Feb. 16, 2007
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Equipment Maintenance Best Done Prior to Busy Times Ahead
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE
Selecting Foods to Discourage Macular Degeneration
4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
4-H Offers Worldwide Opportunities
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Equipment Maintenance Best Done Prior to Busy Times Ahead
Source: Tim Stombaugh and land grant universities
Now is the time to do farm equipment maintenance while there are still several weeks before the busy spring rush hits. Doing the repairs now can save time and aggravation later.
If parts need to be ordered, doing so now can reduce the likelihood of delays during the critical spring days ahead.
When checking equipment, pay particular attention to rubber components as these will sometimes become brittle and cracked during the winter.
Check implements for broken or missing parts that need replaced. Also look for worn parts that may also need to be replaced. Go over the machinery and tighten bolts, nuts and cap screws. Pump fresh grease into fitting to remove any condensation that may have formed in the winter. Apply touch up paint to any rusted or scratched areas.
On planters make sure moveable parts are free and not stuck. Also check for wear and replace any overly worn parts.
Electrical problems can lead to time-consuming breakdowns. Now is the time to check for loose connections, frayed or broken wires and repair broken gauges, lights and switches.
Remember to include sprayer maintenance in your late winter cleaning tasks. It will ensure that your spray equipment is ready for the planting season, as well as save you time and money.
Taking care of sprayer maintenance prior to the hectic growing season can prevent time-consuming equipment breakdowns, higher chemical costs, reduced pesticide effectiveness and potential crop damage.Rinse out the sprayer to remove any dirt that accumulated over the winter.Check the pump and nozzles for excessive wear and to be sure the pump is operating at full capacity.Inspect sprayer lines for leaks.
Clean filter screens and replace worn ones in the sprayer and in tractors. Air filters need to be cleaned or changed regularly to ensure they are not restricting air flow and starving the engine of air. Fuel filters need to be replaced as they age and become clogged and reduce fuel to the engine.
Be sure to consult the operator’s manual on tractors and other equipment for additional maintenance instructions.
For more information on farm maintenance practices, contact your (COUNTYNAME) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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Selecting Foods to Discourage Macular Degeneration
Source: Janet Kurzynske
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in folks over the age of 50 in the Western world, affecting about 25 to 30 million people. The number of older adults is increasing in the United States as baby boomers are aging, thus more adults will become victims of age-related macular degeneration.
Age-related macular degeneration affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision used for things like reading and driving.
RecentHarvardMedicalSchool research indicates components of some common vegetables may help reduce the risk of macular degeneration. In the study, researchers gave supplements of two carotenoids – lutein and zeaxanthin – to rhesus monkeys. A rhesus monkey's eyes have the same complex structure as a human eye, making them a model study subject. Results indicate that the supplements were successful in increasing retinal levels of both lutein and zeaxanthin. Researchers think that increasing these carotenoids is sort of like adding sunglasses for the retina.
Carotenoids are yellow to red pigments found in plants. They are important for nutrition in many animals and have strong antioxidant characteristics.
Adding kale, Swiss chard, spinach, collard greens, mustard greens, beet greens, red peppers and chicory to your diet might reduce your risk of age-related macular degeneration. All these vegetables have high levels of the carotenoids used in the Harvard study.
For more information on foods that reduce macular degeneration risk, contact your (COUNTYNAME) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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4-H Offers Worldwide Opportunities
Source: Wendy Stivers
Let’s play a word association game. What word comes to mind when you hear “4-H?” Animal Science? Good. Communication? That’s right. Camp? Of course. Leadership? Outstanding. But let’s add another one to the list. International.
That’s right. 4-H is global. Youth in more than 80 countries are involved in 4-H or similar organizations. Through 4-H international exchange programs and the global education curriculum offered by many counties, teenagers develop an awareness and appreciation of the world around them, finding that their minds are opened to new possibilities and ideas. They begin to understand world issues and to recognize the similarities between people, as well as respecting the differences.
4-H World Citizenship programs give Kentucky teens the chance to explore different cultures and meet new people by either hosting a 4-H member from another country or living abroad with a host family. Several different programs are available.
Labo Inbound places Japanese students in Kentucky homes with host brothers or sisters of approximately the same age. Participants, who must be aged 12 through 18, share everyday life with the family. The experience prepares the visitor and the hosts for life in a global society. The program lasts for one month in the summer. The Labo Outbound program places a Kentucky student in a Japanese home for a summer month. There is also a LaboHigh School program, which is a year-long exchange program.
FLEX, which stands for Future Leaders Exchange Program promotes cultural exchanges and understanding with former Soviet republics. High schools students stay with a Kentucky host family from August 1 through the end of May. Currently a Ukrainian student and a Russian student are living with host families in Lexington.
For those who are interested in the Norse cultures, the Finland Exchange Program offers opportunities to either host a Finnish student for a summer month or for Kentucky students to live with a family in Finland for the same time frame. And if the Land Down Under calls to you, Wisconsin 4-H is offering an Australia Exchange for a month from June to July.
Even if you can’t travel overseas or host a youth for the upcoming year, you can still learn about international cultures through the “And My World” curriculum available from (COUNTYNAME) Extension office.
It’s an exciting world out there, filled with colorful cultures, and eye-opening experiences. What youth learn today will remain with them tomorrow as they venture into careers that require a global outlook and an understanding of diversity. 4-H international programs are designed to help them make a successful transition from home to career in a shrinking world.
For more information on 4-H international exchange programs, contact the (COUNTYNAME) Extension office or Wendy Stivers at 859-257-5961, ext. 248 or .
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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