Office of Sen. Moran

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – Senate Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security Subcommittee Chairman – recently introduced the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act (S. 3183). The legislation would put an end to the growing practice of ticket scam operations that utilize software to poach tickets to in-demand events and drive up prices for consumers.

“Scalpers have long been driving up ticket prices and harming consumers, but their methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated,” said Sen. Moran. “It’s hard enough to get tickets to high-profile events without the added struggle of having to battle bots online. My legislation seeks to put an end to this practice, and I plan to chair a hearing on this important legislation next week as we work to protect consumers from fraud and level the playing field for all Americans.”

“We support any bill that allows Kansas patrons equal access to all tickets that are available for our events,” said InTrust Bank Arena (Wichita) General Manager A.J. Boleski. “Those that use computer programs to circumvent ticketing systems protocols should not be able to acquire large quantities of tickets only to put them out for resell to the general public at a higher price.”

Pandora-Ticketfly Head of Public Policy Katie Peters added, “Scalpers siphon off nearly $5 billion in concert ticket revenue every year, hurting people across the music ecosystem – from fans and artists, to their local concert venues and promoters. We applaud Senator Moran for introducing this legislation to make sure those who create and take part in amazing events are properly rewarded. It’s important for lawmakers to act swiftly on this to help create a music economy that works for everyone.”

Sen. Moran will convene a hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 13 to discuss the BOTS Act.

KDWPT

PRATT – Kansas Wildlife and Parks magazine staff invite you to enter your favorite outdoor photographs in the 4th Annual Wild About Kansas photo contest ending Nov. 4. Participants can submit up to three photos in select categories including wildlife, other species, hunting and fishing, outdoor recreation, and landscapes. There is no fee to enter or age restrictions, and both residents and nonresidents may participate.

Participants can submit up to three photos total. Photos must be taken within the state of Kansas and must be the entrant’s original work. Images should be in JPEG or TIFF format and file size should be not less than 1mb and not more than 5mb.

Each photo will be judged on creativity, composition, subject matter, lighting, and overall sharpness. Winners will be featured in the 2017 Special Photo Issue of Kansas Wildlife and Parks magazine.

Only electronic images will be accepted and must be e-mailed, with a completed entry form, to Nadia Reimer at nadia.reimer@ksoutdoors no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2016.

Entry forms and additional information are available at ksoutdoors.com/Services/Publications/Magazine/Wild-About-Kansas.

KDWPT

PRATT – The opening day of dove season, Sept. 1, is one of the most anticipated opening days of the year because it’s been a long layoff since last year’s hunting seasons closed. Dove season signals the beginning of fall, and it gets hunters back in the field.

The Kansas hunting season for mourning, white-winged, Eurasian collared and ringed turtle doves is Sept. 1-Nov. 29, 2016. This is a change from previous years when there was a split in the regular dove season. The exotic dove season, Eurasian collared and ringed turtle, opens Nov. 30, 2016 and ends Feb. 28, 2017. The daily bag limit during the regular season is 15 mourning and white-winged doves, single species or in combination. There is no daily bag limit on Eurasian collared and ringed turtle doves, but any taken in addition to the daily limit of mourning and white-winged doves during the regular season must have a fully-feathered wing attached during transport. Doves may only be taken while in flight.

Resident hunters age 16 to 74 must have a Kansas hunting license, unless exempt by law, and a HIP permit to hunt doves. Anyone born on or after July 1, 1957 must have completed a certified hunter education course except those 15 and younger hunting under adult supervision or those hunting on their own land.

Kansas typically ranks very high among states for breeding dove populations through the summer, so by September, the Sunflower State is literally teeming with doves. And speaking of sunflowers, doves love to eat sunflower seeds, so sunflower fields are great places to hunt them. In fact, some wildlife area managers plant fields to sunflowers or other grain crops and manage them specifically to attract doves. You can find which areas have these fields at www.ksoutdoors.com by typing “managed dove fields” in the search box. Hunting can be outstanding on these specially managed fields. The 2016 Kansas Hunting Atlas with maps showing all public hunting areas and Walk-in Hunting Access can also be downloaded from ksoutdoors.com by clicking “Hunting,” then “Where To Hunt.”

Pasture ponds can also be great places to hunt doves because the speedy little gray birds will typically fly to water in the evening. They prefer ponds with open, bare dirt shorelines. Pick the right pond, and you might shoot your barrel hot just before sunset.

There isn’t a down side to dove season. The weather is mild, doves are a plentiful and challenging quarry, and grilled bacon-wrapped dove breasts are delectable.

KDA

TOPEKA–In recognition of the important role farmers’ markets play in Kansas communities, Governor Sam Brownback proclaimed August as Farmers’ Market Month in Kansas.

In both urban centers and rural communities, farmers’ markets give consumers access to fresh, locally grown produce and serve as an important link between food producers and consumers of Kansas products. Farmers’ markets also keep money in Kansas communities, which helps make small businesses stronger and positively contributes to local economies.

The number of farmers’ markets in Kansas has grown from 26 in 1987 to more than 70 registered farmers’ markets in 2016. They are a vibrant part of many Kansas communities, and contribute to the health, well-being and quality of life for many Kansans.

“We are excited about the growth and expansion of farmers’ markets across the state,” said Julie Roller, agriculture marketing specialist at the Kansas Department of Agriculture. “Farmers’ markets serve as a great way for producers to connect with consumers and sell their products locally.”

Farmers’ markets in Kansas can register with the Kansas Department of Agriculture as part of the state’s agricultural trademark program, From the Land of Kansas. This central registration became possible in 2013 following the passage of Senate Bill 120, legislation designed to protect farmers’ markets and their managers from potential legal liability, thus opening doors for additional markets throughout the state. As a result of this state support, registered markets now have access to free marketing, outreach and advocacy efforts.

KDA supports farmers’ markets through a variety of services and programs, including the Kansas Farmers’ Market Toolkit, the Savor the Season campaign and by hosting state and regional farmers’ market workshops. KDA also provides information about food safety regulations and best practices to farmers’ markets across the state. KDA and From the Land of Kansas strive to serve Kansas farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and consumers by expanding agricultural markets and providing support and assistance to help Kansas businesses grow.

To locate a farmers’ market in your area, or to receive more information on how to register a farmers’ market please visit FromtheLandofKansas.com or contact Roller at [email protected].

KDA

MANHATTAN — Leaders from across the state will focus on the future of agriculture this month as the Kansas Department of Agriculture will host the 2016 Kansas Governor’s Summit on Agricultural Growth on Tuesday, August 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Manhattan Conference Center. Agriculture is the state’s largest industry, employer and economic contributor and plays a critical and strategic role in overall statewide economic growth.

The Summit will provide participants the opportunity to connect with other Kansas agriculture leaders and discuss strategies to help ensure agriculture remains a vital foundation of the Kansas economy. Sessions at the Summit will build upon the more than 200 meetings already conducted with industry partners throughout the state to identify key opportunities for future success in agriculture.

“Kansas farmers and ranchers feed the world and at the same time work hard to preserve our state’s natural resources,” said Kansas Governor Sam Brownback. “This summit will serve a critical role in ensuring the future strength of Kansas agriculture, as we encourage growth and increased opportunity for the farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses of Kansas.”

Topics addressed at the Summit will include nearly all agricultural sectors in Kansas, ranging from beef and wheat to specialty crops and UAS. In addition, discussions will occur on transportation, access to capital, barriers to entry, consumer awareness and community acceptance of agriculture, international trade, water and natural resources, and workforce development. The Summit will be crucial in the prioritization of goals and initiatives to encourage strategic development in agriculture throughout Kansas.

Participation in the Summit is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Register by August 22 to guarantee lunch. A block of rooms is available at the Hilton Garden Inn; call 785-532-9116 by August 12 to reserve a room.

More information about the Summit, including a link to the registration site, can be found at agriculture.ks.gov/summit. If you have questions about the Summit, call KDA at (785) 564-6700 or e-mail [email protected].

By MINDY MAZUR
Women’s Foundation

Kansas City, MO — Women’s Foundation conducted an analysis on the state of women candidates for state and federal legislative races in Kansas following Tuesday’s primary election in Kansas. Women’s Foundation reviewed the unofficial election results from the Office of Kansas Secretary of State, looking at the primary election winners who will be on the ballot in November. Our findings include the following:

• In November’s general election, of the Kansas federal and state candidates on the ballot combined, 31% of candidates are women.
• To break these numbers down further, no women will be on the ballot for the office of U.S. Senate.
• Two of seven candidates (29%) for U.S. Representative seats are women.*
• Twenty-four (24) of the 78 candidates (31%) running for state senate seats this cycle are women; three of whom are incumbents.
• Sixty-five (65) of the 202 candidates (32%) who will be on the ballot competing for a state representative seat are women.

Women’s Foundation promotes equity and opportunity for women of all ages, using research, philanthropy, and policy solutions to make meaningful change. In 2016, they released the Status of Women in Kansas research study, the findings of which included that women are vastly underrepresented in the Kansas legislature. In 2014, their Civic Engagement research highlighted the gender gap on boards and commissions and helped spur the Women’s Foundation Appointments Project to help remove barriers for women to serve.

More information about the organization can be found at www.Womens-Foundation.org.

A copy of this statement can be found here.

*(One independent candidate for US Representative filing by petition (still to be certified) is a woman.)

Women’s Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not participate in electoral activity.

KDWPT

PRATT – If you’re looking for an amazing hunting opportunity with low competition and high odds of success, look no further than the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s Special Hunts Program. The program offers hunting opportunities with limited access to public and private land, providing the potential for higher quality hunts and greater harvest rates. Because each hunt is open to a limited number of hunters, applications must be made online, and random drawings will determine who is selected. The application period opened July 16, 2016, and the deadline for First Draw Hunts (hunts occurring in September and October) is Aug. 10, 2016. The application deadline for Second Draw Hunts (hunts occurring in November, December, January and February) is Sept. 28, 2016.

There is no fee to participate in a special hunt, and the application process is open to residents and nonresidents. During the online application process, hunters will select hunts by species, date and category, which includes Open Hunt, Youth Hunt, or Mentored Hunt. All applicants are eligible to apply for Open Hunts, regardless of age or hunting experience. Youth Hunts require parties to include at least one youth 18 or younger, accompanied by an adult 21 or older who may not hunt. Mentored Hunts are open to both youth and novice hunters supervised by a mentor 21 or older who may also hunt. There are more than 500 individual hunting opportunities available for the 2016-2017 hunting seasons.

A random computer drawing will be conducted within one week of the application deadline. Successful applicants will be emailed their hunt permit, as well as necessary maps and other pertinent information. Hunters are responsible for purchasing any licenses and permits required by law.

This year’s special hunts provide access to public and private lands that are not open to public hunting. The hunts will occur on wildlife areas, state parks, private land parcels, a national wildlife refuge, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers areas and even city- or county-owned properties. Hunts are divided by species, weapon and hunt type. Most of the hunts are for deer and upland game, but opportunities are also available for waterfowl, doves, turkey and furbearers.

For more information on the Special Hunts Program, visit ksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting,” then “Special Hunts Information.”

KDA

MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension are seeking specialty crop producers to participate in the Statewide Survey of Specialty Crop Production. A specialty crop is defined by the USDA as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and dried fruits, as well as horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.

In this region, a shift has occurred in the way food is produced, distributed, prepared, and valued by the public. Consumer demand for fresh produce grown in Kansas greatly exceeds the supply that our specialty crop producers can provide. Although the development of specialty crop production is exciting for both producers and consumers of local food, it presents a number of challenges due to limited regional production history.

The purpose of this survey is to investigate the economic impact of specialty crop growers in Kansas and their effect on local food systems. Information gained from this survey will allow KDA to better promote the specialty crop industry in the state. It will also help identify and prioritize what tools can be provided to encourage the growth of the agriculture industry to meet the demand of specialty crops and to increase the competitiveness of specialty crops in Kansas.

As an incentive for completing the survey, KDA will provide metal signs to participants indicating “Specialty Crops Grown Here” which producers can post near their farms and field locations reminding those nearby that specialty crops are grown in the area.

The survey should take approximately 45 minutes to complete. Those interested in participating should complete the survey available online at agriculture.ks.gov/specialtycropsurvey, or it can be mailed by request. Deadline for completed surveys is Oct. 1, 2016. The survey is funded by USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant.

For more information on the survey, please contact Taylor Harms, KDA agribusiness development coordinator, at [email protected] or (785) 564-6700.

KCC

TOPEKA–The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) announced it will provide $350,000 in grant funds to the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) to provide weatherization assistance to low-income Kansans. KHRC’s Weatherization Assistance Program has helped 576 households so far this year and has a waiting list of others requesting assistance. The KCC grant, funded by the Department of Energy through the federal State Energy Program, will help alleviate the weatherization waiting list.

“Low-income families spend a larger percentage of their monthly income on energy costs than other households do. As a result, they can’t afford to make home improvements that would save money,” said Jay Scott Emler, KCC Chairman. “The no cost energy efficiency services provided by KHRC help residents realize energy savings year round. We are pleased to be able to help with this important effort.”

Weatherization services provided include weather-stripping, caulking doors and windows, adding insulation and repair or replacement of heating and cooling systems and appliances.

“The Kansas Weatherization Assistance Program is excited to partner with the KCC to advance energy efficiency services to the neediest of our population,” said Scott Kuhn, KHRC’s Weatherization Program Manager. “Households receiving whole house weatherization services typically see savings between 15-25%.”

To apply for weatherization assistance, low-income households can contact the regional service provider that serves their county. A list of service providers can be found at http://www.kshousingcorp.org/weatherization.aspx or by calling 1-800-752-4422.

CEP

HUTCHINSON–The progress towards a clean energy future is fueled by strong and resilient leaders. From energy efficiency auditors, solar installers, wind developers, to regulators, not for profit employees, and educators, these leaders are everywhere.

You probably already have a few people on your mind who deserve to be celebrated for their efforts in the clean energy field. Here is your chance to show them how much you appreciate their actions. The Climate + Energy Project is a proud partner of Midwest Energy News’ 2016 40 Under 40 award program that seeks to highlight emerging leaders throughout the region who work to accelerate America’s transition to a clean energy economy.

The program is open to innovators from all sectors—government, business, regulatory, academic, advocacy, and industry—and nominations will be accepted until 12:00 p.m. Fri., August 5th.

Do you know a strong emerging leader who fits these criteria? Don’t wait–nominate them today. If you are curious about last year’s winners, review the 2015 cohort of 40 Under 40 recipients here.

The Climate + Energy Project (CEP) is a non-partisan 501c(3) organization working to reduce emissions through greater energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. Located in Hutchinson, CEP collaborates with diverse partners across the nation to find practical solutions for a clean energy future that provides jobs, prosperity and energy security. 

KDWPT

TOPEKA – The Nature Conservancy of Kansas (TNC) has protected 3,285 acres of Flint Hills tallgrass native prairie with a conservation easement in Chase and Lyon counties. The landowners, Bill and Maggie Haw of Shawnee Mission, are firm believers in conservation easements, having previously donated to TNC easements on other land they own and manage in the Flint Hills. This recent easement brings their total land protection contribution to more than 17,000 acres, including 16 scenic miles of highway frontage along the Kansas Turnpike (I-35) and the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway (K-177).

Tallgrass prairie is the most altered major habitat type in North America in terms of acres lost. Yet, in Kansas, a significant swath of tallgrass prairie – the Flint Hills –remains intact. TNC views conservation easements as a golden opportunity to help landowners conserve this intact and fully functioning tallgrass prairie ecosystem.

A conservation easement is a legally recorded agreement between the granting landowner and a land trust. The agreement permanently restricts uses of the property that would damage its conservation values. Conservation easements do not interfere with traditional uses of the land, such as grazing and prescribed fire, but it may restrict incompatible activities, including many types of development. Public access is generally not required by a conservation easement, and, like all other easement provisions, it must be agreed to by the landowner. An eased property may be sold, transferred or inherited, and the easement conditions transfer to each subsequent landowner.

“By placing these acres under the protection of a conservation easement, the property’s ranching legacy, as well as its economic and ecological integrity, will endure,” said Brian Obermeyer, director of the TNC’s Flint Hills Initiative.

“Maggie and I are committed to the idea of preserving not only the pristine views but also the wonderful cattle culture of this area where generations of same-family cowboy caretakers have learned to operate the best yearling grazing operations in the world,” said Bill Haw. “It is the perfect convergence of an important food-producing activity that maintains the ecosystem, which developed with bison grazing over thousands of years. The Nature Conservancy is the perfect partner to recognize and enforce those two compatible goals for many generations to come.”

The recent Haw easement takes TNC over the 100,000-acres-preserved mark in Kansas.

For more information about The Nature Conservancy and conservation easements, contact Shelby Stacy at [email protected] or (785) 233-4400.

KDWPT

PRATT – Summer fun at Kansas state parks usually means being near, in or on the water. Twenty-three of our 26 state parks offer convenient access to lakes, reservoirs and rivers, providing a great way to enjoy the outdoors and beat the heat. However, fun on the water requires some common-sense safety precautions.

Remember that state park beaches do not have lifeguards. Parents should keep a close eye on youngsters and it’s a good idea to strap little ones into a properly-fitting life jacket. A toddler can disappear in an instant on a crowded beach. Older kids love to play on inflatable water toys but care must be exercised under windy conditions. A stiff Kansas wind blowing out from the beach can sweep floaters away from shore surprisingly fast.

Over the July 4th holiday weekend, reservoirs will be busy with pleasure boaters, skiers, personal watercraft, sail boats and anglers. Before boaters get to the ramp, they should be familiar with boating regulations and safety requirements, especially those concerning life jackets. Children age 12 and younger must wear a properly-fitting life jacket while on the boat, and there must be a serviceable life jacket readily accessible for everyone older than 12 onboard. The best safety precaution is to have everyone wear a life jacket while onboard. For more information on boating safety and regulations visit www.ksoutdoors.com.

While boating accidents aren’t common on Kansas waters, they do have a common theme: alcohol. Unfortunately, many boaters associate being on the water with drinking alcohol, and most boating accidents are alcohol related. Sun, waves and heat can exacerbate the effect of alcohol on judgment and coordination. Anyone planning on driving a boat should know that boating under the influence (BUI) is against the law.

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism boating officers can administer sobriety checks with breathalyzers. Anyone operating a boat with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or greater will receive a citation and lose boating privileges. To learn more about BUI enforcement, watch this video: http://ksoutdoors.com/Boating/Boating-Legally/Alcohol-and-Boating.

Watching the weather forecast should also be part of preparing for a boating outing. Summer thunderstorms or high winds can make boating hazardous. Knowing the forecast and using a smartphone for weather updates while at the lake could prevent being caught in a sudden storm miles from a boat ramp.

Water recreation at Kansas state parks is safe and getting safer, but there is always some risk. However, if you make just a few precautions routine, you can ensure that your family has fun and stays safe.