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Frontier District

Ottawa Office
County Annex Building
1418 S. Main, Suite 2
Ottawa, KS 66067
785-229-3520
785-229-3527 fax

Lyndon Office
128 W. 15th
PO Box 400
Lyndon, KS 66451
785-828-4438
785-828-3427 fax

Garnett Office
411 S. Oak
PO Box 423
Garnett, KS 66032
785-448-6826
785-448-6153 fax

 

Upcoming_Events

 

Walk Kansas flyer

That's right -- it's spring and time to grab your walking shoes and sign up for Walk Kansas! Registration begins Monday, March 4 at www.walkkansasonline.org. Hope to see you out and about enjoying beautiful weather!

 

 

Fresh Conversations fork

The next session of the Fresh Conversations senior nutrition program will be held on April 18, 2024, at 8:15 a.m. at the Ottawa Recreation Commission Goppert Building, 705 W. 15th. The program is open to any Kansan 60 or older and will continue the 3rd Thursday of every month. Each program will include recipe tastings, and attendees will receive a free pass to work out that day, which will be valid for Silver Sneakers as well. More information is available in this flyer, or contact Kris Wallace, SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator in the Frontier Extension District Ottawa office, at 785-229-3520 or krwall@ksu.edu

 

In '

Women in Ag conference 2024

The inaugural Women in Agriculture conference held in the Frontier Extension District brought together 70 individuals with a common goal of exploring topics relevant to today’s agriculture industry. Participants from seven counties in east central Kansas had the opportunity to learn from experts in agricultural advocacy, land lease basics, coping skills and building resiliency, FSA/NRCS programs, crop and livestock insurance, and grain marketing. In addition to the Frontier Extension District, the March 20th conference was sponsored by the Conservation Districts in Franklin and Osage counties, the Farm Bureau Associations in Franklin and Osage counties, the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Ottawa Coop, and Frontier Farm Credit. Due to the generosity of sponsors, there was no charge for registration or lunch, which made for a terrific day focused on learning!

 

Rod's burn workshop with banner

A capacity crowd at the Feb. 26, 2024, Prescribed Burning Workshop gained information and insight from Ethan Walker, NRCS range specialist; Justin Harbit, KDWP wildlife biologist; Nathan Griesemer, NWS meteorologist; and David Kraft with the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition. Additional local information was shared by Tom Winter, Franklin County Emergency Management Director, Keri Harris, Franklin County Conservation District, and Rod Schaub, Frontier Extension District agriculture agent. 

Because a prescribed burn is intentional and used under specific conditions to accomplish defined objectives, planning is essential. Notes from the workshop included the following:

  • Done correctly, a prescribed burn can safely achieve the predetermined goals, including improvements to the ecosystem.
  • The National Weather Service (NWS) has online, updated information available for planning burns and monitoring a burn once it has started. Griesemer also explained how officials in charge of prescribed burns can communicate with the NWS.
  • Walker presented information on water needs, ignition and suppression equipment, communication tools and techniques, and clothing types/how to wear them. He summarized the recommendations: purchase/rent/borrow the best equipment you can afford—your life may depend on it, maintain the equipment, and check it all immediately before beginning a burn.
  • Walker also discussed the roles of fire crew members and their responsibilities for a specific burn.
  • Kraft spoke on fire behavior, which varies by the type of fuel in the burn area, the pattern in which the fire is ignited, and the terrain of the burn area.
  • While not presented as legal advice, Kraft shared insights on what happens if a fire escapes. He encouraged trying to settle out of court, which is much less expensive, and to expect to pay for damaged improvements and lost forage, but not rangeland restoration.
  • Walker explained the importance of Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones (LCES).
  • Harbit discussed burn patterns and practices that can minimize negative impacts on wildlife/habitat: a ring fire can trap wildlife and adequate cover needed for adult quail is the size of a softball and the size of golf balls for chicks.
  • Brush piles should be more than 100 feet from utility poles to avoid compromising the poles, and debris should be pulled away from valuable trees during timber burns.
  • Mop Up, the final step in a burn, is imperative. Many fires get away after everyone has gone home.

Sponsors of the workshop were the Frontier Extension District and the Franklin County Conservation District.

 

Ryan's weed and fungus meeting Feb 2024

To see the slides of each presentation, click the links below:

Lancaster's weed management presentation

Onofre's soybean presentation

Onofre's Corn Tar Spot presentation

 

How to Trap Moles: K-State Wildlife Specialist Dr. Drew Ricketts

 

Financial Checkup

Go to the K-State Research and Extension Financial Checkup!

 

Catch us on the radio!

Radio Recroding PNG

Don't forget to tune in to KOFO 103.7 FM or 1220 AM to three days a week to get Frontier Extension District updates. 

Missed a program?  Now you can go to the KOFO Recordings page to hear previous radio programs.  

 

All Frontier District Offices

Open

8:00 am-noon and 1:00-5:00 pm

Closed

noon-1:00 pm for lunch

Frontier District 
2024 Holiday Schedule

The Garnett, Lyndon
and Ottawa Offices 
will be closed on 

Monday, May 27

Thursday, July 4

Monday, September 2

Monday, November 11

Thursday, November 28-Friday, November 29

Wednesday, December 25-Wednesday, January 1, 2025

awareness