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This is the critical time to apply fungicides for leaf disease control and many growers are asking for more information about the wheat disease situation in the state. The wheat is heading and flowering in southeast and south central Kansas. Wheat in central Kansas is mostly in the boot stages of development. The wheat in southwest Kansas continues to struggle with drought and freeze damage and the growth stage varies widely among fields. Bill Spiegel has more.
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Danielle Hill, a contestant of the Miss Kansas competition, has taken her platform of agriculture to a new level of service. By mixing her platform, “Cultivating Healthy Lifestyles” and the Miss America platform for the Children’s Miracle Network, Danielle has created Kernels for Kids, a charity that collects bushels of grain from grain elevators across Kansas. The grain is then sold and the proceeds are donated to the Children’s Miracle Network which directly benefits KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Via Christi Hospital in Wichita, and St. Francis Health Center in Topeka. Nicole Lane has more.
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Eduard Akhunov knows that sometimes, in order to prepare for the future, we need to study the past. The Kansas State University plant pathologist is leading an international team of researchers in comparing the genetic code of ancient wheat varieties to that of modern varieties with a goal of improving wheat for different growing conditions throughout the world. Bill Spiegel reports.
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Participants in the Hard Wheat Quality Tour of Kansas wheat fields will get a first look at the impact that hard freezes the weeks of April 8th, 15th and 22nd will have on the 2013 Kansas wheat crop. Nearly 80 participants are expected to participate in this year's tour, which is hosted by the Wheat Quality Council and intended to give its members an understanding of the growth and development of the Kansas wheat crop, plus provide insight into yield and quality potential. Bill Spiegel reports.
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Knowing that Argentina would fail to produce enough wheat to fill the country’s needs, wheat end-users from Brazil visited several stops in Kansas during a three-day tour last week intended to educate about the status of the Kansas wheat crop. U.S. Hard Red Winter wheat provides a good fit for the Brazilian end-use market. “The three participants wanted to see Kansas wheat,” said Aaron Harries, director of marketing for Kansas Wheat in Manhattan. “They were really interested in the 2012 crop quality, but also the prospects for 2013.” Bill Spiegel reports.
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As policymakers struggle to set federal funding priorities for the coming years and craft a new, five-year farm bill, wheat researchers, farmers, millers and bakers were on Capitol Hill together, pressing the importance of long-term and stable agriculture research funding. Nearly 30 stakeholders from every region of the country were in town for the wheat industry’s annual fly-in focusing on innovation in the public sector, which continues to produce the vast majority of new wheat varieties adapted to the challenges farmers face. Bill Spiegel reports.
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Across the state, the 2013 wheat crop is perking up and showing slight signs of improvement from the poor stands of past fall. In its April 1 Crop Progress Report, Kansas Agricultural Statistics rated the wheat crop at 2% excellent and 29% good. That's a slight improvement over the prior week. The crop's development is a little behind the long-term average, as just 13% of it has jointed, compared to a five-year average of 22%. Despite slight improvement, the wheat crop still ranks as the fourth worst in Kansas history at this point in the growing season. On the farms of Kansas wheat leaders, the crop ranges in condition from very good, to very poor.
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As the 2013 Kansas wheat crop begins to break dormancy, wheat producers need to be cautious about wheat disease threats moving in from southern states. K-State plant pathologist Erick De Wolf says there are already several reports of rust developing in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Stripe rust has been observed in all four states and appears to be spreading beyond the initial foci of infection. Leaf rust has been reported in Texas, but not the other states. Bill Spiegel has more.
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Kansas Wheat played a major role in the celebration of Kansas Ag Week, March 12th-19th, as the agriculture industry was recognized by consumers and industry. Bill Spiegel reports on the many activities Kansas Wheat participated in during Kansas Ag Week.
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As the 2013 Kansas wheat crop is breaking dormancy, achieving top yields is on the minds of wheat farmers. Rain and snow showers falling on many of the state's wheat farms the last few weeks have given many farmers hope for a bountiful crop. With Mother Nature's help, your best management practices could be just the ticket to earn you some quick cash, if you enter the Kansas Wheat Yield Contest. Bill Spiegel has more on the annual contest.
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Kansas Commodity groups – including the Kansas Wheat Commission – are helping to reduce hunger in Kansas communities by participating in the "Neighbor to Neighbor" statewide food drive, taking place until March 19th. The Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Kansas agricultural community are just two of the many food drive sponsors. The groups hope to raise 50,000 meals for Kansas families during the drive. Bill Spiegel has more.
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Several inches of snow falling upon much of Kansas the last few weeks has been a blessing for wheat farmers. Between the two winter storms, snowfall totals ranged from more than 24-inches in south central Kansas and eastern Kansas, to six-inches in southwest Kansas and nearly a foot in northwest and north central Kansas. The snowfall will help offset the extremely dry conditions many farmers planted into last fall. Bill Spiegel reports.
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The annual "Bake and Take Month" invites home bakers of all ages to slow down, relax and embrace community spirit by baking home-made goods and sharing them with friends, neighbors or folks who may not be able to bake themselves. According to Bill Spiegel, “Bake and Take Month” has a tradition in Kansas as a promotion designed to educate consumers in the importance of home baking and wheat foods consumption.
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As Del Wiedeman toured the new Kansas Wheat Innovation Center in Manhattan with his wife, Pat, his enthusiasm could scarcely be contained. From the Center's molecular breeding laboratories, to row-after-row of environmental growth chambers to the custom-built greenhouse complex, the Innovation Center symbolizes a new future for the nation's wheat industry. Wiedeman, one of nearly 30 past Kansas Association of Wheat Growers directors and Kansas Wheat Commissioners who visited the KWIC earlier this month, said the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center is in a word, awesome. Bill Spiegel has more on the Wheat Leaders Reunion.
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Two Kansas wheat farmers recently completed leadership training sponsored in part by the National Association of Wheat Growers Foundation. The program is designed as an advanced leadership program for state wheat grower leaders who will soon become members of the NAWG Board of Directors. The goal of the program is to provide a solid foundation of knowledge about NAWG and about board leadership, with training focused on Board member responsibilities, the industry's structure and maintaining effective communications with the media and Capitol Hill stakeholders. Bill Spiegel reports.
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Kansas Congressional leaders including Senator Pat Roberts and Representative Lynn Jenkins, were honored with the 2012 Wheat Advocate Awards by the National Association of Wheat Growers January 29th in Washington, D.C. The Wheat Advocate Award is given annually to members of Congress who have demonstrated support for the wheat industry above and beyond the norm. Bill Spiegel reports.
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Kansas farmers can get an up-close view of the Tribine – a unique combine that has the threshing capacity of a Class VII combine and the grain-holding capacity of a 1,000 bushel grain cart at the upcoming AgConnect Expo in Kansas City. The Tribine is the brainchild of Indiana farmer Bob Dillon, who set up shop near Moundridge to be close to two major partners: AGCO and Crustbuster/Speed King. Bill Spiegel has more on the upcoming Expo.
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Following the largest Kansas wheat crop in nearly 10 years, several factors indicate a smaller Kansas wheat crop in 2013 than the 382 million bushels the state's wheat farmers harvested in 2012. For starters, Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service estimates farmers planted 9.3 million acres of wheat for the 2013 crop. This is the second-largest planted acreage in the last five years, but falls 200,000 acres short of the previous year's mark. Bill Spiegel has more.
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Home bakers across the nation are enjoying a new website featuring topical information, baking tips and recipes that focuses on wheat-flour-based foods. America's Breadbasket, created in 2012, creates an online community where home bakers can share recipes, baking tips and more, all while leveraging the nutrition information and educational resources of the Kansas Wheat Commission. Bill Spiegel reports.
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All Kansas farmers are invited to the Kansas Commodity Classic in Manhattan on January 16th, to gain in-depth information on grain markets, a 2013 weather outlook and research projects in some of the state's key commodities. Ag Policy expert Barry Flinchbaugh, professor emeritus at Kansas State University, is the event's keynote speaker. The Commodity Classic is the annual convention of the Kansas Corn, Wheat and Grain Sorghum Associations. Bill Spiegel reports.
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From an outstanding crop, to a terrific future for wheat producers, 2012 will long be remembered as a great year for the Kansas wheat industry. According to Bill Spiegel, some of the highlights of the Kansas Wheat Year in Review include an impressive harvest, opening of The Kansas Wheat Innovation Center and the signing of the U.S./Columbia Free Trade Agreement.
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Wheat commissioners and producers from across the United States traveled to the International Grains Program at Kansas State University earlier this month for the Wheat Commissioners Training Program. The 17 participants attended presentations from Mark Fowler, milling specialist and IGP associate director; Justin Gilpin, CEO of Kansas Wheat; and Dave Krishock, flour quality and baking specialist. Bill Spiegel reports on how the participants benefitted from this training.
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Year after year, Morton County, in extreme southwest Kansas, receives less rainfall than most any county in the state. And even though drought the last two years has been more dramatic than most – with total rainfall just 60% of normal – the farmers have learned to adapt to remain successful. Businesses have also had to adapt to overcome weather-driven adversity. Bill Spiegel reports.
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A scientific breakthrough that includes two Kansas State University plant pathologists may help food producers feed a growing world population. The plant pathologists were part of an international collaboration that successfully sequenced most of the genes of common wheat, also known as bread wheat. By sequencing its genes, scientists now have a genetic blueprint of common wheat for many traits, although associating gene sequences with traits will take many more years of work. Bill Spiegel reports.
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The Kansas Wheat Commission and Kansas Association of Wheat Growers have moved into the new Kansas Wheat Innovation Center in Manhattan, the first tenants in the state-of-the-art complex that will be a hub for wheat research that benefits Kansas wheat farmers. Kansas wheat farmers, through the penny-and-a-half per bushel Kansas wheat assessment, are funding the bulk of the 40,000 square-foot structure, which includes 15,000 square feet of advanced wheat breeding laboratories, a 10,000 square-foot greenhouse complex and 15,000 square feet of office space. The KWIC sits on three acres adjacent to the Grain Science and Industry Complex north of Kimball Avenue in Manhattan, on land being leased from Kansas State University.
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Heading into Thanksgiving week, the 2013 wheat crop is rated at just 30% good to excellent - the second poorest wheat crop in mid-November that Kansas Agricultural Statistics has ever recorded. Wheat farmers should be scouting fields to see whether pest, weed or nutrient problems exist, suggests Jim Shroyer, wheat specialist at Kansas State University. Throughout Kansas, the crop is in various stages of growth and conditions. At K-State's Agronomy Farm north of Manhattan, the agronomist sees a couple of issues that could impact the crop. Bill Spiegel has more.
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At first glance, U.S. wheat exports – as of November 1st – are disappointing. Five months into the 2012-13 current marketing year, the export total of 14.7 million metric tons is 9% lower than last year and less than half the USDA's forecast of 31.3 million metric tons. These numbers don't tell the whole story, however, says Vince Peterson, vice president of overseas operations for U.S. Wheat Associates, the nation's international wheat marketing assistance organization. Peterson says global wheat markets are driven by many factors that are out of the control of U.S. Wheat and American wheat farmers. Bill Spiegel has more.
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To avoid an unnecessary funding crisis for America's long-standing and successful public support for agricultural exports, members of the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports strongly urged U.S. House of Representatives leadership to take action this year on a new five-year Farm Bill in a letter dated November 2nd. In the letter, the organizations said "With the expiration of the 2008 Farm Bill on September 30th, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service currently has no authority to run market promotion and development programs including the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) for FY 13." The farm families and small to medium size businesses that foot the bill for 60 percent of export development depend on MAP and FMD to conduct export activities they cannot do by themselves. Bill Spiegel has more.
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The 2013 winter wheat crop has already faced a great deal of adversity, including dry soils, fluctuating temperatures, high winds and blowing soil. Jim Shroyer, Extension agronomist at Kansas State University, says these last two are of particular concern. High winds and blowing soil can cause soil to pile up in unwanted places, including in the furrows created by hoe drills. If this happens shortly after emergence, the crown of the seedlings will get buried to some extent under an unexpected layer of soil. Even if the leaves are visible, the crown will be positioned deeper underground than normal. If that happens, farmers no doubt have questions about the young crop's ability to survive. Bill Spiegel reports.
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When newly harvested wheat leaves the farm fields of Kansas, it begins a whirlwind journey to end-users that likely will find it temporarily housed at one of three major ports in the Gulf of Mexico. Farm leaders attending the Fall Board Meetings of U.S Wheat Associates and National Association of Wheat Growers witnessed one stop of the journey: the Port of Galveston, where ADM operates a 3-point-2 million bushel facility. Hard Red Winter wheat from Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas is the number one commodity handled at the facility, which "turns over," or is emptied and filled again, close to 60 times per year. Most of the wheat coming through here is destined for Africa, Middle America and South America. Bill Spiegel has more.
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Recent rains in Kansas improved the status of the 2013 wheat crop, but much more precipitation is needed to sustain the wheat crop through the winter months. Throughout the state, the rains have been hit-and-miss. Kansas farmers are wrapping up winter wheat planting, with about 90% percent complete, according to the weekly Crop Progress Report released October 15th. The crop's emergence has been slowed due to dry soil conditions, and just 42% of the wheat is in good to excellent condition at this early stage. Bill Spiegel has more.
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The 2008 Farm Bill recently became a thing of the past, expiring with no replacement law on the books. NAWG and 14 other stakeholder groups released a statement summarizing the impacts of the lapse on agriculture programs, pointing out that “it has terminated a number of important programs and will very adversely affect many farmers and ranchers, as well as ongoing market development and conservation efforts.” Sectors most affected include dairy, trade and conservation. Bill Spiegel has more.
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The 2008 Farm Bill expired with no replacement legislation in place to provide an ample safety net for America's farmers and ranchers. Congress has recessed until after the November elections, leaving an anticipated lame duck session as the next possible time for work on a five-year farm bill. However, what comes out of that work period will depend heavily on election results. Bill Spiegel reports.
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It's been said that once you get the wheat crop seeded, 90% of the work is done. That doesn't keep farmers from worrying about stand establishment over the next several weeks – particularly as drought conditions continue to plague the young wheat crop. Jim Shroyer, Extension agronomist at Kansas State University, says that ideally, over the next few months wheat will take on a solid green color, form a secondary root system, and develop one or two tillers in addition to the main tiller. But sometimes there are problems, including discoloration, stunting, leaf loss or dying of emerged seedlings. Bill Spiegel looks at some of the causes of yellowing or stunting of the crop this fall.
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Wheat planting is underway in Kansas, and as farmers continue to make planting decisions about their 2013 wheat crop, they are looking at relatively high futures prices and may be wondering how to maximize yields and further capitalize on higher prices. One answer that agronomists often recommend is the use of certified seed at planting. Dalton Henry with Kansas Wheat has more.
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Just like farming, exhibiting at the Kansas State Fair can be a family tradition. That's certainly the case for Grant Unruh of Pawnee Rock, who won the Kansas 4-H Wheat Variety Plot Display at this year's Kansas State Fair. He is the last of three Unruh siblings to win the competition. The competition requires participants to plant and raise five varieties of wheat; then create an educational display to showcase their wheat production and accomplishments. Kansas Wheat’s Bill Spiegel reports.
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Two recent reports from state agencies shed some light on the 2012 Kansas wheat crop. Kansas Ag Statistics and the Kansas Grain Inspection Service released the annual Wheat Quality report September 4th. The crop averaged 61.1 pounds per bushel, down slightly from last year's 61.2 pounds, while the 10-year average from 2001 - 2010 was 60.5 pounds per bushel. Meanwhile, the Kansas Department of Agriculture and K-State's Department of Plant Pathology estimated that diseases cost Kansas wheat farmers about 57.6 million bushels in 2012; or nearly 13% of the total wheat crop. Bill Spiegel reports.
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Syngenta Cereals of Junction City has two new varieties with excellent disease and agronomic packages coming out the next two years. Bill Spiegel with Kansas Wheat reports that SY Wolf and SY Southwind are not only top-notch wheat varieties designed for Kansas farmers, but they are supported by Syngenta Cereals' "Systems Approach" to variety development and crop protection products.
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Three Kansas wheat farmers have each earned $1,000 by winning their respective regions in the 2012 Kansas Wheat Yield Contest. John Niswonger won the Western Region by harvesting 84.65 bushels per acre with a field of the Plains Gold white wheat variety, Snowmass. Ron Ohlde, who harvested 84.05 bushels per acre with the Kansas Wheat Alliance Variety Everest, won the Central Region. Steve Tuttle, with a harvest of 67.36 bushels per acre with Everest, won the Eastern Region. Kansas Governor Sam Brownback is expected to present prize checks and plaques to the winners during the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson. Bill Spiegel reports.
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In a few weeks, Kansas farmers will begin planting wheat. However, if the weather pattern doesn’t shift dramatically from the abnormally dry conditions we've seen in the last 12 months, most of the state's prospective wheat fields will be hard and dry. K-State Research and Extension agronomist, Jim Shroyer, offers some suggestions for wheat producers planting in extremely dry conditions.
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