Cindy Hornberger

Board Member

Why did you get involved in Extension services?  

I became a Master Gardener in 2017. Two years ago I was asked by the Horticulture Agent, Tom Buller, if I would consider joining Extension Council as a Agriculture/Natural Resources/Horticulture PDC member. 

What has surprised you the most about being on the Extension Board? 

I am amazed by the depth and breadth of high quality services offered by Extension to everyone in our community.

What other community activities are you passionate about? 

As I mentioned, I am very active in the Extension Master Gardener program. I have served on many health organization boards, am active in fiber art groups, and love our Farmers' Markets.

Charlie Bryan

Family & Consumer Sciences PDC Executive Board Member

Why did you get involved in Extension services?  

I saw service on the Douglas County Extension Council as a great opportunity to expand my understanding of Extension services, to do good for neighbors in need, and to make a positive impact in the community.

What has surprised you the most about being on the Extension Board? 

There have been a few notable surprises for me: that Kansas law stipulates that members of the Extension Council are elected officials; that Extension programming relies on large-scale involvement of community volunteers; and that the executive board has the responsibility of hiring County Extension Agents.

What other community activities are you passionate about? 

With two middle school aged daughters, I care deeply about community activities that promote healthy youth development. I serve as a co-leader for two Girl Scout troops, and I am on the board of directors for Dads of Douglas County, a nonprofit committed to encouraging fathers to be more engaged and actively involved in their children’s lives. 

Nutrient Availability in Poultry Manure

Peter Tomlinson,

Environmental Quality Specialist

Dorivar Ruiz Diaz,

Nutrient Management Specialist

Poultry litter can provide a significant and important supply of nutrients for crop production in areas of Kansas where a supply of litter is available. Although Kansas is not a major producer of poultry, there is an abundant supply of litter from the nearby states of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, which rank among the largest producers of poultry in the U.S. The acreage available to receive poultry litter has been declining in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma in recent years because of environmental concerns and nutrient management regulations, thus the availability of litter to areas such as southeast Kansas has been on the rise.

Above photo: Poultry litter. Photo by Dan Donnert, K-State Research and Extension.

FULL ARTICLE

Considerations for Fall applications of Anhydrous Ammonia

Dorivar Ruiz Diaz,

Nutrient Management Specialist

Christopher “Chip” Redmond, Kansas Mesonet Manager

Peter Tomlinson,

Environmental Quality Specialist

Soils across Kansas are still running above 50°F at the 4-inch depth in most locations (Figure 1). It is best to delay application of anhydrous ammonia until soil temperatures drop below this threshold. Applying anhydrous ammonia in the fall ahead of the next corn crop has some appeal to producers. For one thing, fall fertilizer application spreads out the workload so there’s more time to focus on corn planting in the spring. Secondly, wet conditions in the spring sometimes prevents producers from applying lower-cost anhydrous ammonia ahead of corn planting, and forces them to apply more expensive sources after planting. Equally important for many producers have been issues with anhydrous ammonia availability at times in the spring.

*Above Img: Average soil temperature (°F ) at 4 inches for the 7-day period ending on October 28, 2021. Soil temperatures in individual fields in any given area will vary with differences in vegetative cover, soil texture, soil moisture, and other factors. (Kansas Mesonet)

FULL ARTICLE