Kansas Wheat Wraps up Harvest Report Series July 14 Was the final Day Great Grain fill Conditions Overall Yields Averaged 35 Hold Some More Heat Down Ple of Weeks
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New highway signs continue the ‘1 Kansas Farmer Feeds…’ mission The familiar grocery our organization could organization, American me wonder why agricul- sack signs along Kan- have on spreading the Agri-Women. ture wasn’t advertising its sas highways, a long- message of agriculture,” “We’re so pleased to commodities.” time project of Kansas says Lori Bammerlin, have the signs on our When they returned Agri-Women, are now Kansas Agri-Women pres- property. We’re very home, she contacted some being reinvigorated with ident. proud of our business and of the United Farm Wives the recent installation Upon Jeanne’s passing, industry of helping feed of America (UFWA) lead- of five new signs. the Mertz family set up a America and the world by ers and asked them if they The signs read: “1 Kan- sign memorial fund to go raising both grains and thought UFWA could un- sas Farmer Feeds More toward replacing and in- cattle,” Wanda says. dertake a project promot- than 155 People + YOU!” stalling signs. You can see Donate to the Highway ing the farm commodities It’s a simple message that the newest signs at these Sign Fund in our state. They took is the cornerstone of Kan- locations: KAW is continuing the the idea to their board sas Agri-Women’s mis- • I-470 Turnpike near Mertz Memorial Grocery and the project was under sion, which is to connect the Tonganoxie Exit, both Sack Sign Fund to go to- way. UFWA later was producers and consumers eastbound and westbound ward replacing and in- named Kansas Agri-Wom- through understanding. sides of the interstate stalling signs statewide. en. Kansas Agri-Women • Highway 75 near the Join their efforts to recog- The first sign was in- was founded in 1974 and Carbondale exit, both nize the impact of Kansas stalled in the spring of one of its original mem- northbound and south- farmers and ranchers by 1978. This project has had bers Jeanne Mertz was bound sides of the high- going to www.ksagriwom- a strong and influential the visionary behind the way en.org. history, but it has not sign project. The first sign, • Highway 75 south- More History been without the support which was hand-painted bound between Beto The sign project was of two important part- by Thomas Signs of Man- Junction and New Strawn conceived in the fall of ners: Thomas Sign Com- hattan in 1977, was placed The signs on Highway 1977 when Harold and pany and landowners. on her property. Thomas 75 near the Carbondale Jeanne Mertz drove to Thomas Sign Company Signs has supported the exit are on the property of San Angelo, Texas, to pur- hand-painted the original project since the begin- Wanda and Darrel Kinney. chase livestock. Along the signs in 1978, and have ning, later installing vinyl The highway signs that read “1 Kansas Farmer Feeds Wanda has been a mem- miles of highways, they continued to do mainte- signs. More than 155 People + YOU!” is a long-time advoca- ber of Kansas Agri-Wom- noted billboards adver- nance and replace signs. “We lost a true vision- cy project of Kansas Agri-Women. Here is one of the en for 40 years and one tising everything except And, landowners have ary in 2017 on the pass- of her signs was installed the land they stood on. generously offered to host ing of Jeanne Mertz. She newest signs, installed recently on U.S. Highway 75 when Jeanne Mertz was In Jeanne’s words, “Look- signs on their properties. helped show the impact southbound between Beto Junction and New Strawn. president of the national ing at these signs made Farm issues key in Kansas Republican congressional race (AP) – A commercial real estate broker from Salina post former Rep. Tim Huelskamp lost after clashes with “A lot of people would say that Tracey Mann is in who ran for Congress ten years ago and an eye surgeon former House Speaker John Boehner and other GOP a good position, but if Clifford is able to put a lot of from Finney County are trying to draw attention to leaders. The removal caused local farm groups to turn resources in, he can make it competitive,’’ Beatty said. themselves and distinctions from one another ahead of against Huelskamp before he was ousted in 2016 by Mar- “If Clifford doesn’t do anything, I would guess Tracey an August Republican primary that’s likely to decide shall, who gained a seat on the committee. Mann wins because of such high name recognition, but who will win Kansas’ 1st District seat. The state’s main farm lobby, the Kansas Farm Bu- Clifford is already doing what he needs to be doing at The two candidates with the most active campaigns, reau, endorsed Mann last month. That endorsement this point.’’ Tracey Mann, a real estate broker who was briefly lieu- is “probably the most important endorsement any (1st Some Republican voters have already made up their tenant governor, and Bill Clifford, a doctor, U.S. Air Congressional District) candidate can get,” said Bob Be- minds. Celia Beymer, a GOP activist from Kearny Coun- Force veteran and Finney County commissioner, are atty, a Washburn University political scientist. ty, is supporting Mann, who was born and raised on a both anti-abortion, pro-gun and say they plan to support Other candidates on the primary ballot are Jerry family farm. Clifford may be “talented with the knife President Donald Trump’s policies. So voters will be Molstad, a physician’s assistant, and Michael Soetaert, on the eye,’’ Beymer said, referring to Clifford’s back- looking at other issues to differentiate the candidates who listed himself as a reverend. The Democratic can- ground as an ophthalmologist, but she doesn’t like his who seek to replace Rep. Roger Marshall, who’s running didates are Kali Barnett, an author and music teacher, lack of an agricultural background. for the U.S. Senate. and Christy Davis, a former nonprofit executive director. “He’s not a farmer for crying out loud,’’ she said. The candidate with the most votes will face the win- Mann has been increasing his profile in the area State Rep. Don Hineman, a Dighton Republican, and ner of the Democratic primary in November. The seat since his failed effort in the GOP primary for the seat in former Kansas Senate President Steve Morris, a Hugot- seat hasn’t been won by a Democrat since 1952. It’s one 2010, former Kansas GOP chairman Kelly Arnold said. on Republican, are supporting Clifford, who removed of the nation’s most Republican congressional districts “He did extremely well in that primary. He raised a both their cataracts. and has elected three congressmen who went on to be- lot of money, made a lot of inroads with people across “I just know him better and I just know his back- come U.S. senators over the past 50 years. the district, but ultimately, with a five-way primary, ground and I’m retired Air Force also,’’ Morris said. The Aug. 4 primary is “Mann’s to lose,’’ said Patrick with basically five heavy-hitters, the vote split on that,’’ Hineman is backing Clifford partly due to his “age Miller, a University of Kansas political scientist, but he Arnold said. and experience and maturity,’’ but he said he still thinks added that Clifford could make the race competitive if Mann’s April campaign finance reports showed he Mann, if elected, would “do a great job for the Big First.’’ he “puts himself on people’s radar.’’ received $548,667 in total contributions. Clifford’s - re “I don’t think you can go wrong either way. I have The 1st District’s congressperson is expected to rep- ports showed total contributions of $703,678, includingconfidence in both candidates,’’ Hineman said. resent Kansas on the House Agriculture Committee, a $435,000 he loaned the campaign. Kansas Wheat wraps up Harvest Report series July 14 was the final day great grain fill conditions Overall yields averaged 35 hold some more heat down ple of weeks. come to an end thanks to of the 2020 Kansas Wheat in late spring and early to 40 bushels per acre. In in the bottom, helping it “Those two cold events great harvest conditions Harvest Reports, brought summer. This helped off- the southern counties they survive the cold spells in were sure defining parts and no rain. They are any- to you by the Kansas Wheat set the freeze damage and were bringing in 70-bushel April. The smaller wheat in the wheat development where from completely Commission, Kansas Asso- other things. Harvest this wheat, due to great weath- took it harder, slowing de- this spring,” she said. done to a week in a half ciation of Wheat Growers year started about a week er conditions and good velopment anywhere from Harvest this year in until they are finished, and the Kansas Grain and and a half later than nor- harvest. The northern a couple of days to a cou- some cases has already • Cont. on page 3 Feed Association. mal. counties harvested 15-30 According to the US- South Central was bushels per acre, stem- DA’s National Agricultur- one of the bright spots. ming back to the spring al Statistics Service, for Sumner, Sedgwick and where they were faced Still getting the job done the week ending July 12, Harper counties producedharsh weather and freeze 2020, Kansas winter wheat good test weights. Proteins damage. harvested was 95%, well were average or slightly Protein levels were ahead of 75% last year, and below average, about 10½ ranging anywhere from ahead of 90% for the five- to 11%.