1 year ago
Approximately 300 Kansas 4-H members from 66 counties participated in the 2023 Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes, hosted by Kansas State University’s Department of Animal Sciences and Industry Aug. 19-20. Throughout the weekend, 4-H members participated in the state livestock judging contest, meat judging contest, livestock skillathon and livestock quiz bowl. Individual 4-H members who participated in all ...

1 year ago
The Kansas Department of Agriculture has been awarded an additional $2,500,000 to further the state’s work under the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service's Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreement Program. According to the agency, the additional funds will be used to purchase and distribute Kansas grown and processed foods to underserved communities and ...

1 year ago
It would be difficult, in my opinion, to be unaware of the drought spreading across Kansas. And yes, it is the middle of one of the hottest summers on record and rain is generally sparse during August. However, it has been unusually dry in many areas, and while this has tangible and visible impacts for ...

1 year ago
A Kansas State University program that aims to improve the health of Kansans by increasing access to locally grown foods is giving the effort a big boost this fall. Over the next two years, the K-State Research and Extension Local Food Systems team will offer 34 paid fellowships to Kansas communities interested in helping to build ...

1 year ago
Solomon farmer Ray Kohman was re-elected to serve another term as president of Kansas National Farmers during their state meeting at the Rolling Hills Zoo on August 17. According to the organization,  other officers elected were Ruben Zoller, Marquette, vice-president; Therese Seiler, Colwich, treasurer; Greg Stephens, Salina, secretary, and Joan Jackson, Mayetta, trustee. Farmers attending also passed ...

1 year ago
 Many commercial cattle producers wanting to leverage genetic diversity incorporate sires of different breeds as a way to get the benefit of heterosis, said the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Experts on a recent Cattle Chat podcast. “Heterosis is a combination that gives some vigor in areas of the genetic profile that are not highly heritable specifically in ...

1 year ago
It's back to school, but oh what a summer it has been for Alec Adam. Adam, a graduate student in Kansas State University’s Department of Agronomy, has spent his break studying site-specific spraying and weed seed destruction, a project he says will help farmers use fewer chemicals on cropland and – ultimately – make more money. His ...

1 year ago
Labor shortages in rural Kansas are not new, and they’re not limited to any sector. The lack of workers in careers requiring advanced degrees is well documented for professionals like lawyers and doctors, but the scarcity extends throughout the workforce from skilled trades to front-line workers. In Kansas, this trend extends to veterinarians even though cattle ...

1 year ago
Two new grants at Kansas State University will be utilized to help protect global food supplies through the development of vaccines to protect swine and cattle from infectious diseases. Combined, the grants exceed $1.2 million and are funded for a three-year period by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture through its Agriculture and Food Research ...

1 year ago
Kansas State University has created the new Barry Flinchbaugh Center for Ag Policy. The center honors and continues the work of Barry Flinchbaugh, who served Kansas State University, the State of Kansas and the nation as a policy educator for nearly half a century. Flinchbaugh was known for his teaching and practice of the Alternatives and ...

1 year ago
Ed and Susan Dillinger moved to Pottawatomie County to start Lazy Heart D Ranch in 1993 to continue what was once in Thomas County in the town of Brewster. In Brewster, the Dillingers had cattle, crops and horses. When they got to Westmoreland, they expanded their ranch to include bison in 1995. The two worked ...