Latest news with #Gypsum
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Kansas wheat farmers facing worst Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus outbreak since 2017
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Wheat farmers in Kansas are facing one of the worst Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus (WSMV) outbreaks in years. The wheat curl mite is a small but mighty adversary of Kansas wheat producers as the vector for WSMV, Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) and High Plains Mosaic Virus. Federal court gives Missouri 60 days to remedy SNAP program violations Experts with Kansas Wheat said producers across the state appear to be losing the battle against these tiny critters and the diseases they carry in what could be the worst WSMV outbreak since 2017. 'We have some fields that are close to total losses,' said Kelsey Andersen Onofre, K-State assistant professor of plant pathology, who has been across the state scouting fields. 'It's hard to walk in a wheat field in Kansas right now and not find at least low-level, trace-level symptoms of WSMV—and that's pretty unusual.' Andersen Onofre explained that symptoms of WSMV – symptomatic leaves with dark green coloring and light-yellow discolorations or stunted plants with a distinct yellow discoloration – are showing up more clearly over the past few weeks as temperatures warm up. Experts suspect that a high population of mites from this past summer managed to survive the mild winter and disperse over long distances up to one or two miles away. There are now concerning levels of the diseases they carry across the state, Kansas Wheat said in a news release. 'If we have an extended, warm fall, like we did in 2024, it's a perfect storm for mite populations to stay at high levels and increase later in the season,' Andersen Onofre said. 'The more populations increase, the higher the chance they will be blown by wind into neighboring fields. If the weather stays warm, we can see this spread continue over long distances.' The group said this is certainly the case in Saline County, where more diverse cropping systems are making it an emerging issue where it hasn't traditionally been found. 'This is by far the worst year I've seen for impact of wheat streak mosaic virus in our area,' said Gypsum farmer Justin Knopf. 'Many fields have been affected with a high level of presence of the virus. Some fields…right next to a field where the source was have significant impact.' Producers with infected fields should expect yield loss, especially in fields where the flag leaf has already turned yellow, experts warned. 'Unless we have a significant weather event such as hail or excessive heat during grain fill, wheat streak mosaic virus is likely to be the number one cause of yield loss in this area,' Knopf said. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for WSMV once the infection has occurred. Kansas Wheat said in its news release that producers must balance estimated yield loss, requirements for crop insurance and the economics behind terminating the most severely infected fields in favor of planting a summer crop. FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up for daily forecasts and Joe's Weather Blog in your inbox 'Unfortunately, there is not much to do at this point in the season if you have a field that has severe WSMV infection,' Andersen Onofre said. 'These fields are likely not good candidates for a fungicide application. Fungicides will have no effect on wheat streak, and it will be difficult to recover yield losses from foliar diseases if yield potential is already reduced by wheat streak. 'We do not recommend spraying insecticides or miticides. There is no immediate action you can take to slow down the spread of WSMV or preserve yield in affected fields.' Knopf attributed the widespread infection this year to three really dry falls and winters in a row, more hail in the area in 2024 (areas with hail are virus hot spots) and more diverse cropping systems, including warm season cover crops and double cropping. For more advice on how to deal with WSMV, click here. You can read more about the virus at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gov. Kelly and Kansas Arts Commission honor arts leaders
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNW) — Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Arts Commission have announced the 2025 Kansas Governor's Arts Awards, honoring those who contribute to the arts in the state. Melissa Etheridge, a Grammy and Oscar-winning musician from Leavenworth, received the Governor's Award for her artistic achievements and dedication to Kansas. She is known for her hit songs, powerful performances, and advocacy for local causes. Advocates push to save Kansas' Sunflower Summer program Seventeen individuals and organizations were honored at this year's ceremony, with most award recipients selected by a committee, except the Governor's Award, chosen by Gov. Kelly. 'There are many talented Kansans involved in creative work across our state, and we know that art enhances their lives and the lives of those around them,' Kelly said, according to a news release. 'The people we recognized at the Governor's Arts Awards tonight are using their talents and passions to strengthen communities all throughout Kansas and to enrich the culture of our great state.' Honorees of the 2025 Kansas Governor's Arts Awards: Excellence in Artistic Achievement in Media Arts: Kiki Bush, Gypsum Excellence in Artistic Achievement in Music: Bob McWilliams, Lawrence Excellence in Artistic Achievement in Visual Arts: Shin-hee Chin, McPherson Arts Advocacy: Brenda Meder, Hays Arts Patron of the Year: Paul Dorrell, Roeland Park Excellence in Arts Education: Tyler Dallis, Pratt Excellence in the Arts in Business: The Artificers, Fort Scott Emerging Arts Leader of the Year: Lacey Connell, Overland Park Emerging Arts Organization of the Year: LV Arts, Leavenworth Rural Arts Community of the Year: Clay Center Urban Arts Community of the Year: NOTO Arts & Entertainment District, Topeka Arts Leader of the Year: Katy Guthrie, Garden City Arts Organization of the Year: Theatre in the Park, Overland Park Arts Legacy Award: Constance 'Connie' Bonfy, Wichita Arts Legacy Award: Cecil Riney, Wichita Arts Legacy Award: NedRa Bonds, Kansas City The Governor's Award: Melissa Etheridge, Leavenworth Lieutenant Governor David Toland highlighted the arts' significant impact on Kansas communities and the economy. 'The Kansas arts and culture community plays a significant role in our growing economy by enriching the quality of place we call home,' he said, according to the release. 'This impressive group of awardees is most deserving of the spotlight, and the state looks forward to seeing these inspiring leaders continue to enhance the cultural landscape of Kansas.' For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
16-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Birkshead: What happens in the world's deepest gypsum mine?
Gypsum may be an unfamiliar name to many but we are surrounded by it every day. It is a mineral used to make types of plaster which coat our homes, schools and offices - and in Cumbria sits the world's deepest gypsum the small village of Long Marton, against the backdrop of the North Pennines, stands a bungalow in the corner of a field. It is perhaps the only clue that something else is happening close at a depth of 1,000 ft (305m), is Birkshead drift mine where a lengthy system of conveyor belts snakes its way from where the stone is mined to where it is treated."You've got to have your wits about you all the time, but I just feel at home down here," says shift manager Peter Richardson. "I'll probably miss it when I retire." The drift mine, near Appleby-in-Westmorland, sits under rolling farmland and supplies the raw materials to make plasterboard for the building industry, something it has been doing for almost 50 30ft (9m) high tunnels, wide enough for a Range Rover to drive through, are grey and there is a smell of dust in the air."With ceilings as high as they are you don't really feel like you're in a mine," says one of the workers. The underground road leading down to where the gypsum is extracted is steep and with sharp here say that without external contact there is no way of knowing what the weather is like outside. But while they are cut off, they are reminded of life continuing above them with the smell of freshly cut farmland grass making its way through the ventilation the reality of life underground is never too far away."If you're down a mine and your light fuses - which has happened to me in the past - it's not good," Mr Richardson says."Now we've got a little pen torch, just in case, whereas the old pitmen's lamps used to have a little bulb, but if your battery fused you were up the creek really." The mine has been here since 1977 and these days machines can cut through 3.3ft (1m) of gypsum per hour."It just peels it off," Mr Richardson belts then take thousands of tons of material a day to a factory in Kirkby Thore, operated by British machine that cuts the stone looks a little bit like a giant porcupine.A staff member sits in an air-conditioned cab so they are protected from the dust, which engulfs the tunnels when the machine only way to see what is happening is through monitors inside the cab. Some belts travel up to 3,300ft (1km) each but, as they roll back on themselves, they are double that in them is a "big undertaking," Mr Richardson says."We've got a few of the lads here who've done it a few times and you need them lads on the job - they know what they're doing."You have to clamp it up and chain it, you can't just cut the belt because of the tension on it."You'll end up with a concertinaed heap at the bottom." Safety is obviously a major focus and were things to go wrong there is a specially built room which has its own life support system and supplies of food and water. "If I had a vehicle fire and the tyres caught fire, there would be thick black smoke and you'd struggle to see, hence the strobes on there to guide you in," Mr Richardson would take about an hour to walk back to the surface from here, but he says he feels safe working at Birkshead."The fear factor just isn't there, you don't think about it."You're obviously aware of your surroundings and you check where you're going to be working."Dare I say it, you never take it for granted."Like the old saying from the coal miners: It's always the good roof that'll get you, not a bad roof because you've got that sorted." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here.
