Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - June 2024
/Developments
Kansas State University researchers and representatives of Kansas Wheat have published updated findings on the value of feeding wheat to pigs. “Our data collected from 2014 to 2020 suggests that wheat’s mean energy content is 99% and 98% of corn for digestible energy and metabolizable energy, respectively” said Joel DeRouchey, a swine specialist for K-State Research and Extension. Bottom line: Wheat can be used at a similar rate as corn in those areas where wheat is available, without a major decrease in the diet energy density. “The use of wheat co-products for the milling industry is a common practice in feeding livestock,” DeRouchey said. “For wheat, there are many different classifications of co-products, such as wheat middlings, wheat millrun, wheat shorts and wheat red dog.”
U.S. farmers’ outlook improved in May as the Purdue University/ CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index rose to 108, marking a 9-point increase from April. Both of the barometer’s sub-indices saw increases, with the Index of Future Expectations climbing 11 points to 117 and the Current Conditions Index rising 6 points. The boost in the Index of Future Expectations reflects farmers’ expectation that conditions will improve, although it’s clear 2024’s financial outlook is still a concern. The Farm Financial Performance Index rose to 82 in May, a 6-point increase from April. The index asks producers to compare their farm’s expected financial performance to last year. However, despite the gain, the index remains 15 points lower than at the end of last year indicating that producers still anticipate 2024 being a more financially challenging year than in 2023.
The U.S. red meat industry gathered in Kansas City late last month for the annual U.S. Meat Export Federation(USMEF) Spring Conference. USMEF Chair Randy Spronk, a pork producer from Edgerton, Minn., noted a sense of optimism among attendees for the remainder of 2024. Spronk voiced a need to prioritize market access: “When we look at those countries that we have free trade agreements with, we lower tariffs, and we lower non-tariff trade barriers on U.S. products, they maintain access because of their healthfulness, because of their taste, because of their cost effectiveness. American agriculture is good, but we do need a level playing field, and I think that's the position we just need to keep verbalizing in agriculture here.”
Elanco Animal Health, Inc., recently announced that FDA has completed its comprehensive, multi-year review of Bovaer® (3-NOP), a first-in-class methane-reducing feed ingredient, and determined the product meets safety and efficacy requirements for use in lactating dairy cattle. “This monumental announcement has the ability to accelerate the opportunity for climate-neutral dairy farming while creating a new revenue stream for dairy farmers across the country,” says Jeff Simmons, Elanco’s president and CEO. “We appreciate FDA’s commitment to maintaining high standards for science-based review, while balancing the need to quickly bring solutions to the market. Bovaer represents another example of Elanco being a partner of choice in animal health, where the capabilities of our talented R&D, regulatory and commercial teams are delivering significant value.”
The 2024 Kansas Livestock Association Young Stockmen’s Academy (KLS-YSA) met in the Kansas City recently for its second seminar of the year. Class members from across the state spent three days learning more about the beef and dairy industries and connecting with consumers. Merck Animal Health, the exclusive sponsor of the program, hosted the class at their Lawrence and De Soto facilities. Staff provided an overview of the animal health industry, discussed research on animal health products and gave a tour of their research farm and one of their labs. Kansas Beef Council director of nutrition Abby Heidari and communications coordinator Grace Jacobson visited with YSA about connecting with consumers on the benefits of beef in the diet, both in person and through the use of social media channels. Bichelmeyer Meats, Dairy Farmers of America, Hiland Dairy and National Beef Leathers opened their doors to the group for tours and provided insight into how their respective businesses operate to serve their customers and members. The American Royal hosted the class for a discussion on their efforts to connect the general public with agriculture and plans for the new complex in Wyandotte County.
Despite concerns that China is buying or leasing all the farmland in the United States, a new Cornell research study shows that this is not the case. Using a federal dataset of more than 40,000 foreign investments in U.S. agricultural land as of 2020, Wendong Zhang, assistant professor and extension economist at the Charles H. Dyson School of AppliedEconomics and Management, and collaborators show that countries classified by the federal government as “adversary,” such as China, held only 1% of the roughly 40 million acres of foreign-owned farmland. The top foreign country in terms of ownership of U.S. agricultural land is Canada, which owned about a third, much of it Maine and Michigan forestland. While foreign ownership has increased steadily over the past two decades, long-term leasing is the main driver of the increasing foreign interests, and many foreign transactions are related to renewable energy development.
Lenexa, Kansas-based Vytelle will open its 21st global bovine in vitro lab in the third quarter of 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. The Lenexa company calls itself a precision livestock operation, deploying its technologies and tools to optimize herds. This includes using in vitro fertilization to perpetuate elite performing animals and monitoring food intake and weight gain to identify animals that eat the least but gain the most. Vytelle describes its business as an effort to continue to sustainably provide dairy and meat for future generations. Vytelle’s advanced IVF technique produces embryos in labs, yielding faster and more reliable results, says CEO Kerryann Kocher. Although the company operates primarily in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, it serves customers in 23 countries. Founded in 2019, Vytelle has grown to 134 total employees, including about 10% in Kansas. It reported $27.2 million in revenue in 2023, up from $17.9 million in 2022. Source: Russell Gray, Kansas City Business Journal.
Events
A public hearing will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, to consider changes to the administrative regulations relating to livestock movement and public livestock markets. The hearing will be held in person at the Kansas Department of Agriculture (1320 Research Park Dr.) in Manhattan, as well as via video conferencing system. KDA is proposing revisions to two regulations — K.A.R. 9-7-1 and K.A.R. 9-7-14 — relating to movement of livestock into or through Kansas, and revocation and replacement of regulations under Article 10 of KDA’s Kansas Administrative Regulations relating to public livestock markets. These changes reflect current management practices and standards of the livestock industry, update and modernize various requirements for public livestock markets and occasional livestock sales in Kansas, and organize the regulations to allow them to be more easily read and understood. A copy of the proposed regulation changes, as well as an expanded notice of public hearing, may be accessed on the KDA website at www.agriculture.ks.gov/PublicComment. Anyone desiring to participate via video conference must pre-register to be provided with a video link; the registration is available in the notice of public hearing.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture is hosting the 9th Annual Kansas Governor's Summit on Agricultural Growth on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. This event offers Kansas farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses discussions, networking, and a positive focus on growing agriculture. This year, the Ag Summit will feature speakers on international trade and panels of industry leaders for a cross sector collaboration on the challenges and success Kansas agriculture faces. The summit will take place at the K-State Alumni Center in Manhattan, Kansas for a day of meaningful discussion about the future of Kansas agriculture. The main Summit event and social event will be held at the following times:
Social Event: Tuesday, August 20, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Ag Growth Summit: Wednesday, August 21, 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
There is no cost to attend any of the events. However, in order to guarantee a meal, please register by Friday August 16, 2024. After that date, walk-ins will be accepted as space allows. For more information contact Auburn Wassberg, 785-564-6799 or Auburn.B.Wassberg@ks.gov.
With the opening of American Foods Group’s packing facility in east central Missouri next year, new opportunities exist for producers to start or expand feedlot facilities in Missouri. Cattle producers who are interested in learning more about finishing their own cattle are invited to attend an upcoming Feedlot School in Boonville, Missouri. This event covers topics including feedlot performance expectations, marketing, budgeting, health management, handling and facilities, diet formulation, and implant and feed mixing demonstrations. Clay Boyles with American Foods Group will be a featured speaker. MU Extension faculty and industry consultants will present the program. Additionally, two covered feeding facilities will be toured during the event. The event will be held at the MFA Training Building at 1761 Industrial Drive in Boonville. School dates are Tuesday, July 9 and Wednesday, July 10. The program begins at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning. A registration fee of $75 includes materials, a steak supper on the 9th and lunches on the 9th and 10th. Additional information can be obtained by contacting Gene Schmitz at schmitz@missouri.edu or calling the Pettis County Extension Center at (660) 827-0591. Registrations are due by Tuesday, July 2. This program is co-sponsored by MU Extension and the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority.
Tickets to all Missouri State Fair concerts and events are on sale to the public now, while supplies last. This includes all concerts and events in the State Fair Grandstand, presented by CFM Insurance, the Governor’s Ham Breakfast, and $12 advance adult gate admission. These tickets will be available through www.Etix.com and by phone 1-800-514-ETIX/1-800-514-3849. Starting at noon on Monday, July 1 tickets will be available for purchase at the Missouri State Fair Box Office, located on the Fairgrounds in Sedalia. Box office hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, July 1 through Aug. 2, expanding to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 5-7 and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily during the Fair, Aug. 8-18. The Box Office is closed on July 4 in observance of the 4th of July holiday.
National Institute for Animal Agriculture will host the 14th Annual Antibiotics Symposium in Denver, Colorado at the Colorado State University’s SPUR Campus from November 19-21, 2024. The planning committee is in the process of selecting presenters and speakers for the Symposium. Symposium topics will include an industry report on the current state of antibiotic stewardship, information on the latest antimicrobial stewardship and resistance research, regulatory updates, One Health collaborations, and more. Registration is available at www.AnimalAgriculture.org . For assistance with media registration, please contact Morgan Young, Director of Communications and Outreach for the National Institute for Animal Agriculture at morgan.young@animalagriculture.org.
People
Mace Thornton, COO of Stratovation Group, an agricultural marketing research and strategic communications firm in Chesterfield, Missouri, has announced the upcoming publishing of his debut novel Jawbone Holler, a historical fiction novel set in territorial northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri during the Civil-War Era. Thornton, who recently joined the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City, has led communication efforts at two different national agricultural organizations, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the United Soybean Board. His work has been recognized at the highest level for communications achievement, and he was named to the Agricultural Communications Hall of Fame in 2019. Thornton grew up on a farm in northeast Kansas and earned a degree in journalism from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. The book is scheduled for release on July 9, 2024, and will be available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other outlets. Pre-orders can be made at www.macethornton.com.
Mike VanMaanen has been elected president of the Livestock Marketing Association. VanMaanen took over the reins from Mark Barnett during the association’s annual convention this month. VanMaanen grew up on a corn, soybean and hog farm in Iowa and attended Missouri Western State University, where he graduated with degrees in agricultural economics and agronomy. He joined the association’s government and industry affairs committee in 2014 and the board of directors in 2016. During his tenure on the board, he also chaired the membership services committee for two years. He said his time on the board has had many highlights, and he looks forward to what’s to come.
Luke Samuel, Ph.D., joins AgriThority as Manager, Development Services. Samuel, based in the Kansas City headquarters, will continue to pursue his passion for technologies, including seed, traits, chemistry and biological products to advance crop production. Samuel originally joined AgriThority in 2019 and brought expertise in technology development, agronomy and product development leadership to the technology transfer role. He is now taking an active role in servicing client needs and filling gaps for innovators, investors or companies seeking innovations that perform.“We’re pleased to welcome Luke back into our global team of experts,” said Jerry Duff, founder and president of AgriThority. “Luke’s development expertise and dedication to pursue superior execution throughout the stage-gate process will be an invaluable asset to our clients.”
AgriThority also welcomes global leader Christophe Dumont to its board of advisors. Dumont joins Valdemar Fischer, Steven Mock, Adrian Percy and Jim Schultz to work with the AgriThority leadership team and associates to improve services, discuss trends and to increase the AgriThority network through their reach and experience. Dumont has been a senior management executive for more than 30 years with such legacy companies as Bayer. A graduate of the Harvard School of Business, Executive Leadership, Business Administration and Management program, Dumont has proven success leading operations, strategic portfolio management, company integration, and talent development on a global level and in emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Latin America.
Dell Allen, a retired Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry professor and meat industry visionary, along with his wife, Joyce, will receive the 2024 Don L. Good Impact Award. The Allens will be recognized during the K-State ASI Family & Friends Reunion October 5 in Manhattan. Allen grew up on his family’s farm in Liberty and earned his bachelor’s degree from K-State in 1961. He earned his master’s in animal breeding from the University of Idaho and his doctorate in animal husbandry from Michigan State University. Allen left his academic position in 1988 to work for Excel Corporation, which became Cargill Meat Solutions. He retired in 2004, then consulted in various capacities for the next 12 years.