Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - December 2024

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DEVELOPMENTS 

Bill Hudson, founder of The ProExporter Network (PRX), passed away December 6th, 2024. He was a fixture in the global agriculture industry, launching PRX in 1988. He sold the company in 2006, and served as PRX chief editor until his retirement in 2019. “Bill’s contributions to U.S. agribusiness decision making are both extensive and consequential,” said Marty Ruikka, a principal of PRX.  “As a friend, partner, mentor and colleague,” Ruikka added, “Bill was and remains irreplaceable. After his retirement, a senior executive client said to me ‘Bill was a National Treasure to our industry’ and I completely  concur.” The Amos Family Funeral Home in Shawnee, Kansas, is handling funeral arrangements set for December 21.  

USDA does not provide updated commodity production estimates in December, waiting until January to provide “final” estimates.  However, its World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates  (WASDE) provided fresh data on corn, soybeans and wheat.  Corn exports were increased 150 million bushels to 2.475 billion bushels, while corn used for ethanol was increased 50 million bushels.  Soybeans were unchanged, except for a reduction in average farm price of $0.60 to $10.20 per bushel.  Wheat imports and exports were increased,  imports by 5 million bushels and exports by 25 million bushels. All PRX reports will be updated with these changes and available later this week. Source: ProExporter, Inc, December 11, 2024. 

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed carbon capture and storage pipeline project. The approval is contingent upon the pipeline’s receiving the necessary permits, and beginning construction in other states along proposed routes before construction can begin in Minnesota. The Otter Tail to Wilkin Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Project is a proposed 28-mile, 4.5-inch diameter carbon steel pipeline. It is designed to transport captured carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the Green Plains Ethanol Plant near Fergus Falls in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, to the North Dakota border south of Breckenridge in Wilkin County. From there, the CO₂ is sequestered underground in North Dakota using Class VI injection wells. Summit CEO Lee Blank has participated in several Kansas City Agricultural Business Council’s meetings, forums and conferences.  

The US agriculture industry has started talks with President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team in a bid to advocate for the food business as the president-elect pledges tariffs and mass deportations.  Groups including the National Grain and Feed Association, which represents agriculture powerhouses such as Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. and Cargill Inc., and the International Fresh Produce Association, were among those involved in the discussions, according to people familiar with the matter. The National Council of Agricultural Employers also has a meeting on the books. Source: BNN Bloomberg, December 12. 2024. 

Kansas State University researchers received a $2 million award from the National Science Foundation’s Global Centers program to develop sensors that can more accurately detect nutrients, chemical compounds, soil microbiomes and greenhouse gases in soil. Suprem Das, an associate professor in K-State’s Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, said, “Advancing soil sensors is essential for advancing precision agriculture and promoting sustainable practices.” Das will lead the project of more than a half dozen scientists aiming to develop sensors using atomically thin carbon sheets in which the actual sensing events occur at the nanoscale, defined as a dimension between 1 and 100 nanometers. The project, Das said, is the first successful example of leveraging K-State’s GRIP (game-changing research initiation program) award to attract highly competitive federal grants. Funding for K-State’s work begins on January 1, 2025. 

During its annual business meeting in November, Kansas Livestock Association focused its policy on milk marketing, Kansas State University dairy facilities, deer permits, federal immigration regulation and other key issues. New resolutions included these: 

  • Creation of a milk marketing trust statute that would give unpaid cash sellers priority in the proceeds a dairy processor receives from the sale of milk or dairy products derived from the seller. 

  • Renovation of K-State dairy facilities. The present condition of the dairy hinders the ability to perform research that would benefit the state’s growing dairy industry. 

  • Election of (instead of appointing) commissioners to the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). Currently, three commissioners are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. The resolution further states that electing commissioners would more closely reflect the values of Kansas citizens. 

  • Amendment of KLA’s existing policy pertaining to deer permits. The amended policy supports the repeal of a statute that allows non-Kansas residents the ability to obtain low-cost, nonresident landowner or tenant deer tags. Such a repeal would require nonresident landowners to enter the annual nonresident drawing to obtain a deer tag and pay full price for it.  

  • Amendment of policy on immigration that supports federal immigration policy that allows for an efficient and adequate guest worker program and provides opportunities for foreign agricultural workers to gain year-round work authorization. 

In all, KLA members approved 75 resolutions for 2025. Other issues addressed in KLA policy range from taxes to water to noxious weed control. 

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) shared a comprehensive set of federal policy priorities, December 12, with President-Elect Trump’s transition team. IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M., said IDFA and its more than 300 members are looking to the new administration to help the U.S.  dairy industry to drive innovation, reduce barriers to business efficiency, and open new market access for healthy, nutritious U.S. dairy products around the world. “IDFA is pleased to share the priorities of the dairy industry with President-Elect Trump’s transition team leaders to build new momentum and drive greater prosperity across the U.S. dairy supply chain,” said Dykes, who also noted that U.S. dairy is the most productive in the world, but workforce challenges, dwindling export market opportunities and burdensome regulations are creating uncertainty for our industry.  

EVENTS  

Winter is coming and Kansas Corn and its commodity partners are offering several events with learning and networking opportunities for Kansas corn farmers. With four Kansas Corn and Soybean Schools held across the state, the Kansas Corn Symposium and Kansas Commodity Classic, growers can catch up with their commodity organizations, and farmers from across Kansas, and can hear from top speakers about issues that impact agriculture and their farms’ profitability. All events are offered free to growers. 

  • Kansas Corn and Soybean Schools: 2025 Kansas Corn and Soybean Crop Management Schools will be held across the state Jan. 14-17. Kansas Corn and Kansas Soybean partner with K-State Research and Extension to offer the Kansas Corn and Soybean Schools, winter learning sessions for Kansas soybean and corn farmers. The Kansas Corn and Soybean Schools cover a number of issues for growers and are tailored to each region. Morning refreshments and a hot lunch are provided at these in-person schools. 

  • Kansas Corn Symposium, Thursday, Jan. 30. Get ready to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Kansas Corn Growers Association at the Kansas Corn Symposium. The symposium will begin with a luncheon, top speakers, the KCGA annual meeting, a 50th Anniversary reception, dinner and entertainment. The Symposium will be held on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 at the Salina Hilton Garden Inn. The Kansas Corn Symposium brings together Kansas corn farmers, leaders and industry supporters to celebrate corn.  

  • The Kansas Commodity Classic: Friday, Jan. 31. The Kansas Commodity Classic is the annual convention of the Kansas Corn, Grain Sorghum, Soybean and Wheat growers associations. The Classic will be held Friday, January 31, 2025 at the Salina Hilton Garden Inn, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join us for a high quality program with speakers on markets, policy and more along with breakfast and lunch, all offered free to growers thanks to the generous support of our sponsors. 

More information at kscorn.com. 

PEOPLE 

Kansas  Farmers Union (KFU) members gathered November 20-21 to elect leadership, advance key policy priorities for the upcoming legislative session and new Congress. New food and nutrition policy priorities include support for the expansion and promotion of farm-to-school and farm-to-institution programs and support for policies moving toward universal no-cost meals for all  Kansas  public school children. Kansas  Farmers Union President Donn Teske, Wheaton, was re-elected to a two-year term. Teske, a fifth-generation Pottawatomie County farmer, was first elected president of  Kansas  Farmers Union in 2001. He serves on the board of some twelve state, regional, and national boards concerning agriculture and the environment. 

Missouri Farm Bureau (MOFB) announced that Kayden Guymon has been hired to be its new Director of Regulatory Affairs & Policy Counsel. He will begin his tenure with MOFB on January 2, 2025. Guymon brings a wealth of knowledge and legal experience to MOFB. Prior, he worked for the Law Firm of Haden & Colbert where he specialized in agricultural law, providing legal counsel to farmers, ranchers, and agri-businesses. Guymon a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, Guymon received his bachelor’s degree in animal science and received a law degree from Drake University Law School and also obtained a certificate in Food and Agricultural Law. 

Michelle Cloud  and  Joseph Frueh  joined the Missouri Farm Bureau (MOFB) board of directors during the 110th MOFB annual meeting earlier this month. Cloud, of Jasper County, was selected to serve as the South Director at-large representative, succeeding outgoing board member Amy Jo Estes of Gasconade County. The owner and operator of Cloud’s Meats in Carthage, Cloud has served as the Jasper County Farm Bureau President since 2022. Frueh, of Nodaway County, was selected as the new chair of the MOFB YF&R Committee. He is a fourth-generation farmer who currently serves as the President of both the Nodaway County Farm Bureau and the Nodaway County Cattlemen’s Association.