Got a Lemon? Money Management Pro Offers Tips for Resolving Disputes

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Researching products and services before buying can spare a consumer disappointment and time-consuming follow-up if a product or service fails to live up to its advertised claims.

And, while shoppers are encouraged to consider which product or service matches their needs and budget, Carol Young, K-State Research and Extension financial management specialist, also advises checking the warranty, guarantee, and results of consumer product testing before buying.

Keep receipts, and read instructions for using a new product or service and heed recommendations, she said.

If a problem occurs, make a note of it, the date it occurred, and report it promptly.

 

“Keep a paper trail,” said Young, who advised jotting down the name of the person, date and time that issues with a product or service were reported. If a subsequent report or reports are required, keep a chronological record of each to verify the complaint and move toward resolution.

If a complaint is not resolved in a timely manner, ask to speak to a supervisor, and follow up with higher level of management until the problem is resolved satisfactorily.

More money management tips are available at K-State Research and Extension offices throughout the state and online.

Home Canning Not Recommended for Some Fall Foods

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Food preservation enthusiasts are advised to freeze, rather than can, pumpkin butter, mashed or pureed pumpkin or winter squash. 

“The USDA recommendation is science-based,” said Karen Blakeslee, K-State Research and Extension food scientist and coordinator of its Rapid Response Center. She noted key factors in the food safety recommendation:

*Variation of viscosity (thickness) of pumpkin purees do not allow standard calculations for recipes, and,

* Pumpkin and winter squash are low-acid foods capable of supporting growth of Clostridium botulinum bacteria that can cause serious foodborne illness (botulism) and death.

Research on home canning of pumpkin and squash products is ongoing, but results vary and, for now, consumers are advised to freeze pumpkin butters or mashed pumpkin and squash.

When ready to use frozen pumpkin butter or puree, thaw it in the refrigerator, store it in the refrigerator and use it within one week. Freezer storage can be for up to six months.

More information on safe food preservation in the home is available at K-State Research and Extension offices throughout the state and online, Rapid Response Center and in the USDA’s “Complete Guide to Home Canning.”

Cool-Season Lawns Getting Hungry Again

Photos and cutline available

OLATHE, Kan. – Tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass lawn owners know September is fertilizer time.

What they may not realize, however, is that September’s meal typically gets used up by Thanksgiving. It’s gone into helping the cool-season turfs not only green up again, but also recover from summer stress.

So, the plants have limited help when the time comes to get ready for winter.

“That’s why some people call a second application in November the turfs’ winterizer fertilizer,” said Rodney St. John, turfgrass specialist for K-State Research and Extension.

The turfs’ top growth slows down as the weather cools. But, so long as the plants are showing some green, they’re still making carbohydrates – food. And, an application of nitrogen will boost their photosynthesis rate, St. John said. 

A second feeding also helps tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass stay green longer. In turn, the plants become stronger by improving their root growth, shoot density and winter hardiness, he said. Any food reserves that remain will help the lawn green up earlier the following spring and sustain growth into May.

St. John recommends applying 1 to 1.5 pounds of soluble (quick-release) nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. If lawn owners choose a turfgrass ‘winterizer’ formula, it will have nitrogen as its major ingredient. But, owners will have to do some math to figure out how much to apply. based on the size of their yard.

Wheat Growers: Don’t Wait Too Long to Control Winter Annual Broadleaf Weeds

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Many wheat producers like to wait to apply broadleaf herbicides until winter or early spring, for a variety of reasons. This normally works well for control of mustard species, but is less effective for henbit control, said Dallas Peterson, K-State Research and Extension weed management specialist.

Winter annual broadleaves do not generally cause much wheat yield loss if left uncontrolled in the fall, he said.

“However, these weeds should be sprayed in early spring when they are actively growing, but before they begin to bolt,” he added.

“Producers who wait too long before making an herbicide application can run into a problem if weather conditions such as high winds or wet weather prevent timely application. If the herbicide application is delayed too long, weeds can become too large to control effectively and yield loss may occur,” Peterson said.

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