K-State Agricultural Research Center-Hays

At K-State’s Agricultural Research Center in Hays, Guorong Zhang is a wheat breeder whose research focuses on trying to improve the wheat crop by developing new varieties with adaptation to western Kansas, including the latest new variety—a hard red winter wheat named KS09H19-2-3, or Oakley CL.

Development of Oakley CL began in 2002, and in late 2013, K-State’s Agricultural Research Center released it. Its registered and certified seed is expected to become available in 2015, while test plots will continue to be analyzed in 2014. Zhang said Oakley CL came from a three-way cross, so it has three parents that contribute to its high yield potential, Beyond herbicide tolerance, drought tolerance, disease resistance, and good quality for milling and baking. It also has good straw strength and grain shattering resistance to combat high winds in western Kansas, and it has good resistance to pre-harvest sprouting.

“The Beyond herbicide resistance actually comes from one parent, Above. Above is the first publicly released one-gene Clearfield wheat variety,” Zhang said. “The other two parents are Danby—the most popular white variety in western Kansas—and another parent from our own breeding lines. From Above, this variety inherited its herbicide resistance. From Danby, it inherited some drought tolerance, so it has performed very well in western Kansas. The third parent had the wheat streak mosaic virus resistance. Stripe rust resistance might come from both Danby and the third parent.”

Oakley CL, Zhang said, shows strong resistance to stripe rust, a fungal disease that causes wheat to have yellow or orange blister-like lesions arranged in stripes. He has tested it for both 2010 and 2012 races of stripe rust.

“In 2012, the race was changed, so a lot of varieties that were resistant in 2010 became susceptible in 2012,” Zhang said. “Another major disease resistance for this variety is wheat streak mosaic virus resistance. Now in the market, very few varieties have the wheat streak mosaic virus resistance. It is a virus disease that is hard to control with any fungicide, so we have to rely on the variety resistance.”

In addition to disease resistance, many producers want to know the yield potential for new varieties, Zhang said. In two years of dryland testing in northwest Kansas, Oakley CL had more than a 5 percent higher yield than Danby. It also is comparable with other Clearfield wheat varieties in western Kansas, as it had an 11 percent higher yield than the one-gene Clearfield variety Above in the 2011 Clearfield Qualification trial in Hays and a 6 percent higher yield than the two-gene Clearfield variety Brawl CL Plus in the 2013 Kansas Wheat Performance Test trial at northwestern Kansas testing sites.

Oakley CL also shows good results for end product testing—milling and baking.

“This variety has a good flour yield and also a very good mixing tolerance and a good loaf volume,” Zhang said. “If this variety can be planted in larger acreage, then the millers and bakers will have good wheat to process.”

A video about Oakley CL is available on the K-State Research and Extension YouTube page.

Feral cats are on the loose in WaKeeney.

The city has accepted a community grant from Midwest Energy to offset the costs associated with the control of feral cats within the city limits.  The grant was approved during the February 4 city council meeting.

Below are the complete meeting minutes.

RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE GOVERNING BODY 4 FEBRUARY 2014

The Governing Body of the City of WaKeeney, Kansas met in a regular session at City Hall 408 Russell Ave at 7:00 PM with the Mayor presiding and the following members present:

Mayor Kenneth Roy and Council Members Mary Jo Clevenger, Irene Dirks, Troy Leiker, and Allen Weigel

BEING ABSENT: Lynelle Shubert

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written, printed and distributed.

GUESTS: Jody Zeman, MiKalya Cody, Megan Zahn, Tyler Lowry, and Janelle Miller

Jody Zeman, Trego County Economic Development Director was present to invite the Governing Body to a strategic planning meeting hosted by TCED on Monday, April 28, 2014 at 6:30 PM at Western Coop Electric. Jody also presented the interlocal agreement between the various governmental agencies concerning the Neighborhood Revitalization Plan.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR: Hardy Howard presented to the Governing Body a quote from Harries Leasing for a 2015 Chevrolet 2500HD pickup with utility bed. After a discussion, Mary Jo Clevenger motioned to approve the purchase of the unit with trade in of the 2002 Dodge. Troy Leiker seconded. Motion carried.

Delinquent utility accounts to be sent to the State of Kansas Set-off collection program were reviewed by the City Council. A motion was made by Irene Dirks and seconded by Allen Weigel to approve the list for set-off. Motion carried.

A quote from Layne for the pump removal and chemical cleaning of well #8 was reviewed by the Governing Body. After discussion, a motion was made by Allen Weigel to approve the routine maintenance suggested by Layne with an additional quote to be provided for any needed replacement parts and repairs once the pump and piping are removed and inspected. Mary Jo Clevenger seconded. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Irene Dirks to accept a Midwest Energy Community Fund grant in the amount of $1,000 on behalf of Janet Baumgartner to offset the costs associated with the control of feral cats within the city. Mary Jo Clevenger seconded. Motion carried.

At this time an ordinance making appropriation for the payment of claims for the month of January 2014 was read, whereupon, Mary Jo Clevenger motioned to approve claims in the amount of $191,215.61 Troy Leiker seconded. Motion carried. Warrants #9758, #9776, #9792, #9808 and #9811 were reviewed prior to approval.

A motion was made by Mary Jo Clevenger to adjourn into executive session for a period of 20 minutes for the discussion of non-elected personnel. Troy Leiker seconded. Motion carried. Those remaining in the executive session included Mayor Roy, City Council and City Administrator Howard.

The executive session ended within the allotted time.

No further business appearing, the meeting was adjourned.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The turnaround built by USD 489 as a  temporary solution to joint use of Victory Road by Thomas More Prep Marian and O’Loughlin Elementary Schools is too small.

Victory Road is owned by the Capuchin Province of  Mid-America in Denver.  They and TMP have given permission to USD 489 for its use by hundreds of parents each day to drop off and pick up students at O’Loughlin.

Cars can turn around easily, but USD 489 Superintendent Dean Katt says the turnaround doesn’t  have a big enough radius for larger vehicles:

TMP officials say the turnaround is used by their school patrons primarily during after-school activities.

Hays, KS – Several fun programs are being held on Saturday, February 22, in both the Children’s Department and Adult Department at the Hays Public Library.

9:30 AM- Chess Tournament: The Children’s Department is hosting a chess tournament bright and early Saturday morning to mark the end of the winter 2014 Chess Club season. All children are eligible to participate, not just those who are involved in Chess Club.  Entrants will play a total of six matches. Lunch will be provided and awards will be given to the winners. Children must register at the Children’s circulation desk on the second floor of the library.

2:00 PM- Crafternoon: Inky Coasters: The Adult Department sponsors an afternoon of crafts the last Saturday of every month. Patrons are invited to create the Pinterest craft of the month and then are encouraged to work on crafts of their own. This month’s Pinterest craft is inky coasters. Patrons will be using alcohol and colored ink to create unique designs on white coasters. Supplies are provided for the first 10 participants.

5:00 PM- Trivia Night: The Kansas Room is hosting another team Trivia Night in the Schmidt Gallery. Trivia will consist of 10 rounds containing 10 questions. The team with the most points at the end wins! Bring a few friends or come alone and meet some new ones, either way, be sure to wear your thinking cap! Refreshments will be provided.