Fall 2017 - Gatehouse Media

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Six months ago, Clark County rancher. Steve Hazen was on the receiving end as truckloads of hay and supplies came from a
A supplement to the

Fall 2017

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Publisher Conrad Easterday

Editorial Roger Bluhm

Advertising Lloyd Gum Rebecca Gerber Sarah Snow

Design Darren Ramey

The Daily Globe is located at 705 N. Second Ave., Dodge City, KS 67801. You can contact the Daily Globe by calling (620) 225-4151, fax at (620) 225-4154, e-mail at [email protected], or by visiting our web site at www.dodgeglobe.com

Table of Contents Clark Co. ranchers pay it forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3i SHOW pushes for youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Managing resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Protecting livestock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Fall 2017 A supplement to the

Rural Agricultural Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Servi-Tech to celebrate 40 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Couple has high hopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Agriculture - Fall 2017

Dodge City Daily Globe

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< A convoy from Clark County and Gate, Oklahoma, took hay and wire to two ranches experiencing wildfire and drought. The crew was repaying the kindness they received after losing fence, cattle and pasture in the Starbuck fire that swept across southern Kansas and Oklahome on March 6. (Courtesy of Bernie Smith family)

Clark Co. ranchers pay it forward to Montana fire victims By Amy Bickel Kansas Agland Six months ago, Clark County rancher Steve Hazen was on the receiving end as truckloads of hay and supplies came from all directions to his hometown of Ashland. Now he and others along the southern Kansas border where more than 500,000 acres burned during the March Starbuck Fire are returning the kindness. With fires still raging in Montana, Hazen and four others from the area drove a thousand miles to deliver alfalfa and wire to two ranches near Sand Springs, Montana - one hit by the wildfire, another hurt by severe drought. “Pay it forward - that is exactly what we were doing,” said Hazen, who lost pasture and fencing in the Starbuck Fire that swept through the county March 6. After all, he said, with all the help that America gave him and others in the wake of their own natural disaster, it is their turn to lend a hand. The “ashes to ashes” project comes as ranchers in Meade, Clark and Comanche counties continue their efforts to rebuild, said Bernie Smith, a rancher from just across the Oklahoma border

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who lost 150 cows, circle.” 65 calves and miles Hazen said he stopped at one place of fences after to get fuel, and when they found out he Starbuck. was delivering hay, they said it was paid The project for. Another woman he met handed him started when $200. Smith’s two boys “They were just thankful for what we - Blake and Levi were doing,” said Hazen. took a load of hay Hazen said he took his load of round to Montana in midbales to the Weeding family ranch near August. the little town of Jordan, Montana. They “We didn’t lost all their winter pasture to a wildfire. advertise it much The crew didn’t see fire, but they did at first, but when people found out what see smoke, Hazen said. we had done, everyone wanted to help,” Smith, who also is the fire chief Smith said. of Englewood and lives just across In all, nearly 40 people donated the Kansas line in Oklahoma, said the money and supplies for a second trip rebuilding continues on his own ranch. north. Friday morning, Levi and Blake, Three fencing crews are still working to along with Mark Berends, Hoisington, and construct fences. They have cattle they his father, Verlyn, of Buffalo, Oklahoma, need to move off CRP. loaded up two semis with alfalfa and a But the landscape is green from rain. truck pulling a gooseneck trailer with They’ve replaced some of the cows. They wire. They met Hazen, who had picked are continuing on. up a truckload of hay in North Platte, “It is an uphill time, but we will make Nebraska, and convoyed north. it. The people in this area are resilient,” he American flags hung from the front of said. the semis. The rear had a banner telling There has been good come from the of the trip from “Clark County Kansas to wildfire. That includes the bonds and the Montana.” Smith said his ranch received friendships that have developed. supplies in March from the same area “It has formed a good bond in the ag they were helping. community,” he said, later adding, “it kind While they organized the trip, “this of got us on the heels a little bit, but we really was a community effort to make it are all moving forward. But we had a lot of happen,” Smith said. help from the United States of America.” “Donations just flowed in,” he said. “People gave money to help out. It is a great area we live in.” Kindness flowed along the trail, as well, Smith said. Everyone who went up there said it was lifechanging. Smith said, “They had people buying their meals, buying their fuel, giving them cash. It is just a ^ Clark County rancher Steve Hazen helped take a load of hay to Montana with really good feeling, the crew. He left his load of alfalfa at the ranch of Lavetta, Doug, Jessica and kind of makes it full Chantz Weeding. (Courtesy of Steve Hazen)

Dodge City Daily Globe

Agriculture - Fall 2017

< A group of 15 antique tractors will be auctioned off beginning at noon on Saturday, Oct. 14 at the 3i SHOW at Western State Bank Expo Center in Dodge City. The auction is a first for th 3i SHOW this year. DAILY GLOBE FILE PHOTO

3i SHOW pushes need for youth High School Career Ag Day highlights agriculture By Roger Bluhm Managing Editor The annual 3i SHOW at Western State Bank Expo Center has traditionally brought together youth and agricultural companies. “We bring ag companies and high school students together for the purpose of the youth, involved in 4-H or (Future Farmers of America) can know there are jobs out there in agricultural,” said Eddie Estes, executive director of the 3i SHOW. “There are retirements and other issues and we have jobs in agricultural and it’s important. “The first day of the 3i SHOW is one we enjoy as we connect high school students interested in agricultural with ag companies.” Estes moved the 3i SHOW dates from July to October a few years ago. “It was extremely warm in July,” Estes said, noting 100-degree days with no air conditioning in the expo center made visitors uncomfortable. “We had some success moving it to October, after the fall harvest for the most part, but we’re constantly re-evaluating the dates of the show to make sure we’re doing the best for vendors and visitors.”

Agriculture - Fall 2017

performing skin cancer checks, blood pressure checks and blood sugar checks as well as monitoring oxygen saturation levels all three days of the 3i SHOW. Nutrition information will be available, and a dietician will be on site on Friday, Oct. 13, to answer questions. Dr. Scott Gordon will be performing arthritis foot and ankle exams. Also, multiple “Meet the Doctor” sessions are being planned, and PRMC will have information about their new 3D Mammography testing. A more detailed schedule will be available on the 3i SHOW Facebook page as well as the Events Page of their website at www.3ishow.com as health programs are confirmed. The 63rd Annual 3i SHOW will be Oct. 12-14 at Western State Bank Expo Center in Dodge City. For more information, visit www.3ishow.com or call (620)-227-8082.

The move to October 2 years ago increased attendance and vendors and even Gov. Sam Brownback noticed and mentioned the change in temperatures at his welcoming remarks. As always, the 3i SHOW brings many agriculturally related vendors — along with more such — to one of the largest shows in Kansas. There will be archery, implement dealers, irrigation systems and even new vehicles shown. “One of the new things we’re excited about is the antique Thursday - Saturday tractor auction on Saturday,” Estes said. “Basically, the Browns have been bringing Dodge City, Kansas their collection of Western State Bank Expo Center ~ 11333 U.S. Hwy. 283 antique tractors to the show for years FREE Admission - FREE Parking and this year they decided to sell 15 Antique Tractor Display (Auction Saturday) ~ Archery Shooting antique tractors Cattle Handling Equipment ~ Congressional Forums ~ Consumer Products Crop Protection ~ Farm Machinery & Equipment ~ Health Programs beginning at noon High School Ag Career Day ~ Ride & Drive Opportunities on Saturday.” Trucks & Truck Equipment ~ Vintage Saturday Estes also and MUCH MORE! mentioned how Pratt Regional Medical Center has again partnered Sponsored by: with the 3i Western Kansas Manufacturers Association SHOW for health 1700 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd. ~ PO Box 1382 ~ Dodge City, KS 67801 screenings. 620-227-8082 ~ 877-405-2883 ~ [email protected] ~ www.3iShow.com PRMC will be

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Dodge City Daily Globe

October 12, 13, 14

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Managing resistance requires multitude of tools By Crop Quest If you are involved in agriculture, you have been inundated with information about resistance management. Most of the conversation is centered around herbicide and insecticide resistance that is occurring due to the ability of plants and insects to adapt over time to repeated applications of a similar active ingredient. Many of the issues we deal with are related to overuse of specific products. This problem is exacerbated when the same product is used in multiple crops and fallow situations back to back to back. To combat resistance, we attempt to rotate chemistry, or add multiple modes of action to the tank, etc. But are our solutions really working? When we rotate chemistry (use a different product), we tend to give up some control. After all, the reason we focus on a particular product is – because it works, and because it is affordable. Otherwise, why wouldn’t we more freely substitute something else? Applying multiple modes of action (MOA) makes for good stewardship as well. But the fact is, we are not blessed with new and unique modes of action coming to the market every day. We are challenged to come up with various combinations using the limited MOA’s that we have available. And, invariably,

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we throw in the product that the pest is to help deal with pest resistance – if resistant to in the tank too! the control measures to deal with those Dealing with resistance cannot be pests can be altered, along with the attacked from strictly a chemistry front. crop. The challenge is to rotate crops Trying to do so is just leading down a path that makes Employee-Owned & Customer Driven! solving the problem even tougher. Weed control – over time – requires Contact a Local Crop Quest Agronomist for all of solutions not Your Crop Consulting & Precision Ag Needs. based solely on herbicides. Every tool available to manage resistant weeds must be put into the box. That should include tillage, rotation, fallow, management zones, row spacing, fertility, rotation of bio-tech traits, hybrid selection, planting date, etc. Probably the most under-used tool is rotation. Maybe for good reasons – usually economic. But rotation can bring (620) 225-2233 · www.cropquest.com · huge opportunities

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Agriculture - Fall 2017

without hindering the bottom line. Long term, dealing with resistance in a monoculture is much more expensive than implementing good cultural practices, which include rotation. For centuries, tillage has been used to prepare seedbeds and assist in weed control. Recently, the trend has been toward ‘no-till’ farming. Frankly, no-till limits some of the tools in the box. I am not advocating for, or against no-till. The benefits that these systems bring to the table are many. But dealing with resistant weeds strictly with chemistry, and not disturbing the weed seed bank may not be enough. Finding the right

balance of tillage vs. no tillage may be a better direction. Finding the right tillage tool to help manage weeds and residue is equally important. Possibly one of the most detrimental hindrance there is to managing resistance is denial, or false hope that the problem is really not there. This plays out every day. We all get caught in a trap that maybe, just maybe “it will work this time”. Or, we will kill most of the weeds or insects. It’s easy to take that stance when there are very few, if any other options left in the toolbox. That is precisely why we all need to take a harder look at how we are

managing resistant pests, and be willing to take the hard steps of using all our tools, not just going down the path of least resistance. There’s still no guarantee we will resolve the issue, but our willingness to use all the means necessary will surely help. Managing resistance requires purposeful planning. It requires a longterm strategy right alongside the day-today decisions that need to be made. We don’t have all the answers, but your Crop Quest Agronomist can help you better manage pest resistance, and help you plan long term solutions to protect your bottom line.

How to protect livestock in extreme weather Extreme weather is seldom fun for anyone. Although people often have the means to escape inclement weather, animals are at the mercy of their caregivers. Protecting animals during extreme weather is not restricted to domesticated pets. Those who have livestock on their properties must recognize that these animals will need various levels of care as well. Animals such as chickens, cattle, goats, and llamas can be adversely affected by extreme weather. Individuals can heed these safety guidelines to avoid subjecting such animals to the stress, discomfort and illness that can result from exposure to extreme weather.

in, particularly for animals with thick coats or those that are young or elderly. Animals tend to expend a lot of energy to cool down or stay warm, so they will need an ample supply of water to remain hydrated and healthy. Standing water can become a breeding ground for parasites and insect larvae. Therefore, change water frequently to make sure it is sanitary. Some farm experts advise aerating troughs to help prevent algae growth or mosquito infestations. A small amount of raw apple cider vinegar may help as well. However, always discuss water sanitation methods with a veterinarian before testing them out on farm animals.

Suitable shelter One of the best ways to safeguard livestock from extreme weather is to ensure they have a place to escape the elements. Animals can get sunburned and may overheat, so make sure shelters can block the sun’s rays on hot days while also allowing for air to circulate through the dwelling. It’s also key that the shelter be capable of accommodating all of the animals at the same time. Livestock shelters do not have to be complicated. They can be as elaborate as a barn or as simple as carports or tarps and shade cloth.

Mold-free feed Hot, humid temperatures can cause mold to grow on hay and other feed sources. Cows do not like to eat moldy hay and it can make horses ill. The University of Minnesota Extension says horses are particularly sensitive to dust from mold spores and can get a respiratory disease similar to asthma in humans called recurrent airway obstruction, or RAO, which is often referred to as heaves. Hay needs to be dried out before it is fed to animals. Any feed should be stored in cool, dry conditions and inspected before being dispersed to livestock.

Fresh water Access to fresh, clean water is also essential. Dehydration can set

Hair cut Wooly animals may benefit from a shear prior to the onset of hot weather,

Agriculture - Fall 2017

Dodge City Daily Globe

advises the Maryland Small Ruminant group. Do not shear too short. For instance, a one-inch fleece can dissipate heat and help the sheep keep cool. Rest Livestock should not be worked and handled during the heat of the day. Their productivity levels may be diminished, and the extra exertion may affect their health. Rest will help them stay happy and healthy until the extreme weather has subsided.

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Bringing consumers and ag producers together: Rural Agricultural Expo is planned K-State Research and Extension When it comes to food and how it’s produced, many consumers and agricultural producers alike are passionate about some agricultural issues. These subjects affect a producer’s way of life and the consumer’s food supply. Some topics such as feeding antibiotics to livestock, humane handling of livestock and genetically modified crops are controversial. The problem stemming from these issues may be a lack of communication or misinformation between the producer growing the food and the consumer eating it, according to Dale Helwig, agriculture agent with K-State Research and Extension in Cherokee County. To foster better understanding of these and other topics, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee will host a Rural Agricultural Expo on Sept. 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Cherokee County 4-H Building located at 124 W. Country Rd in Columbus, Kansas. The event is open to anyone interested in learning more about how crops are grown and livestock is raised. Kansas State University veterinarian, Mike Apley will discuss a recent ruling by the Food and Drug Administration that requires livestock producers to obtain a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) before administering antibiotics to livestock through their feed. The directive has posed some hardship to producers, feed companies and veterinarians but consumers also want to know that their

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^ The Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University food is safe to eat. Apley, who was has developed free online modules covering inforappointed to the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic Resistant mation on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Veterinary Feed Directive and how it will affect cattle Bacteria in 2015, will address the current producers. – Photo courtesy of K-State Research and status of the VFD regulation and how Extension judicious use of antibiotics can be safe for consumers and beneficial for livestock producers. Many consumers are concerned about producers using genetically modified (also called GMO) crops. One that has received attention this year is a variety of soybeans that is now tolerant of the chemical, Bucklin, Great Bend, Greensburg, Hoxie, Ness City and Pratt. dicamba. Dicamba is a broadleaf weed killer that is detrimental to Come see us today for your Sales, Parts & Service Needs. soybeans; however, this new variety of soybeans can withstand the chemical -- great news for producers as it provides them with another alternative for weed control in their fields, but consumers wonder 5115M Utility Tractor 3955 Forage Harvester if the new GMO crops are safe

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Agriculture - Fall 2017

to consume. Harold Trick, professor of plant pathology at Kansas State University, will provide the facts about GMOs and the work being done with them. Animal welfare is another hot button topic, Helwig said. Through years of research and improvement, advances have been made in how livestock are handled. One of the newest methods of reducing stress to an animal is the use of a Bud Box System. Reducing stress for the animals improves animal performance, prevents bruising of meat, and improves the health of the animal. Matt Perrier, owner of Dalebanks Angus and advocate of reduced stress handling of livestock, will conduct a live demonstration of the ease and simplicity in which cattle work through the Bud Box system. He will discuss how to make working with animals a more pleasant experience for both the cattle and cattle handler.

Other sessions at the expo include Lucas Nodine discussing Long Term Care and How to Protect Your Assets in the later years of life. Farmers Coop will present Fall Herbicide Options for Producers and Fall Calf Crop Feeding Strategies. The day will end with the Cherokee County Beekeepers Association giving the Buzz on Bees. Beehive numbers have decreased since 1950, Helwig said. Protecting our pollinators has become important but managing beehives can be tricky because of pests, diseases, and the use of insecticides. This workshop will be a great opportunity to learn more about this popular pastime. Multiple vendors will have exhibits at the event. More information about the Rural Agricultural Expo is available by contacting Helwig at the Cherokee County K-State Research and Extension Office at 620-429-3849.

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Servi-Tech to celebrate 40 year anniversary By Servi-Tech Step back forty years to 1977. Gasoline averaged about 65 cents per gallon. First class postage, 13 cents. Corn price, about $2 per bushel. U.S. average corn yield, 91 bushels per acre. Centerpivot irrigation fuel cost, $6 per acre. That year, a small handful of local cooperatives in southwest Kansas stepped forward to invest in the future. They built the first Servi-Tech Laboratory to serve their own producer-owners, which went on to provide services across the Plains and eventually the world. “We have come a long way,” says Brenda Rowley, Customer Service Representative. “We have gone from hand-writing our test results, then entering results by hand to having our computer take our information and be able to print it out or email it directly to the customer. The amount of time it has saved us has been tremendous.” “These improvements have not only helped our staff, but our customers. We have been more effective with results and everything has been so simplified that it cuts down on time and errors,” says Rowley. The agriculture industry has time and time again demonstrated the increasing need for timely, accurate information. After 40 years, Servi-Tech has helped fill this need by providing laboratory services to help producers, agribusiness, and many others to make those decisions affecting their return on their investment and in turn, making the planet more productive. “It has always been about the customers,” says Fred Vocasek, senior lab agronomist. “The folks here at ServiTech all work very hard to make sure the results come back quickly and accurately. I have seen an incredible amount of change within this organization. One thing that has not changed has been just how dedicated the people are to serving the customer. They realize that every time they handle a sample, they could be affecting several thousand dollars of a customer’s income. They take that as a serious responsibility.” “I am very proud that our staff has learned to work with the automation and change that has been presented to them throughout the years. It is through their dedication and willingness to adapt, that our laboratory has been so successful.

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It’s been my pleasure to serve our prides itself on satisfying the special customers alongside such dedicated requests from customers to meet their staff, ” says Chief Lab Officer Randy individual needs. Royle. “Technology keeps shrinking our Open House world”, notes Vocasek. “I started using Servi-Tech Laboratories in Dodge City the Servi-Tech lab when I was a field would like to invite the public to the 40th agronomist in northeast Nebraska. I anniversary celebration on September 21, would ship my soil samples all the way to beginning at 11:30 a.m. southwest Kansas – 320 miles as the crow “We would especially like to invite flies - and about a week later, I would get local and statewide dignitaries, current an envelope with my results. Today, we and former customers and former have a Ukrainian farm operation some employees to attend,” said Greg Ruehle, 6,000 miles away that ships to Dodge Servi-Tech President & CEO. “The ServiCity and about a week later they get an Tech Board of Directors will also be on electronic, PDF lab report. Same turnhand throughout the day.” around, different continent.” Servi-Tech will give tours of Servi-Tech Laboratories has the laboratory, have old photos and expanded its footprint significantly brochures on display, and will have in forty years. The Dodge City facility a short program recognizing this became operational in 1977; followed by anniversary. Lunch will also be provided. Hastings, Nebraska, in 1989; and Amarillo, “This is an achievement and a major Texas, in 2005. But this expansion was milestone,” said Royle. “We want to make more than geography. sure all of our customers know about our “Our business has grown and celebration on September 21. The success changed tremendously,” said Vocasek. in our business is due to their trust and “When I came in 1983, we were almost loyalty to Servi-Tech.” exclusively a soil laboratory. We were excited that fiscal year because we just broke the 50,000 mark for soil samples tested. Please join us in celebrating the This year, we hit 40th anniversary of Servi-Tech Labs! that same number after just 15 weeks, Who: Servi-Tech Laboratories and just in the Dodge City Lab. What: 40th Anniversary celebration That doesn’t count the soils tested When: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, September 21 in Hastings and Where: Servi-Tech Labs Amarillo. And that doesn’t count the 1816 East Wyatt Earp, Dodge City thousands of other samples that the Please email three labs test right along with soils.” [email protected] to RSVP, Today Servior call the number below. Tech offers a wide range of analytical We look forward to seeing you! services including those for soils, feedstuffs, water, plant tissue, fertilizer, manure, wastewater, and environmental 800.557.7509 management. servitech.com The laboratory

You’re invited!

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Agriculture - Fall 2017

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< Owen Parker, owner of Royal Carriage Ranch, works in the greenhouse at the ranch Thursday, June 29, 2017 in Collyer. (Jolie Green, Hays Daily News)

Couple has high hopes for high tunnel in agricultural future By Juno Ogle Kansas Agland On a small farmstead southeast of Collyer, a young farm couple is beginning an experiment they hope could direct the future of farming in Kansas. It’s a direction that, for Owen and Karen Parker, is guided by science as much by prayer. The Parkers neither grew up on farms, nor did they expect to wind up farming, but on a quarter section or so of Trego County land they call Royal Carriage Ranch, they are using organic methods to grow cash crops of produce and will be able to do so nearly year-round with the use of a high tunnel. A high tunnel — also known as a hoop house — uses passive solar energy to increase temperature and humidity under its polyethylene cover. The Parkers received a grant through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program to get started with their high tunnel. “The primary thing we’re after is to extend the growing season. That’s what a

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high tunnel really allows you to do,” said Dennis Doring, supervisory district conservationist at the Hays NRCS office. This is the first year the Parkers are using the high tunnel. They were able to plant their crops in early March and anticipate they will be able to grow crops through most of the winter. “As long as there’s enough daylight. There’s about a six-week timeframe where stuff is going to go dormant during the lowest light hours of the winter,” Karen said. “The rest of the time, we can grow any kind of cool-season crop like Swiss chard, kales or leafy greens.” The high tunnel is similar to a greenhouse, but Owen noted there are some differences, such as the high tunnel cannot be heated by another source. For the NRCS grant, the crops must also be planted directly in the ground; no raised beds are allowed. The Parkers have one 30-by-70 foot high tower and have plans to add another adjacent to it. They are growing mainly what they found to Kansas’ best-selling produce — cucumbers and peppers. In early July, the one row of cucumbers towered over nearly everything else in the high tunnel, with the exception of the pole beans that reached nearly to the top. Not far behind were the okra plants and two types of tomatoes. They have also planted carrots, radishes and spinach inside the high tunnel, but said next year they might limit the number of crops to the best-sellers. “The spinach was wonderful,” Karen said. “It was the best spinach I’ve ever grown or eaten. It wasn’t dirty, it was very clean and crisp.” The EQIP program will pay for up to 2,178 square feet of high tunnel, Doring said. Producers can sign up for the grants year-round. He said other goals of the NRCS high tunnel initiative is to improve plant and soil quality, and reduce nutrient and pesticide application.

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Those fit with the Parkers’ philosophy toward permaculture — the design and maintenance of sustainable ecosystems. The Parkers are using that approach in each of the crops they tend on the homestead — which includes a small vineyard and fruit trees. Hay-bale compost piles dot the homestead, and a flock of about 30 St. Croix sheep control the weeds and grass. “Everything is an experiment. We’ve never done anything like this before,” Karen said. But, she adds, “everything has been extremely fun.” And it has been plenty of work, from constructing the high tunnel to preparing the soil. The ground inside and in other planting beds around the tunnel was transformed from hardpan to moist, dark soil through organic methods — cardboard to inhibit weeds and attract worms, followed by thick layers of straw, compost and wood chips. “Then in the fall when everything is dormant, you add manure,” Karen said. “It will burn down over the winter. In the spring you can dig down into that soil and it’s crawling with earthworms. It’s not hardpan anymore.” Karen said that transformation is the most exciting thing for her about the farm. “That’s going to create a healthy plant that you don’t have to spray,” she said. “That’s really the foundation of what we’re trying to do. It applies to the high tunnel, it applies the vineyard, it applies to the fields, it applies to your animals,” she said. In their fields, they put the practice to use with cover crops and no-til practices to try to heal the ground, Owen said. “It’s been overgrazed, windblown, overworked,” he said. “We’re going to apply that all the way around.” The heat-loving okra plants that now grow in their high tower could become a cover crop in Kansas, Owen said. “It’s supposed to be exceptionally good for the soil,” Karen said. “The roots can put down a 6-foot taproot that breaks up the hardpan, and it puts down a ton of carbon with its roots in the soil.” Cover crops are another program NRCS pushes, Doring said. “Studies have shown that constant tillage over the years destroys

Agriculture - Fall 2017

microorganisms and destroys the biology and structure of the soil. When you’re constantly growing and you limit the number of tillage practice you do out there, you’re going to get better drought tolerance, better moisture utilization. Your yields will reflect that,” he said. In addition to the organic growing methods and the high tower, the Parkers are using drip irrigation to conserve water. Owen has installed both subterranean and above-ground drip irrigation systems in the high tower. The above-ground system will likely be removed, he said. “We hardly run the above-ground drip. We just don’t need to because the plastic traps in a lot of that moisture,” he said. “We probably water once a week, maybe once every other week.” The subterranean system is buried about 6 to 8 inches. Each emitter runs about a half gallon per hour, he said. “That will hit the root zone, it will inhibit weed growth since there’s not fresh moisture on the surface,” he said. The underground system has worked so well in the high house, the couple plans to install one when they eventually relocate the vineyard.

In about a year, they expect to be able north of Ellis. Owen went to the auction, but to harvest their grapes and sell to nearby didn’t get the land. Shiloh Vineyard and Winery. “It started something,” he said. “This The winery’s founders, Treva and Kirk land even would have been impossible to Johnston, helped get the Parkers started get if not for the Lord.” in their experiment. But the call originated Despite neighbors who had better much higher. connections and resources to purchase the Owen wasn’t looking to get into property, Owen and his parents were able farming at all, he said. Trained as a pilot, he to buy it. About five years ago, he moved was in Dallas when he got the call. “I was hoping to get back into flight school and get all my ratings,” he said. But then, he said, he received a message from God. “It was very clear: I want you to go back to Hays and start looking at land,” he said. That very afternoon, Treva Johnston called him ^ Karen and Owen Parker, owners of Royal Carriage Ranch, are greeted by their to tell him about flock of sheep Thursday, June 29, 2017 in rural Collyer. (Jolie Green, Hays Daily an auction for land News)

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Agriculture - Fall 2017

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a house from Hays to the property and started the vineyard three years ago. “That was our first project together, planting 300 vines. Just a fun little date,” Karen said with a laugh. Their spirituality has guided them throughout their projects on the farm, especially being newcomers and sometimes needing guidance of what, where and when to plant. “We sit down and just pray about it for a little bit and see what happens,” Owen said. “We both get the same thing,” Karen said. “Every time,” Owen agreed. “It’s been fun, entering into this like children and having to rely on our father to figure out what to do,” Karen said. What the parkers would like to see as a result of their experiment is greater access to farming, especially for younger people wanting to get into the fields. The average age of farmers in the United States has been increasing, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2012, the average age for principal operators of a farm was 58.3 years, up from 57.1 years in 2007. Kansas’ statistics are nearly identical, at 58.2 years in 2012 and 57.7 years in 2007. “Not everybody can go out and buy this huge, expensive equipment and enormous plots of land,” Karen said. “I know of a lot of younger couples who would love to do it, but as my wife says, there’s not access to the traditional capital that’s out here. You’ll break the bank before you even get started,” Owen said. “But if they have access to an acre or two, or four or five, they can go a long ways,” he said. “There’s other things you can grow out here,” he said, like pumpkins and potatoes. The biggest obstacle is a lack of local markets and ways to get the products to larger markets, like grain elevators do. But the Parkers are making their own markets. They sell their produce at farmers markets at Orcheln in Hays on Wednesday evenings and Friday evenings in Quinter, and and are hoping to sell to small grocery stores and restaurants in the area. “I just think that nontraditional, specialty crop, specialty animals or just a different way of doing farming out here is going to be the way to get younger people out here and let them know it can be done,” Owen said.

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^ Karen Parker, owner of Royal Carriage Ranch, works in the vineyard at the ranch Thursday, June 29, 2017 in rural Collyer. (Jolie Green, Hays Daily News)

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