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K-State Today

September 9, 2011

September update from Research and Extension

Submitted by Kristina Boone

•    Kansas hosted the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference Aug. 7–11 in Overland Park. Dennis Patton, Johnson County, was recognized as top columnist in the nation; Gary Cramer, Sedgwick County, received an achievement award; and Larry Crouse of Butler County and John Stannard of Russell County received distinguished service awards. Rich­ard Fechter, Rolling Prairie District, was elected secretary of the association.

•    Cathie Woteki, chief scientist and undersecretary for research, education and economics for U.S. Department of Agriculture, visited Manhattan. She was briefed on K-State livestock and crop health and security research, and how K-State Research and Extension works with Fort Riley Garrison Command on Army family educational programs.

•    A team of entomologists — Yoonsenong Park, associate professor; Tom Phillips, professor; two former K-State graduate students; and adjunct professors James Campbell and Richard Beeman of the USDA-ARS Center for Grain and Animal Health Research — published “Anatomical localization and stereoisomeric composition of Tribolium castaneum aggregation pheromones” in Naturwissenschaften, an international jour­nal. Tribolium castaneum (red flour beetle) is a serious pest of stored grain products worldwide.

•    The K-State Beef Conference — webcast from Weber Hall to the Butler County Community Building, Pratt County Fairgrounds and WaKeeney Public Library Aug. 16 — attracted about 120 participants. Presenters included: Glynn Tonsor, assistant professor of agricultural economics; Justin Waggoner, beef system specialist for the Southwest area; Bob Weaber, assistant professor of animal science and industry; Chris Reinhardt, associate professor of animal science and industry; and Kevin Dhuyvetter, professor of agricultural economics.

•    The 2011 Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes drew more than 200 participants to compete in livestock and meat judging, skillathon, and quiz bowl. Extension assistant Chelsea Tomascik organized the event, with help from animal sciences and 4-H Youth Development staff, graduate students and judging teams.

•    Norman Klocke, professor of irrigation engineering at the Southwest Research-Extension Center – Gar­den City, and Loyd Stone, professor of agronomy, were selected for a 2011 Educational Aids Blue Ribbon Award. The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers chose them, along with two private computing specialists, for developing the Crop Yield Predictor, a new computer modeling tool for irrigators.

•    The Southwest Research-Extension Center – Tribune celebrated 100 years of working to determine the best crops and crop management practices for southwest Kansas during its Dryland Ag Day, Aug. 17.