1 year ago
The Kansas Department of Agriculture has been awarded $331,513.22 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
More than 300 leaders representing a variety of agricultural interests across the state of Kansas came together on August 20–21 at the ninth annual Kansas Governor’s Summit on Agricultural Growth. According to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam expressed his appreciation for those who attended this year’s Summit. “I think the strength ...

1 year ago
The Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station annually examines the performance of different types of wheat in multiple locations across the state to assist producers in selecting the variety best suited for their region. According to K-State crop performance test coordinator Jane Lingenfelser, some locations performed well, while irregular weather patterns troubled wheat production in other areas. “It was ...

1 year ago
Approximately 300 Kansas 4-H members from 66 counties participated in the 2024 Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes Aug. 17-18. The event was hosted by Kansas State University’s Department of Animal Sciences and Industry. 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 ...

1 year ago
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Heartland Regional Food Business Center (RFBC) are making over $3.7 million in Business Builder Grants to support small, mid-sized, and diverse food and farm entrepreneurs. According to the USDA, these grants will promote business expansion, job creation, business capacity building, and increase local products in the local market. The ...

1 year ago
Roughly 130 wheat and sorghum growers listened to insights and recommendations on seed technology, foliar fungicide applications, grain marketing and more as part of the recent Sorghum U/Wheat U. The free, one-day event in Wichita on August 13 was sponsored by High Plains Journal, Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, Kansas Wheat, United Sorghum Checkoff Program, DoubleTeam Sorghum ...

1 year ago
The Republican River Compact Administration (RRCA) will hold its 2024 annual meeting at 10:00 a.m. Central Time on Wednesday, August 28, at the Colby Event Center at 1200 South Franklin Street in Colby, Kansas. A livestream of the meeting can be accessed at the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources website: agriculture.ks.gov/RRCA. The RRCA meeting ...

1 year ago
The congregation is in place as the pastor says a prayer. But there are no pews or stained glass windows in sight. In fact, this service doesn’t take place inside a church building - it takes place in a cornfield. This congregation is saying a blessing over a plot of farm ground from which the proceeds ...

1 year ago
Cereal rye grain possesses many uses within crop and livestock production. Growers make rye part of their corn-soybean crop rotation to boost yields, while ranchers needing an alternative feed might hay it for their livestock. Recently, a listener who plants rye as a cover crop asked the hosts of K-State’s Cattle Chat podcast if rye grain can be ...

1 year ago
Three Kansans have been appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam to serve on the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Advisory Board. Board service will begin on September 12. According to the agency, the Marketing Advisory Board provides constituent observation and comment for a variety of industry sector strategies supporting agriculture business development, international agricultural development/trade, ...

1 year ago
To get to be a farmer, Brian Martin first has to be a decider. What to grow. How much of it to grow. What seed to use. Where to grow it. When to plant it — both in time of day, and in time of season. How far apart (and deep) to plant it. When to ...