1 year ago
The Kansas Department of Agriculture has been awarded $328,330.06 through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Funds for the program are presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. According to the USDA, specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery ...

1 year ago
Kansas Farm Bureau agents are helping to fight hunger. According to the organization, Farm Bureau Financial Services agents donated $5,000 to Kansas Farm Bureau’s End Hunger fund via t he Agents Association Foundation. The goal of the End Hunger program is to address food insecurities in Kansas. The program consists of three components: End Hunger Match for Food ...

1 year ago
While many people would love to see their weight decrease when crossing the scale, beef cattle producers selling cattle by the pound prefer to minimize weight loss animals experience from the farm to the sale facility, said the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute. This weight loss is termed shrink. “Shrink refers to weight loss ...

1 year ago
The National Science Foundation has awarded more than $1.9 million to a team of Kansas State University researchers to identify key genetic elements that enhance scientists’ ability to generate farm crops and other plants from tissues or cells. Sanzhen Liu, an associate professor of plant genomics in K-State’s Department of Plant Pathology, said the project capitalizes on the ...

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 ...