Shawnee County K-State Extension

Join us this Saturday from 9am-12pm at the Breadbasket Farmers Market for Kids at the Market!

Kids ages 5-12 can receive $5 in vouchers! Vouchers are limited in quantity and first come first serve.

Kids at the Market is an interactive food education program that introduces children to fresh produce, local growers, and basic money skills in a fun, hands-on way. Through guided exploration at the farmers market, children learn where food comes from, how it grows, and why healthy eating matters—all while practicing real-world decision-making.

“Freezing is easy, less time-consuming and more economical than canning,” said Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee, adding that consumers should use freezer-safe containers for best results.

Food-safe options for freezing include:
Wide-mouth canning jars.
Sturdy plastic containers or re-closable plastic bags designated for freezing.

Not all types of plastic containers are made to withstand freezing temperatures. Also, how long food can be stored in the freezer varies by type of food. A guide to storage time is available online from the K-State Extension bookstore, Safe Food Storage: The Refrigerator and Freezer.https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/safe-food-storage-the-refrigerator-and-freezer_MF3130.pdf

RAPID RESPONSE CENTER: www.rrc.ksu.edu

Our office will be CLOSED on Friday, June 19, 2026 to celebrate Juneteenth.

Kansas officials urge vigilance after New World screwworm detected in Texas calf

Kansas agriculture and animal health officials are urging livestock producers, veterinarians and pet owners to remain vigilant following confirmation of a New World screwworm infestation in a calf in Texas, marking the first detection of the pest in the United States in decades.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed June 3 that a three-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, was infected with New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals.

Kansas officials emphasized that while the case is a serious concern, the state remains at low risk and has spent months preparing for the possibility of the pest reaching U.S. soil.

Unlike many pests, screwworm larvae cannot create wounds. Instead, female flies lay eggs in existing wounds, where the larvae hatch and feed on living tissue.

Animals infested with screwworm larvae often experience significant pain and behavioral changes.

Because New World screwworm larvae can resemble other fly maggots, Olds said producers and pet owners should report any suspicious infestations in living animals to state veterinary authorities for proper identification.

Remember to inspect animals regularly, monitor wounds closely and treat injuries promptly.

** Read the entire news release online at https://www.k-state.edu/news/articles/2026/06/new-world-screwworm-cassandra-olds.html

For questions or concerns please reach out to our County Agriculture Agent: Dr. Terrie Casey at 785-232-0062

Join the Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners for the inaugural Plant Care Fair! K-State and local experts, as well as gardening groups from across Shawnee County, will be present in-person providing research-based information to help solve your lawn, landscape, garden, and houseplant problems! See you at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library for this FREE event!

Yesterday, we closed the office and hit the road for a Partnership Tour to learn more about the incredible work being done by the organizations we partner with throughout Shawnee County.
We started off the day doing some community service at SENT Topeka. We got tours from SENT, The Topeka Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library and CRC Stout.
So many great things are happening in Shawnee County and we are lucky to be a part of them!

Canned foods are tradition-rich in many Midwest homes, where families have enjoyed the benefits of preserving fresh, often home-grown foods in airtight containers.

But the time-tested methods associated with canning fresh foods are not appropriate for leftovers or previously canned foods, said Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee.

“It may be tempting to can leftovers or already canned foods,” she said, “but it can be a food safety risk.”

For starters, Blakeslee notes that canning recipes and recommendations are based on fresh food that is prepared in a specific manner. “There is also the expense of jars, lids, time and energy to consider that adds up and is not very cost efficient,” she said.

Leftover food that is mishandled or temperature abused increases the food safety risks if bacteria are growing, according to Blakeslee. The canning process may not be adequate to kill bacteria.

“When recipes are developed, there are many safety factors involved, including the pH level, water activity, size of the food pieces, size of the jar, how the heat moves through the jar and food, the heat up and cool down time during processing, and much more,” Blakeslee said.

“Previously canned food or leftovers have a softer texture, which leads to a more dense product. Because of the variability of these foods, there are no standard recommendations to safely can these foods. It is not just about the lid sealing to the jar.”

The National Center for Home Food Preservation also reports that there are no safe, tested processes to can leftovers or foods that were previously canned. A default method – though not recommended – is to process the food for the full time and temperature as if starting from scratch.

“When you consider you are not saving money or resources, it does not seem worth the loss of food quality to practice this re-canning of commercially canned food,” Blakeslee said.

National Center for Home Food Preservation: https://nchfp.uga.edu/

RAPID RESPONSE CENTER: www.rrc.ksu.edu

18 4-H youth attended the YQCA- Youth fir the Quality Care of Animals program on 5/28 at the Shawnee Co Extension Office. YQCA classes are required for all youth showing livestock at the county or state fairs. Youth are taught about humane treatment, veterinary requirements and biosecurity. A total of 32 youth have attended this training so far.

For more information about YQCA please reach out to Dr. Terrie Casey at 785-232-0062 or [email protected]

Our office is closed today, Thursday, June 11, for Professional Development. We'll open again Friday morning at 8am. Thank you for your understanding.