April 2024 eNews

Horticulture

Companion planting is a gardening trend that has many benefits and many myths associated with it. So does companion planting really work? Join Horticulture Agents, Pam Paulsen and Laura Phillips, as they present on “Companion Plants in Your Garden”. Learn about the research and science behind companion planting and which companion planting techniques can benefit your garden. This month’s presentation will be live from Noon to 1pm on Wednesday, April 3, and it will also be recorded and posted online. Register for upcoming webinars or find past recordings online at: www.ksre-learn.com/KStateGardenHour     

Shop new and gently used gardening tools, supplies, garden art, landscape décor, and more at the 6th annual Tools & Treasures Sale. This 3-day event, will be held from Thursday, April 4th to Saturday, April 6th, and will be held at the Sedgwick County Extension Education Center (inside 4-H Hall), located at 7001 W. 21st Street N. in Wichita. The sale will feature an extensive assortment of new and gently used gardening related items for sale, and all proceeds go to support the Sedgwick County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program’s community outreach programs. Support a great cause while discovering amazing finds to add to your garden! Learn more online at: https://www.sedgwick.k-state.edu/news/newsreleases/2024/Tools_and_Treasures_Sale_Garden_Deals_for_Everyone.html  

Spring Lawns & Summer Weed Control

Warmer temperatures and rain are sure to bring green growth, spring flowers and, of course, summer weeds. Now is the time to take action and apply a pre-emergent product that can help eliminate many summer lawn and garden weeds before they become an issue.

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SNAP-Ed/EFNEP

The Extension Nutrition Program, within K-State Research and Extension, is currently seeking two full-time Extension Nutrition Assistants. The extension nutrition assistant will provide nutrition education to low-resourced families with young children and youth to support the goals of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). This position provides nutrition education to enrolled families and youth, and tailors the content to the needs of each client. This position is benefits eligible: health insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, tuition assistance program, paid time off-vacation, sick and holidays.



To see the full job description and to apply, please visit: https://careers.k-state.edu/en-us/job/516948/efnep-nutrition-assistant-sedgwick-county

Aging and Medicare

Urinary Catheter Scams

Scammers are targeting Medicare enrollees by charging their Medicare accounts for catheters they have not requested and may not even be receiving. Catheters are an easy target for fraud because of their low cost, so they attract less attention, but the costs have added up and officials believe these fraud schemes have already resulted in $2 billion lost so far.

In many cases, beneficiaries have done nothing wrong. There have been some data breaches where healthcare information has been stolen. If that is the case, Medicare may need to issue you a new Medicare number.

Always review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) for Original Medicare or Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for a Medicare Advantage Plan, and if you see any charges that do not seem right, you need to report them.

If you suspect your Medicare number has been compromised and you see this kind of fraudulent activity, contact Kansas Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), as they assist Medicare beneficiaries to report health care fraud.

As a reminder: Protect your Medicare number. If you receive a call from someone offering you free urinary catheters that will be billed to Medicare, hang up immediately. Be suspicious of anyone who offers you free medical equipment and then requests your Medicare number. If your personal information is compromised, it may be used in other fraud schemes.

If you need to report suspected Medicare fraud, please complete this form on the Kansas SMP website:

https://smpresource.org/you-can-help/report-fraud/

Local Food

Find a local farmers market near you, click here

Agriculture

The most common pond problem we receive questions on is the excessive growth of “pond moss.” The light green mats people are referring to are actually filamentous algae, and not a moss. These thick mats, as well as other pond weeds, can be unattractive and inhibit the use of our ponds when their growth is excessive. To increase your chances of controlling filamentous algae and other pond weeds, now is the time to start preparing. Controlling aquatic growth can be difficult. A combination of limiting nutrients entering the water, aquatic herbicides/algaecides, pond dyes, and aeration should be utilized to inhibit their growth. Below are resources to help in your efforts this year.    

Managing “Pond Moss” and Aquatic Weeds

AquaPlant ID

Aquatic Plants and Their Control

Applications will be accepted until Monday, April 15, or until the position is filled. 

https://www.sedgwick.k-state.edu/jobs/index.html

4-H and Youth Development

Students Learn about Butterfly Life Cycle

Spring is an exciting time for all, but April is particularly exciting for the 4-H department. This month, our school enrichment staff will travel to elementary classrooms, explaining the miracle of a butterfly’s life cycle. Every March dozens of caterpillar cups and butterfly enclosures are delivered to the extension office and then sent on to classrooms across the county. As the weeks pass, the students watch as the caterpillars grow, form chrysalises and then eventually transform into Painted Lady butterflies. In addition to witnessing this amazing phenomenon, the students will learn about each of the butterfly life cycle stages, the anatomy of an adult butterfly, the purpose of each of the butterfly body parts and the important role butterflies have in the environment. These natural pollinators, with their swift life cycle, are the perfect way for educators to cultivate a budding passion for biology within their classroom. By the end of this month, over 400 Painted Ladies will be released, so be on the lookout for more of them around Wichita!

Health and Nutrition

Are My Leftovers Safe to Eat?

Have you ever wondered how long you can keep your leftovers or if the canned goods in your pantry are safe to eat? There is an app for that! This free resource was created by the USDA and is available for both Android and Apple devices. If you don’t have a smart phone, you can access a less extensive version on the internet. The purpose of the app is not only to help consumers maximize the freshness, quality, and safety of food but also to provide cooking tips and cooking methods for meat, poultry, and seafood, along with food recalls. You can even set up an alert to remind you when your food items are nearing their recommended storage date so you can make sure and get them used up.

Feel free to call Sara Sawer, the Nutrition, Health, and Wellness Agent at 316.660.0118 with these types of questions or check out this resource at https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep-food-safe/foodkeeper-app

Picture source: Food Keeper 

K-State News

$33 Million in Federal Funding to

Further Transform K-State Salina

as Aerospace Education Hub

Kansas State University continues to adapt to meet the needs of the next generation of pilots, mechanics and other aeronautical engineering positions, with more than $33 million in new federal funding for Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus set to expand programming to support learners and industry partners.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran announced a transformational federal grant to build a $28 million facility that will serve as an education hub for several of K-State Salina's programs, as well as a separate $5.5 million grant to provide aviation training equipment to amplify the pilot training partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

The Aerospace Education Hub and the partnership with NOAA reflect K-State Salina’s continued commitment to aeronautics education, especially as the aerospace industry continues to grow in its demand for groundbreaking research and well-equipped, job-ready graduates.

Read the full announcement. 

Get Involved!

K-State Research and Extension — Sedgwick County exists to serve the people of south central Kansas. Our mission thrives because of community support. We offer many opportunities for volunteers to offer their time and skills, from gardening to youth development to programming support.

Learn more about ways to support our programming and the needs of the community. 

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K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.