Farm

Report: US farmers plant fewer acres into winter wheat

12/14/2016

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — U.S. farmers planted fewer acres into winter wheat last fall as growers in top-producing states, including Kansas, cut back on the crop, a government report released Tuesday shows. The National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated the nation’s seeded area for this year’s crop at 36.6 million acres, down 7 percent from a year ago. The agency did not indicate the reasons for the decline, but the industry group Kansas Wheat said Tuesday a combination of things likely factored into the decision by growers to seed fewer acres, including lower prices for the crop, which is planted in the fall and harvested in the spring and summer. In Kansas, the nation’s top wheat-producing state, winter wheat acres are down 8 percent to 8.5 million acres.

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Royal Farms sends cows to Mexico for genetic breeding

4/7/2016

In 1991, the Barbis purchased the original Royal Farms of Kansas Dairy and Crop farm and transformed it into a genetic and production facility. Royal Farms began with purebred Simmental and Simbrah cattle with artificial insemination and embryo transfer for over 20 years, and has since grown in size to include three farms in Montgomery County.

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4-H Club Day competition showcases talent, results announced

2/21/2016

4-H'ers from all over Montgomery County descended upon Caney Valley High School Saturday, Feb. 12 to show off their talent and expertise at this year's 4-H Days competition. Results for those that participated are listed by category and the ribbons they received in the event.

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4-H'ers bring home results aplenty

2/13/2016

Per 4-H meat judging coach for Montgomery County, Dick VanWinkle, 21 youths involved in the organization made a special trip to Denver, Colo., where they placed with outstanding rankings in meat judging. Their results are posted below:

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Ewing family farms with tradition, devotion

2/7/2016

The term ‘family business’ can mean many things to many people. For Independence family Aaron and Kristi Ewing and their twin sons Lane and Landon Ewing, it means devotion, tradition, and lots of cows. “The history of the Ewing family to farm locally though goes all the way back four generations to 1910, when Aaron’s great grandfather, Thomas Milton Ewing, started farming in Montgomery County,” Kristi Ewing added. “Thomas named his farm ‘Cedarlane Holstein Farm’. Since that time, Cedarlane Holstein Farm has been operated by Thomas Ewing’s son, Harold Ewing, and now his grandson, Jerald Ewing (Aaron’s father).” After marriage, Aaron and Kristi Ewing, became the fourth generation of Ewing’s to farm, and Ewing Farms was born. Found just south of town, they began raising beef cattle, corn, wheat, soybeans, and hay. That was not the last exciting birth to be wit- nessed at the farm. In July of 2000, two new Ewing men were born to carry on the tradition of helping their dad on the farm. Sons Lane and Landon Ewing, now freshman at Independence High School, stay active in outdoor activities and sports including: baseball, basketball, tennis, cross country, hunting, fishing, helping their grandfather (Larry Jacobs) with mechanic work, and farming. The Ewing twins have a love of the outdoors like

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Orchard takes root in Independence

12/23/2015

An apple a day, keeps the doctor away, but that's probably not what Dr. Anne Hogsett was thinking when she had a vision of a community orchard. On Tuesday, a group of community volunteers from all walks of life came together to bring to fruition this vision of a community orchard that will beautify Independence's vacant lots, but also provide an alternative to eating healthy in the most simple way - harvesting fruit while on a stroll throughout the city.

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