Easy Check for Food Recalls Available
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Recent food recalls for peanut butter have triggered questions about a popular kitchen staple, a Kansas State University food scientist said.
“A recall is, however, a positive step in the food safety process because it means that our food safety system is working,” said Karen Blakeslee, Kansas State University Research and Extension food scientist.
Recall notices should be considered a plus, because they can help consumers avoid troublesome foods, said Blakeslee, who, as coordinator for Extension’s Rapid Response Center, spends her working hours answering food and food safety questions.
To help consumers learn more about food recalls, Blakeslee has added a direct link to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service listing of current food recalls on the K-State Research and Extension food safety Web site: www.ksre.ksu.edu/foodsafety/.
Camp a Boon for Tweens
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – Middle school students can find themselves in the middle – too old for grade school activities, but not old enough for high school activities or a summer job.
A relatively new summer opportunity combining camp experiences with mini-professional development sessions focusing on leadership, citizenship, life-skills and career opportunities should help to fill the gap for students ages 12-14, said Beth Hinshaw, an advisor to the Kansas 4-H Youth Council planning the youth gathering.
The 2009 offering is titled “Ready, S.E.T. Campference!” and scheduled June 9-12, 2009 at the Rock Springs 4-H Center located south of Junction City, Kan., said Hinshaw, who is a K-State Research and Extension 4-H youth development specialist.
“This year's title reflects added opportunities to explore careers in science, engineering and technology,” said Hinshaw, who noted that having Youth Council members plan the conference is yielding a mix of activities along with opportunities to meet new people and grow toward being a more self-confident young adult and caring member of their community.
The cost to attend the youth camp-conference is $180 and includes meals, lodging, camp activities, a camp t-shirt and photo. The camp is sponsored in part by Farm Credit Associations of Kansas to help hold down costs.
More information is available at county and district Extension offices and online at www.Kansas4-H.org. Deadline for registration is May 1. The camp is expected to fill quickly, and early registration is recommended.
Weather Wonders: Just How Are Storms Formed? Climatologist Provides Details
MANHATTAN, Kan. -- An old folk saying goes “As the days grow longer, the storms grow stronger.” It's not surprising that there is a physical connection to the old saying, said State of Kansas climatologist Mary Knapp.
“Longer days mean more hours of sunshine,” said Knapp, who is in charge of the state’s Weather Data Library, based in Kansas State University Research and Extension. “This in turn, provides more energy to the atmosphere which can fuel strong storms. Couple that increased energy with a strong contrast in air masses and you have the components for a severe weather outbreak.”
It is not surprising then, to find that the long-term average has the peak tornado month as May, where summer-like temperatures can be displaced by winter chill and the days are long.
“Everyone should remember, severe weather can occur at any time,” Knapp said. “Early spring severe weather outbreaks – with overnight hail storms and early morning tornadoes – serve as a reminder of that fact.”
Information about Kansas weather is available on the Weather Data Library Web site: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/wdl/. “Weather Wonders” audio reports are available on the K-State Research and Extension/Kansas Radio Network site at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/radio/.
Mowing Fescue or Bluegrass Short Can Create Drought, Weed Woes
MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Horticulturist Ward Upham has mixed feelings about the best way to answer this annually repeated question: “Should I mow my lawn pretty short in spring?”
“The only honest answer to that is ‘yes and no,’” said Upham, who heads the Master Gardener program for Kansas State University Research and Extension.
One reason he’s hesitant to endorse short-height springtime mowing is simple. Yet, it’s vitally important to the survival of some lawns in the central United States, given the region’s oft-stressful weather.
“Root depth and mowing height are related for such upright-growing turf grasses as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. Those are Kansas’ No. 1 and 2 favorite lawn turfs. The higher they’re cut, the deeper their root system will be,” Upham explained.
Unless such cool-season turf varieties are watered well and often through summer, they’ll react to the season’s heat and drought by going dormant, he said. If they have deep roots, however, their dormancy period will be shorter. And, in almost every case, the turf will survive.
“At the same time, it doesn’t hurt to mow lower than normal height the first time or two, so long as you don’t ‘scalp’ any parts of your lawn. As a matter of fact, that can speed green-up by removing the old, dead grass and allowing the soil to warm up faster,” Upham said. “Setting your mowing height at 1 to 1 ½ inches should be about right.”
Then, however, the mower must go up to its tested, recommended mowing height -- 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches high for tall fescue and 2 to 3 inches for Kentucky bluegrass.
“Most weed seeds – including crabgrass seed – must have light to germinate,” Upham said. “A high mowing height allows turf to shade the soil and curb its own weed pressure.”
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