MANHATTAN — Farmers who planted cover crops on prevented plant acres will be permitted to hay, graze or chop those fields earlier than November this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced June 20.

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) adjusted the 2019 final haying and grazing date from November 1 to September 1 to help farmers who were prevented from planting because of flooding and excess rainfall this spring.

“I thank USDA for recognizing the impact the flooding and excess rainfall have had on farmers this spring,” said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam. “This adjustment will provide a new opportunity for some producers who are seeking alternatives in response to prevented planting because of excess moisture.”

RMA has also determined that silage, haylage and baleage should be treated in the same manner as haying and grazing this year. Producers can hay, graze or cut cover crops for silage, haylage or baleage on prevented plant acres on or after September 1 and still maintain eligibility for their full 2019 prevented planting indemnity.

“We made this one-year adjustment to help farmers with the tough decisions they are facing this year,” said Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey. “This change will make good stewardship of the land easier to accomplish while also providing an opportunity to ensure quality forage is available for livestock this fall.”

Other USDA Programs
Other USDA agencies are also assisting producers with delayed or prevented planting. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is extending the deadline to report prevented plant acres in select counties, and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is holding special sign-ups for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program in certain states to help with planting cover crops on impacted lands. Contact your local FSA and NRCS offices to learn more.

 

On Friday, Fort Riley welcomed Col. Timothy R. Mungie as he took over command of the 1st Infantry Division Artillery. Drumfire Soldiers said goodbye to Col. Rory A. Crooks and his family as they prepare to transition to Fort Eustis, VA. (U.S. Army photos by Will Ravenstein, 1ID PAO)

Today we welcomed Col. Timothy R. Mungie as he took over command of the 1st Infantry Division Artillery. Drumfire Soldiers said goodbye to Col. Rory A. Crooks and his family as they prepare to transition to Fort Eustis, VA. (U.S. Army photos by Will Ravenstein, 1ID PAO) pic.twitter.com/Thq21p1xX4

— 1st Infantry Division (@FightingFirst) June 21, 2019

Today Chaplain (Col.) Kevin S. Forrester was charged with the spiritual well-being of the Soldiers and families of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley replacing Rabbi (Col.) Shmuel Felzenberg. (U.S. Army photos by Will Ravenstein, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs) pic.twitter.com/mvXPP6a4FA

— 1st Infantry Division (@FightingFirst) June 21, 2019

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FORT RILEY — Fort Riley will bid farewell to current Division Artillery Brigade commander Col. Rory Crooks and welcome incoming commander Col. Timothy Mungie at a change of command ceremony Friday.

The ceremony, scheduled for 10 a.m., will take place at the Cavalry Parade Field on Forsyth Avenue.

Mungie was previously assigned as a U.S. Army War College Fellow at Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Penn.

Crooks assumed command of 1st Infantry Division Artillery Brigade in September 2017. He will be assigned as the Director of Concepts at the Futures and Concepts Center in Fort Eustis, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

 

 

A thunderstorm packing heavy rain and winds gusting to near 60 miles an hour pushed through the region Friday morning.  The National Weather Service issued a thunderstorm warning (expiring at 9:00 a.m.) ahead of the storm.

There are also reports of blown electrical transformers, power outages and driving at the height of the storm was hazardous with the dangerous winds.

Geary County Emergency Preparedness officials will begin damage assessments.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) requests comments on an amendment to the FFY 2019-2022 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) document.

The STIP is a project specific publication that lists all KDOT administered projects, regardless of funding source, and includes projects for counties and cities as well as projects on the State Highway System. The list of projects being amended to the STIP can be viewed at https://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burProgProjMgmt/stip/stip.asp

The approval of the STIP amendment requires a public comment period, which concludes July 3. To make comments on the amendment, contact KDOT’s Bureau of Program and Project Management at (785) 296-2252.

This information is available in alternative accessible formats. To obtain an alternative format, contact the KDOT Office of Public Affairs, (785) 296-3585 (Voice/Hearing Impaired-711).

The Junction City Breakfast Optimist Club will have two fundraisers next week.

Club member Ferrill Miller said on Friday, June 28, JC Barbeque on East Chestnut Street, will donate 10% of the cost of purchased meals from opening to closing. On Saturday, June 29, Ike’s Place on Goldenbelt Boulevard, will donate 10% of the cost of purchased meals between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Donations will also accepted at both locations.

The Optimist Club supports 14 different organizations that work with youth in Geary County.

There are four new batting cages at the Junction City Athletic Training Center at 935 East 4th Street. They were on display and in use during an open house on Thursday.

Director Rick Bazan said the machines are set to pitch at slow, medium and fast speeds. People of all ages are using the batting cages, and more improvements are expected in the near future. “We’re getting a backdrop. It will give us some depth and be in a billboard manner with a guy kind of robbing a home run, and so you have a home run line. And You can kind of play that home run derby type of thing.”

 

 

You could find a full supply of items ranging from tomatoes to cookies and cinnamon rolls at the Farmer’s Market at Geary Community Hospital on Thursday.

There were also some different items such as chicken eggs and smoked dog bones.

Brad Adams brought the eggs to sell. “About every summer we come out here. I’ve got plenty of eggs.” Adams added he has about 60 chickens.

Harold and Penny Macumber are selling the dog bones. Harold stated they used to go to Manhattan to a large sale on Saturday mornings. “And there was a lady up from Emporia that would do dog bones. We’s buy one for our dog, and we got to thinking well if she can do it why can’t we? So I go to the meat market and I pick up bones, and I smoke them for eight hours and bring them out for your dog.”

 

The Geary County Senior Center will be open on Friday. Meals will be served at the Center as usual, but only frozen meals will be delivered to homebound seniors who get them.

Center Director Sue Jacobs said on Monday the Center will be able to also make hot meals for the homebound.

The Senior Center was closed on Thursday due to a potential gas leak.