall also shared his passion for helping other beekeepers and spreading awareness and education about the benefits and conservation that stem from beekeeping."We always want to see new beekeepers coming in. We're happy to teach it and of course we do not charge to teach something we do because we enjoy helping people learn this trade," Allen Stovall said. "So teaching is a large part of this."READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/468bc8ee-a938-49e5-aa9d-286e2f02e11d">AJ Honey Farms — leading local beekeepers toward success</a>

AJ Honey Farms, LLC, celebrates storefront with Salina Area Chamber of Commerce

At a glance: Dry conditions in north central Kansas and other areas have contributed to the relative damage caused by alfalfa weevils in the state’s crop, according to Kansas State University crop entomologist Jeff Whitworth.

By PAT MELGARES <a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news-and-publications/news/stories/2024/04/agriculture-spring-crop-pests.html">K-State Research and Extension news service</a>

Dry conditions in north central Kansas and other areas have contributed to the relative damage caused by alfalfa weevils in the state’s crop, according to Kansas State University crop entomologist Jeff Whitworth.

“Usually this time of year, alfalfa stems are seven or eight inches long,” Whitworth said. “But because of our dry conditions, they’re only four or five. So, any defoliation by alfalfa weevils affects the plant that much more.”

Whitworth routinely scouts Kansas fields for signs of pests, as well as the effectiveness of treatments.

“The fields that were treated (with insecticide) two weeks ago seem to be holding pretty well,” he said. “One of the things we’ve urged producers to do this year is to make sure they cover the foliage adequately. That’s really important because the insecticides labeled for alfalfa weevils are contact insecticides, which means weevils need to come into contact with the insecticide to control them.

Whitworth said his current recommendation for applying insecticide is 10-15 gallons of carrier per acre.

In fields that haven’t been treated, Whitworth estimated “another 7-10 days that those weevils will be feeding” on plants, if temperatures continue to range between 40-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Those are ideal conditions for the weevil, he said.

Whitworth said the 7-10 day window is "hopefully the producer’s last need to use insecticide to control alfalfa weevils." Once they’re done feeding on foliage, the larvae crawl down into the canopy or to the ground and form a pupal case – which looks like small cotton balls. The pupal case protects them from insecticides and other liquids.

Adult alfalfa weevils are known to leave a field once temperatures reach 80-85 F, Whitworth said, then return the following fall to mate and lay eggs again.

Whitworth said producers should also be on the lookout for the pea aphid, which can affect such crops as pea, clover, alfalfa and broad bean. Persistent dry conditions also can contribute to growth in pea aphid populations, Whitworth said.

“They’re sucking the juice out of the plant, so if they’re competing with those plants for moisture, you may have to consider a pea aphid treatment,” he said. “However, it takes 50 or more (aphids) per stem before I would even consider a treatment.”

Producers should also monitor their fields for beneficial insects, which generally do a good job controlling pea aphids. However, if the producer treated a field for alfalfa weevils, that insecticide may also have killed the beneficial insects.

Whitworth also said that army cutworms could be affecting some Kansas fields, though they are less likely to be found in alfalfa and more likely in wheat. The army cutworm develops into what is known as the miller moth, typically by the end of May, at which time it migrates to higher elevations.

“These moths may aggregate in large numbers, and thus be a serious nuisance prior to migrating out of the state in late May,” Whitworth said.

To look for army cutworms, producers can dig around the soil at the base of plants in several places throughout a field, especially where plants look stressed. According to Whitworth, they look like “half-grown, little larvae, and they’re kind of a dusty color.” They feed above ground.

Whitworth said a good indication of whether an abundance of army cutworms is in a field is the presence of birds, skunks and turkeys, which are especially adept at hunting out and eating the insect.

More information on pest control in crop fields is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations/" target="_blank">available at local extension offices in Kansas</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714237565142.jpeg" alt="The adult alfalfa weevil is known to leave a field once temperatures reach 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit, then return in the fall to mate and lay eggs again. Image courtesy of K-State Department of Entomology" />
 <figcaption>The adult alfalfa weevil is known to leave a field once temperatures reach 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit, then return in the fall to mate and lay eggs again. Image courtesy of K-State Department of Entomology</figcaption>
 </figure>At a glance: Dry conditions in north central Kansas and other areas have contributed to the relative damage caused by alfalfa weevils in the state’s crop, according to Kansas State University crop entomologist Jeff Whitworth.By PAT MELGARES <a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news-and-publications/news/stories/2024/04/agriculture-spring-crop-pests.html">K-State Research and Extension news service</a>Dry conditions in north central Kansas and other areas have contributed to the relative damage caused by alfalfa weevils in the state’s crop, according to Kansas State University crop entomologist Jeff Whitworth.“Usually this time of year, alfalfa stems are seven or eight inches long,” Whitworth said. “But because of our dry conditions, they’re only four or five. So, any defoliation by alfalfa weevils affects the plant that much more.”Whitworth routinely scouts Kansas fields for signs of pests, as well as the effectiveness of treatments.“The fields that were treated (with insecticide) two weeks ago seem to be holding pretty well,” he said. “One of the things we’ve urged producers to do this year is to make sure they cover the foliage adequately. That’s really important because the insecticides labeled for alfalfa weevils are contact insecticides, which means weevils need to come into contact with the insecticide to control them.Whitworth said his current recommendation for applying insecticide is 10-15 gallons of carrier per acre.In fields that haven’t been treated, Whitworth estimated “another 7-10 days that those weevils will be feeding” on plants, if temperatures continue to range between 40-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Those are ideal conditions for the weevil, he said.Whitworth said the 7-10 day window is "hopefully the producer’s last need to use insecticide to control alfalfa weevils." Once they’re done feeding on foliage, the larvae crawl down into the canopy or to the ground and form a pupal case – which looks like small cotton balls. The pupal case protects them from insecticides and other liquids.Adult alfalfa weevils are known to leave a field once temperatures reach 80-85 F, Whitworth said, then return the following fall to mate and lay eggs again.Whitworth said producers should also be on the lookout for the pea aphid, which can affect such crops as pea, clover, alfalfa and broad bean. Persistent dry conditions also can contribute to growth in pea aphid populations, Whitworth said.“They’re sucking the juice out of the plant, so if they’re competing with those plants for moisture, you may have to consider a pea aphid treatment,” he said. “However, it takes 50 or more (aphids) per stem before I would even consider a treatment.”Producers should also monitor their fields for beneficial insects, which generally do a good job controlling pea aphids. However, if the producer treated a field for alfalfa weevils, that insecticide may also have killed the beneficial insects.Whitworth also said that army cutworms could be affecting some Kansas fields, though they are less likely to be found in alfalfa and more likely in wheat. The army cutworm develops into what is known as the miller moth, typically by the end of May, at which time it migrates to higher elevations.“These moths may aggregate in large numbers, and thus be a serious nuisance prior to migrating out of the state in late May,” Whitworth said.To look for army cutworms, producers can dig around the soil at the base of plants in several places throughout a field, especially where plants look stressed. According to Whitworth, they look like “half-grown, little larvae, and they’re kind of a dusty color.” They feed above ground.Whitworth said a good indication of whether an abundance of army cutworms is in a field is the presence of birds, skunks and turkeys, which are especially adept at hunting out and eating the insect.More information on pest control in crop fields is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations/" target="_blank">available at local extension offices in Kansas</a>.

Dry fields contribute to damage by alfalfa weevils, says K-State entomologist

By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt&nbsp;County&nbsp;farmer and rancher

There was&nbsp;a line in one of those corny comedy/action-adventure movies&nbsp;that&nbsp;made me roll my eyes recently.&nbsp;A character asked,&nbsp;“What’s&nbsp;in Kansas?”&nbsp;about their inability to understand why a mutual friend moved to Kansas.&nbsp;That’s&nbsp;not the line that made me roll my eyes. I am a transplant myself and know from experience that Kansas&nbsp;doesn’t&nbsp;seem very exciting until you see what makes it such a wonderful place to live.

The line I am still thinking about was the response,&nbsp;“she&nbsp;married a rich rancher.”&nbsp;The insinuation that the only thing making Kansas attractive to a highly affluent,&nbsp;college educated&nbsp;woman is lots of money, makes me&nbsp;little concerned about how many people think all ranchers and&nbsp;farmers are rich.

Since Tax Day is this week, I thought it would be appropriate to dive into how much money&nbsp;farmers make and why people have so many misconceptions about the topic.

In my opinion, several culprits create mystery around&nbsp;farm&nbsp;income levels. The first is non-farm&nbsp;people. I find it humorous to watch an outsider ask a&nbsp;farmer how many acres or cows they have. Some&nbsp;farmers see that as asking point-blank,&nbsp;“What’s&nbsp;your salary?”&nbsp;The poor outsider is probably just trying to show interest and&nbsp;wouldn’t&nbsp;have a clue if 500 or 5,000 acres was&nbsp;normal, let alone have any insight on the value of a cow.

Farmers also contribute to the problem. Growing up, my parents had off-farm&nbsp;jobs, so I never really&nbsp;thought about if&nbsp;our dairy made money.&nbsp;In college, I&nbsp;meet&nbsp;farm&nbsp;kids who somewhat proudly talked about getting Pell&nbsp;grants&nbsp;because their parents had a low income or at least had a low taxable income.&nbsp;I never liked that attitude and was glad to meet other&nbsp;farmers who were content to pay taxes because that meant their business was&nbsp;successful&nbsp;and they were&nbsp;being&nbsp;productive members of society.

Legislators and estate taxes are also part of the misunderstanding.&nbsp;Farming is incredibly capital intensive; high land and equipment prices make it&nbsp;really&nbsp;difficult to get started&nbsp;if you&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;inherit family assets.&nbsp;Politicians regularly point to a lower threshold for estate taxes&nbsp;as a way&nbsp;to tax the rich. The reality for&nbsp;farmers and many family businesses is that property and equipment quickly add up to&nbsp;large&nbsp;figures.

Those dollar signs&nbsp;aren’t&nbsp;the same as cash. They represent the tractor and field used to plant a crop. Most family&nbsp;farms would have to sell land and equipment to pay estate taxes if&nbsp;the threshold were lowered. Unless a&nbsp;farmer sells out, they will never see the&nbsp;kind of&nbsp;money in cash that makes people think they are rich.

Farmers deal with&nbsp;bigger&nbsp;numbers than other people. They may bring in $1 million in a great year and $100,000 the next – before expenses.&nbsp;After paying for seed, fertilizer, machinery, fuel, rent and other business costs, a&nbsp;farmer may make six figures or lose money for the year.

Farmers&nbsp;have&nbsp;tremendous amounts of money&nbsp;invested&nbsp;in equipment, inputs and land. Their risk level is high; they make many decisions without knowing if the weather or market at harvest will cover the costs&nbsp;they’ve&nbsp;already incurred.&nbsp;All&nbsp;farmers experience bad years. Sometimes&nbsp;they event&nbsp;put a&nbsp;farmer out of business. The stress and uncertainty of trying to keep the&nbsp;farm&nbsp;alive for the next generation&nbsp;is often cause of&nbsp;mental health issues.

Judging a&nbsp;farmers’&nbsp;income is complicated and difficult because there are too many factors;&nbsp;rich or poor, materialistic or humble, heavily leveraged or paid in cash. My experience is that&nbsp;farmers’&nbsp;finances may look different&nbsp;than&nbsp;the average American, but we really&nbsp;aren’t&nbsp;that different at all.

"Insight"&nbsp;is a weekly column published by Kansas&nbsp;Farm&nbsp;Bureau, the&nbsp;state's&nbsp;largest&nbsp;farm&nbsp;organization&nbsp;whose&nbsp;mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575406519723.jpeg" alt="Jackie Mundt" />
 <figcaption>Jackie Mundt</figcaption>
 </figure>By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt&nbsp;County&nbsp;farmer and rancherThere was&nbsp;a line in one of those corny comedy/action-adventure movies&nbsp;that&nbsp;made me roll my eyes recently.&nbsp;A character asked,&nbsp;“What’s&nbsp;in Kansas?”&nbsp;about their inability to understand why a mutual friend moved to Kansas.&nbsp;That’s&nbsp;not the line that made me roll my eyes. I am a transplant myself and know from experience that Kansas&nbsp;doesn’t&nbsp;seem very exciting until you see what makes it such a wonderful place to live.The line I am still thinking about was the response,&nbsp;“she&nbsp;married a rich rancher.”&nbsp;The insinuation that the only thing making Kansas attractive to a highly affluent,&nbsp;college educated&nbsp;woman is lots of money, makes me&nbsp;little concerned about how many people think all ranchers and&nbsp;farmers are rich.Since Tax Day is this week, I thought it would be appropriate to dive into how much money&nbsp;farmers make and why people have so many misconceptions about the topic.In my opinion, several culprits create mystery around&nbsp;farm&nbsp;income levels. The first is non-farm&nbsp;people. I find it humorous to watch an outsider ask a&nbsp;farmer how many acres or cows they have. Some&nbsp;farmers see that as asking point-blank,&nbsp;“What’s&nbsp;your salary?”&nbsp;The poor outsider is probably just trying to show interest and&nbsp;wouldn’t&nbsp;have a clue if 500 or 5,000 acres was&nbsp;normal, let alone have any insight on the value of a cow.Farmers also contribute to the problem. Growing up, my parents had off-farm&nbsp;jobs, so I never really&nbsp;thought about if&nbsp;our dairy made money.&nbsp;In college, I&nbsp;meet&nbsp;farm&nbsp;kids who somewhat proudly talked about getting Pell&nbsp;grants&nbsp;because their parents had a low income or at least had a low taxable income.&nbsp;I never liked that attitude and was glad to meet other&nbsp;farmers who were content to pay taxes because that meant their business was&nbsp;successful&nbsp;and they were&nbsp;being&nbsp;productive members of society.Legislators and estate taxes are also part of the misunderstanding.&nbsp;Farming is incredibly capital intensive; high land and equipment prices make it&nbsp;really&nbsp;difficult to get started&nbsp;if you&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;inherit family assets.&nbsp;Politicians regularly point to a lower threshold for estate taxes&nbsp;as a way&nbsp;to tax the rich. The reality for&nbsp;farmers and many family businesses is that property and equipment quickly add up to&nbsp;large&nbsp;figures.Those dollar signs&nbsp;aren’t&nbsp;the same as cash. They represent the tractor and field used to plant a crop. Most family&nbsp;farms would have to sell land and equipment to pay estate taxes if&nbsp;the threshold were lowered. Unless a&nbsp;farmer sells out, they will never see the&nbsp;kind of&nbsp;money in cash that makes people think they are rich.Farmers deal with&nbsp;bigger&nbsp;numbers than other people. They may bring in $1 million in a great year and $100,000 the next – before expenses.&nbsp;After paying for seed, fertilizer, machinery, fuel, rent and other business costs, a&nbsp;farmer may make six figures or lose money for the year.Farmers&nbsp;have&nbsp;tremendous amounts of money&nbsp;invested&nbsp;in equipment, inputs and land. Their risk level is high; they make many decisions without knowing if the weather or market at harvest will cover the costs&nbsp;they’ve&nbsp;already incurred.&nbsp;All&nbsp;farmers experience bad years. Sometimes&nbsp;they event&nbsp;put a&nbsp;farmer out of business. The stress and uncertainty of trying to keep the&nbsp;farm&nbsp;alive for the next generation&nbsp;is often cause of&nbsp;mental health issues.Judging a&nbsp;farmers’&nbsp;income is complicated and difficult because there are too many factors;&nbsp;rich or poor, materialistic or humble, heavily leveraged or paid in cash. My experience is that&nbsp;farmers’&nbsp;finances may look different&nbsp;than&nbsp;the average American, but we really&nbsp;aren’t&nbsp;that different at all."Insight"&nbsp;is a weekly column published by Kansas&nbsp;Farm&nbsp;Bureau, the&nbsp;state's&nbsp;largest&nbsp;farm&nbsp;organization&nbsp;whose&nbsp;mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Insight Kansas — Farm finances

Uncertainty still underlies most farm income projections

<a href="mailto:melgares@ksu.edu" target="_blank">By PAT MELGARES </a>K-State Research and Extension news service

In an unusual twist, Kansas State University agricultural economists are reporting divergent paths for net farm income and net cash income in the coming year.

Jenny Ifft, the Flinchbaugh Agricultural Policy Chair at K-State, said it is rare that the two measures of farm revenue move in different directions.

“This is one of those annoying situations where an economist says ‘it depends,’” Ifft said, referring to projected farm profitability this year.

Most areas of the state have recovered from drought in 2022, and other areas are currently experiencing moderate drought. Yet, assuming that crop yields follow normal trends, and the fact that economists project lower prices for fertilizer, fuel and oil, 2024 could be similar to 2023 for some farmers. Ifft said Kansas 2024 crop receipts projections show about 6% growth over 2023 if yields are similar to the historical average.

Joe Parcell, director of the Center for Risk Management Education and Research at K-State, said some areas of the livestock sector — dairy and hogs, for example — are expected to do better this year than in 2023, and the cattle dynamics are “a wildcard in Kansas.” Cattle price forecasts are high, but inventories are also down.

“The big question in the cattle market is how fast can cow-calf producers rebuild the herd that they sold off last year as a result of high prices and the drought,” Parcell said. “The other thing we see is that feed yards have been extremely resilient. Compared to five years ago, (feed yards) are spending $1,000 more per head in costs. If you take $1,000 for every 1,000 animals, that’s $1 million more they are putting through that feed yard.

“We’re still projecting for all cattle receipts to be even year-over-year, and that’s really holding up Kansas farm income right now.”

Ifft said that combining factors weighing on crop and livestock production, “we expect net farm income to increase 21%, but net cash income to decrease by 14%.”

She added that economists often focus on net farm income because that measure reflects the totality of the producer’s income in a given year. Net farm income includes income as well as changes to materials and inventory.

“And so if we’re talking about a return to normal crop yields this year, producers are going to have more crops; they are going to have higher inventories at the end of 2024,” Ifft said.

But, she adds, “you can also look at net cash income, and this is something that lenders like to look at because they’re interested in producers' ability to repay loans. Cash is what you can see easily…what’s in your bank account. And we expect net cash income to be down about 14% in 2024.”

The net cash income forecast puts Kansas closer to what is projected nationally, according to Ifft.

“It looks like we’re moving into a period of tighter profit margins after some years where a lot of producers, though not everybody, did well,” Ifft said “We’re not below historical average farm income yet, but unfortunately, the normal in agriculture is a fairly tight profit margin.”

The Kansas Farm Income Outlook was put together by the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center, which has its headquarters at the University of Missouri but publishes the farm income outlook for seven Midwest states. Parcell and Ifft are among the K-State faculty members who contribute to Kansas’ report.

<a href="https://ruralandfarmfinance.com/publications/">The full Kansas Farm Income Outlook is available online</a>. Ongoing analysis and reports about Kansas agriculture also are available&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/">online from the K-State Department of Agricultural Economics</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713454999408.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Kansas 2024 net farm income is projected to increase 21%, but net cash income will decrease by 14%, according to an outlook recently published by the Rural and Farm Policy Analysis Center. Image Courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Kansas 2024 net farm income is projected to increase 21%, but net cash income will decrease by 14%, according to an outlook recently published by the Rural and Farm Policy Analysis Center. Image Courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Uncertainty still underlies most farm income projections</h2><a href="mailto:melgares@ksu.edu" target="_blank">By PAT MELGARES </a>K-State Research and Extension news serviceIn an unusual twist, Kansas State University agricultural economists are reporting divergent paths for net farm income and net cash income in the coming year.Jenny Ifft, the Flinchbaugh Agricultural Policy Chair at K-State, said it is rare that the two measures of farm revenue move in different directions.“This is one of those annoying situations where an economist says ‘it depends,’” Ifft said, referring to projected farm profitability this year.Most areas of the state have recovered from drought in 2022, and other areas are currently experiencing moderate drought. Yet, assuming that crop yields follow normal trends, and the fact that economists project lower prices for fertilizer, fuel and oil, 2024 could be similar to 2023 for some farmers. Ifft said Kansas 2024 crop receipts projections show about 6% growth over 2023 if yields are similar to the historical average.Joe Parcell, director of the Center for Risk Management Education and Research at K-State, said some areas of the livestock sector — dairy and hogs, for example — are expected to do better this year than in 2023, and the cattle dynamics are “a wildcard in Kansas.” Cattle price forecasts are high, but inventories are also down.“The big question in the cattle market is how fast can cow-calf producers rebuild the herd that they sold off last year as a result of high prices and the drought,” Parcell said. “The other thing we see is that feed yards have been extremely resilient. Compared to five years ago, (feed yards) are spending $1,000 more per head in costs. If you take $1,000 for every 1,000 animals, that’s $1 million more they are putting through that feed yard.“We’re still projecting for all cattle receipts to be even year-over-year, and that’s really holding up Kansas farm income right now.”Ifft said that combining factors weighing on crop and livestock production, “we expect net farm income to increase 21%, but net cash income to decrease by 14%.”She added that economists often focus on net farm income because that measure reflects the totality of the producer’s income in a given year. Net farm income includes income as well as changes to materials and inventory.“And so if we’re talking about a return to normal crop yields this year, producers are going to have more crops; they are going to have higher inventories at the end of 2024,” Ifft said.But, she adds, “you can also look at net cash income, and this is something that lenders like to look at because they’re interested in producers' ability to repay loans. Cash is what you can see easily…what’s in your bank account. And we expect net cash income to be down about 14% in 2024.”The net cash income forecast puts Kansas closer to what is projected nationally, according to Ifft.“It looks like we’re moving into a period of tighter profit margins after some years where a lot of producers, though not everybody, did well,” Ifft said “We’re not below historical average farm income yet, but unfortunately, the normal in agriculture is a fairly tight profit margin.”The Kansas Farm Income Outlook was put together by the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center, which has its headquarters at the University of Missouri but publishes the farm income outlook for seven Midwest states. Parcell and Ifft are among the K-State faculty members who contribute to Kansas’ report.<a href="https://ruralandfarmfinance.com/publications/">The full Kansas Farm Income Outlook is available online</a>. Ongoing analysis and reports about Kansas agriculture also are available&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/">online from the K-State Department of Agricultural Economics</a>.

Report: Kansas Farm Income Outlook comparable to 2023, say K-State economists

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina Post

What began as rescuing lost bees that tumbled from passing through semi-trailers transformed into a state-wide business for Allen and Judy Stovall, owners of <a href="https://ajhoneyfarms.com/">AJ Honey Farms, LLC</a>.

When most residents hear about "beekeeping," they first think of swaths of hives with workers buzzing about clad in white suits and puffing smoke between frames of combs. However, beekeeping is a much larger profession than just honey collection.

Allen Stovall began the profession in 2016 by saving lost bee swarms from truck stop canopies and relocating them to his and Judy Stovall's, his wife's, backyard apiary.

Judy Stovall completed the store's name, AJ Honey Farms, with her essential role established from day one.

After they collected some backyard hives, the Stovalls contacted The Land Institute to investigate honeybee research and conservation.

"They were looking for somebody to do research with bees, so our first 10 hives we went out to there [The Land Institute property], and they wanted to do silphium flowers, so that's how it started."

Today, Allen and Judy Stovall work toward not only providing raw local honey to the community but also educating and providing tools for those looking to begin their own apiaries.

"A customer gets so excited because their bees made it or he's helped them," said co-owner Judy Stovall. "At the end of the day, we want to help people because we need to have more bees."

AJ Honey Farms provides prospective beekeepers with all the gear they might need to get started, including bee suits, smokers and handmade hive boxes.

Until last year, one or both had separate jobs to continue running the business, but last year, Judy Stovall said she quit her first job to work full-time at the AJ Honey Farms store and apiary.

"It's amazing what we do, and we love what we do," Judy Stovall said. "If someone had told me 12 years ago that I would be doing this, I would've laughed and said, 'No, not happening,' and now it's amazing."

Judy Stovall focuses on selling honey and other products from the store and shipping dozens of honey bear bottles to various outlets across Kansas. 

In contrast, Allen Stovall often focuses on designing equipment and mentoring new customers.

READ MORE: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5cac0493-edbd-44e1-b890-9a28553770d7">Bryson Flax Steps Down as SES Boys Basketball Coach</a>

This year, the pair added a new item for sale — honeybee hive bodies of various breeds packaged for those looking to begin their own apiaries.

"This is our first year selling bees, and we've done very well," Judy Stovall said. "We sell it all."

With almost a decade of success, the pair now focuses on growing their operations, aiming to include services like complex honey extraction and, someday, even beekeeping classes.

Allen Stovall said that for their next project, the pair plans to use some grant cash to upgrade their current honey extraction equipment to an automatic system.

"If we end up getting it, this whole area will turn into a semi-automatic extraction system to extract from the hive frames," Allen Stovall said. "Then it goes straight into a semi-automatic bottling system."

Judy Stovall added, "We also want to turn it into a training facility—we want to teach other beekeepers."

With the updated equipment, beekeepers could rent out their kitchen space for their bottling operations instead of purchasing it, and Allen Stovall plans to help them through the process.

In the distant future, the pair aim to purchase some land and transform it into a large facility to train beekeepers and research honeybees for Kansas residents and visitors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713304794217.jpeg" alt="AJ Honey Farms, LLC, owners Judy and Allen Stovall, stand at the front desk of their business at 901 N. 9th St., Suite A, in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>AJ Honey Farms, LLC, owners Judy and Allen Stovall, stand at the front desk of their business at 901 N. 9th St., Suite A, in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina PostWhat began as rescuing lost bees that tumbled from passing through semi-trailers transformed into a state-wide business for Allen and Judy Stovall, owners of <a href="https://ajhoneyfarms.com/">AJ Honey Farms, LLC</a>.When most residents hear about "beekeeping," they first think of swaths of hives with workers buzzing about clad in white suits and puffing smoke between frames of combs. However, beekeeping is a much larger profession than just honey collection.Allen Stovall began the profession in 2016 by saving lost bee swarms from truck stop canopies and relocating them to his and Judy Stovall's, his wife's, backyard apiary.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713305507408.jpeg" alt="Allen and Judy Stovall, owners of AJ Honey Farms, LLC, first began selling wax melts after beginning the business, and continue processing large blocks of beeswax into various products like candles and balms. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Allen and Judy Stovall, owners of AJ Honey Farms, LLC, first began selling wax melts after beginning the business, and continue processing large blocks of beeswax into various products like candles and balms. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>Judy Stovall completed the store's name, AJ Honey Farms, with her essential role established from day one.After they collected some backyard hives, the Stovalls contacted The Land Institute to investigate honeybee research and conservation."They were looking for somebody to do research with bees, so our first 10 hives we went out to there [The Land Institute property], and they wanted to do silphium flowers, so that's how it started."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713304972666.jpeg" alt="A display of various bee-related products in the storefront at AJ Honey Farms, LLC, in town. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>A display of various bee-related products in the storefront at AJ Honey Farms, LLC, in town. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>Today, Allen and Judy Stovall work toward not only providing raw local honey to the community but also educating and providing tools for those looking to begin their own apiaries."A customer gets so excited because their bees made it or he's helped them," said co-owner Judy Stovall. "At the end of the day, we want to help people because we need to have more bees."AJ Honey Farms provides prospective beekeepers with all the gear they might need to get started, including bee suits, smokers and handmade hive boxes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713305205090.jpeg" alt="A beekeeper's hat and hive box sit ready for purchase in the storefront at AJ's Honey Farms, LLC in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>A beekeeper's hat and hive box sit ready for purchase in the storefront at AJ's Honey Farms, LLC in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>Until last year, one or both had separate jobs to continue running the business, but last year, Judy Stovall said she quit her first job to work full-time at the AJ Honey Farms store and apiary."It's amazing what we do, and we love what we do," Judy Stovall said. "If someone had told me 12 years ago that I would be doing this, I would've laughed and said, 'No, not happening,' and now it's amazing."Judy Stovall focuses on selling honey and other products from the store and shipping dozens of honey bear bottles to various outlets across Kansas. In contrast, Allen Stovall often focuses on designing equipment and mentoring new customers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713305417674.jpeg" alt="AJ Honey Farms, LLC, co-owner Allen Stovall fills a test tube with the right amount of eucalyptus fragrance for the store's candle wax melts. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>AJ Honey Farms, LLC, co-owner Allen Stovall fills a test tube with the right amount of eucalyptus fragrance for the store's candle wax melts. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>READ MORE: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5cac0493-edbd-44e1-b890-9a28553770d7">Bryson Flax Steps Down as SES Boys Basketball Coach</a>This year, the pair added a new item for sale — honeybee hive bodies of various breeds packaged for those looking to begin their own apiaries."This is our first year selling bees, and we've done very well," Judy Stovall said. "We sell it all."With almost a decade of success, the pair now focuses on growing their operations, aiming to include services like complex honey extraction and, someday, even beekeeping classes.Allen Stovall said that for their next project, the pair plans to use some grant cash to upgrade their current honey extraction equipment to an automatic system.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713305597759.jpeg" alt="Creamed honey products, made in a traditional way by Allen Stovall, co-owner of AJ Honey Farms, LLC, sit ready for customers in the storefront on Ninth Street. Allen Stovall creates creamed honey through a crystallization technique instead of whipping air into regular honey. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Creamed honey products, made in a traditional way by Allen Stovall, co-owner of AJ Honey Farms, LLC, sit ready for customers in the storefront on Ninth Street. Allen Stovall creates creamed honey through a crystallization technique instead of whipping air into regular honey. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>"If we end up getting it, this whole area will turn into a semi-automatic extraction system to extract from the hive frames," Allen Stovall said. "Then it goes straight into a semi-automatic bottling system."Judy Stovall added, "We also want to turn it into a training facility—we want to teach other beekeepers."With the updated equipment, beekeepers could rent out their kitchen space for their bottling operations instead of purchasing it, and Allen Stovall plans to help them through the process.In the distant future, the pair aim to purchase some land and transform it into a large facility to train beekeepers and research honeybees for Kansas residents and visitors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713305712027.jpeg" alt="Judy and Allen Stovall, owners of AJ Honey Farms, LLC, stand at their storefront where they greet dozens of customers each week. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Judy and Allen Stovall, owners of AJ Honey Farms, LLC, stand at their storefront where they greet dozens of customers each week. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713305861010.jpeg" alt="Teddy bear bottles sit ready for the shelf in AJ Honey Farms, LLC's, kitchen. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Teddy bear bottles sit ready for the shelf in AJ Honey Farms, LLC's, kitchen. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>

AJ Honey Farms — leading local beekeepers toward success

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A bird flu outbreak in U.S. dairy cows has grown to affect&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock">more than two dozen herds</a>&nbsp;in eight states, just weeks after the nation's largest egg producer found&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-texas-mississippi-chickens-dbae49f8786dda586036c1b86b9d0997">the virus</a>&nbsp;in its chickens.

Health officials stress that the risk to the public is low and that the U.S. food supply remains safe and stable.

“At this time, there continues to be no concern that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health, or that it affects the safety of the interstate commercial milk supply,” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a statement.

Here’s what you need to know about bird flu and food:

WHICH STATES HAVE FOUND BIRD FLU IN DAIRY COWS?

As of Friday, the strain of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-avian-flu-chickens-eggs-03793b5b1cb7429ce293e8577aef0358">bird flu</a>&nbsp;that has killed millions of wild birds in recent years has been found in at least 26 dairy herds in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock">eight U.S. states</a>: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and South Dakota.

The virus, known as Type A H5N1, has been detected in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/disease-outbreaks-hong-kong-health-bird-flu-animals-75e5d058e0fda23b5359f66cafb74cdf">range of mammals</a>&nbsp;over the last few years, but this is the first time it has been found in cattle, according to federal health and animal agencies. Genetic analysis of the virus does not show that it has changed to spread more easily in people, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

HOW IS BIRD FLU AFFECTING FOOD PRODUCTION?

Agriculture officials in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.avma.org/news/states-begin-restrict-cattle-imports-those-influenza-cases">at least 17 states</a>&nbsp;have restricted imports of dairy cattle from states where the virus has been detected, but, so far, government agencies say it’s had little effect on commercial milk production. Officials believe cows likely have been infected by exposure to wild birds, but said cow-to-cow spread&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-fda-cdc-share-update-hpai-detections-dairy-cattle">“cannot be ruled out."</a>

Farmers are testing cows that show symptoms of infection, including sharply reduced milk supply and lethargy. Animals that show signs or test positive for illness are being separated from other animals on the farms. The animals appear to recover within two weeks.

U.S. egg producers are watching the situation closely after bird flu was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-avian-flu-chickens-eggs-03793b5b1cb7429ce293e8577aef0358">detected in chickens in Texas and Michigan.</a>&nbsp;Millions of birds have been killed, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/egg-guidance-regulation-and-other-information/questions-and-answers-regarding-safety-eggs-during-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-outbreaks">FDA said</a>&nbsp;the risk of affected eggs getting into the retail market or causing infections in humans is low because of federal inspections and other safeguards.

Scientists say there’s no evidence to suggest that people can contract the virus by consuming food that’s been pasteurized, or heat-treated — or properly cooked.

“It’s not a food safety concern,” said Lee-Ann Jaykus, an emeritus food microbiologist and virologist at North Carolina State University.

Two people in U.S. have been infected with bird flu to date.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-texas-cows-355f1e288e72df8b81b0e2efd8b3ae2f">A Texas dairy worker</a>&nbsp;who was in close contact with an infected cow recently developed a mild eye infection and has recovered. In 2022, a prison inmate in a work program&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-colorado-b98906e0a1899bb1f92da30a7b1dbe28">caught it</a>&nbsp;while killing infected birds at a Colorado poultry farm. His only symptom was fatigue, and he recovered.

IS GROCERY STORE MILK SAFE FROM BIRD FLU?

Yes, according to food safety experts and government officials.

U.S. producers are barred from selling milk from sick cows and must divert and destroy it. In addition, milk sold across state lines is required to be pasteurized, or heat-treated using a process that kills bacteria and viruses, including influenza.

“We firmly believe that pasteurization provides a safe milk supply,” Tracey Forfa, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine told a webinar audience this week.

The FDA and the CDC are less certain about unpasteurized, or raw, milk sold in many states, saying there’s limited information about the possible transmission of the H5N1 virus in such products.

So far, no herds linked to raw milk providers have reported cows infected with bird flu, but the agencies recommend that the industry not make or sell raw milk or raw milk cheese products made with milk from cows that show symptoms — or are exposed to infected cows.

U.S. health officials have long warned against the risk of foodborne illness tied to raw milk, which the CDC said caused more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/rawmilk/rawmilk-outbreaks.">200 outbreaks</a>&nbsp;that sickened more than 2,600 people between 1998 and 2018.

Still, raw milk proponents like Mark McAfee, owner of Raw Farm USA in Fresno, Calif., said the outbreak of H5N1 in commercial cows appears to have spurred higher sales of the products, despite federal warnings.

CAN YOU CATCH BIRD FLU FROM EGGS OR MEAT?

Only dairy cows, not beef cattle, have been infected or shown signs of illness to date, agriculture officials said.

The largest egg producer in the U.S. temporarily halted operations on April 2 after finding bird flu in its chickens. Cal-Maine Foods culled about 1.6 million laying hens and another 337,000 pullets, or young hens, after the detection.

The company said there was no risk to eggs in the market and that no eggs had been recalled.

Eggs that are handled properly and cooked thoroughly are safe to eat, said Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Center for Food Safety and Nutrition Security at George Washington University.

“A lot of people like runny eggs. Personally, if I eat an egg, it’s very well cooked,” she said.

Still, Kowalcyk and others cautioned that the situation could change.

“This is an emerging issue and clearly this pathogen is evolving and there’s a lot that we don’t know,” she said. “I do think that everybody is trying to figure it out as quickly as possible.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636037846131.jpeg" alt="Photo USDA" />
 <figcaption>Photo USDA</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —A bird flu outbreak in U.S. dairy cows has grown to affect&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock">more than two dozen herds</a>&nbsp;in eight states, just weeks after the nation's largest egg producer found&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-texas-mississippi-chickens-dbae49f8786dda586036c1b86b9d0997">the virus</a>&nbsp;in its chickens.Health officials stress that the risk to the public is low and that the U.S. food supply remains safe and stable.“At this time, there continues to be no concern that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health, or that it affects the safety of the interstate commercial milk supply,” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a statement.Here’s what you need to know about bird flu and food:WHICH STATES HAVE FOUND BIRD FLU IN DAIRY COWS?As of Friday, the strain of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-avian-flu-chickens-eggs-03793b5b1cb7429ce293e8577aef0358">bird flu</a>&nbsp;that has killed millions of wild birds in recent years has been found in at least 26 dairy herds in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock">eight U.S. states</a>: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and South Dakota.The virus, known as Type A H5N1, has been detected in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/disease-outbreaks-hong-kong-health-bird-flu-animals-75e5d058e0fda23b5359f66cafb74cdf">range of mammals</a>&nbsp;over the last few years, but this is the first time it has been found in cattle, according to federal health and animal agencies. Genetic analysis of the virus does not show that it has changed to spread more easily in people, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.HOW IS BIRD FLU AFFECTING FOOD PRODUCTION?Agriculture officials in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.avma.org/news/states-begin-restrict-cattle-imports-those-influenza-cases">at least 17 states</a>&nbsp;have restricted imports of dairy cattle from states where the virus has been detected, but, so far, government agencies say it’s had little effect on commercial milk production. Officials believe cows likely have been infected by exposure to wild birds, but said cow-to-cow spread&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-fda-cdc-share-update-hpai-detections-dairy-cattle">“cannot be ruled out."</a>Farmers are testing cows that show symptoms of infection, including sharply reduced milk supply and lethargy. Animals that show signs or test positive for illness are being separated from other animals on the farms. The animals appear to recover within two weeks.U.S. egg producers are watching the situation closely after bird flu was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-avian-flu-chickens-eggs-03793b5b1cb7429ce293e8577aef0358">detected in chickens in Texas and Michigan.</a>&nbsp;Millions of birds have been killed, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/egg-guidance-regulation-and-other-information/questions-and-answers-regarding-safety-eggs-during-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-outbreaks">FDA said</a>&nbsp;the risk of affected eggs getting into the retail market or causing infections in humans is low because of federal inspections and other safeguards.DOES PASTEURIZATION KILL BIRD FLU?Scientists say there’s no evidence to suggest that people can contract the virus by consuming food that’s been pasteurized, or heat-treated — or properly cooked.“It’s not a food safety concern,” said Lee-Ann Jaykus, an emeritus food microbiologist and virologist at North Carolina State University.Two people in U.S. have been infected with bird flu to date.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-texas-cows-355f1e288e72df8b81b0e2efd8b3ae2f">A Texas dairy worker</a>&nbsp;who was in close contact with an infected cow recently developed a mild eye infection and has recovered. In 2022, a prison inmate in a work program&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-colorado-b98906e0a1899bb1f92da30a7b1dbe28">caught it</a>&nbsp;while killing infected birds at a Colorado poultry farm. His only symptom was fatigue, and he recovered.IS GROCERY STORE MILK SAFE FROM BIRD FLU?Yes, according to food safety experts and government officials.U.S. producers are barred from selling milk from sick cows and must divert and destroy it. In addition, milk sold across state lines is required to be pasteurized, or heat-treated using a process that kills bacteria and viruses, including influenza.“We firmly believe that pasteurization provides a safe milk supply,” Tracey Forfa, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine told a webinar audience this week.IS RAW MILK SAFE FROM BIRD FLU?The FDA and the CDC are less certain about unpasteurized, or raw, milk sold in many states, saying there’s limited information about the possible transmission of the H5N1 virus in such products.So far, no herds linked to raw milk providers have reported cows infected with bird flu, but the agencies recommend that the industry not make or sell raw milk or raw milk cheese products made with milk from cows that show symptoms — or are exposed to infected cows.U.S. health officials have long warned against the risk of foodborne illness tied to raw milk, which the CDC said caused more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/rawmilk/rawmilk-outbreaks.">200 outbreaks</a>&nbsp;that sickened more than 2,600 people between 1998 and 2018.Still, raw milk proponents like Mark McAfee, owner of Raw Farm USA in Fresno, Calif., said the outbreak of H5N1 in commercial cows appears to have spurred higher sales of the products, despite federal warnings.CAN YOU CATCH BIRD FLU FROM EGGS OR MEAT?Only dairy cows, not beef cattle, have been infected or shown signs of illness to date, agriculture officials said.The largest egg producer in the U.S. temporarily halted operations on April 2 after finding bird flu in its chickens. Cal-Maine Foods culled about 1.6 million laying hens and another 337,000 pullets, or young hens, after the detection.The company said there was no risk to eggs in the market and that no eggs had been recalled.Eggs that are handled properly and cooked thoroughly are safe to eat, said Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Center for Food Safety and Nutrition Security at George Washington University.“A lot of people like runny eggs. Personally, if I eat an egg, it’s very well cooked,” she said.Still, Kowalcyk and others cautioned that the situation could change.“This is an emerging issue and clearly this pathogen is evolving and there’s a lot that we don’t know,” she said. “I do think that everybody is trying to figure it out as quickly as possible.”___

Bird flu is spreading to more farm animals. Are milk and eggs safe?

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher

We adopted him from a nearby city animal shelter’s barn cat adoption program. They adopted him out to us because he was deemed “too bite-y” to be a house cat.

An expert mouser with some serious cattitude, he rotated his time between our shop, farm office and barn. 

He viciously clawed my office chair one afternoon when I turned off his Netflix. He’d let you know when he was annoyed with you with his loud meow or his claws to the back of your leg. He also let you know when he wanted your affection when he’d sneak up behind you and bite you before flopping down by your feet expecting a belly rub.

He’d sprawl out on window ledges and sleep for hours until I’d come into the office. I swear he’d wait for me to look over at him once I was settled at my desk before he’d push a plant, pot or coffee mug off the ledge all while maintaining eye contact with me.

He tolerated our farm dog, Rosie, in her puppyhood. He followed us when we went on hikes through the cattle pastures — always letting us know of his presence by his continuous and loud complaints regarding our outings. More often than not, after hearing too many of his growling meows, one of us would give in and carry that fat cat back to the shop. 

He had a special gift of getting right in your face when working on equipment and making his presence known during Zoom calls.

Mr. Gray disappeared about a year ago. We assumed a coyote got the old boy. 

However, we recently received a call from the City of Wichita telling us that they had our cat. We didn’t have a missing cat.

They said they had a cat that was microchipped and registered to us.

I made the hour-long drive down to Wichita to bail him out of cat jail.

After a year of adventures that landed him in the big house down in the city, Mr. Gray is back on the farm. He spent a few hours in the tractor with my husband before we released him back into the shop and office later that afternoon.

He left an offering for us a few hours later in the form of two mice he’d caught and put in his litter box. 

He’s now returned to patrolling the farm, sneaking up behind me and nipping the back of my leg while I work at my desk, sharpening his claws on my office chair, and overseeing us while working on equipment — always from somewhere above us.

We don’t know what his time away from the farm was like, but Mr. Gray has definitely made sure that we know he’s back and that he hasn’t changed one bit.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573617414005.jpeg" alt="Kim-Baldwin Insight.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Kim-Baldwin Insight.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancherWe adopted him from a nearby city animal shelter’s barn cat adoption program. They adopted him out to us because he was deemed “too bite-y” to be a house cat.An expert mouser with some serious cattitude, he rotated his time between our shop, farm office and barn. He viciously clawed my office chair one afternoon when I turned off his Netflix. He’d let you know when he was annoyed with you with his loud meow or his claws to the back of your leg. He also let you know when he wanted your affection when he’d sneak up behind you and bite you before flopping down by your feet expecting a belly rub.He’d sprawl out on window ledges and sleep for hours until I’d come into the office. I swear he’d wait for me to look over at him once I was settled at my desk before he’d push a plant, pot or coffee mug off the ledge all while maintaining eye contact with me.He tolerated our farm dog, Rosie, in her puppyhood. He followed us when we went on hikes through the cattle pastures — always letting us know of his presence by his continuous and loud complaints regarding our outings. More often than not, after hearing too many of his growling meows, one of us would give in and carry that fat cat back to the shop. He had a special gift of getting right in your face when working on equipment and making his presence known during Zoom calls.Mr. Gray disappeared about a year ago. We assumed a coyote got the old boy. However, we recently received a call from the City of Wichita telling us that they had our cat. We didn’t have a missing cat.They said they had a cat that was microchipped and registered to us.Mr. Gray was back from the dead!I made the hour-long drive down to Wichita to bail him out of cat jail.After a year of adventures that landed him in the big house down in the city, Mr. Gray is back on the farm. He spent a few hours in the tractor with my husband before we released him back into the shop and office later that afternoon.He left an offering for us a few hours later in the form of two mice he’d caught and put in his litter box. He’s now returned to patrolling the farm, sneaking up behind me and nipping the back of my leg while I work at my desk, sharpening his claws on my office chair, and overseeing us while working on equipment — always from somewhere above us.We don’t know what his time away from the farm was like, but Mr. Gray has definitely made sure that we know he’s back and that he hasn’t changed one bit."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

Insight Kansas: A farm cat's tale

K-State beef cattle experts share the pros and cons of retaining heifer calves born to first-calf heifers

Working in agriculture often involves a series of decisions, including which crops should be planted in a rotation, what inputs are most economical, and -- in the case of rebuilding the cow herd -- should replacement females that were born to first-calf heifers be retained?

This was the question that the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute experts addressed on a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattlechatselectingareplacementfemalefortheherd">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast episode.

“There are a lot of factors that go into that decision as to whether or not keeping heifers born to heifers is a good idea, and it depends on the goal of the breeding program,” said K-State veterinarian Brad White.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712150087384.jpeg" alt="Retaining heifers born to first-calf heifers is one way to make genetic progress, said experts at the K-State Beef Cattle Institute. Image Courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Retaining heifers born to first-calf heifers is one way to make genetic progress, said experts at the K-State Beef Cattle Institute. Image Courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>K-State beef cattle experts share the pros and cons of retaining heifer calves born to first-calf heifers</h2><a href="mailto:lmoser@ksu.edu">By LISA MOSER </a>K-State Research and Extension news serviceWorking in agriculture often involves a series of decisions, including which crops should be planted in a rotation, what inputs are most economical, and -- in the case of rebuilding the cow herd -- should replacement females that were born to first-calf heifers be retained?This was the question that the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute experts addressed on a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattlechatselectingareplacementfemalefortheherd">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast episode.“There are a lot of factors that go into that decision as to whether or not keeping heifers born to heifers is a good idea, and it depends on the goal of the breeding program,” said K-State veterinarian Brad White.White said with proper planning, beef producers can make retaining heifers born to heifers work for a herd. He said that if producers plan to do that, they need to plan and select sires that are adequate for calving ease but also offer maternal traits that are beneficial.“I like to keep heifers born to first-calf heifers if they are born early in the breeding season and they are born to a mating that was genetically planned to create replacement females,” White said.<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6yU87CbpfHVzUnUymYiJtO?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>K-State veterinarian Bob Larson agreed, adding, “there are some AI (artificial insemination) sires that have good maternal traits while being adequate for calving ease that can make females worth considering as replacements.”K-State nutritionist Phillip Lancaster sees one other genetic advantage of keeping replacement females born to first-calf heifers.“I am going to boost the genetic progress of the herd overall much quicker by keeping the daughters of the youngest females in the herd,” Lancaster said.However, Lancaster also said that it is important to look at the performance of the cow family that these potential replacement heifers are born from when making this decision.“Take a look at the records and if that heifer is born to a proven cow line in terms of longevity and reproductive performance, that will help you make the decision about keeping the heifer calf that was born from a heifer in the herd,” Lancaster said.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/77cb095d-d35e-4998-ab3f-3bd91c9b0301">Cattle Chat: Helping heifers ahead of breeding</a>Another factor to consider is the frame size of the replacement female being considered, said K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers. The size concern relates to the pelvic size of the calf when she matures and is bred to calve her first calf.“Some daughters born to calving ease sires may be predisposed to future calving difficulty due to their smaller frame size,” Larson said.Lubbers also said the timing of when they were born as compared to the rest of the herd is something that should factor into the decision of keeping or selling that heifer calf.“If the heifer calf was born late in the breeding season and she is small framed, then I would recommend producers do not retain them in the herd.”To hear the full discussion, listen to&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattlechatselectingareplacementfemalefortheherd">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.