Air March 3, 2004

Thank you Gary, and good morning everyone.

A little rain on Sunday disappointed few - but I think we could have done without the wind! Remember Cattleman's Day is this Friday, March 5th. It's at Weber Hall on the K-State campus. Registration and viewing of the commercial exhibits starts at 8, programs run from 10 thru 4. There are some very timely topics on the schedule this year including Mad Cow, I'm sorry - BSE, and that ever approaching avalanche known as electronic identification. eID is coming and as an industry we can't stop it because the consumer wants it. They have no idea what it'll take to make it happen, cost or technology wise, but they want it and that alone will make it happen. Just a heads up that we'll also have a no-till planter demonstration later this month up around Leonardville - I'll be getting more details out on that as the date approaches.

With March comes the start of severe storm season. In fact we don't even have to wait for March, we got a taste of it on Sunday with some of those storms that rolled through. But March and arrival of spring usually mark the arrival of severe storm season. Severe storms can occur almost any month of the year, but March through September is "the season" and tornado risk peaks in May and then slowly declines through December only to start rising again in March. Severe storm awareness week is arriving the 15th thru the 19th, but let's start thinking about preparations now. I always think it is ironic that we are preparing for severe thunderstorms and we are still at risk of blizzard and ice storms for another month - welcome to the Great Plains! But the key to severe weather survival is awareness and timely local information. You need to be aware of what's going on around you with the weather. Weather alert radios are a great investment and do a good job of providing current local weather information all across the region. A local media outlet, like 1420 Country is going to let you know what's happening right here right now. A radio station out of Topeka or Kansas City isn't going to care about our area and may leave you in an information vacuum. And finally, have a plan of where to go incase of severe weather. Have a plan and practice the plan so if the situation arises, you don't have to think, you'll just know what to do. If you need more information on severe storm awareness or preparations, please give me a call!

This is Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent, with Ag Outlook 2004.

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