7 Greeley County Republican • Tribune, Kansas • Wednesday, January 29, 2020

By James Coover, Crop Production Agent, Wildcat Extension District

What’s Thanksgiving without stuffing, Christmas without gingerbread, Fourth of July without hamburgers, or birthdays without cake? A world without wheat looks a lot different when the most iconic of our foods are made from it. As every Kansan knows, we are the bread basket of the U.S. and produce the most wheat nationwide nearly every year. However, in recent years we are planting less of our namesake grain (Figure 1). According to Trends in Kansas Crop Planted Acres from K-State’s Dr. O’Brian, in 2016 we had the highest bushels per acre record at 57 bushels but still the highest total production hasn’t been beat since 1997 with a production of 500 million bushels.

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contrast, soybeans and corn total production has nearly doubled on average over the past 20 years.

A lack of good market prices has forced down the acres of wheat planted despite good on average production per acre in recent years, with or without wet falls keeping the wheat from getting in on time. The U.S. exports wheat to a great number of countries including Mexico, Nigeria and most of the Pacific nations. Kansas is also the nation’s leading wheat exporter at half of all that we grow. However, wheat producing countries are just as numerous. Russia has the highest exports but Canada, Australia and many of the countries in the European Union export as well. China and India normally produce the most wheat but eat nearly all that they grow. This is a far difference from soybeans where the U.S., Brazil and Argentina have the exports cornered and China is the main importer at nearly 60 percent of all exports. As a result of this proliferation in the wheat market, wheat is more vulnerable to a market less able to be controlled.

Function of Wheat While every operation is

different, usually wheat isn’t necessarily a money losing crop so much as it doesn’t make enough to be worth the effort. According to the 2018 KFMA wheat enterprise budget for southeast Kansas, wheat lost $5.49 per acre.

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Talk about hobby farming. That isn’t really a fair view, as many things such as the land rent, taxes, general farm insurance and equipment interest are all part of the equation and those have to be paid whether wheat is growing or not. The necessity to replace the function of wheat comes down to the loss of revenue as bare fields

produce nothing of value and bare fields also risk erosion losses. Erosion is not even throughout a year. The majority of soil losses occur within two or three hard rains that often come in the mid to late spring time frame when normally wheat protects soil. Therefore, as many farmers use it already, wheat is a cover crop.

Replacement of Wheat The replacement for

wheat needs something that generates at least some revenue and covers the soil during the spring rains. Cover crops fill the role of protecting the soil but they need to make money too. Cover crops can be cheap, diverse and flexible but direct revenue involves cattle as some point.

• Cattle Grazed - The most logical would be cattle grazed cover crops. However, it requires both cattle and fences. Also, even the operations that do have cattle often can’t fully utilize all the fields that could be used. It’s too much too quickly over a short time frame.

• Silage- Silage of cover crops, including wheat, is rarely done in this part of Kansas but is actually common in some parts of the country. Kansas State University has done research looking at barley silage being comparable to corn silage. Barley, filling grain earlier than wheat, would be

a more logical replacement in conjunction with no-till double cropped soybeans or even corn.

• Baleage- Similar to silage but fitting for a different type of operation and slightly different equipment.

• Haying – Of course, most cover crops can be round baled too. Just remember that removing forage from a field in haying or silage takes a lot of nutrients with it, especially potassium.

The only suitable grain crop to replace wheat is canola. But its main complication is a hard one to overcome, there is nowhere nearby to take it. Although it might not seem like it, alfalfa can also be considered a wheat replacement. Alfalfa acts as a semi-permeant cover crop as far as soil conservation goes, and according to KFMA data, one of the most profitable crops that can be grown, if you have the time and market for it.

Despite the reduction of wheat fields in Kansas, we are still not likely to lose our “Wheat State” title to North Dakota any time soon. Still, wheat serves financial and ecological functions that requires certain adjustments if its acreage needs to be reduced in a farming operation.

For more information, please contact James Coover, Crop Production Agent, jcoover@ksu.edu or (620) 724-8233.

World Without Wheat

Don Walter was clearing the snow in front of the Post Office early Tuesday morning.

There was snow on the streets of Tribune after the snow on Monday night. Road crews had cleared most of the streets by 7:00 a.m.

(First Published in the Greeley County Republican Wednesday, January 29, 2020) 1t

Pursuant to L. 1991, ch279, new sec 2Results of the Market Study Analyses for residential, vacant lot,

and commercial real estate in Greeley County for assessment year 2020.

A study of the real estate market indicated that the market was fairly steady with a slight increase on some properties. The market studies of real estate were based on analysis of valid, arms-length sales of real estate, which occurred in the years 2015 through October 2019. Values on specific properties may change because of changes in the property, correction of descriptive information or calibration of values based on sales of similar properties. All of the new values were reviewed by the Appraiser’s office based on an inspection of the property. During the review of final values, no contact with the property owner was made unless additional information was needed to resolve a question concerning property characteristics.

In accordance with the provisions in K.S.A. 79-1476, the Division of Property Valuation is required to annually furnish each county the results of the study relating to changes, if any, of the Use Value of agricultural land. Changes can and do occur as a result of several factors including cropping practices, commodity prices, and production costs. Agricultural land values for dry land are slightly down. Irrigated land and grass land in Greeley County will have a slight to moderate increase for 2020.

The Study relating to Use Value of agricultural land completed by the Division of Property Valuation resulted in valuing agricultural land by soil types beginning in 1998.

By March 1, 2020 or shortly thereafter, the Unified Greeley County Appraiser’s Office will mail Change of Value Notices to all owners of record, indicating the appraised value of their property as of January 1, 2020 for tax year 2020.

THE CHANGE OF VALUE NOTICE IS NOT A TAX BILL. It serves only as the property owner’s official notification of the county appraiser’s estimate of value for the property.

LEGAL NOTICES

InsightJackie Mundt, Pratt

County farmer and rancherA civics teacher once

simplified the idea of politics for me to the action of deciding whom gets what and how much. This fundamental idea of dividing resources should be a concern to everyone but politics has become a subject many people avoid. The average citizen could probably provide a dozen reasons why they are not interested or involved in the political process.

However, legislators need to hear our voices to make the right choices. I occasionally have the opportunity to bring new people to the statehouse for legislative visits. It always makes me happy to see the look of surprise and a bit of panic on their faces when a legislator asks their opinion about an important issue. The surprise usually turns to respect when they realize that the lawmaker genuinely values their input.

Politicians have an obligation to represent their constituents, and it is difficult to do well if citizens do not share their thoughts and opinions. The saying, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” reflects a fundamental truth of the

ability of every member of our society to engage in the political process. Your contribution can be as simple and powerful as making elected officials aware of important issues so they can take action.

So why don’t people speak up more? The power politicians possess can be intimidating, and people often feel insignificant on their own. Remembering politicians are citizens just like you and finding strength in a group or organization can help to make engaging in the political process more comfortable.

Growing up, my friend’s mom was a state representative who balanced her career with all kinds of mom duties like being a 4-H leader and attending local basketball games. At the time, I had no comprehension of the prestige or power of her job. My first-hand experience, that elected officials are real people with families, personal lives and everyday concerns, is a source connection and confidence during my interactions with legislators.

The other source of my political confidence has grown out of involvement in Kansas Farm Bureau. When I moved here a decade ago,

I was starting from scratch without a network of contacts or political connections. Joining Farm Bureau gave me expert resources to explain the process, gain background knowledge and sharpen my communication skills. Farm Bureau also provided contacts to build my network and the ability to stand together with others who cared about the same issues. Joining an organization that shares your values and concerns is a great way to start engaging in advocacy.

The Kansas Legislature is in session now, and it is a great time to visit with your representatives. If you can’t make the trip to Topeka, plan to attend a town hall in your area or send a note about an issue that matters to you. You might be surprised by how quickly a legislator learns your name if you get involved or reach out to share your opinions.

Politicians control the resources of our state and nation. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your opinion doesn’t matter. Legislatures are real people who want to represent you well. Help them by letting them know what issue matter to you and your community. Your voice matters, use it.

Finding Your Voice

To highlight the need for vigilance for wildland fires, Gov. Laura Kelly signed a proclamation Friday, Jan. 24 marking the week of Feb.

3-7 as Wildfire Awareness Week.

“While some wildland fires can’t be prevented because they spring from

lightning strikes or other natural causes, many are avoidable by carefully observing basic precautions when using fires outdoors,” Kelly said.

Last year, Kansas fire departments responded to more than 2,500 vegetation-related fires that caused four deaths, and burned almost 28,000 acres in the state. Almost 500 of these fires required counties to seek mutual assistance to bring them under control.

“There are guidelines established by the state to help control outside burning,” Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general and director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management said. “Following these guidelines can help greatly reduce incidents of wildland fires in the state. Even simple things like making sure you completely extinguish cigarettes before throwing them out can help prevent the loss of life and property caused by wildland fires.

“Prompt response to uncontrolled fires is a vital part of public safety,” Tafanelli said, “so we must all be alert and ready to report suspicious smoke and fires to our local fire departments.”

Tafanelli noted that 84 percent of all Kansas firefighters belong to volunteer fire departments.

“We all owe these brave men and women our thanks for giving their time and energy, even to the point of risking their lives, to keep us safe when wildland fires threaten our communities,” Tafanelli said.

Governor signs Wildlife Fire Proclamation