3 years ago
Kansas State University farm analyst LaVell Winsor is hailing a program in the Department of Agricultural Economics that has a long history of helping farm families review their finances and make a financial plan. The university’s Farm Analyst program offers one-on-one consultation, using active farmers, ranchers and extension agents who are trained as K-State Research and Extension analysts. ...

3 years ago
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is leveraging its authorities under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to bring in new types of partners and ultimately expand opportunities in voluntary conservation for the Nation’s agricultural producers and private landowners. In direct response to feedback from state agencies, Tribes, non-profits and other groups, USDA has updated CREP’s rule regarding matching fund requirements, and invested in additional staff to work ...

3 years ago
A Kansas State University researcher in western Kansas says he may have an innovative way to kill weeds commonly found in farmer’s fields: simply put, he wants to crush ‘em. That’s right, says Vipan Kumar, a weed scientist at the Agricultural Research Center in Hays: He’s studying a method known as Harvest Weed Seed Control (HWSC) ...

3 years ago
Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) is collaborating with the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) and the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) to coordinate resources and donations following the devastating wildfires and high winds on Dec. 15. “We know Farm Bureau members of Kansas are willing and eager to help their fellow farmers and ranchers in need,” says KFB ...

3 years ago
Registration is now open for a four-part workshop being held at three dozen locations in Kansas to help farmers and ranchers deal with the uncertainty of fluctuating grain and input prices. Kansas State University officials said the program, Risk Management Skills for Kansas Women in Agriculture, will focus on numerous topics, including: Determining costs of production. ...

3 years ago
As winter’s chill closes in, it’s reasonable to think that most of us will reach for a cozy blanket or heavy jacket. It turns out that’s pretty good advice for dairy calves, too, says Kansas State University dairy specialist Mike Brouk. “When the temperature gets below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, calves start to experience cold stress,” Brouk ...

3 years ago
At USDA, economics is a helping science. Two recent contributions of USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) highlight how economic research help USDA form policies. USDA recently announced changes to the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), which is used to calculate maximum USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The re-evaluation of the TFP was a data-driven, science-based analysis. ERS researchers ...

3 years ago
Kansas State University researchers have published recent findings that highlight their discovery of a gene in ancient wheat that gives superior strength and elasticity to bread dough. Liangliang Gao, a post-doctoral scientist in K-State’s Wheat Genetics Resource Center, said the work is part of a larger project involving research groups worldwide and spanning more than 50 years ...

3 years ago
Autonomous pest control vehicles could become a valuable asset to farmers in the future as they create an opportunity for new intelligence and a way of managing pests in crop fields. Kansas State University precision agricultural engineer Ajay Sharda says that small, robotic vehicles could identify sites of infestation, decide if it is beyond a critical ...

3 years ago
In a few short days we will all sit down and celebrate Thanksgiving. The holiday that is meant for us to reflect and decide what it is for which we are thankful. We have a lot to be thankful for in this great nation, not the least of which is our farms and ranches. This ...

3 years ago
Megan Niederwerder, assistant professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, will lead a new $513,000 research project to characterize African swine fever virus survival and transmission after introduction onto a farm. She will serve as the principal investigator on the two-year grant award from the National ...