In 2012, weather again proved to be a challenging environment for conducting agricultural research in southeastern Kansas. An excellent wheat harvest was followed by above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation, which resultedin a disappointing corn crop and limited forage production from pastures in the area.
Rainfall in late August and early September has provided some optimism for at least a marginal soybeancrop barring an early frost.
Faculty Awards. During the past year, Dan Sweeney earned the Werner L. Nelson Award for Diagnosis of Yield-Limiting Factors from the American Society of Agronomy, and Lyle Lomas received the Distinguished Service Award from the Research Center Administrators Society.
Crop Production Agronomist. The search committee is screening applicants to fill a crop production agronomist faculty position, which will provide leadership in crop production and management research in the region.
Field Days. About 130 people attended the Beef Cattle and Forage Crops Field Day at the Mound Valley Unit on May 3. A Spring Crops Field Day at the Parsons Unit on May 15 drew approximately 85 people.
New Office Building. Plans are on the drawing board for construction of a new office building that will house faculty from the Southeast Agricultural Research Center and the Southeast Area Extension Office. It will be located on land owned by K-State at the Parsons Unit of the Southeast Agricultural Research Center, and it will have a meeting room that can accommodate groups of up to 150 people.
Research Highlights. Dan Sweeney is evaluating nutrient runoff from cropland fertilized with poultry litter using various tillage systems and rates of application. Phil Barnes and Gary Pierzynski are co-investigators on this project.
Joe Moyer and Lyle Lomas are participants in a multidisciplinary regional project entitled “Sustaining Forage-Based Beef Cattle Production in a Bioenergy Environment.” Other Kansas participants are Dale Blasi, Walt Fick, and Keith Harmoney. Other states participating in this project are Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
