K-State in the news

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Tuesday, April 21, 2026

National/International

How to protect your garden crops from early-season pests
04/20/26 MSN.com
Anthony Reardon, horticulture agent with Johnson County, K-State University Extension, writes about how, ultimately, tackling pests from many angles, with multiple mitigation efforts used simultaneously, is what will prove most effective in keeping your garden pest-free this growing season. It all begins with early monitoring.

Is a ‘super’ El Niño coming this summer, and how could it impact weather?
04/20/26 NewsNation
Federal officials say there is a growing chance the climate phenomenon known as El Niño will develop this summer, with some forecasts suggesting a historically strong one is on its way. The “super El Niño” circumstance occurs when temperatures rise at least 2.0°C above normal, according to Matthew Sittel, assistant state climatologist at Kansas State University.

State/Regional

Why you’re seeing so many ladybugs in Kansas this year
04/20/26 KWCH-TV
Those who are spending time outside doing yard work or gardening at this time of year may be seeing more ladybugs than usual. Although they appear every spring, this year, there seems to be an increased number. An expert said this is an effect of the weather we’ve seen in 2026. “This spring, with the warmer temperatures that we’ve started even in February and March, ladybug populations were able to start out earlier and begin building population numbers,” said Matthew McKernan with the K-State Extension Office. “So they’re very visible this time of the year in the landscape.”

Flickner Innovation Farm advances K‑State's precision agriculture research
04/20/26 Hutch Post
Throughout that century-plus history, the Flickners have been pioneers not out of a desire to be first, but to protect the land and advance new methods for their fellow Kansas farmers. Through a partnership with Kansas State University researchers, the family sees yet another opportunity to build the next generation of Kansas agriculture.