January 9, 2024
Extension Updates
Improving Your Woodland for Timber Production. L725. Howard Freerksen and Elizabeth Jamison. Timber stand improvement can increase growth and quality of a woodland. Learn more about what you can do to improve your woodlands in this updated publication.
Indicator Plants of Forest and Woodland Health in Kansas. MF3640. Ryan Armbrust et al. This publication serves as an introduction to identifying herbaceous plants in the forests and woodlands of Kansas. It helps readers interpret what those plants indicate about the ecological conditions of these plant communities.
Kansas Corn Management 2024. MF3208. Ignacio Ciampitti, et al. This updated publication offers advice to manage Kansas corn crops as efficiently and profitably as possible.
Kansas Soybean Management 2024. MF3154. Ignacio Ciampitti et al. This updated publication covers multiple facets of soybean production, helping Kansas producers manage their crop efficiently and profitably.
Lawn Fertilizing Guide. MF2916. Jack Fry. A healthy lawn adds value to your home and improves the quality of the environment. Most lawn grasses require some fertilizer every year to keep them strong and actively growing. Appropriate amounts help maintain turf vigor, but too much fertilizer can cause problems. Includes tips and a table to help determine the correct amount of fertilizer to use.
Environmental Health and Safety Program Guide. MF3479. Sandra Hoffman. The purpose of the program guide is to assist you in accessing and understanding the programs available to you to create healthy and safe work environments for faculty, staff, and students. The Environmental Health and Safety office is available to provide guidance in program development. Updated for January 2024.
Approaches for Treating Ag Water for Postharvest Use. MF3641. Londa Nwadike, Durga Khadka. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule specifies that all agricultural water must be safe and of adequate sanitary quality for its intended use. This fact sheet outlines treatments methods to ensure safe agricultural water.
New Modified FSMA PSR Agricultural Water Requirement Proposal. MF3642. Londa Nwadike and Yeqi Zhao. In December 2021, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a revision to Subpart E of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) that would change the pre-harvest agricultural water requirements for covered produce, other than sprouts. This fact sheet outlines the proposed changes and what steps producers may need to take.
Produce Safety and Agricultural Water Quality. MF3643. Londa Nwadike, Yeqi Zhao, Olivia Haley. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule specifies that all agricultural water must be safe and of adequate sanitary quality for its intended use. This fact sheet outlines the basics of water quality and produce safety and includes a guide to interpret your water quality test.
Agricultural Water Contamination and Food Safety. MF3645. Londa Nwadike, Durga Khadka. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2021, an estimated 47.8 million illnesses, 127,839 hospitalizations, and 3,037 deaths in the U.S. alone were attributed to foodborne illnesses. Fresh produce is commonly associated with foodborne illnesses, and agricultural water is suspected as a major causative agent. This fact sheet outlines the food safety risks associated with agricultural water and how to address water contamination on the farm.
Backflush Water Fact Sheet. MF3646. Londa Nwadike and Yeqi Zhao. Water filtration systems are widely used on produce farms to remove particulate matter and some dissolved solids from water sources (surface or sometimes ground water) to reduce maintenance concerns with the water system and to provide clearer water for agricultural purposes (irrigation, fertigation, etc.). However, do you know the filtration system can also yield “dirty” water, called backflush water? This fact sheet outlines the concerns associated with backflush water and how to mitigate the risks.
Use of Sanitizers in Postharvest Water. MF3647. Londa Nwadike and Durga Khadka. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) sets a standard for preventing contamination from agricultural water for postharvest use. Postharvest water refers to water used for rinsing, cooling, or icing harvested produce. It also includes water used for handwashing and cleaning food contact surfaces.