Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte informed the JC Breakfast Optimist Club Wednesday morning that the record drought that lasted from September 1, 2017 until August, 2018, contributed to houses having cracked foundations, trees that have died or are in the process of doing so, bag worms and other conditions.

Otte added when rains arrived that caused a different set of conditions. Evergreens have experienced “Pine Wilt,” which caused those trees to die either in part or in while. He also stated that “bag worms are the worst he has seen in his 30 plus years a an Extension Agent.”

The JC Breakfast Optimist Club meets every Wednesday morning at the Hampton Inn in Junction City.