Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - November 2023

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Developments

Agriculture Future of America (AFA) and the National FFA Organization signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during AFA's Leaders Conference in November. The MOU cements a bond that has existed for many years and underscores a shared commitment to developing and empowering the next generation of agricultural leaders. One of the primary objectives of this partnership is to create a seamless pathway for young individuals who are passionate about agriculture to transition from FFA to AFA. By doing so, they will gain access to a wide array of leadership development opportunities, scholarships, internships, mentorship programs and job opportunities. This collaboration ensures that the valuable knowledge and skills acquired through FFA continue to grow and develop during their college years through AFA's support. "Addressing the human capital challenge in agriculture is not just about filling roles; it's about empowering individuals with the passion and skills to drive the industry forward,” says Mark Stewart, AFA President and CEO. “Teaming up with FFA is our way of investing in the people who will be the backbone of agriculture, ensuring that we have a robust, skilled workforce to navigate the challenges ahead." The partnership between AFA and FFA has the potential to reshape the future of American agriculture by cultivating a generation of passionate and well-prepared leaders. As these two organizations join forces, they aim to foster an environment where young people are inspired to pursue careers in agriculture, armed with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in an ever-evolving industry.

Kansas State University swine researchers are reporting positive results on three processes that aim to lessen the risk of a foreign animal disease entering the United States in plant-based feed or feed ingredients. Olivia Harrison, a K-State graduate research assistant in the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, said previous research has shown that once contaminated feed enters a mill, the virus persists for multiple batches of feed, remains on equipment and can be found on non-feed contact surfaces throughout the mill. Harrison and Chad Paulk, an associate professor of feed science and management, led a team that evaluated the effectiveness of three processes to clean a mill that is suspected of processing contaminated feed:

  • Flushes, which include using batches of feed not intended for consumption, with or without liquid treatments.

  • Pelleting feed with a conditioning temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Physical decontamination of equipment, including power washing and various disinfecting strategies.

Harrison said K-State’s research was conducted as part of a national feed biosafety working group within the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan, known as US SHIP. She said the national work is helping to establish better processes for traceability, biosecurity and disease surveillance in feed and feed ingredients imported to the United States.

In early November USDA announced it was lowering duties placed on phosphate fertilizers imported from Morocco from 19.97% to 2.12%. The decision comes after the agency conducted an administrative review of the duties, which is performed annually by retroactively examining the price of shipments and other factors. Leaders from the Kansas Corn Growers Association and the National Corn Growers Association, who have been vocal opponents of the duties, applauded the decision, calling it a big win for corn growers. Kansas Senator Jerry Moran and Kansas Representative Tracey Mann led a bicameral letter on phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco.  NCGA led a similar letter among commodity organizations, which KCGA signed on to. These letters were instrumental in bringing this issue to the forefront with USDA. “We are thankful for the strong actions of Senator Moran and Congressman Mann on this issue that is of great importance to Kansas farmers,” Kansas Corn CEO Josh Roe said. “This is a very positive development that is at least in part due to the attention brought to the issue by farmers and our congressional leaders. Tariffs on phosphate fertilizer imports has been a big concern and has a direct impact on input prices.”

The global agricultural insurance market, valued at $38.5 billion in 2022, is expected to surge to $67.4 billion by 2032, according to Allied Market Research, Portland, Oregon. High premiums, particularly burdensome for smallholder farmers, pose challenges for insurance growth. But using the Internet of Things (IoT), which involves using smartphones and other equipment to transmit data, "holds significant promise for transforming the landscape of agricultural insurance," the report says.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for grants from a $6.46 million program designed to improve local or regional supply chain infrastructure across the state for foods destined to be consumed by humans. The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program initiated by USDA seeks to expand processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation as well as wholesaling or distribution of agricultural products. The investments would be concentrated on the middle of the food supply chain, which could be defined as the area bookended by harvests and retail stores. “In order for the nation’s food system to be more resilient, there is an increased need to focus on bolstering our local food supply chain,” said Mike Beam, secretary. KDA will accept applications through January 31, 2024. More information is available here.

Agriculture leaders across Missouri were recognized by Governor Mike Parson, Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe and Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn during the 50th Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture. The award recipients were honored at the Missouri Agriculture Awards Luncheon for their commitment, service and impact on Missouri agriculture. “These individuals and businesses play a significant role in the success of our state’s agriculture industry,” said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “It is a privilege to recognize their accomplishments. Their leadership and dedication do not go unnoticed.” The 50th Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture took place November 16-17 at Margaritaville Lake Resort in Osage Beach, Missouri.

The 2023 Missouri Agriculture Award recipients are:

  • Missouri Agriculture Education Leader: Dr. John Tummons, University of Missouri

  • Missouri Food Animal Veterinarian: Dr. Adam Acklin, Acklin Veterinary Services

  • Missouri International Exporter: Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes, ADM

  • Missouri Agriculture Industry Lifetime Achievement Award: Don Nikodim, Missouri Pork Association

The Missouri Grown team also recognized members who embody their team’s values.

  • Missouri Grown Membership: Hedge Holler Harvest, Mexico

  • Missouri Grown Farm to Table: Turtle Gulch Gardens, Bradleyville

  • Missouri Grown Marketing: Carrie’s Merries, St. Louis

  • Missouri Grown Education and Outreach: Boonville Farmers Market, Boonville

  • Missouri Grown Agritourism: Beggs Family Farm, Sikeston

The American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Milk Producers Federation, Northwest Horticultural Council, Corn Refiners Association, National Association of Wheat Growers and others signed on to a letter asking the President’s Export Council to focus on reducing trade barriers and diversifying input sources to strengthen the U.S. ag sector. “While our two million U.S. farms and ranches are the backbone of America’s food and ag sector, the impact of decreased exports and resulting economic fallout reverberates throughout the economy,” the groups say in their letter.
 “More than twice as many Americans are manufacturing agricultural products as are manufacturing cars and trucks, and millions of food scientists, production workers, logistics experts, truck drivers, and engineers work in more than 200,000 food manufacturing, processing, and storage facilities,” the letter says. “All in all, our industries are responsible for nearly 20 percent of the United States’ economic activity.”

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced next steps in USDA’s efforts to bolster agricultural trade. The announcement included the department’s planned trade missions for 2024 and the opening of a public comment period for the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program. These efforts will help to support further growth in U.S. agricultural exports. “Market diversification is an important tool for maximizing growth opportunities for U.S. agriculture, as well as hedging the risk of market contraction and general volatility in the global marketplace,” said Secretary Vilsack. “USDA is committed to promoting export opportunities in non-traditional markets and ensuring that U.S. agricultural commodities and products are available to diverse consumer groups around the world.” USDA plans to export opportunities in additional markets through a robust 2024 agribusiness trade mission. USDA will lead trade missions to the following markets in 2024:

  • Seoul, Korea – Week of March 25, 2024

  • New Delhi, India – Week of April 22, 2024

  • Vancouver, Canada – Week of June 17, 2024

  • Bogota, Colombia – Week of July 29, 2024

  • Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (with buyers from Thailand) – Week of September 9, 2024

  • Casablanca, Morocco (with buyers from Senegal and Francophone West Africa) – Week of December 2, 2024

Ceva Animal Health, one of the Kansas City metro area’s largest animal health companies, is planning another expansion after years of growth. Ceva wants to expand its footprint in Lenexa with the addition of a new manufacturing facility. The company has submitted plans to Lenexa to create a two-story, 42,000-square-foot industrial building with office space at 8940 Long St. to be used for the development of agricultural vaccines. If final plans are approved, the manufacturing facility will sit just to the east of Ceva’s existing campus, which is located between Rosehill Road and Long Street, north of Santa Fe Trail Drive. The company first arrived in Lenexa after acquiring local vaccine manufacturer Biomune Co. in 2005.  Ceva has about 498 full-time employees locally and 6,750 employees companywide, making it the 10th-largest local life science company, according to the Kansas City Business Journal’s 2023 List of top life sciences companies. Lenexa is its North American headquarters.

Missouri gardeners will find new guidelines in the updated USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The 2023 map will help growers zero in on which vegetables and flowers will do best in different parts of the state. USDA Agricultural Research Service’s map is based on annual extreme minimum winter temperatures over a decade. The new 2023 map breaks Missouri into five hardiness zones, incorporating data from 13,412 weather stations, up from 7,983 stations for the 2012 map. Compared to the 2012 map, Missouri shows considerable warming and a change in the hardiness zones, particularly in the northern and central parts of the state. The map is available here.

Events

The Arkansas River Compact Administration (ARCA) annual meeting will be on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. MST at the Otero Junior College Student Center, 2001 San Juan Ave. in La Junta, Colorado. The meeting agenda will be posted on the ARCA website. ARCA administers provisions of the Kansas-Colorado Arkansas River Compact, including operations of the John Martin Reservoir. Topics to be covered at the annual meeting include a review of John Martin Reservoir operations, compliance update, committee reports, and updates from state and federal agencies. Kansas has three representatives who serve on ARCA, including Earl Lewis, chief engineer of the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources; Troy Dumler, Garden City; and Zachary Gale, Syracuse. The Kansas-Colorado Arkansas River Compact was negotiated in 1948 between Kansas and Colorado with participation by the federal government. Its stated purposes are to settle existing disputes and remove causes of future controversy between Colorado and Kansas regarding Arkansas River water and to equitably divide and apportion the water between Colorado and Kansas, including benefits arising from John Martin Reservoir.

Beef producers will learn what opportunities and challenges are ahead at the 24th annual Missouri Livestock Symposium, December 1-2. Zac Erwin, MU Extension Livestock Specialist and Symposium vice-chair, says “Industry dynamics are in a period of rapid change and producers need to make decisions now that will have long-lasting impacts. Our beef speaker lineup will address many of the issues important to beef producers.” The program is free, with no advance registration. The Symposium offers a complimentary beef dinner, at 6 p.m. Friday and a complimentary lunch on Saturday. Meals are sponsored by Missouri commodity groups. More details are available here and at Adair County MU Extension Center, 660-665-9866.

Members of the American Shorthorn Association gathered for its 2023 Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon last month in Kansas City, Missouri. During the Awards Luncheon, the 2022-2023 show animals of the year were recognized for their accomplishments. “Recognizing our top show animals each fall allows our breeders and exhibitors the recognition they deserve for their achievements,” explains Wade Minihan, Director of Shows for the American Shorthorn Association. “Our exhibitors exceed at representing the Shorthorn breed and the type of cattle our breeders are working to produce.”

The annual University of Missouri Crop Management Conference, December 6-7, will offer insight into how the 2023 drought will affect crops in the year ahead. MU Extension state climatologist Zack Leasor will give an update on weather and climate conditions that led to the onset and persistence of the 2023 drought across Missouri. The event at the Columbia Holiday Inn Executive Center offers two days of sessions by leading agriculture experts on weather and climate, weeds, crop diseases, insects and new technology. Certified Crop Adviser credits are available. Register for the conference here.

Greg Harden, a best-selling author and former associate athletic director of student counseling at the University of Michigan, will be the keynote speaker at the 2024 American Farm Bureau Federation convention. He’ll address attendees during the closing session of the annual convention on Monday, January 22. Harden counseled more than 400 student-athletes, including names like Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, Heisman Trophy winners Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson, and Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps. “Persistent, patient, and resilient are among the traits that professional athletes share with farmers and ranchers,” says Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. “That’s why Greg’s message about coaching and mentorship is so timely.” Duvall also says the lineup for the entire convention is outstanding. In addition to guest speakers and exciting competitions, they’ll host important conversations about top priorities for U.S. agriculture, including the farm bill. The 105th AFBF convention is in Salt Lake City, Utah, January 19-24, 2024. More information is available here.

K-State Olathe is hosting an upcoming workshop on CRO and Sponsor Essentials in Animal Health Studies. The workshop will be held February 8, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More information is available here. In addition, they are hosting two upcoming free lunchtime webinars on Master of Science in Applied Biosciences and Animal Health Regulatory Affairs Graduate Certificate – both on Dec. 6.

People

Mark Gardiner, a Kansas Livestock Association member, was elected as the new chairman of U.S. CattleTrace. He began his one-year term in the volunteer position during the organization’s annual symposium November 14-15 in Kansas City. Joe Leathers from Guthrie, Texas, was chosen as chair-elect. Gardiner and Leathers will lead the organization during the next year. Gardiner’s commitment to the industry extends beyond U.S. CattleTrace, which he has been involved with since its inception in 2018. He played a pivotal role in the creation of U.S. Premium Beef, contributing to its viability for nearly 20 years as board chairman. Additionally, he has served in various leadership roles within his community and the industry, including on his local school and church boards, and with NCBA, the American Angus Association and Irsik & Doll.

Jane Zuroweste recently joined the FCS Financial team in O’Fallon as Assistant Vice President of Crop Insurance. In this role, she will provide federal crop and crop hail insurance plans to help farm operators and owners protect their financial investment in growing crops. Zuroweste received a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness management with a minor in agronomy from the University of Missouri. She grew up on her family’s beef cattle and row-crop operation in Truxton, Missouri. Prior to FCS Financial, she was employed as an agronomist with Corteva Agriscience in California and Nebraska.

Deanna Kovar has been named as the new president of John Deere’s Worldwide Agriculture and Turf Division: Small Ag and Turf, Regions 1 and 2, which cover the company’s presence in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Kovar joined Deere in 2000 and most recently was the vice president of production and precision ag.

Faith Smith has been added on to the Missouri Soybean team as the new portfolio and project lifecycle manager. She previously worked as the quality assurance manager for Prairie Farms-Central Dairy. Missouri Soybean has also announced the title changes of two existing team members. Madelyn Warren will now serve as the strategic communications manager and Ryan Siegel will take on the role of creative marketing manager.

Bob Smith, DVM, has been recognized as the 2023 Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry Distinguished Alumnus. He obtained his bachelor’s (1968) and master’s (1970) degrees from K-State ASI and attended K-State for veterinary school. Following veterinary school, he completed a large animal medicine and surgery internship and clinical instructorship at Oklahoma State University. While at OSU, he was a field services clinician, with concurrent responsibilities for clinical research on stocker cattle diseases. He then worked as a feedlot veterinarian for two years and then returned to OSU for 10 years and is currently Professor Emeritus at OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.  Smith joined the Veterinary Research and Consulting Services LLC, in 2000, with primary practice emphasis on feedlot and stocker health and management. The 11 veterinarians associated with the practice provide service to feedlot clients in 10 states. In 1983 he was certified as a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. While serving as the Food Animal Regent for the ABVP, he led the effort to establish specialties in swine, dairy and beef practice, making board certification more attractive to veterinarians whose practice deals intensely with one species. During his career, Smith was involved in 45 research studies, producing 30 research reports and co-authoring or authoring over 30 peer-reviewed manuscripts. He has served as president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, and the Western Veterinary Conference. He was instrumental in developing and implementing the Beef Quality Assurance Program used as guidelines by thousands of beef cattle producers in the U.S. Smith has been recognized numerous times for his contributions to veterinary medicine and the beef industry.  

Dr. Vincil “Mac” Wilt, a veterinarian from Paris, Missouri., will be presented the 2023 Livestock Achievement Award by the Missouri Livestock Symposium at their event on Friday evening, December 1, 2023. Dr. Wilt attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, obtaining a dual Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture in 1976 and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1978. He has served as a member or officer of several professional organizations and committees, including the Northeast District Veterinary Medical Association, Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, Missouri Academy of Veterinary Practice, Missouri Veterinary Medical Foundation, Missouri Stocker Feeder Quality Assurance Program, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. In 2001, Dr. Wilt was honored by the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association as Veterinarian of the Year. In 2014, Dr. Wilt was appointed by then Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to the Missouri Veterinary Medical Licensing Board.