Think safety first when operating chainsaw, says forest official

Chaps, hard hat are among safety equipment MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Kansas Forest Service official advises homeowners and landowners to exercise caution when using chainsaws for fall timber projects or gathering firewood for winter. “First, anyone operating a chainsaw, like any powerful equipment, needs to be sure they are familiar with the specific model they operate, including safety features and suggestions in the owners’ manual for safe operation,” said Eric Ward, assistant fire management officer.…

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K-State experts offer advice on how to make the most of the relationship with the banker

K-State experts offer advice on how to make the most of the relationship with the banker MANHATTAN, Kan. — Anyone who has ever participated in a group sport knows that the most successful teams are the ones where the players and coaches communicate well and recognize that the athletes each possess unique talents that can benefit the team. In much the same way, ranchers who assemble a team of experts to include a…

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What’s that Buzz? Project aims to use computer vision to identify bumble bee species

Web-based AI program encourages users to submit photos of bees for identification MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Kansas State University researcher’s effort to develop an artificial intelligence tool for identifying bees has created quite a buzz already. Brian Spiesman, an assistant professor in K-State’s Department of Entomology, launched the website, BeeMachine.AI, earlier this year to relieve a backlog of information needed to help track trends in bee populations across the world. “Bees can be very difficult…

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Ways to capture the marketing value on calves

K-State experts offer advice on how to maximize the return on investment MANHATTAN, Kan. — When putting money in the stock market, there is nothing like the feeling of watching a return on investment grow. The same can be true when cattle producers are financially rewarded at the point of sale for their time and money invested in pre-conditioning calves. But as the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute recently…

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Speaker recalls path to innovation that benefits farmers, consumers worldwide

Moisture meter helps to protect the safety of grain from toxins, insects MANHATTAN, Kan. – The founder of an African company that improved a grain moisture meter originally developed by a Manhattan-based USDA scientist told an online audience recently that his innovation took “a lot of sweat and a lot of tears.” Isaac Sesi, chief executive officer of Sesi Technologies in Kumasi, Ghana, was the featured speaker during a Global Food Systems event…

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Research on lighting system could help reduce deer collisions

K-State wildlife specialist gives overview of emerging technology MANHATTAN, Kan. – Anyone who has ever driven on a highway or rural road in the early morning or after dark – especially in the fall – has a pretty good idea of an ever-present, lurking danger. According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, nearly one in six vehicle crashes across the state in 2018 involved a deer. That year, there were 10,734 crashes that…

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K-State’s annual Swine Day will be online, Nov. 18-19

Program will focus on increasing profitability, mitigating risk MANHATTAN, Kan. – Even during a global pandemic, swine experts at Kansas State University are committed to making research a cornerstone of their program. This year’s annual K-State Swine Day – scheduled Nov. 18-19 – will be held online only but they’re promising a program chock-full of research presentations just like year’s past. “Due to increasing concerns around the evolving Covid-19 situation and standing by…

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Invest time into caring for calves

K-State experts advise careful monitoring for best health outcomes in newly weaned calves MANHATTAN, Kan. — Parents and pediatricians often work together to determine the signs of illness in little ones too young to talk, and the same can be true of cattle caretakers and veterinarians as they work to keep newly weaned calves healthy. “It is important to take time to observe the calves when they come up to the feedbunk,” said…

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New cutout futures will help pork industry with risk management, K-State’s Tonsor says

CME Group to launch new contracts that will reflect wholesale product price after processing MANHATTAN, Kan. – The CME Group’s plan to launch pork cutout futures and options on Nov. 9 is good news for pork buyers as well as producers, a Kansas State University agricultural economist said. “There indeed is significant interest from U.S. and Canadian hog producers in having additional risk management alternatives available,” said Glynn Tonsor, livestock market specialist with…

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