Big Shoal Farm

The Big Shoal Farm is a joint effort between the City of Gladstone and the Friends of the Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum (A non-profit entity established to support the farm and museum). The farm is 7 acres in size and is located adjacent to the Big Shoal Cemetery on Old Pleasant Valley Road (64th St.). The farm uses modern farming techniques and crops. These practices provide insight into how crops are raised using fewer inputs and help control erosion. The farm shares the story of how new crop products protect themselves from insects and diseases via genetic enhancements.

Created in 2020, The Big Shoal Farm has three goals;

1. Share the story of modern agriculture

2. Practically show the importance of genetic enhancement and technology

3. Generate interest in children and adults in agriculture.

The farm raises sweet corn, sunflowers and pumpkins. The crops are produced, harvested and sold with the help of volunteers and hired labor from local 4H clubs and other school groups. The farm has honeybee hives that support the crop production. Honey is also sold at the museum site. The farm employs 20 or more students during the growing season.

Sweet corn is harvested and sold from early July into early August. Sweet corn can be purchased Monday through Saturday at the sales stand at the museum and other locations in the city. Sunflowers are available in August and early September. Sunflowers are available on Saturdays at the farm location on 64th Street. Customers can walk the field and cut their own sunflowers. Pumpkins are available in mid-September through late October and can be purchased on Saturdays at the farm. Customers can walk the field and select their own pumpkins. There is no charge for admission to the fields for either sunflowers or pumpkins.

Special orders for sunflowers and pumpkins are available by contacting the Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum. Individual photo sessions are available as well with reservations.

The farm also provides programing for school children and adults. To date the Big Shoal Farm has had over 800 students visit the farm for educational programming. Programs are available on each crop, technology in agriculture and the importance of honeybees. Programs can be scheduled by contacting The Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum Director Marye Newman at 816-423-4107 or Farm Manager Eugene Suter at 816-550-6714.

Currently the farm has no indoor classroom space. All programs are conducted outside. That impacts the timing of when programs can be offered and we can also be impacted by the weather. We are currently in discussions with other educational entities to bring additional programming to the farm.

The city of Gladstone and The Friends of the Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum are working toward the goal of building a barn that can be used for classroom and meeting space. The goal for that project is $650,000. We have raised half that amount and are looking for additional sponsors to help us fund the remainder. We always are open for discussions about sponsorships toward that goal and how we can expand our educational offering. Please contact Eugene Suter at 816-550-6714 with questions or want to explore how you can help with this project.

https://www.atkinsjohnsonfarm.com/big-shoal-farm

Ag Supply Chain Pulled In All Directions

Experts from the ag industry’s meat, dairy, crop and farm equipment sectors weighed in on chronic supply chain issues that continue to plague them more than two years after the COVID-19 outbreak.  Problematic challenges include transportation costs, labor availability and rising energy and input costs.

Panelists speaking at the Council’s June 16 monthly luncheon meeting included Jarrod Gillig, president, business operations & supply chain, Cargill Protein North America; Michael Lichte, vice president of Milk Optimization and Customer Relations, Dairy Farmers of America; Dave Spears, executive vice president and CMO, Mid-Kansas Coop, and board member, Kansas Ag Retailers Association; Chris DeMoss, director, Plant Foods, MFA, Inc.; Ben Smith, operations manager, Production and Precision Agriculture Marketing Operations, John Deere. Tom Brand, executive director, National Association of Farm Broadcasting, moderated the discussion.

As demand remains strong, persistent manufacturing supply base challenges that started in early 2021, have not materially improved as of mid-2022, said John Deere’s Ben Smith.  He also noted that unforeseen labor or workforce challenges have been caused by several factors that all lead to the same result of reduced production output.  “We are doing everything we can to meet demand responsibly and sustainably,” Smith said, “but it has been at higher financial costs.”

Jarrod Gillig remarked that at Cargill, resiliency in standing up to labor shortages means putting its people first, which further means ensuring the company is responsive to employee needs that go beyond salary and the usual benefits. Retaining its workforce and attracting new workers requires his company, Gilling said, to understand how important things like day care, affordable housing and transportation are to job seekers. 

Michael Lichte described DFA’s 6,000 farms and their farmers as a tightly knit community that is reeling from the high costs of feed. He also noted there is a “high cost” of not having drivers. From a dairy perspective, he said, “The supply chain is not just about getting product [inputs to feed and maintain animal health] into the farm, but also about getting product [milk] out.” Lichte noted it isn’t easy to find drivers who want to get up before dawn on cold winter mornings to haul milk for processing and marketing.

Dave Spears, Mid-Kansas Coop, doubled-down on the “severe shortage of both trucks and drivers” by noting that rail systems are also a challenge that is further complicated by congestion and labor issues at many of the nation’s ports. “Ag is not a simple industry,” said Spears, and suggested some government policies further complicate the situation. MFA’s Chris DeMoss concurred with Spears saying the value of coops depend on infrastructure. “But we can’t make highways and we can’t build railroads.”

One of the panelists quipped that the problem with capitalism is that it works, implying that businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals find ways to fix problems, innovate and produce things, exposing weaknesses in infrastructure and logistical practices.  Jarrod Gillig said, “Logistic problems just may spur solutions we need.” And Dave Spears suggested the Supply Chain of the Future will shift from the current conventional inventory strategy of Just-In-Time (stocking less) to Just-In-Case (stockpiling more).  

NAFB 2022 Farm Broadcasters & Friends: Journey to Israel

Dates are set for September 2-14, 2022, for the NAFB 2022 Farm Broadcasters & Friends Journey to Israel. Former Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman will serve as the head of NAFB delegation, and conversations are underway to schedule meetings with the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture, the U.S. Embassy and other companies conducting business in Israel. Plans also call for U.S. commodity organizations and their overseas staffs to set up tours of agriculture facilities and farms during the tour.

The trip agenda includes meetings with U.S. Ambassador Tom Nides, Israel’s agriculture minister and other Israeli officials as well as executives of companies doing business there. The itinerary also includes visits to farms, supermarkets, dairy operations, the flower-growing industry, kibbitzes, wineries and visits with farmers. Holy sights of the region also will be part of the trip, as well as stops in Tel Aviv, Merom Golan, the Dead Sea region, Negev, and Jerusalem. “Overall, this will be a working journalists’ trip, traveling with representatives from the agriculture community,” says Tom Brand. NAFB executive director.

Details

Cost of the trip is estimated at $5,960 per person (double occupancy) plus airfare. The NAFB Foundation has offered continuing education grants of $2,000/each for up to ten NAFB Broadcast Council members who make the trip.

To begin the process of securing travel arrangements, setting up meetings with officials and arranging stops along the route, we need your help and cooperation. If you want to be part of NAFB's 2022 Farm Broadcasters and Friends Journey to Israel, please contact NAFB as soon as possible, as a required deposit in the very near future is anticipated. Refund criteria and trip insurance will be offered; full payment will be required prior to the trip.

To join the tour, a passport valid through March 2023 with at least four (4) blank pages is required.  No immunizations are necessary. For more information and answers to questions contact Tom Brand, 816-431-4032, extension 103.

Digging Deeper...

Ticks can carry serious, sometimes deadly diseases, so it's important to keep current on tick-related health issues to protect animals and humans from their bites. This past year the Missouri Department of Conservation and A.T. Still University, Kirksville, Missouri, have partnered to determine locations of tick species and the pathogens they may harbor.  “We’ve never actually done research on ticks before,” says Dr. Matthew Combes. He is the Ecological Health Unit Science Supervisor at Missouri’s Department of Conservation. As a result, he notes there is a lack of information about where various tick species occur in the state and what potential disease-causing pathogens they may be carrying. “Also, there’s another thing that we just don’t know,” Dr. Combes adds. “We know that animals are the reservoir for bacteria and that ticks attach to animals and spread it amongst those populations. Then if one of those ticks happens to bite a human, it can spread it to the human. But we don’t really know the effect that tick-borne illnesses have on the populations of animals in the state because that research hasn’t been done.” Until now. To get answers, Dr. Combes and his team created a research platform that is asking Missourians to collect ticks they have pulled from livestock, pets and themselves and send them to the project’s lab.  

By: Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC – Sources: Interview with Dr. Matthew Combes, May 25, 2022; Saravanan Thangamani, professor of microbiology and immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University; IGeneX, a California-based developer of Lyme disease detection tests; Thomas Mather, a public health entomologist at the University of Rhode Island; Tick Bait: The Secret History of Lyme Disease, Chuck Carroll, October 22, 2019, Good Times Newspaper, Santa Cruz, California; Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Warfare, Kim  Newby, May, 2019, Harper Collins; Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government’s Secret Germ Laboratory, Michael Christopher Carroll, 2004.

Trouble-Making Ticks Expand Their Population, Range, Longevity 

If there is anything good you can say about ticks, it might be this: Ticks are not as agile as many people think. But that’s about it. Ticks usually hunt for meals close to the ground, reported the New York Times (May 27, 2022), so while they can climb into trees, it's unusual for them to do so. “If you spot a tick on your scalp, neck or ears,” said the paper, “it most likely crawled there from a lower part of your body, such as your feet or legs. Ticks cannot jump or fly.”

Good to know. If you find a tick in your scalp after a hike under a canopy of low-hanging branches, it probably got there by crawling from a blade of grass onto your ankle and making its way on up to higher spots. So maybe you don’t have to wear a hat while hiking. Anyway, one performance shortcoming by these pests, notwithstanding, this year’s tick season is likely to be severe, according to Saravanan Thangamani, professor of microbiology and immunology at SUNY Upstate Medical University. In early spring he said his lab had already seen an increase of 43% in the number of ticks submitted for testing compared to last March 2021. IGeneX, a California-based developer of tests to detect Lyme disease, said the most prevalent tick-borne disease is Lyme disease with over 470,000 cases last year. It doesn’t expect a drop in cases this tick season. 

Warming temperatures could increase the reproduction rates of ticks, say scientists at the Purdue Climate Change Research Center. But it is not only warmer weather for longer periods that accounts for more ticks. The case can be made that modern technology is extending the life cycle and habitat of these hardy arthropods, as well. Jet aircraft, automobiles, seamless highway routes allow people to travel with their pets long distances; and some of those pets can be hosting ticks.  Ticks also hone their survival instincts with the help of HVAC systems, humidifiers and other advanced climate control devices that let homeowners unsuspectingly create conditions ideal for fleas and ticks to breed and feed. Eco-friendly building materials and architectural designs also help replicate natural surroundings and blur seasonal distinctions between various regions of the country. In the last two decades, ticks have migrated to every part of the country.

Ticks are not just a problem for those in suburban or wooded areas. They’re “becoming urbanized,” said Thomas Mather, a public health entomologist at the University of Rhode Island. Ticks are moving into cities, including, even in some parks in New York City, in part because their animal hosts, like deer, are proliferating in cities too, Dr. Mather said.

Economic Impact of Ticks

Little bites from little bugs run up big bills. Currently, CDC has identified 18 tick-borne pathogens in the U.S., and counts 27 known tick pathogens worldwide. CDC also warns that the occurrence of tick-borne illnesses in humans is increasing. Even more disturbing is that individual ticks can harbor more than one disease-causing agent, and patients can be infected with more than one pathogen at the same time – which complicates the difficulty of diagnosing and treating diseases. And runs up the medical tab quickly.

While the medical and economic impact of tick-borne diseases in humans is substantial, it is significant in livestock and other animals. Tick-borne diseases are estimated to affect 80% of cattle worldwide, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). By its reckoning, ticks are the most important vectors of human pathogens leading to increased public health burdens worldwide. Tick-borne pathogens include viruses and bacteria – such as the causative agents of Lyme disease, spotted fever rickettsiosis and human anaplasmosis and malaria-like protozoan parasites causing babesiosis.

Tick-borne diseases are emerging as tick vectors expand their geographical boundaries, especially in the northern hemisphere. Two examples of this phenomenon are Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum, which have expanded their ranges in the USA in recent decades and are responsible for the continuous emergence of Lyme disease and human ehrlichiosis.

In the U.S., ticks are responsible for over 95 % of vector-borne disease cases. Lyme disease is by far the most prevalent tick-borne disease in the northern hemisphere. Several studies conclude approximately 300, 000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed annually in the U.S. Based on these estimates, Lyme disease may be among the most common infectious diseases in the U.S. Additionally, around 10, 000 cases of other tick-borne diseases are reported annually.

What’s It Cost?

The economic impact of tick-borne diseases is significant and increases every year. In the U.S., the average treatment cost per patient diagnosed with Lyme disease was $11, 838 in 2019. A conservative approximation – based on 42, 743 cases reported to the CDC in 2017 – would result in an annual cost estimate of over $500 million. These costs could be much higher for patients with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome.  However, if IGeneX (see above) is right, and its estimate of 470,000 Lyme disease cases this year is accurate, and if per patient treatment expenses remain in the $12K range, then ticks’ tab for human medical diagnosis and treatment skyrockets to $5.6 billion. 

By comparison, the economic impact of tick-borne diseases on livestock is staggering, especially in developing countries. Tick-borne diseases affect 80 % of the world’s cattle population, with an estimated annual cost impact of between $13.9 billion and $18.7 billion.  Once considered “benign,” theileriosis is a disease that has beleaguered cattle in Mediterranean regions for some time, and only sporadically in the U.S. But this situation could change rapidly with the recent introduction of the Asian longhorned tick into the U.S.

This Asian tick is an efficient vector of Theileria orientalis, which was detected on East Coast cattle farms a few years ago. Originating from East and Central Asia and first sighted in the U.S. in 2017, the Asian longhorned tick is unique for its ability to reproduce without mating. Currently it is found in 16 states along the southwest and northeast regions of the country: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

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Update: Tracking Tick-Borne Disease in Missouri

Matt Combes, PhD, Ecological Health Unit Science Supervisor, Missouri Department of Conservation, recently provided Kansas City’s Agricultural Business Council answers to questions about this first-ever tick-tracking research in Missouri. 

What prompted the development of a program to trace origin, migration of ticks? Missouri Department of Conservation has noticed an increase in questions and comments about tickborne illnesses from the public.  We want folks to enjoy healthy activities on the land we and other agencies manage in the public trust, but concern about tickborne illness stops some folks from participating.  So in 2019 we invited folks from Department of Health and Senior Services, county Departments of Public Health, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and university professors to have a discussion about tick research in Missouri.  The top information gap identified by the group was simply an accurate map of the distribution of human biting ticks in Missouri.  The second gap was the distribution of pathogens that cause human illnesses in tick populations statewide.  

What are the dangers of tick-borne diseases? Are they increasing? Ticks vector diseases that affect humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife.  Some diseases cause lifelong debilitation in some humans if the disease isn’t detected and treated early.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has extensive resources on its website about tickborne illness (https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html).  Ehrlichiosis is a major tickborne illness in Missouri, and national trend data presented on the CDC website indicates that verified reports in 2019 were about 10 times higher than in 2000 (Statistics | Ehrlichiosis | CDC).

What patterns of migration, habitat and species invasion are emerging in various regions of the country? I don’t know much about trends across the country.  In Missouri there is a lack of historic data on distributions and abundance patterns of tick species.  Anecdotes seem to support that the Lonestar tick moved into Missouri from southeastern states starting in the 1980s, and has become the most abundant human biting tick on the landscape. Gulf Coast tick was transported to NE Oklahoma on cattle about 15 years ago, and has since spread across the southern half of Missouri.  The newest tick threat is the non-native Asian longhorned tick.  It was confirmed in North America in 2017, and in Missouri in 2021.  This tick is parthenogenic (doesn’t need males to reproduce) and can infest livestock in huge numbers.  It is known to cause anemia in cattle that can reduce milk production, and transmits bovine theileriosis and babesiosis to cattle in other countries. (More information at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/maps/animal-health/asian-longhorned-tick.)

Is there conventional wisdom and/or proven data about how ticks are migrating? I am not aware of proven data for how ticks migrate.  However, the human biting ticks need to feed on host blood (could be many mammal, bird, or reptile species) three times over three years to complete their lifecycle, so increased hosts on the landscape may contribute to their spread.  Increased temperatures and higher rainfall in recent decades may also play a role, but I’ve never read a paper that demonstrates anything conclusive about that.  Ticks dry out and die if humidity gets too low, so it is reasonable to assume that more ticks survive if humidity is high or vegetation stays wet longer due to more rainfall events.  

What is the seriousness of tick-borne disease, and what are the implications for human, pet, livestock and public health? Some diseases cause lifelong debilitation in some humans if the disease isn’t detected and treated early.  Newer viral diseases like Heartland virus and Bourbon virus can require hospitalization because symptoms can be severe, but antibiotics are not effective against viruses.  I’m not very familiar with pet and livestock issues, but I believe domestic animals are also at risk of tickborne illnesses that can reduce their productivity or even result in death. 

What is the structure, operations of the program? History, launch, acceptance, funding, etc? The project is running for 2021 and 2022.  The project is a citizen science project where anyone can mail ticks collected in Missouri to our partner lab at A.T. Still University in Kirksville Missouri.  Deb Hudman there identifies the ticks to species, and updates a map of results weekly (www.atsu.edu/ticks).  Our goal is to test 10 individual adult ticks of the four main human biting species per county for bacteria in the genera Borrelia, Ehrlichia, Francisella, and Rickettsia via polymerase chain reaction (PCR).  Results of those tests are also posted on the ATSU website as they become available.  We are not testing for viral pathogens or alpha-gal (causes red meat allergy).

What are the successes so far? Participation, findings? This has been a very successful citizen science project.  In 2021, around 2500 folks submitted more than 12,000 ticks.  We are on track to have similar participation in 2022.  Another aspect of the success of the project is the large number of radio, television, newspaper, and magazine interviews it has generated as well as invitations to present about ticks at various meetings.  We’ve reached a lot of folks and increased their awareness of tickborne illness risk through these outreach opportunities.  We have received lone star, American dog, gulf coast, blacklegged, brown dog, rabbit, bat, and winter ticks.  We have detected Borrelia lonestari, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Francisella tularensis, Rickettsia amblyommatis, Rickettsia parkeri,Rickettsia montanensis, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the ticks tested so far.  Ehrlichia sp. is by far the most detected bacteria followed by Rickettsia sp.

How can Council members participate? While we have had great participation from the public on this project, distribution of participation is not even across the state.  We have received the most ticks from urban counties, but lack samples from rural counties especially in NW and SE Missouri.  We expect Lone Star and American dog ticks to occur in every county of Missouri and would like to test 10 of each species from every county.  There is map on the ATSU website that shows from where ticks have been submitted (Missouri ticks and tick-borne pathogen surveillance (atsu.edu)). Tick-sample packaging and mailing instructions are provided on the website.

No Ticks No Country Club Plaza 

Maybe there are some other things good you can say about ticks (see opening paragraph of Digging Deeper). If it weren’t for ticks, there would have been no cattle stockyards in Kansas City. Nor a Kansas City at all, for that matter, says John Dillingham, son of Jay B. Dillingham, former president of the Kansas City Stockyards and the Chambers of Commerce for Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas. And without ticks, there would have been no Country Club Plaza, either, developer J.C. Nichols once told Jay B.

In the mid-1800s, Texas cattle were driven into Missouri much to the annoyance of local farmers who tried blocking the Texas Longhorns that carried ticks which introduced a host of diseases to ‘Show Me’ livestock. Vigilante groups and cattle rustlers caused problems for drovers, often by means of violence. In 1859, cattle drives were outlawed in many Missouri jurisdictions. That forced Texas drovers to beat paths farther to the west leading into Kansas.

While herd health was a primary concern for Missouri ranchers, economics was top-of-mind for Texas cattlemen. In 1866, cattle in Texas fetched $4 a head while the going rate per head in north and eastern state markets was $40. Civil War obstructions – battles, infrastructure destruction – gave Texans little or no access to more lucrative markets on the eastern and western seaboards. That situation opened up opportunities for developers, entrepreneurs and investors. Stockyards were built in places like Abilene, Kansas. The famous Chisholm Trail cut a swath of territory from West Texas to Kansas enabling drovers to hustle some 2,500 head of cattle on a drive – as did the Texas Trails and railroads like the Union Pacific Railway and the Kansas Railroad.

But even as trails were blazed and railroad track laid, John Dillingham notes, other challenges faced Texas producers and plains states processors. Indigenous tribes and their buffalo and American drovers with their cattle had to share the grazing bounty along the trails. As one might expect, ‘sharing’ might be a polite term that doesn’t describe accurately the conflicts that ensued.  

Meanwhile, back in Kansas City, stockyard capacity was expanding, in turn creating jobs, promoting development of neighborhoods, attracting immigrant workers and creating unique communities and cultures. And in no small way, ticks – those parasitic arachnids of the mite superorder Parasitiformes – can take credit for the founding of Kansas City and the development of Country Club Plaza.

How? Because in 1906, the Bureau of Animal Industries’ primary strategy for combating deadly diseases caused by ticks – in particular babesiosis – was to establish permanent tick quarantine zones. BAI is the predecessor of the USDA. One of its initial tactics in battling ticks was to deploy land adjacent to the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. Since Missouri already had taken measures to keep Texas cattle out of the state, the Mighty Mo became the proverbial line-drawn-the-sand. Huge quarantine yards were created in the area around and nearby the West Bottoms. As these facilities expanded, so did the local commercial districts and neighborhoods.    

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Shrouded History Of Lyme Disease

Coincidence or Conspiracy 

As a medical condition Lyme disease is draped in a cloak of mystery. Its symptoms are difficult to diagnose, often not revealing themselves for months after initial exposure. Reliable tests for early stage infections are still under development, since antibodies must be developed first. Once the disease is diagnosed, it can often take years to effectively treat. The difficulties in spotting the disease and treating it, however, are nothing compared to an intriguing explanation of its origins.

The first known case in the U.S. occurred in Wisconsin in 1970, but it was thought to be an isolated incidence and not linked to what eventually would be called Lyme disease. Lyme disease as it is known today was officially recognized in 1975 after unusually large numbers of children were being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Researchers discovered that most of the affected children lived and played near wooded areas where ticks dwelled. They also found that children's first symptoms typically started in the summer months, the height of tick season.

In 1977 the disease started to be taken seriously when two women residents of Old Lyme reported inexplicable arthritis symptoms. In the early 1980s the actual agent of Lyme disease was identified as a twisted bacteria known as a spirochete. Around that time, public health authorities realized that cases were not isolated and regular surveillance was undertaken for a distinctive rash-erythema chronicum migrans (ECM).

Why Old Lyme?

An upscale community in an affluent state with top notch healthcare systems, Old Lyme was an unlikely place for a mysterious disease outbreak. But maybe not, theorizes Kate Newby, an engineer and science writer for the Stanford School of Medicine. Her 2019 book – Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons – won a 2019 Silver Nautilus Book Award in Journalism & Investigative Reporting and the 2020 International Book Award for narrative nonfiction. Newby also served as senior producer of the Lyme disease documentary Under Our Skin, which aimed to shed light on the Lyme epidemic, the plight of Lyme patients and the intense medical-political controversies surrounding nearly every aspect of the disease. Newby’s research, however, was not the first to uncover intrigue behind the outbreak of Lyme disease. In 2004, Michael Christopher Carroll published a New York Times nonfiction bestseller entitled Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government’s Secret Germ Laboratory.

A key source of information for both authors was American scientist Willy Burgdorfer. One of the world’s preeminent experts on Lyme disease, Burgdorfer claimed he was part of a secret program that sought to turn ticks into bioweapons. He backed up that assertion referring to a paper he had published in 1952 describing the intentional infection of ticks. Burgdorfer further detailed his involvement in the program to Newby only months before he died in 2014. In 2013 filmmaker Tim Grey asked him on camera whether the pathogen he had identified in 1982 as the cause of Lyme disease was the same one he had identified in 1952. Burgdorfer said, “Yes.”

Documents (official and investigative) record outdoor experiments with diseased ticks in the 1950s. And test animals mingled with wild deer, test birds with wild birds. By the 1990s, the eastern end of Long Island, N.Y., had by far the greatest concentration of Lyme disease. But how does Old Lyme figure into the emergence of Lyme Disease?  One needs only to look across Long Island Sound from Old Lyme, Connecticut, to Plumb Island, New York.  It housed a germ warfare lab to which the US government brought former Nazi germ warfare scientists in the 1940s to work on the same malevolent projects they did under Heinrich Himmler. On Plum Island the germ warfare team frequently conducted its experiments out of doors. It was on an island, so what could go wrong?

Well, for one, deer would swim from the Connecticut mainland to Plum Island to feed, then return to Old Lyme to mingle in its habitat with other animals, insects and wild life.  Eventually kids enjoying the outdoors were going to run across a tick or two.

Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - May 2022

Developments

Agriculture is responsible for just 10% of total U.S. GHG emissions, much lower than other economic sectors. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed the data from EPA in the latest Market Intel. 2020 overall emissions from agriculture fell at least 4.3%, or 28.8 million metric tons, compared to 2019. Emissions from agricultural soil management like fertilizer application and tillage practices were reduced by 8.4%. “The most recent numbers show America’s farmers and ranchers are dedicated to feeding America’s families while remaining committed to improvements in sustainability,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall.

University of Missouri’s FAPRI has raised its forecast for farm income in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine and the run-up in commodity prices. FAPRI now expects net farm income to reach nearly $120 billion this year, up from its March forecast of $105 billion. It now projects farm production expenses will total $446 billion, up from the March forecast of $420 billion. Production expenses totaled about $392 billion in 2021. 

Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the Missouri Agriculture Energy Saving Team – a Revolutionary Opportunity (MAESTRO) grant, funded through the U.S. Department of Energy. The MAESTRO grant was created to help small farming operations across Missouri reduce energy use. Funding will be used to assist K-12 school districts with agriculture programs. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 1, 2022. The Department will grant awards up to a maximum of $10,000 per approved school. The goal of the grant is to ensure valuable energy-efficient upgrades are being made in Missouri K-12 school districts.

More than 17,000 farms in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota produced and sold food locally through direct marketing practices, resulting in $577 million in revenue in 2020, according to the Local Food Marketing Practices Survey results from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The results cover both fresh and value-added foods, such as meat and cheese. The more than 3,800 farms that sold food directly to institutions and intermediates brought in the most revenue at $317 million; this was followed by operations with direct-to-consumer sales, such as on-farm stores and farmers markets, at $166 million. Sales directly to retailers accounted for $93.6 million. 

The Livestock Marketing Information Center, Lakewood, Colorado, reports March trade data showed record beef exports, while pork exports held steady. Beef exports in March totaled 303.7 million pounds, up 1.2% from last year. It was also the highest beef export level reported for any month of March. March pork exports totaled 544.2 million pounds, down 25.3% from a year ago but in line with the five-year average. First quarter pork exports were down 20% from 2021 to 1.5 billion pounds. During the first quarter, Mexico was the top pork export market with 602.5 million pounds shipped, an increase of 42.4%. Japan ranked as the second highest pork export destination at 276.2 million pounds, down 16.1% from 2021. South Korea rounds out the third spot with 133.9 million pounds shipped, down 7.4% from a year earlier.

NCBA has condemned the unfunded and duplicative Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022, which was marked up by the House Agriculture Committee. The special investigator bill would create a new position in USDA with immense prosecutorial and subpoena power. To comply with this legislation, USDA would be forced to divert resources from other mission-critical areas of the Agricultural Marketing Service, stealing resources from the essential programs cattle producers rely on every day.  “Arming USDA with unchecked subpoena and prosecutorial power while significantly undercutting the DOJ’s role in the process is poor practice,” said NCBA vice president of government affairs Ethan Lane.

Avian influenza numbers are dropping, says Robert Pierce, University of Missouri Extension wildlife and fisheries specialist. Fewer reports of dead and sick birds point to an end to the current outbreak of avian influenza, Pierce says. Rising summer temperatures also will likely lead to a decrease in avian influenza. “The good news is that there is evidence that the AI virus does not tolerate high temperatures well, so we should not see problems during the summer,” says Pierce. Numbers could tick upward again in the fall as temperatures drop.

Programs to help U.S. farmers build markets overseas boosted agricultural exports by an average of $9.6 billion annually from 1977 to 2019, an annual lift of 13.7% in export revenues and returning $24.5 for every dollar invested. Those are the key conclusions from a new study prepared to evaluate the impact of programs administered by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), including the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program.  U.S. Grains Council, the organization that builds markets overseas for feed grains and ethanol, led the study’s preparation on behalf of FAS and the cooperator community.  The study is available here.

Cargill plans to build a new soybean processing facility in Pemiscot County, near Hayti and Caruthersville, in southeast Missouri to support growing domestic and global demand for oilseeds driven by food, feed and fuel markets. “The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC) is committed to increasing market development opportunities in the state, and we are proud to work with Cargill on this project to bring value back to the soybean farmer,” said Aaron Porter, MSMC vice chair and farmer from Southeast Missouri. The facility will be the first of its kind for Southeast Missouri with an annual production capacity of 62 million bushels of soybeans. Missouri currently ranks sixth in the United States for soybean production.  

USDA is investing $770 to create new market opportunities for rural businesses and people in 36 states and Puerto Rico. The investments include $640 million for 122 projects to help people living in socially vulnerable communities. The funding will help a diverse rural America keep resources and wealth right at home through job training, business expansion and technical assistance. It will help companies hire more workers and reach new customers. It will open the door to new economic opportunities for communities and people who historically have lacked access to critical resources and financing. It will also help entrepreneurs and business cooperatives create jobs, grow businesses, and find new and better markets for the items they produce.

U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission warns China’s efforts toward self-sufficiency could present risks to the economic and national security of the United States. The report says China could gain further leverage over U.S. supply chains by purchasing agribusinesses and land in the United States, reduce U.S. competitiveness by stealing intellectual property and create bioweapons using DNA from genetically modified American crops. Full report available at Agri-Pulse Communications, May 26, 2022.

Overland Park-based TechAccel, an investor in Epicrop Technologies Inc., Lincoln, Nebraska, is collaborating with Dr. Sally Mackenzie, epigenetics expert and director of the Penn State Plant Institute. TechAccel’s involvement includes the development of two joint ventures conducting trials with epigenetic enhancement of canola and strawberries. Epigenetics refers to the genomic neighborhood that surrounds genes and controls how they are expressed. This local process controls how genes respond to environmental change.

NCBA is asking members to send a letter to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler expressing their opposition to mandatory greenhouse gas reporting requirements. Accurately measuring greenhouse gas emissions at the ranch level is nearly impossible and estimates will be inaccurate at best. Agencies like USDA and the EPA already are involved in regulating the agricultural industry and calculate emissions through programs like the EPA annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and USDA Life Cycle Assessments. Those measurements provide high-level estimates without collecting individual producer data.  

In partnership with the Nebraska Beef Council, the Kansas Beef Council extends funding for nutrition outreach to state beef councils in high population regions. Recently, the California Beef Council, with the support of KBC and NBC, hosted an educational session, booth and dinner for the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Conference in Oakland, California.  Checkoff-funded state partnerships like this are essential to communicate accurate, science-based information about beef nutrition to key influencers who live in states with high populations. 

Events

Grub Crawl returns! Sink your teeth into City Market at Grub Crawl, the annual tasting tour of City Market restaurants on June 3! The Grub Crawl Passport will lead you to almost 20 different delicious destinations. While tasting and sipping your way around City Market, enjoy live music from the Aspiring Artists Micro Music Festival and sample Aspire Healthy Energy Drinks. Tickets are $45 each and are on sale now! Click here for more details. The Ag Business Council of Kansas City is a proud sponsor of the 2022 Grub Crawl at City Market.

Pork industry professionals will get the latest in production and management education through topical seminars at the 2022 World Pork Expo presented by NPPC.  The Expo takes place June 8-10 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. This year’s line-up of Business Seminars and Pork Academy gives producers the opportunity to learn about critical topics such as sustainability, data, industry collaborations, nutrition, and more.

Kansas State University-Olathe is offering a webinar presentation July 13 at noon: Animal Health Regulatory Affairs Certificate.  The certificate combines the knowledge of animal science and veterinary medicine with skills needed to navigate governmental processes and regulations throughout a product's lifecycle. More information available here.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Marketing and Promotions Advisory Board will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, June 3. This is a regularly scheduled board meeting that will be held via virtual meeting technology. The board meeting is open to the public. To request a copy of the agenda or directions on how to participate in the virtual meeting, please contact Jennifer Hill at 785-564-6700 or Jennifer.Hill@ks.gov. The KDA Marketing Advisory Board is seeking new members to fill positions beginning this summer. If you are interested in in applying to serve as a member of the board, find out more about how to apply here.

The Angus Foundation invites golf and Angus enthusiasts to enjoy a day on the green at its annual Golf Tournament, held in conjunction with the 2022 National Junior Angus Show in Kansas City, Missouri. The event, which will help further the Foundation’s mission of supporting Angus youth, education and research, will be held on Tuesday, July 5 at the Shiloh Springs Golf Club in Platte City, Missouri. Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. Sponsorship options are available to state and regional Angus associations, individuals, businesses, farms and ranches. There are different promotional opportunities at eight sponsorship levels. The sponsorship deadline is June 3. Player registration is open until June 20.

People

Farm Journal announced Michelle Rook, one of the most experienced and respected reporters in agriculture media, has joined as a national reporter. Working as part of Farm Journal’s award-winning broadcast team, Rook will serve as the lead field correspondent for the nationally syndicated television shows AgDay and U.S. Farm Report, as well as agriculture’s top-rated national radio show AgriTalk.

Kansas Corn has named Zoe Schultz Regional Outreach Coordinator responsible for developing engagement programs between western Kansas farmers and industry partners.

In a recent trade mission hosted by the Kansas Soybean Commission, Kansas Corn leaders Terry Vinduska and Tanner McNinch learned about efforts to build trade with Morocco. They met with the Moroccan Milling Training Institute, saw corn and DDGS imported from the U.S., visited a modern feedlot and an integrated feed mill, which also feeds and processes poultry. Vinduska is a past-chairman of the U.S. Grains Council and had visited Morocco twice before to evaluate USGC projects there. Tanner McNinch is in his first year of leadership with Kansas Corn. Both saw positive results of market development efforts funded by corn and soybean farmers.

Ben Travlos is the new director of state and local legislative affairs for the Missouri Farm Bureau. Most recently he worked for the Missouri Corn Growers Association as the associate director of public policy.

Digging Deeper...

The latest global consumer and B2B market research reports on plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) are dishing out some appetizing forecasts for the next few years. The global plant-based meat sector reached a value of US$ 8.5 Billion in 2021, according to India-based IMARC Group. Expectations call for the market to reach US$ 34 Billion by 2027, from a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.8% from 2022 to 2027 – this despite flat or negative growth in Q4 2021 for key players in the space like Beyond Meat and Maple Leaf Foods. But there is something else going on in American kitchens and dining rooms. Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC – Sources: Kentucky Economic Association, Journal of Applied Economics and Policy (formerly the Kentucky Journal of Economics and Business); NYU Stern School of Business, Sustainable Market Share Index™ 2021 Market Share; Information Resources, Inc., Power of Meat 2022;  Sosland Publishing,  Trends & Innovations Webinar Series.

PBMA Market More Nuanced Than You Think

So who’s eating plant-based meat alternatives? It’s not vegetarians, so much. A new report released in February 2022 by the University of Kentucky shows meat substitutes made from plants have doubled in total sales over the past two years. But that growth has not cut into the sales of beef and pork. Instead, the study, published in the Journal of Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy found that shoppers were more inclined to buy less chicken and fish when they bought PBMA products than beef or pork.  “We were surprised by the results,” said Shuoli Zhao, a professor of agricultural economics at the University of Kentucky and the lead author of the study. “Those products are usually marketed as a competitor of red meat.”

But that’s not entirely so. Lisa Simon, a registered dietician in the U.K., says meat alternatives can be a great choice for those wanting to consume what they think is a healthier diet, particularly for those who eat a lot of meat. She implies that eating meat or adhering to a strict vegan diet is not a zero-sum concept.  “For example, if you are looking to avoid too much saturated fat, you would probably prefer to avoid ground beef meats, and if salt is a concern, you may want to avoid brands with more than 1g per portion.” Simon states growing consumer health concerns about the high prevalence of obesity and diabetes “has augmented PBMA demand owing to its low calorie and high-protein content.”

Dr. Zhao points out that the study suggests PBMA complements rather than competes with beef and pork consumption and demand.  Instead (and ironically) plant-based “red” meat has become a substitute for chicken, turkey and fish. Although the current demand for PBMA lags real meat significantly, its sales growth has been significant.

Who’s Eating PBMA?

According to the study, most plant-based meat alternative purchases are impulse buys, rather than items place on a shopping list ahead of time – and that might be why they are in the same shopping carts with products that PBMA marketers and investors are hoping to replace. “Although most consumers are still traditional meat lovers, they may give plant-based meat alternatives a try. So at the end of the day, they buy both,” said Yuqing Zheng, also a professor of agricultural economics at the University of Kentucky and co-author of the study.

The study shows global sales of plant-based meat alternatives were $10 billion in 2018, more than $20 billion in 2020 and are expected to reach $30 billion in the next five years. While the findings contained in the University of Kentucky’s study are draped heavily with economic data, Chicago-based Information Resources, Inc., (IRi) recently drew a practical image of what the actual PBMA market looks like. It was presented earlier this month by Sosland Publishing’s Trends & Innovations Webinar Series. Succinctly put, households that buy meat alternatives are still buying meat. But they have become more adventurous, said Chris DuBois, senior vice president for Information Resources’ Protein Practice. “They’re decreasing beef and chicken spending year over year but increasing pork, veal, lamb and exotic spending.”

Meat Not In Freefall

In 2021, 6.5 million first time buyers of PBMA products also spent $150 million more on fresh meat. Oddly, while the alternative meat products sector is attracting new buyers faster than they are losing them, veteran consumers of PBMA are buying less. What’s more, according to IRI, inveterate PBMA eaters – or retained meat alternatives buyersas they are officially identified in research parlance – spent $3.4 billion on fresh meat in 2021, about a million more than in 2020.

The seeming disconnect between the promotional hype of PBMA and its current slow sales was explained recently in the Financial Times by Neil Rankin, founder of steak house and a BBQ restaurant in London, and a chef using plant-based meat.  “The ebbing of the sales surge is down to products which fail to meet taste expectations. There are a lot of people who have moved to plant-based because of sustainability issues, but yet they aren’t really satisfied with what’s out there. Price has also been an issue as plant-based meat makers have struggled to get repeat purchases from customers once the initial excitement has died down.”

Chris DuBois also noted consumers are exhibiting stronger “plant-forward” eating patterns that focus on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, oils, whole grains, legumes and beans. A plant-forward diet, however, does not define one as a vegetarian or vegan.  And it doesn’t forebode a freefall for meat.  Almost three quarters (74%) of Americans consider themselves meat eaters, while 6% call themselves vegetarian and 4% say they are pescatarian. Interestingly, a sizeable 29% of the U.S. population indicated it will give cell-based or cultivated meat a taste, assuming it can be produced to scale and priced reasonably. Which remains to be seen.

Over a third (37%) of Americans want to reduce meat and poultry consumption, according to IRi’s Power of Meat 2022. Significantly, however, 54% of youngsters forming the Generation Z cohort (born 1997-2012 and the oldest of whom are just 25) insist that meat and poultry belong in a healthy, balanced diet – which bodes well for meat producers, processors and retailers going forward for the next 50-plus years.

Ed Note: The focus of this article spotlights just a tip of an iceberg of data available on the subject of PBMA that is presented in the University of Kentucky study and is available online here and from Sosland Publishing’s Trends & Innovations Webinar Series.

Agricultural Business Council Recognizes Dillingham Awardees

Bob Petersen, Jan Lyons, Mike Beam

Chris Daubert, Abner Womack, Bob Petersen

Kansas City’s Agricultural Business Council held its 12th Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agriculture Leadership and Excellence Luncheon at historic Union Station. Receiving the Council’s highest recognition were Jan Lyons, founder of Lyons Ranch in Manhattan, Kansas and Dr. Abner Womack, co-founder of the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI).

Event Master of Ceremonies and Council Executive Director Bob Petersen called on two local agricultural luminaries in their own right – Mike Beam, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture and Chris Daubert, Dean, College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources at University of Missouri – to introduce the awardees.  John Dillingham, Jay B’s son, was on hand to present the “classic” video clip of an interview his father gave to Agriculture Future of America in 2004. The younger Dillingham offered a dramatic perspective on the impact Kansas and Missouri agriculture has had globally: “Every single person on the face of the earth is a potential client of the farmers, livestock producers, processors, transporters et al in our region.” Presenting sponsor of the event was John Deere.

Honoree Jan Lyons, with her husband Frank, established Lyons Ranch in 1977 when they purchased a group of bred heifers and selected few Angus cows from top breeders in the state as foundation cows.  Using A.I. and embryo transfer, the ranch was able to breed to specifications focused on economical and sustainable maternal traits for the herd. 

Lyons got involved in industry organizations early in her career and went on to record several “firsts,” serving as the first woman president of the Kansas Livestock Association in 1994 and as the first president of the Kansas Angus Association in 1981. She was Chairman, Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board in 1996 and President of the National Cattleman’s Beef Association in 2004. Beef Magazine named her “Producer of the Year” in 2004 for her leadership during the BSE crisis. In 2008 she was recognized as “Stockman of the Year by Kansas State University.

Lyons encouraged the agriculture industry and community to “plan our own future and prepare for disruption.” And she offered this advice: “Consider the consequences, intended or not, when you enlist government help.”

Dr. Womack is Professor Emeritus of Agriculture Economics at MU. He earned national recognition for his work at FAPRI and his earlier achievements while working at USDA’s Economic Research Service where he developed economic models focusing on the structure of the global food system. At FAPRI he evaluated potential economic consequences of policy options under consideration by legislators. Over his career he has received accolades from many organizations such as these:

• AFBF’s Distinguished Serve Award , 2014

• Top Producer Magazine’s Leaders That Made A Difference: Brave Thinkers, 2013

• USDA’s Secretary of Agriculture Award, 2001

• EU, University of Missouri Fellows Award, 1999

• Council of Agriculture Science & Technology’s Charles A. Black Award, 1999

Closing his remarks, Dr. Womack advised the Council members to “respect what you have accomplished in agriculture.”

Agri-business Has $24.4 Billion Impact On Region

New Study Details Economic Impact Of Ag In Kansas City Area 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (May 2, 2022) – Agriculture and its related businesses continue to be a driving force in the regional economy, according to an analysis (read here) released by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City. 

Using the most recent data available, 66 agriculture, food, and food processing sectors were analyzed to determine their overall contribution to the economy supported by the Kansas City Agribusiness Council. These 66 sectors have an estimated total economic impact of approximately $24.445 billion and support 98,655 jobs in the Greater Kansas City area.

The study looked at the impact of agriculture, food, and food processing sectors of the 20 counties contained in the Greater Kansas City area. The study found those agri-business sectors account for 6 percent of the entire workforce in the area, or 98,655 jobs.

In looking at the components of the agri-business sector, meat processing accounts for over $3 billion in total output.[1]  In terms of employment, landscape and horticultural services leads all categories with a total employment estimated at 8,966 jobs.  Standing in second place with 6,952 jobs is the category for beef cattle ranching and farming, including feedlots and dual-purpose ranching and farming.

“This study illustrates the continuing strong role agri-business plays in this region’s economy,” said Bob Petersen, executive director of the Agricultural Business Council.”   He continued, “These are impressive numbers – over $24 billion in Gross Regional Product and over 98,000 jobs.”

“Agriculture has clearly been a key economic driver for the Kansas City region and it holds great potential for the future as well,” said Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam. “The Kansas Department of Agriculture appreciates the strong ties we have with the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and other ag partners in the Greater Kansas City area, and we look forward to exploring opportunities for continued growth in this region.”

“Here at the Missouri Department of Agriculture, we are thrilled to see the economic impact of agriculture in the Kansas City region,” said Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “The Kansas City area is the hub of the world’s leading animal health corridor, as well as agribusinesses and companies that impact producers and consumers across the planet. We are proud of the role our industry plays in the region, and look forward to continued growth.”

Greg Krissek, CEO of Kansas Corn, noted that Kansas City was founded with agricultural roots and this report solidifies that agriculture and related industries remain the backbone of the Kansas City economy. To put this in perspective, the total estimated agricultural impact of $24.5 billion is larger than the entire economies of 103 counties in Kansas and the estimated job impact of 98,655 is larger than the entire population of all but 5 counties in the state.

The economic analysis was assembled by Tori Laird, agency economist, with the Kansas Department of Agriculture.  In addition to staff support from KDA, funding was also provided by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and Kansas Corn, in addition to the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City.

[1] Total output for meat processed from carcasses is $2,064 million and output from animals (except poultry) slaughtering is $969 million.

About The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City

The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City is an association that advocates growth and awareness of the food, fiber, agri-science and related industries in the Kansas City region.

About the Kansas Department of Agriculture
KDA is the state agency devoted to the total support of agriculture in Kansas. The department works for the entire Kansas agriculture sector, including farmers, ranchers, food establishments and agribusinesses. The department is dedicated to providing support and assistance to make Kansas businesses successful and encouraging more agribusinesses to expand in or relocate to Kansas. 

About the Missouri Department of Agriculture

The Missouri Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the promotion and protection of the state’s agriculture industry. With nearly 100,000 farms on more than 28 million acres of farmland, MDA works to connect farmers with consumers. Missouri’s family farms are committed to producing a safe and secure food supply for consumers locally and globally.

About Kansas Corn

The Kansas Corn Commission, composed of a nine-member, farmer-elected board, focuses on strengthening and expanding foreign and domestic markets for “corn in all forms.” Building infrastructure and demand for higher blends of ethanol fuels, investing in youth and young growers through programs focusing on K-12 STEM education and sharing positive information about corn farming and agriculture with consumers to build understanding. The Kansas Corn Growers Association represents more than 1,100 Kansas members on state and national legislative and regulatory issues, and actively works with other organizations to maximize the voice of Kansas corn producers.

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For more information contact:

• For general questions, Bob Petersen (816) 810-5000.

• For technical questions, Tori Laird, agency economist, Kansas Department of Agriculture (785) 564-6726

Honoring Senator Blunt

The Council’s 2022 Mizzou Showcase luncheon focused on expressing appreciation to retiring Missouri Senator Roy Blunt for his support of agricultural research. CAFNR Dean Chris Daubert pointed that, among other things, Sen. Blunt supported Federal funding for CAFNR, including funding for top research areas and Programs of Distinction including: ARS Livestock Genetics, FAPRI, the Center for Agroforestry, the ARS Plant Sciences Center, and the Missouri Water Center.

In his remarks, Senator Roy Blunt heaped acclaim on the region (and his state in particular) for its leadership in agricultural science, innovation and production.   He noted the Missouri River Valley is the biggest, most productive agricultural region in the world. “I am an infrastructure guy,” Sen. Blunt stated, “and the Missouri River Valley region that includes the Mississippi River provides natural, built-in infrastructure.”

It’s the biggest advantage you can have, the senator claimed. The size and reach of this natural waterway system allows Missouri and surrounding states to grow crops faster, transport them quicker and farther and allows margins of profitability to increase.  But, he warned,  the region needs to stay focused on the Missouri River with good policy, strong management, as well as with updated construction and maintenance practices. 

After serving Missouri for almost 35 years as its Secretary of State, as a U.S. Congressional Representative and as its current U.S. Senator, Senator Blunt has left a big footprint on not only the state of Missouri but also on the region as a whole in terms of agricultural development.  

Touching on other advantages the area offers, Sen. Blunt touted, “It’s a good time to be getting an ag degree.” There are a lot of things happening in food science, and from where he was standing the Senator said he and the agriculture industry overall can get in touch with ag experts and scientists at six land grant colleges. All within 200 miles of each other. “The prospects have never been better [for ag students],” Sen. Blunt observed. He added that surveys of folks with ag degrees working in agriculture show that job satisfaction levels are high.

As for world affairs, Senator Blunt offered unique insight from his recent trip to Ukraine. Russia’s designs on Ukraine is more than an imperialistic endeavor. Russia without Ukraine is a sublevel economy – is how he described the situation. So while Ukrainians are fighting for their country, freedom and sovereignty, Russia might very well be fighting for its economic existence. 

Digging Deeper...

According to a study spearheaded by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the immigrant population in the U.S. has helped strengthen America’s labor force. Like just about every other major and mid-major metropolis in the U.S., greater Kansas City is facing serious workforce shortages. “It began well before COVID-19 disrupted our economy,” says Joe Reardon, president and CEO, of the Chamber.  As baby boomers retire, younger immigrants are filling critical gaps in the market. The Chamber is engaged an all-out effort to marshal the region’s assets across the entire community – businesses, consultants, educators, policy makers, church groups, social services and health and agriculture – to welcome immigrants, refugees and other newcomers to grow the region’s globally competitive workforce. The initiative is called Welcoming KC.  Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC – Sources: Wall Street Journal, April 16, 2022; Welcoming KC, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, 2021; The Future of Equity in Cities, 2017, National League of Cities.

Making Greater Kansas City A Welcoming Destination

The phrase – think globally, act locally – is thought to have been coined in 1915 by a Scottish urban planner and social activist, Patrick Geddes, when he published Cities in Evolution. Another Scotsman, Niall Ferguson, historian, writer and columnist, wrote in his 2010 book – The Shock of the Global – that the concept of thinking globally and acting locally really took hold of thought leaders from business, government, education et al in 1970s. “It was the 1970s that introduced the world to the phenomenon of globalization, as networks of interdependence bound peoples and societies in new and original ways,” observed Ferguson.

The 1970s saw the breakdown of the postwar WWII economic order, the advent of floating currencies and free capital movements, Ferguson said. Non-state actors rose to prominence while the authority of the superpowers diminished. The Shock of the Global examines the large-scale structural upheaval of the 1970s that tore down standard frameworks of national borders and superpower relations, revealing an international system in the throes of enduring transformations. 

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal (April 16, 2022), however, suggests a good piece of the construct of globalization, as it has developed over the last 30 years, could be unraveling. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, de-globalization has been spoken of, in some circles, as inevitable. Comparisons to global events in the world 100 years ago abound. “The world could be in for something like what happened just over a century ago, when World War I, the Russian Revolution and, yes, a global [flu] pandemic provoked countries to turn inward,” the WSJ reported. But the article went on: “Just as the path toward a more globalized world isn’t inevitable; however, neither is globalization inevitably going into retreat.”

But there might be other changes to globalization’s dynamics. The pandemic-induced shortages and the Russian invasion illustrate how over-reliance on a single country’s production – such as microprocessors or natural gas – can be dangerous. “Perhaps there will be a recognition that globalization is neither a fait accompli nor a magic wand that can in and of itself lead to a more prosperous future,” said Justin Lahart, the author of the WSJ piece. 

Thinking Globally

Heady stuff that maybe ought to be left to elites at Davos doing whatever it is they do – because we all know the real reason why earthlings in the 1970s were starting to think more globally. In January 1970 Boeing Company certified its iconic 747 jet liner for commercial travel. It was the world’s first wide-body, long-range jumbo aircraft. Boeing’s original customer, Pan American Airlines, pioneered a new era of passenger flight that reduced seat costs by 30%, thereby democratizing air travel.  [Full disclosure: This is conjecture on the part of this writer – but as a former summertime Boeing employee back in college, I am proud of the company’s contribution to globalization.]

Thousands of Americans, like folks in Keokuk, Iowa, for example, who had never even been to relatively-nearby Chicago, could now travel to the capitols and major cities of Europe and Asia. They were also bringing home a novel realization and appreciation for the rest of the world. In other words, Thinking Globally.

Acting Locally 

Americans, though, weren’t the only people discovering new worlds. Millions of Europeans, Asians, Africans, Middle Easterners and South Americans visited the United States. American travelers took  pictures, created memories, made entries in their diaries and then went home. But people from around the world, it seems, made plans to return to the U.S., and stay. 

Immigrants have had a multi-billion-dollar impact on the Kansas City regional economy every year, says Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.  “But worth even more is the human impact,” he asserts. “They start small businesses, bring innovative ideas, and become active and passionate members of our community. New faces become old friends, and we are all better for it.”   

Granted, Digging Deeper is taking literary license to apply the “think globally, act locally” trope to herald the Chamber’s efforts to make Kansas City a designated globally Welcoming City. “We know that by using all the assets across our entire community,” says Reardon, “we can welcome immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers to grow the region’s globally competitive workforce.” In other words, Acting Locally.

Welcoming Kansas City

The Greater Kansas City region has become more diverse over the last 25 years. The immigrant population increased from 33,000 in 1990 to more than 150,000 in 2018. Immigrants are an important part of our economic and cultural fabric, working in a variety of industries and establishing strong roots in the community as homeowners and parents of U.S.-born children. “Neighborhoods in Northeast Kansas City and Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas own their survival to immigrants and refugees,” says Greg Valdovino, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of the KC Chamber. “In Kansas City, 8.7% of all immigrants are entrepreneurs, making them not only good neighbors but contributors to our economy.”

At a time where the general population in the metropolitan area grew by 40 percent, the immigrant population increased by more than 300 percent. That’s why the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce has developed an omnibus action plan that reflects the values of welcoming and inclusion “to ensure everyone feels as though Greater Kansas City is home.”

This reflection has driven the development of the Greater Kansas City Welcoming Plan. “A welcoming plan is a roadmap that helps identify key priorities,” says the Chamber. “By bringing together the government, business, and nonprofit sectors,” officials say, “we created a roadmap that identifies the programs, policies, and activities needed to accomplish our goals of being an inclusive community and Certified Welcoming.”

Kansas City’s population remains predominantly white and black. While the city lost white residents in the 1990s, it gained residents of other races and ethnicities. Immigrants have contributed to the changing profile of the city suburbs and region, with the number of foreign-born residents more than doubling in the 1990s. The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce (GKCCC) considers the area’s  greatest asset to be its people, no  people matter what their background is or where they’re from.  “In order to compete for the best and diverse talent, we have to be more culturally attractive,” says Valdovino. “Younger generations are getting used to diversity and inclusion, they want to live and work with people that look different than them.”

A mantra heard at GKCCC is that the region is stronger when everyone has the opportunity to contribute and succeed. Notes Reardon: “The economic and social benefits of being a welcoming community are clear, and it’s in that spirit we will keep Greater Kansas City a healthy and vibrant community for everyone.” The plan lays out a framework to proactively address and engage a changing community by bringing together key regional  leaders to learn more about current demographics, consider the implications of demographic changes, identify priorities for action, and work together to develop new policies and programs. The Chamber enlisted 40 additional local partnering organizations to draft a plan to make the region friendly and open to immigrants, refugees, and newcomers from other cities, states, and countries. 

Here’s The Plan

At the core of the Plan are several values that GKCCC has identified as essential components to the Welcoming KC blueprint.

VALUE – Resiliency and Growth: “We believe in economic growth that leverages our diversity. By capitalizing on all talents, we help our communities withstand crises. We embrace and celebrate the resiliency of individual community members and of our community as a whole. The Greater Kansas City region strives to be a place where all can thrive.

VALUE – Racial Equity and Belonging: “We believe the various backgrounds, cultures, and experiences of our region’s population make us a more vibrant, connected, and creative community. Advancing racial equity and belonging in Greater Kansas City requires a long-term commitment on everyone’s part. It’s not enough to invite people to the table -- we need to advance inclusion at all levels. 

VALUE –  Opportunity In the Greater Kansas City Region: “We open doors to education, language learning, health, employment, and other opportunities to help everyone achieve their fullest potential.”

VALUE –  Connection and Cohesion: “No one succeeds in isolation; together, we can decrease biases and stereotypes, have rich cultural experiences different from our own, and solve tough problems through collaboration and creative problem-solving. We can see each other as good neighbors. We are so much better together.”

But values need to be articulated as goals, which need strategies for reaching them. Here’s how GKCCC is going about that.

GOAL –  Empower Racially and Ethnically Diverse Residents With Education and Access to Civic Life: “Identify organizations or individuals with experience and expertise on anti-racism, immigration systems, and equity and inclusion and connect them with local governments to provide professional development opportunities for civil servants.”

GOAL –  Create, Support and Promote Opportunities for All Residents To Build Trusted Relationships: “Enlist community leaders and organizations to work with immigrants and refugees to provide education and information on the history of race and racism in the United States and  to address anti-Blackness, power, privilege, and oppression, as well as the ways in which all residents are impacted by racism.”

GOAL – Create Equitable, Inclusive Economic Development for the Region:  Develop workforce  systems and programs that are accessible to immigrants and refugees; breakdown barriers that limit opportunities for success for immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs. Regional economic development services collaborate to address barriers for immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs.

GOAL – Create a Welcoming, Inclusive Workplace Environment:  Provide culturally and linguistically appropriate education to immigrants and refugees on workers’ rights and workplace safety; encourage  local businesses to diversify their workforce, including support to ensure compliance with visa requirements and re-credentialing. 

GOAL – Prepare and Support All Students, including Immigrants and Refugees for the Workforce: Create twilight schools in the community; provide GED/HiSet and trade/vocational classes at no cost; ensure paid internships, scholarships and financial aid programs are accessible to racially and ethnically diverse students, including immigrants and refugees. 

GOAL – Commit to Immigration Integration and Economic Mobility: Prepare immigrants and refugees to enter certification programs through trade/ vocational classes by offering them at a variety of times and locations; old on-site English learning classes at employment locations; expand the Kansas City Public Library RISE program to ensure the services it provides are accessible throughout Greater Kansas City. 

GOAL – Create Equitable Educational Outcomes for Racially and Ethnically Diverse Students: Identify, promote and incorporate proven family engagement strategies that focus on the unique needs of racially and ethnically diverse students, immigrants and refugees; ensure early childhood education is accessible. 

GOAL – Create a Welcoming and Inclusive Climate Attractive to Racially and Ethnically Diverse Residents:   Promote the arts and cultures of racially and ethnically diverse residents; ensure arts and cultural programs and services celebrate the contributions of immigrants, refugees and racially and ethnically diverse residents; ensure government communication materials reflect and celebrate the diversity of the community. 

Learn More

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce put together a leadership team of key stakeholders from the Chamber and the Kansas City region – including REACH Healthcare Foundation, Communities Concerned for Immigrants and Refugees/Vibrant Health and Shabbir Advisors to develop Welcoming KC. Over an 18-month period, GKCCC received input from consultants at Welcoming America, Decatur, Illinois, www.welcomingamerica.org. Additionally, the plan has been informed by input from community leaders, government officials, community members directly impacted by the plan, and the public at large.

For an in depth and detailed look at GKCCC’s welcoming KC read the full report here.

Did You Know?

The National League of Cities (NLC), located in Washington, D.C. is the nation’s leading advocacy organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance. Through its membership and partnerships with state municipal leagues, NLC serves as a resource and advocate for more than 1,900 cities and towns. NLC, like the GKCCC, also recently (2017) published a detailed report on how cities are gearing up  to promote equity and diversity in municipal settings.  Future of Equity In Cities is available at www.nlc.org.

But did you know NLC was first founded in 1924 as the American Municipal Association in Lawrence, Kansas by a group of ten state municipal leagues seeking greater coordination and representation in national affairs. In 1947, the organization opened its membership to individual cities with populations of 100,000 or more. That membership threshold was gradually moved downward, and in 1964, to signal the organization's growing emphasis on cities as members, the American Municipal Association changed its name to the current NLC. By 1977, the population requirement was eliminated.