Energy Challenges For Agriculture

At its November monthly meeting, Camille Abrams, Senior Vice President Finance for energy, processing and food ingredients at CHS offered Agricultural Business Council members an overview of the energy challenges facing the agricultural industry. This breakfast meeting at the Sheraton Crown Center has become a tradition, held during the Agriculture Future of America’s Annual Leaders Conference.

In her initial remarks, Abrams described CHS as a leading farmer-owned energy, agronomy and grains and foods cooperative with a footprint covering 50 states and 65 countries. CHS supplies energy, seed, crop nutrients, crop protection products, grain marketing services, production and agricultural services, animal nutrition products, foods and food ingredients, and risk management services. The company operates petroleum refineries and pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products.

CHS’s activity in energy came into sharp focus in 2007, Abrams noted, when Congress authorized the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), which was intended to increase U.S. energy security, develop renewable energy production and improve vehicle fuel economy. She explained that renewable diesel economics are policy dependent; and policies make biofuels cost-effective to produce.

Over the past two decades, Abrams said, “sustainability” has been used in a variety of contexts. The word has evolved significantly from environmental consciousness to where the nation is today. CHS calls it a “holistic approach to management that includes efficiency, profitability, risk management, social impacts and long-term success.”  Simply put, environmental conservation and sustainability now mean doing more with less, increasing yields and profits, protecting human resources, providing community support and fostering inclusion and diversity.

Abrams offered these insights as to what it takes to decarbonize fuels. Over the past six months, a CHS sustainability team has conducted an assessment of perceptions and needs related to sustainability. In its push for renewable diesel, E15 and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), CHS is reporting that renewable diesel is a low carbon drop in fuel; it can be used up to 100% in existing engines; and it can be made from used cooking oil, tallow and vegetable oils. When E15 is approved, it could increase demand by up to 50%. The team also confirmed that low carbon farming practices and carbon capture at ethanol plants will lower carbon emissions. CHS is also looking into the future potential of ethanol as a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Digging Deeper...

Multiple challenges face U.S. schools and school boards around the country. Technology-adaptation, teacher salaries, operating budgets rank high among concerned educators, parents, taxpayers, culture warriors and marginalized groups. But as November’s observation of American Education Month and American Education Week (November 13-17) draws to a close, it is encouraging to see that one curriculum initiative in particular is gaining traction and picking up momentum:  Early ag education.
By Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC – Sources: Agriculture Education – Kansas State Department of Education; National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA); Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (KFAC); Agriculture Education on the Move™ (AEOTM); Missouri Farmers Care,

Ag Education On the Move in Elementary Schools

Agriculture had been a mainstay subject in America’s educational system for decades. The Morrill Act of 1862 made way for the formalization of college curricula that would help the U.S. become the giant it is in crop science and animal health. The 1917 Smith Hughes Act provided federal aid to states to develop pre-collegiate vocational education in agricultural and associated industrial trades and home economics. The continuing accomplishments and character of FFA alums are testament to the effectiveness to these early curricula.

Up until the 1920s when most Americans lived on farms or in small towns, school books were full of agricultural references. Farming and farm animals were a familiar part of nearly every child's life. However, when the farm population began to shrink during the 1920-1940s, emphasis on ag education waned. Educators focused on agriculture as an occupational specialty, rather than an integral part of every student's life. Agriculture education was mainly offered to those few students wanting to make a career of agriculture.

Nevertheless, during this period, a small nucleus of educators and others persistently pushed for more agriculture in education. They recognized the interlocking role of farming, food, and fiber production with environmental quality topics like maintaining a clean water supply and preserving and improving forests and wildlife habitat. They kept education in agriculture and the environment alive during a period when overall public interest was decreasing.

In the 1960s and 1970s, these educators realized the need for quality materials. Many excellent films, books, and classroom aids were financed and produced by businesses, foundations, nonprofit groups, and associations, as well as state and federal agencies. There was, however, little coordination of effort or exchange of ideas among the groups. And no central point for national coordination.

In 1981, USDA invited representatives from agricultural groups and educators around the country to meet in the Capitol to discuss agricultural literacy. A national task force was selected to coordinate with USDA to help states launch their own programs. This initiative became known as Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC).

AITC is managed by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which is headquartered here in Kansas City, MO. It serves nearly 5 million students and 60,000 teachers annually through workshops, conferences, field trips, farm tours, and other educational activities. AITC programs address a variety of issues and ag industry concerns, including: 

• Science literacy

• Agricultural careers

• Nutrition

• Pre-service and professional develop opportunities for teachers

The strength of AITC comes from its grassroots organization and the fact that educators are very much a part of the movement. Giant strides have been made since 1981. Agriculture in the Classroom is regarded as a refreshing and flexible educational program designed to supplement and enhance the teacher's existing curriculum.

Ag Ed Moves To The Front Burner

USDA remains actively involved in promoting agricultural education and preparing students for careers in food, agricultural science, natural resources, and related fields. Earlier this month Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed students, agricultural educators, and guests at the opening session of the 96th National FFA Convention and Expo. He was there to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with FFA formalizing a partnership to prepare more students for careers in food, agricultural science, natural resources, and related fields.

In June 2023, USDA announced a $262.5 million investment in institutions of higher education to foster the next generation of diverse agricultural professionals across the nation. In March 2023, USDA announced several actions to expand support for and access to the school meal programs, including awarding $50 million in grants that will increase collaboration between schools, food producers and suppliers.

The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City has been following investment and developmental efforts of the agricultural colleges at the University of Missouri and Kansas State University. Both schools can brag that their ag, veterinary and food programs and research accomplishments rank them among the top 20 institutions worldwide.

Last month, Dr. Ernie Minton, KSU’s Ag dean, updated the AgBiz Council on K-State’s Ag Innovation Initiative. With a price tag of $208 million, it is the largest single infrastructure undertaking in the history of the university. It signals the beginning of a food, agriculture and natural resources infrastructure overhaul in Manhattan and throughout the state. “The project will set a new bar for multidisciplinary research and innovation,” said Dr. Minton, “and continue to elevate K-State’s status among ag schools in the U.S.”

The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) has developed an international reputation as a reliable source of information and analysis on everything from farm commodity market outlook to the impacts of farm bills, trade disputes and biofuels – among others. FAPRI is well known for its projections for the farm economy. It develops 10-year projections for thousands of indicators that affect the food and agricultural sectors of the U.S. economy.

But Something Else Is Going On

Elementary students around the state are learning about the role of agriculture in their lives this fall with Agriculture Education on the Move™ (AEOTM). Through AEOTM, an educational program of Missouri Farmers Care, educators spend time in classrooms across Missouri helping elementary students build agricultural literacy.

During the ten-week program, students learn about crops, livestock, soil and water conservation, nutrition and careers in agriculture. The STEM-focused lessons and curriculum meet state learning objectives in the areas of science, math, social studies and language arts. Hands-on activities are incorporated into each lesson, providing fun and interactive ways of learning as students make soybean germination necklaces, corn plastic, butter, feed rations, soil profiles and more. Through the curriculum, students learn about Missouri farm families and how the dedication and year-round efforts of these farmers and ranchers impact their lives.

“Agriculture education in elementary classrooms is a valuable experience for all involved,” says Heather Fletcher, AEOTM program director. “Students, teachers and even AEOTM educators and partners are connecting to the world around them, where their food comes from and how agriculture affects daily life. We value each participating school and look forward to returning year after year.”

Hundreds of Missouri FFA students partner with Missouri Farmers Care to teach AEOTM™ to students in their local school districts. Through this opportunity, FFA members serve as educators, gaining hands-on experience in the classroom and as advocates for agriculture in their community. Missouri Farmers Care’s AEOTM program equips FFA partners with the curriculum, training and materials to teach in their local communities. In 2023, 535 FFA members in 83 FFA chapters joined the effort to educate Missouri’s third-graders about the agriculture industry.

“We appreciate each Missouri FFA student serving as an Ag Education on the Move™ FFA Partner Educator,” Fletcher adds. “These high school students serve as role models for the elementary students they are teaching, sharing their knowledge and passion for agriculture. At the same time, they are building communication, management and leadership skills they will use throughout their careers.”

AEOTM will engage over 10,000 third-grade students through ten weeks of in-classroom programming this year, more than doubling the program’s reach since 2021.

“The entire community benefits from Agriculture Education on the Move™ as local students experience the thrill of germinating seeds, understanding the basics of how their food is produced and opening their eyes, many for the first time, to the agriculture all around them,” explains Ashley McCarty, Missouri Farmers Care executive director. “The connections the students make this semester will help inform their perspectives as future consumers and help them see the potential of agriculturally-related careers.”

AEOTM is funded through Missouri Farmers Care, a coalition of more than 40 Missouri agriculture groups. Missouri soybean farmers and their checkoff and the MFA Oil Foundation support the program, along with contributions from Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, FCS Financial, MFA Incorporated, Missouri Beef Industry Council and the Missouri Fertilizer Control Board. 

Kansas elementary schools are also teaching agriculture. The program is designed to help students understand the importance of agriculture in their daily lives and to encourage them to pursue careers in agriculture. Additionally, the School-Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) program is delivered to over 13,000 students engaged in 220 ag ed initiatives by over 265 instructors in school districts across the state.

The Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (KFAC) has created a lesson-plan kit that offers a free lesson and activity to incorporate agriculture into a classroom. In 2022, KFAC sent out more than 1,000 K-5th grade kits to educators across Kansas, reaching over 465 schools and 25,000 students. This KFAC lesson-plan is proving to be boon for new teachers. “We plan to continue expanding our reach by adding kits for grades 6-8 and 9-12 and increasing the number of kits we send,” notes the Foundation.

More initiatives were launched in 2023. One of them is Career Awareness for Rural Agricultural Sciences Through Tower Gardening – also known as Project CARAT, a vertical gardening curriculum to teach high school students various agricultural sciences career-related skills. Project CARAT is a partnership between the K-State Rural Education Center in KSU’s College of Education and KFAC. It is funded by a $150,000 grant from NIFA.

School-Based Agricultural Education is considered essential by Kansas State Department of Education. And it is determined to make sure “agricultural education prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber and natural resources systems.”

Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - November 2023

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.

KSU’s Agriculture and Veterinary Colleges Get High Rankings

(Left to right) Bob Petersen, AgBizKC Executive Director, Dustin Johansen, AgBizKC Chair, Dr. Ben Wolfe, K-State Olathe, Ron Seeber, AgBizKC Vice Chair, Dr. Bonnie Rush, KSU-college of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Ernie Minton, KSU-College of Agriculture

The Deans of Kansas State University’s Colleges of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine had plenty to boast about at the Council’s October luncheon meeting, annually hosted by K-State Olathe. They were introduced by Dr. Ben Wolfe, Olathe campus Dean & CEO, who pointed out that K-State has a strong reputation in the field of animal science. “We’re ranked 10th in the country and 14th in the world, according to EduRank.org.”

Dr. Ernie Minton, the Ag dean, provided an update on the Ag Innovation Initiative. With a price tag of $208 million, it is the largest single infrastructure undertaking in the history of the university. It signals the beginning of a food, agriculture and natural resources infrastructure overhaul in Manhattan and throughout the state. “The project will set a new bar for multidisciplinary research and innovation,” said Dr. Minton, “and continue to elevate K-State’s status among ag schools in the U.S.”

Dr. Bonnie Rush, dean of the veterinary college since 2019, has spearheaded efforts to develop existing and new programs, to accelerate student growth and improve research, teaching and extension curricula and services. The college has three academic departments, two service units — the Veterinary Health Center and Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory — and is home to a number of prestigious research centers and units, including the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases, Beef Cattle Institute, Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases and the U.S.-China Center for Animal Health. The college's professional degree program provides broad training opportunities across a comprehensive range of companion and exotic animals, and livestock species.

Dr. Rush’s efforts have been rewarded. Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine consistently ranks in the Top Ten Listings of veterinary schools. College.US.com and U.S. News & World Report are among outlets publishing such data. As part of the presentation, Dr. Rush described a unique scholarship program for talented veterinary students who intend to enter rural practice. The scholarship pays in-state tuition for approximately seven veterinary students who commit to practicing at a rural mixed-animal hospital for four years.

Dr. Rush was also proud to announce that the College of Veterinary Medicine had recently awarded its first honorary doctorate in veterinary medicine to Temple Grandin, Ph.D.

Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - October 2023

Developments

Missouri net farm income saw a backslide from record-setting levels in 2022, according to the fall 2023 Missouri Farm Income Outlook report released by the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center at the University of Missouri. The farm income report provides comprehensive insights into changes in the state’s farm receipts, production expenses, government payments and other key factors that impact net farm income. The report suggests that declining crop receipts and stubborn production expenses are contributors to the $530 million decrease in net farm income for 2023. Read more here.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson travelled to Japan on an international trade mission. Japan is a top source of foreign direct investment and key trade partner for Missouri, with more than $455 million in exports in 2022. Consistent with Governor Parson’s infrastructure and economic development priorities, the goal of the Trade Mission was to build relationships with key international figures to promote Missouri’s strong capacity for trade. The trade mission included stops in Tokyo and Nagano Prefecture, the sister state to Missouri, where the delegation visited Nagano Prefecture University, which works with the University of Missouri. The delegation also meet with Shuichi Abe, Governor of Nagano Prefecture, and the mayor of Suwa, St. Louis’ sister city.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Conservation (KDA–DOC) is pleased to announce the availability of funds in the form of cost share assistance and incentive payments to assist landowners with irrigation efficiency technology. The funding is provided by KDA–DOC through appropriation from the State Water Plan Fund and the program is administered by Conservation Districts across the state. This initiative is designed to promote irrigation efficiency by providing cost share assistance to landowners for automated mobile drip irrigation systems, autonomous pivot systems, water meter monitoring software subscriptions, bubbler nozzle packages, and remote monitoring systems (soil moisture probes included as part of system). Eligible projects must be located within Kansas groundwater management districts 1 through 5. Applications are currently being accepted, and projects will be approved beginning on November 1, 2023, until all funds have been allocated. Equipment purchases and subscriptions made before application approval by KDA–DOC are not eligible for this initiative. More information is available here.

St. Joseph-based AngusLink, the administrator for value-added programs of the American Angus Association®, surpassed 150,000 head of enrolled cattle for 2023 on September 15. This means from 2022 to 2023, participation in AngusLink has increased by more than 300%, reflecting a turning point for its value-added programs. This milestone comes after the establishment of a collaboration agreement with IMI Global. Since January, IMI Global has worked alongside Association staff to help provide verification services to cattlemen for AngusVerified and the Genetic Merit Scorecard. IMI Global administers the program giving producers a la carte access to IMI’s suite of programs along with AngusLink programs, which can be added individually as well.

Farmer views of the ag economy worsened for the second month in a row in September, according to the monthly survey from Purdue University and the CME Group. The overall rating of farm sentiment dropped to a reading of 106 in the Ag Economy Barometer, a decrease from 115 in August and down from 123 in July. The rating is also lower than the 112 rating in September 2022. According to the survey, “weakening prices for major crops and ongoing concerns about high production costs and interest rates weighed on producers’ minds this month.”

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. USDA is providing $2.3 billion to help American producers maintain and develop markets for their commodities and use U.S. commodities to bolster international food aid. Consistent with a bipartisan request from the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, USDA is utilizing funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation to address challenges related to trade and food insecurity impacting U.S. farmers and the international community. USDA will use:

• $1.3 billion for the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program and support for specialty crop industries to diversify export markets.

• $1 billion to help address global hunger.

According to a recent report by Rabobank, the outlook for the global fertilizer market is positive in the coming years, with some challenges and potential risks to be monitored. The global fertilizer market is recovering, with an estimated increase in usage of around 3% in 2023 following a 7% drop in 2022 due to various complications in the market. Regarding disruptions due to the latest Israel-Hamas war, the impact on fertilizer markets is seen as marginal at this stage. The report highlights the positive outlook for fertilizer purchasing in 2024, with an expected increase of close to 5%.

FYI: For the second year, the Real Christmas Tree Board has asked wholesale growers of real Christmas trees for their outlook on the coming holiday season. It’s good news. Input costs and wholesale price increases have moderated year-over-year. Even though input costs have gone up year-over-year for nearly all wholesale growers. “The real Christmas tree industry consistently meets demand,” said Marsha Gray, Executive Director of the Real Christmas Tree Board. “This year, two-thirds of the wholesale growers (67%) surveyed told us they expect to sell all the trees they plan to harvest. And that’s how we, retailers, and consumers like it.”

More than 50 Livestock Marketing Association members and staff met with senators, U.S. representatives, congressional staffers and USDA officials last month during the association’s 17th D.C. Fly-In. The event offered an opportunity for livestock auction market owners to share their stories and connect with elected officials. Throughout the visit, they advocated for Congress to pass bills to remove an antiquated prohibition and allow a livestock auction owner to own or invest in a small or medium packer. Association members say Congress and the cattle industry agree the U.S. beef packing capacity needs to be increased, ideally by adding new competitors to the marketplace. But the rule prohibits livestock auction owners from owning or investing in meat packing businesses.

Last month Congress approved five-year reauthorizations for the Animal Drug User Fee Act and the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act as part of the short-term spending bills that kept the government from shutting down. ADUFA allows FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine to collect fees from animal health companies, which fund the agency’s review and approval process for new animal drugs. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association welcomed the "clean" reauthorization of ADUFA. “Incredible veterinary drug innovations are happening every day, and ADUFA ensures that the FDA has the resources it needs to review these new technologies for safety and efficacy and to bring them to market for cattle producers,” says NCBA Chief Veterinarian Dr. Kathy Simmons.

Preliminary USDA program data for the first 10 months of fiscal year (FY) 2023 signal that federal spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is likely to total $112 billion for the year, an $8 billion decline from its peak in 2022. This estimate excludes P-EBT, associated with school lunch reimbursements. The average monthly SNAP benefit per person has started to decline significantly, compared to maximum benefit levels, as most states phased out emergency allotments earlier this year. In January 2023, SNAP participants received an average of $254, roughly 90% of the authorized maximum benefit level for a one-person household. In July 2023, the ratio of average over maximum benefits dropped to 62% as most households no longer qualified for maximum benefits. Though lower, this ratio is relatively similar to pre-COVID SNAP averages.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow says in an exclusive interview with Agri-Pulse that she expects to have about $4 billion to $5 billion in new funding available for the next farm bill. She’s been working with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, to identify funding sources outside the bill.  She doesn’t say where the money is coming from, but says it will help address issues in the commodity and crop insurance titles. Stabenow, D-MI, also says Congress is going to need to pass a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill before the end of the year. House Ag Chairman Glenn Thompson, R-PA, doesn’t think the extension needs to be that long. But USDA has told Stabenow a one-year extension is necessary to ensure commodity programs can properly operate. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications, October 25, 2023.

Events

The featured speaker for opening night of this year’s Kansas Livestock Association Convention, November 29-December 1 in Wichita, will discuss highlights from his 30-year career in agricultural policy and provide insight into the beef and dairy export markets. Kansas native Gregg Doud will take the stage Wednesday evening during the Cattlemen’s Banquet, sponsored by INTRUST Bank, Tyson Fresh Meats and Allflex Livestock Intelligence. Doud currently is the chief operating officer for the National Milk Producers Federation, but will become president and chief executive officer in January.

FFA members and supporters from across the country will celebrate agriculture and agricultural education next week during the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. This time-honored tradition, hosted by the city of Indianapolis, is taking place this week, November 1-4. More than 65,000+ FFA members from the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands are expected to participate in the event. This year the event can be watched live through their streaming broadcast. More information at FFA Live! – 96th National FFA Convention & Expo.

Kansas City-based National Institute for Animal Agriculture will host the 13th Annual Antibiotics Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia from November 7-9, 2023. This year’s theme is Thriving in a Changing Landscape. NIAA serves as a contractor to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the Antibiotics Symposium is made possible in part by the Beef Checkoff. More information is available here.

Leading agriculture experts from the University of Missouri, Purdue University, USDA Agricultural Research Service and the University of Nebraska will give updates on weeds, crop diseases, insects and new technologies at the annual MU Crop Management Conference, December 6-7 at the Columbia Holiday Inn Executive Center. MU Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley will summarize recent weed management research, including tank mixes of biological products with herbicides and an evaluation of drones for spraying and spreading. Sessions will cover intensive corn management, planter technologies for improving corn stands after a rye cover crop and a new tool for soybean variety selection. More information is available here.

K-State Olathe is hosting an upcoming workshop on Artificial Intelligence in Animal Health: What is it and What Does the Future Hold? The workshop will be held Nov. 2 from 1-5 p.m. Options are available for online and in-person participation. More information is available here. In addition they are hosting two upcoming luncheon webinars on Animal Health Regulatory Affairs Graduate Certificate, Oct. 11, Noon and M.S. in Veterinary Biomedical Science, Oct. 11 at 12:30 p.m.

People

Nicole Erceg is the new director of marketing for Agriculture Future of America. Erceg most recently served as the director of communications for Certified Angus Beef. Erceg is an established leader in agricultural communications with a robust background in public relations, communications strategy, digital media and sustainability initiatives. Throughout her career, she played a pivotal role in elevating brands serving as the Director of Digital Media for the marketing agency Ranch House Designs and her own business, Erceg Creative & Consulting, which catered to a diverse clientele in the food and agriculture sector.

Wyatt Agar, Thermopolis, Wyoming, became the new president of the American Hereford Association during its Annual Membership Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri. Agar is a manager and a partner in Durbin Creek Ranch and Washakie Feeders in Worland, Wyoming. The seedstock division runs 500 head of females, where AI and embryo transfer (ET) technologies are used. Chad Breeding, Miami, Texas, was selected to serve as the 2024 vice president

With the start of a new fiscal year, the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and the Missouri Corn Growers Association announced a new slate of officers, the appointment of recently elected board members, and national committee assignments. The election of the 2023-24 MCMC officer team took place during an August board meeting held in Branson. The following MCMC leaders assumed their new roles October 1: Chairman- Matt Lambert, Laclede (District 2); Vice Chairman- Patrick Seyer, Oran (District 7); Secretary- Adam Casner, Carrollton (District 2).The Missouri Corn Growers Association rolled out their new leadership team for 2023-24: President Brent Hoerr of Palmyra, Vice President Brian Lehman of Versailles, and Secretary/Treasurer Ryan Meyerkorth of Rock Port. (Courtesy MCGA)

Jeff Rowe has been selected as the new CEO of the Syngenta Group, effective January 1. He currently is president of Syngenta Crop Protection. Before that he was president of Syngenta Seeds. Last week, Erik Fyrwald, Syngenta Group’s current CEO, announced he would be stepping down at the end of the year after seven years with the company. He will remain as an adviser and continue serving as chairman of the Syngenta Group’s board of directors. Hengde Qin has been tapped as the new chief financial officer, replacing Chen Lichtenstein, who is stepping down to pursue other business opportunities. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications, October 25, 2023.

Digging Deeper...

It may not be considered news to Kansans and Missourians living in the greater Kansas City region that our metropolis and its surroundings can legitimately lay claim to being the center of the global BBQ culture and industry. That’s probably because most of us just assume it’s always been case. But it wasn’t always that way. “While Kansas City didn’t invent barbecue, it did perfect it,” Kansas City-based American barbeque historian Doug Worgul has said.
By Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC – Sources: Doug Worgul, Grand Barbecue: A Celebration of history, Places, Personalities and Techniques of Kansas City Barbecue; Allyssa King, American Royal; Rod Gray, CEO, Kansas City Barbeque Society; Smithsonian Magazine, July 3, 2023 (updated from July 18, 2013); Texas Monthly, September 17, 2023; Joseph R. Haynes, From Barbycu to Barbecue: The Untold History of an American Tradition; Bristol Herald Courier, Bristol, VA.

The Global Epicenter Of BBQ

If there is anything BBQ epicureans might love more than eating barbecue, it’s talking and writing about it. Accurate stats on the number of books published about the origins, history and heroes of the cuisine over are iffy, if non-existent. But if we’re just talking about BBQ cookbooks, we could guestimate the number is in the range of at least 8,000 volumes. That’s based on the more than 17,000 BBQ restaurants in the U.S., and on the not-so-outlandish but officially undocumented presumption that it seems as though half the proprietors of these eateries have published a book of their favorite recipes and methods of preparing them.

But a better picture of the love Americans have for barbecue is drawn by data from the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. In a recent survey, HPBA claimed 80% of all homeowners and 70% of all households in the United States own at least one grill or smoker. What’s more, many Americans use their grills and smokers year-round, not just during the summer months. “This is because barbecuing is not just a cooking method,” says the association, “but also a social activity that brings people together.”

The global barbeque grill market size was valued at $4.59 billion in 2021, according to San Francisco-based Grand View Research. It is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 4.8% from 2022 to 2030. Changes in lifestyle and eating habits among young consumers along with the growing trend of outdoor parties and social gatherings have increased the demand for low and slow-cooked recipes such as brisket, pork shoulder and pork ribs.

More Than Meat

Barbecuing is more than cooking meat in a smoker or on a grill. It’s also a spiritual exercise that teaches valuable lessons about patience and fortitude, notes Kansas City resident and American barbecue historian Doug Worgul. He is the author of The Grand Barbecue: A Celebration of the History, Places, Personalities and Techniques of Kansas City Barbecue published in 2001. His novel Thin Blue Smoke (2009) set in a Kansas City barbeque joint was a 2010 finalist for The People's Book Prize (UK). The Englewood Review of Books named Thin Blue Smoke its Novel of the Year in 2012.

During a lecture Worgul delivered in 2012 at the annual Buechner Lecture Series presented by King College, Bristol, Tennessee, he said, “The spirit of barbecue is that even when you’re given a fatty pork butt or a tough brisket to put on a grill, if you’re patient and diligent you can end up cooking something that’s really great and memorable.” And he added, “That same fatty old pork butt, that same tough brisket aren’t going to be any good at all unless you have that patience, that sense of commitment.”

But there appears a higher message in what Worgul told King College students, faculty and the Bristol community at large. “I really think barbecuing symbolizes, in a real spiritual sense, what life is about in general.” He added that in addition to rewarding patience, the act of barbecuing has another, often-overlooked spiritual benefit: It fosters a sense of fellowship and togetherness.

Done properly, according to Worgul, barbequing is a slow, gradual and labor-intensive activity. “And there’s no point doing it if you’re the only one that’s going to eat.” It really only works when it’s being done for lots of people and when there’s a sense of community about it. “That’s why barbecuing is the ultimate family activity,” he said. “It’s all about gathering together and eating together; and just enjoying some good barbecue.”

How We Got Here

For more than 30 years Worgul (who has spoken at Kansas City Agricultural Business Council meetings), has researched the origins and growth of barbecue as an American pastime – a tradition that continues to have “its strongest heartbeat in the South.” In an interview with the Bristol Herald Courier, Bristol, Virginia, he said, “It’s clear that barbecue’s heaviest influence, still, comes from its roots in the South.”

Based on his research of the origins of BBQ in North America, Worgul suggests settlers arriving several centuries ago from Europe and Africa figuratively lit the first fire pits that served up the first BBQ feasts. These folks brought thousands of pigs across the Atlantic Ocean that would be fed and bred to feed a growing population of Americans. Pigs were a perfect food source for the settlers, Worgul points out, because the animals were self-sufficient foragers who quickly gained weight and could be cooked with the hardwood that was abundant in North American forests.

This past July, barbecue author and award-wining cook, Joseph R. Haynes – who is also a Kansas City Barbeque Society Master Certified Barbeque Judge – published From Barbycu to Barbecue. The book argues that commonly held understandings about BBQ’s origins often embrace half-truths and misconceptions. Haynes refutes the “Caribbean Origins Theory” – which holds that the original southern barbequing technique was developed and imported from the Caribbean to what is today the American South. Rather, he says, the southern whole carcass barbequing technique that defines American traditional-style barbeque emerged via direct and indirect collaboration among Native Americans, European settlers in the New World and free and enslaved people of African descent in the 1600s. Haynes describes southern barbequing style to be uniquely American as “jerked hog is to Jamaica and barbacoa is to Mexico.”

Worgul’s notion of the origins of American barbeque seems to jibe with Haynes’ concept. When black slaves were kidnapped and shipped to America, he said, they were forced to do the cooking for households. That meant creative African and Caribbean techniques for barbequing were infused into developing “new world” tastes.

Kansas City Rising

While barbeque cuisine is available in most states and cities across the country, the area stretching from the South Atlantic Coast to the Gulf of Mexico constitutes the “barbeque belt” that binds four distinct barbeque traditions: Carolina, Texas, Memphis and Kansas City.

Early on, Carolina barbeque moved westward, eventually entering Texas, where German immigrants had plenty of land to cultivate cattle. They applied Carolina techniques to a different sort of animal entirely different from the pigs. In Memphis, the regionally unique sweet, tomato-based barbeque sauce was born from the city’s status as a popular port along the Mississippi River. According to an article originally published in Smithsonian Magazine, (July 2013; updated July 3, 2023), Memphis residents could easily obtain a variety of goods, including molasses, which provided the region’s sweet barbecue taste. Memphis barbecue genes determined the last of America’s four main barbecue styles – Kansas City ‘Cue.’

In the early 1900s, Memphis-native Henry Perry settled in Kansas City and opened a barbeque restaurant. That, Worgul declares was the birthplace of the city’s particular barbeque style. Perry followed the style of his Memphis roots, using a sweet and spicy barbeque sauce. But Perry did not adhere to the stringent requirements that called for a pork-only barbeque. He promoted the use of beef and other meats. Revered Texas food journalist Dotty Griffith, who passed away in 2021, referred to Kansas City barbeque as the ultimate amalgamation of East and West (Texas) barbeque. Worgul concurs: “It’s the capital of barbeque, because it’s the one town that actually brought all of the historic traditions of BBQ together in one place.” A footnote: When Perry – best remembered as the Father of Kansas City-style barbeque – died in 1940, Charlie Bryant took over the business and later sold it to Arthur Bryant.

While Kansas City pit masters, grill kings and backyard smokers might consider themselves accomplished practitioners of barbeque, the city itself occupies the “corner office” of the entire global barbeque community and culture. The Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), a nonprofit organization, sanctions over 300 barbecue contests a year in 44 different states. Despite the "Kansas City" name, the KCBS judges all styles of barbecue, says Rod Gray, KCBS CEO. He breaks them down into classes for ribs, brisket, pork and chicken. Its membership is close to 15,000.

KCBS also hosts educational classes across the nation to improve barbecue techniques and certify barbeque judges. But it is also involved in advising international barbeque competitions. Gray says that organizers of some 40 events in Mexico, Europe and Africa have consulted with KCBS. “We have also been in contact with organizers of South Korean barbeque events.” That is something of a feather in KCBS’ cap since Korean barbeque is savored and well-respected around the world.

The Crown Jewel

Kansas City’s American Royal World Series of Barbecue® underscores the importance of barbeque to the region and adds a dash of regality to the culture. Competitors come from around the world to participate in the world’s largest smoking, grilling competition. The purse this year – $124,485 – was the largest of any such event ever. This year’s event took place September 27 to October 1. There were 487 teams plus 80 kid’s teams cooking for a share of that purse. The competition included 13 international teams from Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, Panama and Costa Rica. Overall attendance was 35,000.

Proving that the redolence of barbeque – with its rich, languid, sweet smoke – can be more than meets the eye, Blind Butt Limitless – the first ever blind team to compete in the event – placed 106th overall and 30th in the pork competition.

Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - September 2023

Developments

Kansas State University’s Technology Development Institute in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering is working with a team of researchers from across the country to address organic-compliant food safety concerns for the produce industry. The effort is funded by a USDA grant as part of the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative to help solve critical organic agriculture issues. The research team consists of food scientists from K-State and four additional universities — the University of Missouri, the University of Arizona, the University of Florida and the University of Georgia — and has an overall goal of developing new technologies to control Listeria biofilms on food-contact surfaces and equipment.

After the success of its first European edition last year, Lenexa, Kansas-based Ceva Animal Health has announced the launch of a U.S. edition – 2024 Call For Projects – This worldwide event aims to discover and support new solutions for the well-being and care of companion animals. Ceva hopes to harness the expertise and creativity of individuals, startups and organizations. Selected projects will receive valuable support from Ceva, including mentorship, access to industry networks and resources to accelerate the development and commercialization of their innovative solutions. Additionally, the selected projects will gain recognition and visibility within the animal health community. More information is available at their website.

The Monthly Monitor is a new report compiled by the University of Missouri’s Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center and Farm Journal that surveys economists nationwide on their projections of agricultural trends. Scott Brown, director of the policy center, is forecasting a positive outlook for farm finances even as the weather has created significant challenges this past year in North America. Sentiment from the July Monthly Monitor indicates that economists are worried about feed costs and how they could affect livestock prices and profitability. When asked to project prices, economists saw a more positive outlook for pork and beef prices than for milk. Specifically, milk supplies have been slower to adjust to the lack of profitability than beef or pork supplies. An additional area of concern among the economist group included domestic and international demand. More information is available here.

Livestock Marketing Association members have a front-row seat to a disturbing trend: the continued loss of livestock producers across the U.S. They see this as a critical threat, not only to the livestock industry, but to the nation’s food supply. That’s why they’re launching an initiative to strengthen producers’ bottom lines and incentivize the next generation of farmers and ranchers. To join the conversation visit their website.

Sixteen of the nation’s top corn grower leaders, including KCGA President Brent Rogers, Hoxie, asked that aviation biofuels be treated fairly in tax policy by using the best standards available. The corn leaders recently sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen encouraging her to adopt the GREET emissions model developed by the Department of Energy as her agency works with the IRS to determine which biofuels can qualify for sustainable aviation fuel tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Nodaway County has applied for and been granted Agri-Ready County Designation by Missouri Farmers Care, a coalition of more than 40 leading Missouri agricultural groups. With this designation, the county has taken action to support agricultural development, economic growth and agricultural literacy education. Through the Agri-Ready County Designation program, MFC identifies counties that create an environment conducive to agricultural opportunity which support Missouri’s largest industry. “The Nodaway County Commission unanimously supports a pro Agri-Ready Designation,” said Bill Walker, Nodaway County Presiding Commissioner. “It creates an environment conducive to agriculture, helps us promote our agricultural assets and builds on education and workforce development opportunities.”

University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineering specialist Teng Lim has been awarded a $179,933 grant to study new wean-to-harvest biosecurity projects to improve entry to swine operations. The Swine Health Information Center awarded the grant with funds from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and the Pork Checkoff. MU Extension was one of five groups to receive funds in a $514,856 round of awards aimed at addressing biosecurity gaps in U.S. swine herds. This is the second round of awards made by the program. About $1 million was awarded in the first round. The research projects center on the efficacy of new tools to reduce the risk of disease spread, said SHIC associate director Megan Niederwerder. Lim said the awards help researchers prevent the spread of emerging swine diseases by identifying vulnerabilities faced by pork producers. The interdisciplinary faculty team, which includes Wole Odemuyiwa, Cory Bromfield and Tamara Gull, has been brainstorming practical methods to safeguard swine health in the U.S. MU Extension researchers will look at easy-to-use entry systems that improve biosecurity on commercial pig farms. The project will design and test a variety of entry systems that consist of air showers, disinfectant spraying/fogging units and designated clean and dirty areas split by a “line of separation.” The team will test the pathogen-removal effectiveness of each entry system.

The pork industry isn't united over whether Congress should use the upcoming farm bill to overturn California’s Proposition 12, and a proposed legislative fix faces stiff opposition. After the Supreme Court upheld California’s ballot initiative that mandates animal confinement space requirements, the National Pork Producers Council began working with members of Congress on a way to block the law from being enforced. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, and Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., introduced the Ending Agriculture Trade Suppression (EATS) Act this summer with hopes of including it in the upcoming farm bill. The EATS Act would bar a state from regulating farming practices for foods produced in another state. But not all in the industry are on board with that approach. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications, September 27, 2023.

Water levels along the Mississippi River are plummeting for the second year in a row after this summer’s blistering heat and low rainfall triggered extreme drought across parts of the Central US. The low water levels have made a unique rock formation in the Mississippi River, usually surrounded by water, accessible by foot, and the Army Corps of Engineers is increasing the size of a levee in Louisiana to prevent saltwater from surging into drinking water in New Orleans. The drought comes as a critical harvest season approaches and farmers across the Midwest are concerned about water supply and barge deliveries. Officials and residents along the river worry about the widespread impacts another decline could bring. Every water level gauge along a nearly 400-mile stretch of the Mississippi from the Ohio River to Jackson, Mississippi, is at or below the low-water threshold, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and US Geological Survey. The same stretch of the river experienced record-low water levels last year in October, which brought major impacts on farming communities and barge traffic during the critical harvest period, where staple Midwestern crops including soybeans, corn and wheat are transported down the river.

Events

The American Royal World Series of Barbecue®, the world's largest barbecue competition and the American Royal's largest fundraiser, welcomes the Kansas City community for a family fun day at the Kansas Speedway on Saturday, September 30, starting at 11 a.m. Attendees can expect a full lineup of exciting yard games, family-friendly outdoor activities, food and entertainment for everyone to enjoy. “Join us at this year’s World Series of Barbecue as the Kansas Speedway’s infield turns into a huge backyard party filled with food, games, drinks, fun, family activities, barbecue giveaways and so much more,” said Jackie McClaskey, president and CEO of the American Royal Association. As for the BBQ competition, this year’s will feature a record-setting 507 teams and 80 Kids’ Q squads.

K-State Olathe is hosting an upcoming workshop on Artificial Intelligence in Animal Health: What is it and What Does the Future Hold? The workshop will be held Nov. 2 from 1-5 p.m. Options are available for online and in-person participation. More information is available here. In addition they are hosting two upcoming luncheon webinars on Animal Health Regulatory Affairs Graduate Certificate, Oct. 11, Noon and M.S. in Veterinary Biomedical Science, Oct. 11 at 12:30 p.m.

People

Iowa State student Quentin Slater will be a member of the Agri-Pulse team of journalists this fall as part of an immersive learning experience provided through the Iowa State University Foundation. He is the second candidate to be selected by ISU for this multiyear educational program. Slater will be based in Washington, D.C., where he will write articles for the Agri-Pulse and Agri-Pulse West newsletters — which are must-read, subscriber-only products offering the latest ag and food policy information — as well as contribute to all other facets of coverage offered at Agri-Pulse.com. “We are excited to have Quentin on board to help cover Capitol Hill and learn more about the intersection of politics and policies impacting rural America.

Korbin Fisher (Cole County), Cameryn Belle Hoffman (Audrain County) and Matthew Jermain (Nodaway County) have been awarded the inaugural Michael P. Voiles Scholarship for Insurance and Agriculture, by the Missouri Farm Bureau. The scholarship was established this fall to honor Voiles’ outstanding legacy and service at Missouri Farm Bureau (MOFB). Voiles served MOFB and its members for 42 years, and the scholarship was created by his wife, Beckie, to encourage students to pursue degrees – and ultimately careers – in the insurance and agricultural industries. Each recipient will receive a $1,500 scholarship that is renewable for up to three additional years, pending the successful completion of yearly criteria.

James Glueck is headed to the Corn Refiners Association as the new executive director of the Plant Based Products Council and will also serve as the senior vice president of advanced bioproducts at CRA. He previously worked at Torrey Advisory Group as a vice president. Before that, he was the GOP staff director for the Senate Ag Committee under then-Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan. Glueck replaces Jessica Bowman who has left the company. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications, September 27, 2023.

Pork Industry Champion Retiring

Don Nikodim, executive director of the Missouri Pork Association (MPA) is retiring in January 2024 after a career spanning half a century in the agricultural industry. He earned his BS in Agriculture and Masters in Education degrees from the University of Missouri in 1974 and 1977 respectively. After graduating in 74, he became a Vo Ag instructor at Odessa and then followed one more year at Liberty, MO. Don then became the Executive Secretary for the Poland China Swine Record Association in Galesburg, Il. There he managed that national organization and traveled across the country interacting with pork producers and allied industry. Upon returning to Missouri, he served as a University of Missouri Extension Farm Management specialist until beginning his role at MPA.

In December 1983, Nikodim was named executive director of MPA. During that 40-year tenure, he has been largely responsible for expanding pork promotion and education programs and spearheading public policy efforts. Additionally, his involvement in Missouri’s Right-to-Farm legislation has led to common sense policies in response to animal activists’ demands. Work in this area also helped in the development of Missouri Farmers Care which continues to be a remarkable joint effort of Missouri’s mainstream agriculture organizations.

In announcing his retirement, the MPA noted, “Don Nikodim has played an instrumental role in advancing the interests of the pork industry in Missouri throughout his tenure as the executive director. Under his leadership, the Missouri Pork Association has achieved significant milestones and made lasting contributions to the state’s agricultural landscape. As he prepares to step down, there is no doubt that his legacy will be remembered with gratitude and admiration by colleagues and industry stakeholders alike.”

Two years ago, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the National Pork Board awarded Don Nikodim with the Paulson-Whitmore State Executive Award at the National Pork Industry Forum. The award, named after former Minnesota and Wisconsin Executive Directors Don Paulson and Rex Whitmore, recognizes the outstanding leadership and commitment of state pork organization executives. Receiving the award was humbling, Nikodim said, adding that he was “just doing my job.”

Just Doing The Job

Nikodim has been immersed in the pork industry his whole life. He was raised on a small farm in southwest Missouri and tended to a 30-head sow herd. He attributes the success and achievements he has enjoyed at MPA to a strong, dedicated, capable staff. “I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by people who make me look good.”

“The folks out raising pigs are just phenomenal, it’s a pleasure to work with them and see their commitment to the business, to leadership and the sacrifice they put forth to the organization in making things better,” Nikodim told Farm Journal’s Pork editor, Jennifer Shike. “One of the neat things about being around hog producers is that when you get a group of them together, it’s not a gripe session. It’s usually fixated on what can we do to get better? That positive attitude makes serving the industry such an enjoyment.”

One of Nikodim’s pet endeavors over the years has been to ensure that human and humane touch is passed along to future generations of pig farmers. Missouri Pork Association is a key supporter of 4-H and FFA.

“I’ve always appreciated Don’s dedication to cultivating the next generation of ag and rural leaders,” said Garrett Hawkins, president Missouri Farm Bureau. “He’s been instrumental in supporting MU’s Animal Sciences Youth Leadership Academy, and he did a great job leading ALOT’s Board of Directors. You can always count on Don to be promoting Missouri’s pork industry with a delicious meal at events all over our state, and his service will be missed.”

Missouri ALOT was launched in 1983 as an endeavor to develop the leadership potential of individuals in Missouri’s agricultural community. The mission is to provide advanced leadership experiences that will make a positive impact on the future of agriculture and agribusiness in Missouri and beyond. The two-year adult leadership training program is designed for agricultural producers and rural leaders who are intent on promoting Missouri agriculture and strengthening rural communities. The curriculum has been designed to expose each class member to the dynamics of politics, economics, social norms, communication and agriculture.

Speaking of Politics

Over the last 30 or so years tremendous change in the pork industry has taken place, Nikodim says, referring to production, processing, medical, marketing, exporting, technology and regulatory advances, and other issues. At times he was in the thick of it as pork industry, regulators, activists and advocates faced off. While some parties seemed intent on making noise and presenting unreasonable demands, Nikodim has always been focused on attaining goals using science-based reasoning and implementing a strategy of “seeking smaller gains” toward beneficial compromises.

“Don and I started working together in the late 1980s as pork production systems started to change and the controversial issues revolving around those trends began to erupt,” says Gina Bowman, founder of the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City. She and Nikodim collaborated to prepare and organize legislative education meetings, tours and public policy hearings.

“We were trying to encourage cooler heads and reasonable policy decisions,” she said. “It was a very contentious time and I’m so grateful Don seemed so calm and cool through it all.

Digging Deeper...

Jim Barcus Photo

The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse Communications brought together top economists, industry leaders and government officials to offer unique insights during their 9th annual Ag Outlook Forum. Bob Petersen, executive director, Ag Business Council of Kansas City added that, “the event has become a ‘must attend’ for agribusiness executives looking to re-set their expectations heading into the fall harvest.”
By: Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC

Ag Economy On Solid Ground

The resonant message coming from agriculture economists, policy makers and ag business leaders at the 9th Annual Ag Outlook Forum is that the farm economy appears durable going into 2024. But Roland Fumasi, head of the North American food and agribusiness division of RaboResearch, cautioned somewhat sarcastically “that economists have forecast four of the last nine recessions.” Nevertheless, Fumasi summed up his presentation optimistically, saying that while cash flow will be challenged in the upcoming year, overall liquidity should remain intact. The outlook for the agriculture economy is not great, he conceded, but it enters 2024 “from a strong financial position.”

Economics, policy, technology and best practices aside, the most positive, ringing endorsement of the state of the U.S. agricultural industry came from Denver Caldwell, John Deere’s U.S. & CA director of sales. Concluding his presentation on John Deere’s involvement in agriculture, communities and education, Caldwell claimed the if anyone is looking for a job in advanced high technology, “It’s right here in agriculture and by association at John Deere.”

In her opening remarks for the Ag Outlook Forum, Sara Wyant, founder, editor and publisher of Agri-Pulse, quizzed attendees about their concerns regarding the ag economy. There was an abundance of anxiety-causing culprits, but farm policy or the lack thereof is making the ag industry nervous. Other concerns centered on crop insurance, funding to avert a government shutdown, regulation and what the Farm Bill would look like.

Nutrition At A Glance

At the end of the day, agriculture is all about eating. Dr. Sprio Stefanou, administrator for USDA’s Economic Research Service, delivered a positive keynote message that global food security is estimated to improve this year relative to 2022 due to an average of 3.7% growth per capita GDP and relative easing of international and domestic food commodity price levels. “Despite improvements, though, food insecurity in 2023 remains elevated,” Dr. Stefanou said. The prevalence of food insecurity is estimated at 26.6% for the 83 countries included in the International Food Security Assessment (IFSA) model developed to evaluate food security outlook of low- and middle-income countries. Food insecurity is projected to decline by 2033 in IFSA counties. However, 385.9 million people in the 83 IFSA countries will still be food insecure. “But,” said Dr. Stefanou, “that will represent a decline of 66.1% food insecure people from 2023.”

Hans Kabat, president of Cargill Protein North America, covered a wide range of issues and situations facing growers, food animal producers and processors. The ag industry overall has reached an “inflection point” influenced by climate change, advanced farm technology, rural flight and labor shortages, among others. The key to coping with it requires reframing challenges as opportunities.

“Farmers and ranchers are on the front line of the battle to provide food,” Kabat said, recalling that they got things done despite the array of disruptions Covid-19 brandished. “It took optimism and ability to meet those challenges.” He recalled the quip from Will Rogers: The farmer has to be an optimist or wouldn’t still be a farmer.

Kabat maintains that “producers who succeed are those who seek a new way.” The same initiative applies to processors and packagers, he pointed out. For example, while Cargill continues to package standard meat cuts and grades, it has stepped up market research to learn more about what foods young, affluent consumers want. On the issue of animal protein versus plant-based protein, Kabat said his company has its eye on all sources of protein. But he says the market share for plant-based meat alternatives will be small.

EPA Update

Rod Snyder, EPA’s senior advisor of agriculture, filled in for EPA chief Michael Regan, who had a last minute change in his schedule and could not address this year’s Forum. Snyder stressed that Regan’s North Carolina upbringing and family background in agriculture was a key component of his understanding farmers’ concerns about EPA regulations and pending rules. Snyder said Regan’s insight into agriculture is guiding his efforts to minimize EPA’s impact on farmers and producers. “He is eager to work with agriculture to mitigate conflicts.”

The Endangered Species Act has been a festering thorn for both the EPA and agriculture for a long time. Both parties have been struggling with the science, he noted. For the record, in a House Ag Committee hearing held in Lincoln, Nebraska last April, EPA Administrator Regan said, "I believe if that had been done in the past, we wouldn't have 50 years of ignoring the ESA, and this administration wouldn't find itself in the position that is in.” Accordingly, Snyder synopsized the situation saying it is imperative that the science is correct and farmers have the education to avoid over-spraying. Snyder confirmed the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) “is getting back on track.”

The EPA is drafting a rule to allow permanent year-round sales in eight states. As for WOTUS, Snyder said the issue could go before the Supreme Court for yet a third decision. The problem, he explained, is that “clean water rests on what is an irrational definition.”

Top of Mind

Several experts weighed in on issues agriculture faces in the coming months and in 2024. While fertilizer costs in Europe and South America are unstable, prices in the U.S. have settled. Fall applications will be relatively normal, according to Ken Seitz, president and CEO of Nutrien, a producer of potash, nitrogen and phosphate products. Growers worldwide jumped into the market and secured supplies, which ran prices up, he said. “On this continent, I’d like to think that prices have stabilized,” Seitz said. “We’re looking at a pretty open fall application here in this country and we’re watching normal buying patterns and normal inventories in the U.S.” Global potash usage is normally about 71 million tons per year, but last year the world’s farmers only applied 63 million tons, Seitz said.

Seth Meyer, USDA’s chief economist, said global competition for corn and soybean production is being closely monitored. Brazil is forecast to have record corn and soybean planting and production. “It will be interesting to see how competitive the U.S. will stay with South America as the export season picks up,” he noted. Brazil is expected to compete with the U.S. for the China corn market. China has been boosting its corn imports from Brazil to diversify its source. The real challenge, said Meyer, will come from the cost of getting corn into China. On the bright side, though, he pointed out that strong U.S. domestic demand for soy could compensate for lost corn business in China.

That domestic soy demand could be timely. Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist for StoneX Financial, Inc., FCM Division, explained that it is about time the U.S. soy industry started looking in earnest for other markets “as China drops its demand for soy.” Suderman offered four ‘take home points’ for U.S. agriculture to consider:

• Do not count on Chinese demand to be what it was in the past.

• India offers the next opportunity for expansive growth; but it will take time to develop.

• Focus on developing other markets, especially the U.S. domestic market.

• Focus on renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

Krista Swanson, lead economist for the National Corn Growers Association, said farmers could expect interest rates to remain around current levels or slightly higher. She advised them to make plans for capital purchases carefully. Sometimes farmers can’t hold off on capital purchases, but if they have the option to do so, she said they could see relief on interest rates over the next year. USDA is projecting lower net returns than what corn growers enjoyed over the last two years, said Swanson, but margins are still positive. “Growers still need to adjust to a tighter margin environment.” Her ‘take home messages’ include these:

• Projected 2024 cost of production is lower than 2023 costs for all major commodity crops.

• Despite lower dollar costs of production, falling prices push margins to break-even or lower.

• If 2024 crop insurance projected price is lower, revenue guarantees will be lower.

• Despite fewer acres, USDA projects corn production as yields increase by two bushels per acre annually over the next decade.

Policy Update

Blake Hurst, farmer and retired president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, hosted Kansas’ U.S. Congressional Representatives Sharice Davids and Tracey Mann in a discussion on politics, policy and possibilities. And the 2024 Farm Bill. Hurst put the importance of agriculture in perspective, saying that when the first Farm Bill was created in 1934 farmers represented 25% of the U.S. population. Today farmers account for only 1.3% of the population. Yet U.S. agriculture provides 88% of Americans’ diet.

While optimism has run out for getting the Farm Bill passed in this fiscal year ending September 30, Rep. Mann is confident that it can be hammered out by the end of the calendar year. But he stressed it was more important to “get a bill done right than just getting it done.” And he reminded everyone that Farm Bills are amendments.

Rep. Davids indicated she was deeply concerned that the bill was not on track. At the same time, Rep. Davids wants to ensure the Farm Bill in its final rendition would serve the state of Kansas appropriately. She noted that it was important to have Democrats from agricultural states serving the House and Senate Ag Committees. She acknowledged she was learning more and more about ag’s importance to Kansas.

A big snag in the process of writing and passing a new bill is the SNAP program, which allocates 81% of Farm Bill funds to food and nutrition and 19% to crop insurance. Also, Rep. Mann and Republicans have reservations about proposals to take monies from the bill’s existing conservation agenda to fund climate change priorities of the Progressives. “Farmers are the original stewards of the land,” Mann pointed out. “And they have taken on Mother Nature as a business partner.” Or maybe it’s the other way around.

Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - August 2023

Developments

The Kansas Department of Agriculture hosted two inbound trade missions this summer focused on beef cattle genetics and livestock equipment. During trade missions, Kansas farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses work to build relationships and expand international marketing opportunities for Kansas goods and services in foreign markets. The week of August 28, KDA hosted six cattlemen from Chile who were looking for purebred beef cattle genetics. While in Kansas, the team visited Ohlde Cattle Company, Palmer; Fink Beef Genetics, Randolph; Mill Brae Ranch, Maple Hill; Mushrush Ranches, Strong City; Geiger Cattle, Troy; and the American Angus Association in St. Joseph, Missouri. “These trade mission participants have progressive operations and are continually working to improve their herds through improved genetics. We were honored to host them in Kansas during their search for high-quality beef genetics,” said Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam. “Building trade is all about building relationships, and that’s exactly what Kansas cattlemen have had the opportunity to do over the past few months,” said Suzanne Ryan-Numrich, KDA international trade director.

U.S. consumers remain interested in plant-based meat alternatives, but higher prices have led many prospective return consumers to taper off their purchases. The price of plant-based meats is often several dollars a pound higher than for equivalent meat and poultry products. Beyond cost, lingering negative perceptions surrounding taste, value and versatility are also obstacles the category has yet to overcome. According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the market for plant-based meats has likely reached a tipping point as the initial period of exceptional sales growth appears to be over. Plant-based meat sales peaked in 2020 when consumers had more discretionary income and were curious about broadening their food spend in the wake of pandemic-era food shortages. But fewer than half of Americans who tried the products at the time repeated their purchase, per data from consumer research firm Mintel.

Kansas Department of Agriculture officials joined staff from Harvesters –The Community Food Network in Topeka earlier this month to welcome deliveries of fresh produce purchased under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. KDA has been awarded an additional $2.5 million to further the state’s work under USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service's Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). The additional funds will be used to purchase and distribute Kansas grown and processed foods to underserved communities and families across Kansas for an additional year. “We have been proud of the success of the LFPA Program and are pleased to be able to extend it for another growing season,” said Kansas Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kelsey Olson. “Kansas-grown food is reaching communities across the state, which benefits not only those communities but also the farmers and producers.”

The National FFA Organization has announced a record-high student membership of 945,988, an increase of 11 percent from last year. In addition, the number of FFA chapters increased by 168 this year, resulting in 9,163 chapters in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “It’s exciting to see our numbers grow and know we continue to influence the next generation of leaders,” said National FFA CEO Scott Stump. “This generation is making a difference in their communities and agriculture. We’re excited to see the enthusiasm for agricultural education reflected in our membership.” The top five membership states of the organization are Texas, California, Georgia, Illinois and North Carolina.

Soybean is one of the most economically and societally impactful crops in the world, providing a significant percentage of all protein for animal consumption on a global scale, and playing key roles in oil production, manufacturing, and biofuel applications. In 2022, an estimated 4.3 billion bushels of soybeans were produced in the United States, a decrease of almost 200 million bushels compared to the previous year. To keep up with the growing demand for soy-based animal feed, the USDA projects soybean acreage will increase by 19.6% by 2032. Hybrid breeding in soybean has the potential to increase the productivity of one of the most planted and consumed crops in the Americas, yet it has remained largely unexplored.

New research by scientists at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Cornell University provides a key enabling technology to produce obligate outcrossing in soybean. The newly published research appears in the current issue of Plant Biotechnology Journal and describes a new resource that can be used to amplify hybrid seed sets, enabling large-scale trials for heterosis in this major crop. “Improved soybean is a long-term goal of farmers, plant breeders, and scientists,” says Blake Meyers, PhD, Danforth Center principal investigator and professor of plant science at the University of Missouri. “Improvements could have a potentially substantial effect—and offer a benefit to beleaguered pollinators as well.”

Consumers who report they are most satisfied with their food consumption also spend the lowest share of their incomes on food, according to the latest Consumer Food Insights Report. The report’s July 2023 survey also asked consumers how they feel about beef from cattle compared to three meat alternatives: plant-based, cell-cultured and lab-grown. The report from Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability assesses food spending, consumer satisfaction and values, support of agricultural and food policies, and trust in information sources. Purdue experts conducted and evaluated the survey, which included 1,200 consumers across the U.S. Nearly three of every four Americans generally continue to report that their food satisfaction is high. The researchers found that consumers do not believe meat alternatives are better than beef from cattle, although plant-based alternatives are rated higher than beef when animal-welfare is considered.

USDA reports inflation-adjusted net farm income in 2022 was $167.3 billion, 8.3% higher than farm income in 2021 and the highest seen since 1973. Investing in farmland has yielded stable returns because of increasing land values and profit generated from crops. The monetization of farmland has also been bolstered by the tax exemptions granted in the United States to pension funds and endowments. Investors are attracted to farmland investment because of its low correlation with stock market volatility. When agricultural products increase, the value of farmland tends to increase as well because the land becomes more valuable. Therefore, even in inflationary environments or during recessions, American farmland is highly likely to retain its value over time.

The Biden Administration has informed federal courts that have enjoined its WOTUS rule that it has revised that rule to conform with the Supreme Court’s Sackett Decision, allowing litigation to move forward. The rule, which was published before the Supreme Court decision, is enjoined in 27 states due to three court orders issued after it went into effect in March. The courts stayed the litigation, however, after EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers said they would issue new language to align the rule with the Supreme Court decision, which was issued in May. Once the revisions are official by being published in the Federal Register, the courts are expected to lift the stays and proceed with trying the cases. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications, September 5, 2023.

This is the time of year when cattle producers need to pay extra attention to heat stress in their operations, says University of Missouri Extension beef specialist Eric Bailey. Unlike many other animals, cattle can’t rid their bodies of heat by sweating. Instead, they pant. Heat-stressed cattle show symptoms such as open-mouth breathing, slobbering and restlessness, Bailey says. Chronic heat stress leads to long-term problems such as decreased fertility and weight gain. Breathing rate is a good indicator of heat stress in cattle, he says. Producers should be alert when respiration rates range from 90-110 breaths per minute. Rates of 110-130 breaths per minute indicate a dangerous level of stress. At 130 breaths per minute or above, producers should take emergency measures. The MU Extension publication “Hot Weather Livestock Stress” (G2099) is available online here.

The bipartisan Agricultural Labor Working Group, which was formed by the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture in late June, is seeking input on workforce issues within the industry from stakeholders. Through a 16-question survey, producers are being asked to share the realities they face every day dealing with labor shortages. All answers will remain anonymous. Access to the survey is available through the Kansas Livestock Association. The 14 members of the working group were selected from those who currently hold seats on the committee and represent every sector and region of American agriculture. The working group not only was charged with seeking input from the industry on labor issues, but also producing a report for the committee with recommendations to address the problems, including those within the H-2A visa program.

Kansas Corn Growers Association treasurer Kent Moore and CEO Josh Roe assisted Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s staff and officials in developing a set of comments to the Department of Interior and Bureau of Reclamation. These comments showcased the need for funding for water conservation projects across the state, and especially within the Rattlesnake Creek Basin. The Rattlesnake Creek Basin contains the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, which has filed an impairment claim with the Chief Engineer, claiming they have not received adequate water in the past. This claim could lead to the Chief Engineer filing administrative orders to irrigated farmers in the region to curtail groundwater pumping for the refuge to receive their surface water allotment. In the Governor’s news release, Moore stated: “KCGA is pleased and thankful for Governor Kelly recognizing the importance of requesting expansion of this federal funding for water conservation projects in Kansas,” said Kent Moore, Kansas Corn Growers Association (KCGA) Treasurer and farmer from Iuka, Kan. “These funds will provide key components in resolving the Quivira Impairment. We look forward to continuing to work with the Kelly administration in facilitating and implementing needed water conservation projects that benefit Kansas farmers, our environment, and our state’s economy.”

Events

The Missouri Pork Association will be hosting the 2023 Kansas City Taste of Elegance culinary competition on Monday, October 30 at Harrah’s North Kansas City. The event brings top chefs from across the Kansas City area to compete for the best pork entrée as blind-judged by industry experts. After the official judging, Missouri Pork hosts a banquet honoring Harvesters—The Community Food Network. During the banquet, attendees sample all entrées and vote for their favorite. Council members are invited to join them for this event and complementary dinner. RSVP by October 20 if you can join us. Doors open to the banquet at 6:30 pm at Harrah’s, with awards being announced at 8:15 pm.

For producers who raise purebred cattle and are interested in exporting, Kansas Department of Agriculture is currently recruiting for an outbound mission to Mexico. On October 24-28, 2023, KDA will be traveling to Guadalajara, Mexico, to visit ranches and attend Expo Ganadera Jalisco to network and promote U.S. beef cattle genetics during an educational seminar. Up to three Kansas producers will be selected to participate in the trade mission. More information, including an application, can be found here.

University of Missouri Extension will offer a self-paced “Conventional Vegetable Production Series” this fall. “We know vegetable growers are busy,” says MU Extension horticulturist Justin Keay. “Many hold an off-farm job in addition to their on-farm responsibilities. We recognize that offering content to growers in multiple formats is the best way to reach our audience. This includes offering in-person workshops, webinars and, now, our first offering of a self-paced class series.” The self-paced series includes access to 21 recorded classes, scheduled office hours and course materials. Topics include planning, fertility, insects, weeds, diseases, produce safety and crop-specific classes on 12 of the most-grown vegetable crops in Missouri. Register here. Access to course materials is available until November 20.

Farmers markets nationwide celebrated National Farmers Market Week earlier this month. National Farmers Market Week is an annual celebration of farmers markets proclaimed by USDA and coordinated by the Farmers Market Coalition, a membership-based nonprofit organization that supports farmers markets nationwide through training, technical assistance, and network-building. This year, the campaign was centered around the essential role that farmers market operators play in local food systems. For more than fifty years, farmers markets have influenced the way Americans eat, shop, and connect to their food, their farmers, and one another. Farmers markets are more than market places, they are places where neighbors learn, grow, and work together. Find your local farmers market using this tool from USDA AMS. For more information, visit the Farmers Market Coalition website here.

People

Monica Thornburg has joined the Missouri Beef Industry Council as the new manager of industry relations. She graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a degree in agricultural science. She later worked on a ranch in Delta Junction, Alaska, and also started her own agricultural marketing business, called Agriculture for All Communication.

Nick Althoff has been hired as a field representative for Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., based in Columbia, Missouri. He will help Hawley as farm bill discussions ramp up. Althoff most recently was an economics intern at the American Farm Bureau Federation. He also interned for former Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo.

Two lifelong Kansans have been selected for positions in Kansas State University's K-State 105 Initiative. Jessica Gnad, a small business owner and entrepreneurial-minded program manager, will serve as K-State 105 director. Jennifer Tidball, public information officer for K-State's Division of Communications and Marketing, will serve as K-State 105 communications director. Both appointments began Aug. 21. "Jessica and Jennifer have the leadership skills, professionalism and passion to advance the K-State 105 initiative statewide," said Marshall Stewart, executive vice president and chief of staff. "Their work on this initiative is crucial for economic growth across all 105 Kansas counties and can become a road map for other land-grant universities to follow." The initiative leverages new and existing institutional partnerships with its established K-State Extension infrastructure to solve problems and support community and economic development between urban and rural areas.

The National Institute for Animal Agriculture is now accepting nominations for the second cohort of the Advanced Training for Animal Agriculture Leaders program. Nominations are due Wednesday, November 15 by 11:59 p.m. The 16-month leadership program blends in-person and virtual working sessions to focus on key areas of leadership development. Members of the program work together on applied-learning. The selection process begins with an application or nomination from a sponsoring organization. More information about how to nominate an individual for the program or become an applicant is available here.