4 years ago
The Kansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Funds for the program are awarded to the agency by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service. The funds are in turn granted to projects and organizations to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by leveraging efforts to market ...

4 years ago
This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming ...

4 years ago
In late spring, especially after a rainstorm, the careful observer may notice alien-like orange, gelatinous objects attached to the branches of their eastern redcedar trees. A Kansas Forest Service official assures it’s not the fruit of a mutant cedar -- or Jell-O from Mars -- but the spore-producing body of cedar-apple rust fungus. “While a bit ...

4 years ago
In 2018, only 2.6 million tons of food scraps were composted, compared to 35 million tons that went into landfills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). What are organizations doing to increase composting in the United States? This interview features insights with Frank Franciosi, executive director of the U.S. Composting Council Buzby: What’s the mission ...

4 years ago
The Animal Facilities Inspection program in the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health will host a free informational webinar series focused on small animal facilities. The webinar series will take place virtually on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout June. The webinars will cover a variety of small animal issues that are of interest to operators, ...

4 years ago
This summer Kansas Farm Bureau will be hosting the "Big Tent Reunion Tour". According to the organization, gatherings across the state will aim to reconnect with members after a challenging 2020. Plan on joining for food and fellowship with Farm Bureau members. Kansas Farm Bureau is a non-profit advocacy organization established in 1919. Almost 100 years later, ...

4 years ago
After months of hosting educational events virtually because of COVID-19, K-State Research and Extension will host its Spring Crops Field Day in person on Wednesday, May 19 at its Southeast Research and Extension Center, 25092 Ness Road in Parsons. Registration is 8:30-9 a.m. for the program, which includes: Tour of Wheat Variety Plots (41 varieties) – ...

4 years ago
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is planning a virtual listening session for beginning farmers and ranchers to learn how COVID-19 impacted their farming operations and to get their feedback on USDA assistance. According to the agency, the listening session will take place on May 6th, 2021, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Central time. “We invite beginning ...

4 years ago
Seniors Luke Ryan and Blake Kirchhoff posted a 1-2 finish to lead the Kansas State University crops team to a first place finish at the national invitational crops contest recently. The squad jumped back into in-person competition this spring after a pause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Ryan, who is from Solomon, Kansas, and Kirchhoff, ...

4 years ago
Anyone who’s ever received a vaccination will verify that needle size matters. And that is true with cattle as well. Kansas State University veterinarians Bob Larson and Brad White took up this topic on a recent Beef Cattle Institute Cattle Chat podcast. “Many animal health products given to cattle to prevent or treat diseases are injected with ...

4 years ago
A new tool at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine will make it easier for veterinary practices and related pet health companies to connect with veterinary students who are seeking externship opportunities. Electronic programmers in the college just completed a searchable database that will allow veterinary clinics to maintain a permanent electronic profile and easily update available externship ...