PAOLA, Kan. – Tax laws change, but consulting your last year’s income tax form can simplify income tax preparation this year, said Diane Burnett, Kansas State University Research and Extension family and consumer sciences agent in Miami County.

"Reviewing last year’s tax form and the receipts needed for that income tax preparation can serve as a model in organizing the information needed to complete this year’s forms," said Burnett, who earned a master’s degree in family financial planning from K-State. "Deductions vary from year to year, but often fall in the same general categories -- medical and dental expenses, personal property taxes, real estate taxes, and the like."

For those consulting an income tax preparer, Burnett advises taking along last year’s tax form to simplify the preparation process.

More information on managing money successfully is available at local and district K-State Research and Extension offices and on Extension’s family financial management Web site: www.oznet.ksu.edu/financialmanagement/.




 

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Landscape care is one of the last things on people’s minds during the short days of late winter, but this year’s unusually dry weather means trees and shrubs could benefit from a good soaking now.

The highest priority should be trees planted last fall or spring. They are the most vulnerable, said Ward Upham, horticulturist with Kansas State University Research and Extension. The second highest priority is evergreens – either needled or broadleafed (such as holly). The third is deciduous trees and shrubs.

Upham suggests homeowners use a long screwdriver, piece of rebar or other probe to judge whether they need to irrigate.

"A rough measure of soil moisture depth is the length of probe you can push into the soil. Once the probe hits dry dirt, you will not be able to push it any further," the horticulturist said

He advises homeowners to irrigate slowly and deeply if the probe does not go in far enough to be even with the bottom of the plants root system (8 to 12 inches down for many medium-size shrubs).

"Soil moisture that is root-system deep will help almost any ornamental planting do a better job of getting through winter," Upham said.




 

3) Tree Planting Workshop May Help Kansans Breathe Easier

MANHATTAN, Kan. – One acre of trees can absorb the carbon dioxide produced by a car’s driving 8,700 miles. A single large tree can produce 260 pounds of oxygen in a single year.

"That alone is a good enough reason to plant trees to sustain our valuable woodlands and windbreaks," said Bob Atchison of the Kansas Forest Service. "Even in Kansas where the U.S. central hardwood forests meet the Great Plains grasslands, trees are an important part of the ecosystem. They make our world a sweeter place to live."

Atchison is one of an array of foresters and other experts who will be in Florence, Kan., March 25 to offer a workshop that demonstrates techniques in machine and hand tree planting, as well as the follow-up care needed to help ensure that planting groups of trees brings successful results.

"The program is going to be a good one. I’d encourage people to come, no matter if they’re interested in clean air, clean water, lumber production, wood products or wildlife habitat," he said.

The no-cost workshop will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude in the afternoon. Lunch will also be free, which is why the organizers are asking that people indicate their interest in attending now by contacting the state forest service office at 785-532-3301 (e-mail: pmccaffr@ksu.edu) or asking their local Kansas State University Research and Extension office to pass the word along.

Because of its riparian plantings, Florence is the only Kansas community entitled to display the sign that designates it as an official, inspected Tree Farm. The small town is about 50 miles west of Emporia at the junction of U.S. highways 77 and 50.



 

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Many otherwise-good gardeners are ignoring a major reason for periodic soil testing: To find out when they do not need to apply certain kinds of fertilizer.

"Nitrogen normally gets used up every year. But, most of the Kansas lawn and garden samples that go through our testing lab at K-State show more than adequate levels of both phosphorus and potassium. Those nutrients are the P and K in traditional N-P-K fertilizers," said Ward Upham, horticulturist with Kansas State University Research and Extension.

In landscapes with adequate P and K, applying a fertilizer that contains phosphorus and potassium would be a waste of money, Upham said. It also could be a source of groundwater pollution.

"In extreme cases, excess phosphorus can interfere with plants’ uptake of micronutrients," he said.

Upham recommends that home gardeners submit soil for testing every three to five years.

"You begin by taking a representative sample about 6 to 8 inches deep from several locations in the garden or lawn. Then mix the samples together in a clean container. Take about 1 cup of soil from that mix and put it in a sealable plastic bag. After that, send the bag to a testing lab. Or, if you live in Kansas, take it to a local Extension office to have the tests done at K-State for a small fee," Upham said.

Soil tests typically indicate pH level and nutrient levels.

"Those are the absolute basics. But, you’ll also need to investigate on your own to figure out if other conditions are reducing plant performance. Those conditions can include poor drainage, soil-borne pests, chemical contaminants, competition from other roots, poor soil structure, and too little or too much sunshine," Upham said.



 

MANHATTAN, Kan. – More than 100 4-H members participated in Kansas 4-H’s Citizenship in Action event Feb. 19-20 in Topeka.

4-H members ages 14-18 met with legislators and observed the legislative process in action, said Justin Wiebers, Kansas 4-H events coordinator.

The teens also were treated to a capitol building tour arranged by Kansas House District 108 Representative Joshua Svaty, a former 4-H member and currently the youngest representative in the Kansas Legislature.

In welcoming the 4-H members, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said, "I’m glad you have had a chance to come and see what goes on in this capitol, and I hope that it won’t be too long until some of you come back as lawmakers, so that we can use your energy and expertise in Kansas bill-making decisions."

More information about Kansas 4-H Citizenship in Action is available by contacting Wiebers at 785-532-5800 or by visiting the Kansas 4-H Web site: www.kansas4h.org.



 

Teaching youngsters to use a slow cooker can also show them that planning ahead can save time – and that delayed rewards can be yummy! This easy recipe from Kansas State University Research and Extension’s Family Nutrition Program creates a perfect combination for slow cooking. It makes six servings.

• 1 pork shoulder roast (4 to 5 pounds)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/ 2 teaspoon crushed, dried rosemary
• 2 cooking apples
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup apple juice

1. Wash your hands.

2. Lightly cover inside of slow cooker with cooking spray.

3. Place roast in slow cooker. Sprinkle with pepper and rosemary.

4. Wash hands again after touching raw meat.

5. Wash, core and slice apples. (Peeling optional.) Place slices on meat. Add raisins and apple juice.

6. Place cover on slow cooker and cook 8-10 hours on low setting or 4-5 hours on high.

7. When its internal temperature reaches 160 degrees, remove roast from cooker.

8 Slice roast into six portions. Spoon fruit sauce on top to serve.

Using a slow cooker is an easy way to serve tender meat with very little prep time. The meat cooks slowly while you’re away and is ready when you come home. Add a vegetable or salad to the meal, and you’re ready to eat.

Rosemary is a Mediterranean herb with a strong, aromatic flavor useful in seasoning meat, poultry and vegetables. To maintain that flavor, store purchased rosemary away from light, heat and moisture and use it within a year. Then to release the flavor, crush the dried rosemary in the palm of your hand before adding it to other ingredients. (Or, if using fresh herbs, rather than dried, use three times as much.)

For variations on this recipe, try substituting dried apples or apricots for the fresh apples.

Safety tips:

Pork is a meat you must cook thoroughly – all the way through. With this recipe, the only safe way to check for that is to insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the roast until the gauge stops changing. That will give you an accurate reading of the internal temperature, which indicates doneness at 160 degrees.

When taking the lid off a slow cooker, lift it up and away from you to avoid a steam burn.

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Per serving: 760 calories, 38 grams fat (13 grams saturated), 285 mg cholesterol, 81 grams protein, 20 grams carbohydrate, 2 grams dietary fiber, 250 milligrams sodium.

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Kids a Cookin' is an educational program produced by Kansas State University Research and Extension's Family Nutrition Program and funded by USDA's Food Stamp Program through a contract with Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS). More information, more recipes and cooking tips, and a link to a Spanish version are available on the Kids a Cookin' Web site: http://www.kidsacookin.ksu.edu.

– Source: Kathy Walsten, Family Nutrition Program, K-State Research and Extension



 

• Slow cooker
• Cooking spray
• Vegetable peeler
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• Meat thermometer