Extension resources available

Kansas State University provides you with research-based information through many avenues. Locally, your contact is the Southwind Extension District with offices in Erie, Fort Scott and Iola. Hundreds of publications and fact sheets, written by K-State researchers and specialists, are available through the university's Publications Library, www.ksre.ksu.edu/library. Another alternative is to research the information provided on the Southwind website, www.southwind.ksu.edu

However, not all of our services can be found on the Internet. One of the most utilized resources is soil testing. K-State Research and Extension can test soil for $12 per sample or $10 apiece for two or more. Soil testing is recommended for gardeners, farmers, testing for lawn and turf problems, or pasture management. Feed and forage testing is also offered. The only way to know for certain the quality of the feed is to get a lab analysis of it, to take a forage test. A forage test may run from $12-24 per sample, depending on what you want the sample tested for. Other tests that are available include radon test kits ($6) and water quality testing resources.

Have you ever wondered what that unidentified pest or plant lurking around your home may be, or even how you can get rid of it? The Extension Office has expertise and resources available to identify pests that are common to our area and in Kansas. This includes home and crop insects, weeds, and various plants. We can also provide information on how to remove or control the pest, depending on your situation.

One of our "best kept secret" products that we offer for sale is odor neutralizers. Ecosorb ($6) is used in numerous home, farm and industrial/commercial applications. Most of our clients seek this product to control the odor from fuel spills, mold smell, or skunk sprays. Neutroleum Alpha ($16) is a concentrated product utilized in a similar fashion to control strong odors. Because it is a concentrate, it can be used in a larger area.

This time of the year, we sell quite a few Farm and Family Account Books ($2.50-$4). If you haven't made the transition to computerized record keeping, this resource allows for an accurate accounting of your finances in a form that makes completing taxes easier.

Extension publications are very accessible to the public, and most are free if you pick them up in the Extension Office. The Kansas Garden Guide is a new publication that is available for only $5. If you are looking for resources on planning a garden, seeding and planting, or details about a specific crop, this publication is a must-have. Extension offers many publications on home gardening, so please stop by if you are looking for something specific.

Area farmers and ranchers often utilize the Kansas Performance Tests for various crops to determine which varieties will grow best in this area of the state. This month, the 2012 Hybrid Reports for Corn, Soybean, and Grain Sorghum will become available in the Extension Office. This is in addition to the Wheat Seed Book that is always available in late summer after wheat has been harvested and data collected.

The 2012 Chemical Weed Control Guide will be published this month and provides suggestions for chemical weed control in several major crops. It offers recommendations, and guidelines for crop specific chemicals.

If you are involved in a club or organization that requests presentations, the Southwind District offers a "Speakers Bureau" brochure, which contains the public speaking topics offered by the extension agents. Let us help you with your educational topics during your meetings. We try to mail this to civic and social organizations on an annual basis, but you are also welcome to pick up a copy in any of our three offices.

As a consumer, you have many options for finding the answers to your questions. By choosing to use the Extension Service, you can be sure you are getting research-based, unbiased information. We encourage you to use the Southwind Extension District Offices in Erie, Fort Scott and Iola to help answer your questions. Or you can always find us on the web at www.southwind.ksu.edu.