6 months ago
Every pound counts at the sale barn — and sometimes, the weight loss happens long before calves ever hit the scale. For cattle producers, shrink isn’t just a biological response to stress; it’s an invisible drain on profit margins that can be managed with the right timing and techniques, according to K-State beef cattle experts. K-State veterinarian ...

6 months ago
Navigating the unknown for the stocker operator and fueling performance from the inside out are among topics planned for the 2025 Kansas State University Beef Stocker Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 25. The conference will take place at the K-State Beef Stocker Unit. Registration is $25 and due Sept. 11. Walk-in registration is available for $35. To ...

6 months ago
Life on the farm has never been easy. Long hours, unpredictable weather and volatile markets are part of the job, but in recent years, wheat growers and farmers across the country have faced a wave of challenges that go beyond the fields. Rising debt, shrinking margins and isolation have placed enormous strain on rural families. ...

6 months ago
For Charlie and Jeremy Kootz, a father-son team farming near the Kannapolis Reservoir in Ellsworth County, cover crops are more than conservation. For them, it’s about building healthier soils, reducing erosion, protecting water supplies, improving profitability, and extending the grazing season into fall and winter. “We’re trying to incorporate cover crops to boost soil health and ...

6 months ago
Just like people, no two cattle operations are the same. But with recent record-breaking cattle market prices, faculty with Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute are offering insight on how cow-calf producers might best capitalize on the market’s momentum. “Eliminating as much debt as possible is crucial,” K-State veterinarian Todd Gunderson said. “Operating debt-free is a ...

6 months ago
Steers owned by Meats Land and Cattle of LeRoy and heifers owned by Bill Burton and Roger Potter, both of Emporia, were the winners of grand awards at the Flint Hills Beef Fest in Emporia. The awards are based on the best combined finish in the grass futurity and live stocker show. The grand award-winning steers ...

6 months ago
Several Kansas Corn leaders and staff participated in the U.S. Grains Council’s 65th Board of Delegates Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, MI. Representing Kansas: KCGA board member Brent Rogers, Hoxie; Kansas Corn Commissioners Dennis McNinch, Utica, and Derek Belton, Tampa; USGC Past Chairman Terry Vinduska, Marion, and Past USGC Chairman and KCGA Member Brent Boydston; Kansas ...

6 months ago
Selecting the right wheat variety is one of the most important decisions a producer makes each season. Variety choice directly impacts yield potential, standability, disease resistance and overall crop success. To help guide this decision, Kansas State University has released the Kansas Wheat Variety Guide 2025, a resource designed to match varieties with the diverse growing ...

6 months ago
Seven students have been awarded $1,000 Youth in Agriculture Scholarships through the Kansas Livestock Foundation. According to the organization, yhese scholarships are funded by the KLF Club Calf Sale held annually in conjunction with the Kansas Junior Livestock Show in Hutchinson. This year’s sale is October 4. Dalton Debler of Alma will be a freshman at Butler ...

6 months ago
“Thirty Pigs and a Plan.” That phrase describes one man’s modest agricultural beginning that would ultimately lead to the creation of a multi-million dollar family agribusiness based in rural Kansas. John and Janie Kramer and their family members are the owners of J-Six Enterprises, a diversified agribusiness in northeast Kansas. The business’ origins are described in ...

6 months ago
There’s nothing more refreshing than an ice-cold drink of water after spending time in the Kansas heat in August. According to Kansas State University beef cattle experts, cattle feel the same — and clean water is the most critical nutrient for the animals’ health and performance. "Water is the most important nutrient that animals are going ...