1) Small Change, Big Opportunity

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Thinking of pocket change as an investment opportunity may seem a bit of a stretch.

Yet, the United States Treasury reports that Americans hold about $15 billion in loose change, said Carol Young, Kansas State University Research and Extension financial management specialist.

Saving change at the end of each day or week can add to personal savings or be used to fund extras, Young said.

An evening out each month might serve as a short-term goal. A weekend getaway or upgrade for the family's computer, television or other recreational equipment, such as new bicycle, could be a longer-term goal for saving change. 

More savings and spending tips are available at county and district K-State Research and Extension offices and on Extension’s financial management Web site: www.oznet.ksu.edu/financialmanagement.


 

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2) Insect-Attracting Flowers Can Cut Insecticide Use

MANHATTAN, Kan. – No more than 3 to 10 percent of the insects and other arthropods commonly seen in home landscapes during the growing season are potential troublemakers. All of the rest are species are minding their own business, just passing through, or actually benefiting the plant life.

“The beneficial insects are one of nature’s major tools for integrated pest management, as well as pollination. So, actively working to attract them is always a smart move for homeowners, too,” said Ward Upham, horticulturist with Kansas State University Research and Extension.

The first step in making that move, Upham said, is planning how to incorporate flowering plants that attract beneficial insects – which often feed on nectar or pollen, as well as insect pests. These “good guys” to invite include lady beetles, lacewings, preying mantids, parasitic wasps, hover flies and many true bugs.

“Some interesting research on this subject is going on now at Michigan State University. They’re trying to imitate nature even further by growing native, perennial flowering plants,” he said.

MSU’s preliminary results and recommendations are on the Web at http://nativeplants.msu.edu/. 

“Not all of the hardest working wildflowers in that study are also native to the central Plains,” Upham said. “Among those that grow both places, however, are the wild strawberry, golden Alexander, dogbane (Indian hemp), swamp milkweed, blue lobelia, New England aster and smooth aster.”

K-State Libraries picture 480 Kansas native plants on the Web at http://www.kswildflower.org/. The site can’t include Michigan’s pale-leaved sunflower but does list seven other sunflowers Kansans could try, he said.

After that, Step 2 is to mulch all bare soil in spring to protect the insect-eating ground beetles and spiders.

Step 3 is simply to avoid knee-jerk sprays, particularly with broad-spectrum, contact insecticides.

“If you’re not willing to do your homework first, odds are you’ll waste time and money in spraying to control a pest, but succeed in killing lots of other insects – including the pest’s natural enemies,” Upham said.

 

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3) Kansas Cotton Performance Test Results Available at Extension Offices, K-State Web Site

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The totals aren’t like those one would see for Texas or California, but the number of Kansas cotton producers has grown in recent years, a Kansas State University agronomist said.

The crop has performed well for many farmers in the southern part of the state, thanks to its drought-tolerant ways, said Scott Staggenborg, K-State Research and Extension cropping systems specialist.

Cotton-variety field test results for Kansas have been expanding, too, he said.

Producers interested in finding which cotton varieties might work well for their farm can now access the latest test data at their county or district Extension office. Or, they can check the university’s “2007 Cotton Performance Test Results” on the Web at http://kscroptests.agron.ksu.edu/. (Scroll down to “Latest Results” and then “Cotton.”)

The publication includes the results from testing both irrigated and dryland cotton. It graphs information about the plots’ growing conditions and details each harvest’s lint yield and lint quality, including micronaire, fiber length, uniformity, strength and color. The field trial locations were in Reno, Pratt and Stevens counties.

“Plots were planted in Labette County, too, but they did not survive the flooding that occurred in that part of the state last year,” said K-State Research and Extension agronomist Stu Duncan.


 

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4) Tips to Prevent, Recover From Lost Purse or Wallet 

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Hanging a purse over the back of a chair in a public place can tempt thieves, said Marilyn Bischoff, Extension family economics specialist, University of Idaho, Boise. 

Neither does she recommend placing a purse in the child's seat in a grocery cart.

And, in crowds, men may want to transfer their wallet to front pocket, said Bischoff, who also offered tips to minimize vulnerability from such thefts:

            * Carry only the cash or credit cards you expect to use.

            * Leave your Social Security card, passport, birth certificate or visa at home in a secure place.

            * Memorize your passwords or pin numbers, so as not to have to carry a list.

If a purse or wallet is stolen and/or keys are taken, change the locks on your home and car or truck immediately, Bischoff said.

More information on money management and personal safety is available at local K-State Research and Extension offices and on the Extension Web site: www.oznet.ksu.edu.  

- Source: Kansas State University Research and Extension