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3 days ago | 
superiorne.com | Pat Melgares |K-State Research
Members of a Kansas State University team that has built a one-stop source for data related to Kansas communities say the free, interactive tool will help to boost economic development across the state. The online tool, called All Things Kansas, pulls from more than 30,000 layers of data and 120 state and federal sources to answer questions related to child care, workforce, health care, broadband access, housing and many more topics that involve community and economic development.
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3 days ago | 
sunflowerstateradio.com | Pat Melgares |K-State Research
By Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension news serviceMANHATTAN, Kan. – For many, the onset of summer means outdoor picnics, walks and time at the park, but a blood-sucking insect whose lifespan rarely lasts past two months often can put a bite in those plans. Kansas State University entomologist Jeff Whitworth said May and June tend to be the time of year when adult mosquito populations rise in Kansas.
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1 week ago | 
pottcotimes.com | Pat Melgares
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Canning, as a method of preserving food by placing foods in jars or cans and heating them to a temperature that destroys microorganisms that could be a health hazard or cause the food to spoil, has been around for more than two centuries. Today’s methods often have been passed down and evolved through generations, but Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee says all have one thing in common: Preparation.
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1 week ago | 
pottcotimes.com | Pat Melgares
MANHATTAN, Kan. – A caterpillar-like insect pest known to create pin holes in tree leaves appears to have launched an attack on Kansas’ green ash tree population. Kansas State University entomologist Raymond Cloyd said he has received several questions about the brownheaded ash sawfly, a yellow-green insect with white and green stripes extending the length of its approximately three-fourths-inch body.
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1 week ago | 
pottcotimes.com | Pat Melgares
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Most Americans understand that the food we eat is important for physical health, but perhaps a little less well known is that food also affects our mental health. “If we think about our brain cells, our nerves, our gut and other parts of our body, the food we eat is going to be part of those cells,” said Priscilla Brenes, a nutrition and wellness specialist with K-State Research and Extension. “So, what we eat will in turn affect the mood we have (and) the way we sleep.
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2 weeks ago | 
pottcotimes.com | Pat Melgares
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The U.S. government’s move in late April to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply will challenge food manufacturers to use more natural sources of ingredients in colorful foods, said a Kansas State University food scientist. Karen Blakeslee notes that the source of food colors in the future may come from spices, fruits, vegetables or even cochineal (scale) insects.
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2 weeks ago | 
agupdate.com | Pat Melgares
Pat MelgaresKansas State University Steady rains that fell on many parts of Kansas in late May highlight a delicate balancing act for the state’s farmers. On one hand, rain is the lifeblood of agriculture. Many livestock ponds received a timely boost while crop producers – especially wheat growers – needed the rain to increase their chances of a bountiful harvest later this year. But Kansas State University agronomist Tina Sullivan notes that in some cases, crops can get too much water.
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2 weeks ago | 
pottcotimes.com | Pat Melgares
“Turfgrasses should be fertilized when they are actively growing,” said K-State horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini, who manages the university’s Horticulture Response Center. “For warm-season grasses, that time is here.”Domenghini said late spring and early summer fertilizer applications are ideal for bermudagrass, buffalograss and zoysiagrass. Fertilizing too early, she said, does not help warm-season grasses, but rather encourages cool season weeds to grow.
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2 weeks ago | 
ksal.com | Pat Melgares
Combines will soon be rolling across Kansas for wheat harvest, with other crops not too far in the future. Part of the tradition in farm country is feeding the people working to bring in the harvest. Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee says meals in the field follow many of the same guidelines for safe picnics and backyard barbecue meals. Clean. Blakeslee suggests packing wet wash cloths with soap to clean dirty hands.
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2 weeks ago | 
pottcotimes.com | Pat Melgares
Tandy Rundus, the northeast region specialist for the Kansas Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), said consumers can reduce food waste by using more of the food that they have on-hand before making new purchases. “Reducing food waste saves you money,” said Rundus, citing a 2019 report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimating the cost of food waste to every U.S. consumer at $728 per year.
