Please join us in welcoming Tara Markley back to Johnson County Extension as our new director. Tara has most recently been a research project coordinator for the University of Kansas-Center for Public Partnerships and Research. Prior to this, she served as the 4-H Youth Development Extension agent for Johnson County, and as the director at the Heartland Program and Innovation Center for Camp Fire. Welcome Tara!

After serving Kansas citizens for 34 years, Rick Miller will retire as our county Extension agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources programming this July. We will miss his passion and enthusiasm. Here are a few words from Rick.

Expect education, food, and fun, plus everything hostas at this unique event, co-sponsored by our very own Extension Master Gardeners. Enjoy speakers, tour 9 fabulous gardens, get a sneak peek at the hot hostas of tomorrow, shop with regional vendors and more! Details here .

The itching can wake you from a dead sleep. The misery lasts not days but weeks. Oak Itch Mites! Our office continues to receive calls about this dreaded insect. Here is the latest on what we know and what we don’t know at this point.

Owning a dog can bring some of the greatest joys in life. Owning a dog can also bring its share of challenges in the garden. Here are a few design tips to help you enjoy both the garden and the dog.

Extension Master Gardeners plant and maintain a network of demonstration gardens throughout the county. The goal is to provide you with recommended plants for the home landscape. Garden themes include; butterfly, pollinator, native, vegetables, perennials and shrubs. Most gardens are open to the public and free of charge. So when out and about stop by and see what’s new in the gardens.

If you have a passion for gardening and would like to share that passion with others, consider volunteering with the Johnson County Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs). We're looking for fun-minded folks interested in educating Johnson County citizens about research-based best practices. Information about the program and the application form is here.

Summer's coming and it won't be long before the kids say, "We're bored!" Here's a list of activities the whole family will enjoy, that won't break the bank. 

It's an acquired taste for some. But others love it. Plain Greek yogurt has several nutritional benefits. We list ways you can incorporate it into your daily meals.

4-H Youth Development agent Lee Sigley shares a word about joining Extension and his vision for the program.

Your child does not need to be a 4-H member to enjoy our camping experience. Please note that our camps are very popular and fill up quickly. We offer both Day Camps and Overnight Camps.

The Walnut Council is a non-profit nation-wide and international organization that represents woodland owners, foresters, ecologists, scientists and wood-producing industries. Each year the Kansas Chapter hosts a field day. Details here.

Here's a list of resources for controlling weeds in agriculture, field crops and pasture lands.

Each week, agronomists from K-State provide an update on crop scouting observations and updates on a variety of timely topics. They recently were talking about the time approaching for wheat fungicides, weed control strategies, and a review of agriculture apps.  If you want to see each week’s eUpdates, check out their web site at https://webapp.agron.ksu.edu/agr_social/eu.throck