The Hugoton Hermes
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Page 8
Senators call for extension of CRP grazing
Hugoton FFA students attend the Kansas State Fair. Pictured in the front row are Luis Flores, Mariah Rome, Jessica Harper, Reed Rome, Thomas Frederick, Emma French, Lacy Brecheisen, Roman Lindstrom, Tyler Goode and Elia Mendoza.
In the back row are Kyra Kalani, Anna Rome, Landon Brecheisen, Romano Burger, Nick Evans, Brady Marshall, Jacob Teeter, Caleb Henry, Alfredo Luna, Bernabe Mendoza and Christobal Salcedo. Photo courtesy of Les McNally.
Birding opportunities plentiful during fall migration Every year, hundreds of bird species fly south through Kansas during the fall migration, creating many unique birding opportunities throughout the state. Hummingbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, and neotropical migrants such as warblers, flycatchers and orioles, are just a few of the birds residents can expect to encounter during this special period. “Morning is the best time to go out since birds tend to be more active in the cooler parts of the day,” said Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism wildlife education coordinator Mike Rader.
April showers might bring May flowers, but fall brings neotropical migrants. “However, sometimes activity will pick up in late afternoon just before birds go to roost, too.” An avid birder himself, Rader suggests some of the best birding hotspots can be in your own backyard.
“Neotropical migrants can be sought in any decent woodland habitat across the state, but some of the most reliable spots each year actually include park areas in Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence, and Johnson County,” said Rader. “Fall
migration is also a great time to check out the corners of our state, with many western species found along the western tier of counties from border to border, but especially around the Elkhart/Cimarron Grasslands region of extreme southwest Kansas.” Rader added the Southeast Kansas Nature Center in extreme southeast Kansas near Galena is also an excellent location to bird watch. For information about where to bird watch in Kansas, including tools for identifying species, visit the Kansas Ornithological Society’s Web site at ksbirds.org.
Furharvester workshop offered September 21 The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) is hosting a furharvester’s workshop September 21, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Marvin Green Building of the Crawford County Fairgrounds in Girard. Topics covered in the workshop include furharvesting
for reading The Hermes Official Newspaper of Stevens County
laws and ethics, trapping equipment, trap sets for a variety of furbearers, fur handling and more. Anyone born on or after July 1, 1966 must complete a certified furharvester education course before trapping on land other than their own. An online furharvester education course is available at www.ksoutdoors.com under Furharvester Education, but students will learn much more in an outdoor classroom with experienced instructors. “Furharvesting is probably the most intimate outdoor activity you can take part in when it comes to wildlife because you have to know a lot about the habits and habitats
of the animals you are trying to catch to be successful,” said Mined Land Wildlife Area manager David Jenkins. “It’s an important part of our American heritage that we should pass on to the next generation.” To sign-up for the workshop, contact Jenkins at 620231-3173. The workshop is free and lunch will be provided.
A furharvester education course exam will be given to those who are not certified. For more information on furharvesting regulations, get a copy of the 2013 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Summary. For more information on trapping and furharvesting education, go to www.ksoutdoors. com.
Workshop instructors will teach furharvesting laws, ethics and techniques.
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United States Senators Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran last week called on U.S. Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to extend emergency grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands to help livestock producers hit hard by lingering and intensifying drought. The following is the text of the letter sent recently to Secretary Vilsack: Dear Mr. Secretary: Thank you for your continued commitment to provide every USDA resource to help producers and communities deal with the devastating effects of ongoing drought. While many parts of the country and Kansas have received much-needed rainfall, areas of Western Kansas continue to suffer from multiple years of severe drought. July 11, you received a letter asking for the swift and unrestricted release of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for emergency haying and grazing. July 16, the Kansas State Farm Service Agency (FSA) Committee, FSA Executive Director Adrian Polansky, and the State Technical Committee released CRP acreage for haying and grazing. Due to the lingering, and in some cases intensifying, drought, we ask you again to swiftly authorize actions to allow livestock producers to effectively respond to drought conditions.
In order to assist producers, last year August 29, 2012, you announced that USDA would permit farmers and ranchers in drought stricken states that have been approved for emergency grazing to extend grazing on CRP land through November 30, 2012, without incurring an additional CRP rental payment reduction. These actions a year ago significantly helped livestock producers and we ask that you authorize a similar extension of emergency grazing through November 30, 2013. Extending producers’ ability to utilize CRP acreage will allow producers to better prepare for this winter’s forage needs. USDA agencies and personnel have forged a partnership with farmers, ranchers, local communities and state government agencies to utilize every available resource and program authority for survival and sustainability until weather patterns improve. Without adequate forage, the Kansas cattle industry, which generates more than $7 billion in cash receipts annually, will be negatively impacted as producers will be forced to sell their cattle. Irreplaceable genetics and traits bred for generations could be lost in the open market, jeopardizing our state’s leading industry. Submitted by the Office of Senator Jerry Moran.
Kansas farmers can lend a helping hand to grow their communities Thanks to famers across Kansas, $1,030,000 has been invested in rural communities throughout the state. Back for the fourth consecutive year, America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, will be giving farmers the opportunity to win a $2,500 donation for their favorite, local nonprofit organization. • FFA chapters across the state have received a total of $112,500 in Grow Communities donations. • Farmers helped put out fires by donating $150,000 to fireand health-related organizations. • Service organizations, like
food pantries, have received $150,000. • Grow Communities has donated $230,000 to education organizations. • Community improvement organizations have received $207,500 through Grow Communities. • Many farmers chose to give back to their local 4-H clubs. A total of $165,000 has been donated to 4-H clubs across the state. Farmers and rural community members can now visit GrowCommunities.com or call 1-877-267-3332 and register to win or submit an idea for a nonprofit in need of funding.