Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - June 2025

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DEVELOPMENTS

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Army have completed a series of listening sessions intended to seek input from stakeholders on real-world and practical experience with Clean Water Act programs and requirements that rely on the definition of “waters of the United States,” or WOTUS. Through these sessions, the agencies gained insights representing on-the-ground perspectives of farmers and ranchers, homebuilders and construction contractors, miners and energy producers, manufacturers, states, Tribes, elected officials, environmental groups and the general public. Over the course of nine listening sessions, EPA heard from people who are frustrated with the constantly shifting WOTUS definition. EPA and the Army intend to issue a proposed rule in the coming months that will prioritize clear interpretation and implementation of the law, reducing red tape, cutting overall permitting costs, and lowering the cost of doing business in communities across the country while protecting the nation’s waters from pollution. Following public comment on the proposal, the agencies will review input with the intention of issuing a final rule by the end of 2025.

Kansas Corn Growers Association leaders welcomed EPA’s announcement setting the Renewable Volume Obligations for renewable fuels through 2027. EPA set the level for ethanol at 15 billion gallons, which meets the statutory requirement in the Renewable Fuel Standard. The EPA also proposed reduced credit prices for imported biofuels, but details on the levels of the reductions are not yet known. “We welcome EPA’s stance on reducing credit prices for imported biofuels,” KCGA CEO Josh Roe said. “KCGA was the leader in developing state and national policy in this area, bringing attention to the fact that while companies can choose to import biofuels from foreign sources, those imported biofuels should not qualify for tax credits financed by the American taxpayer. We look forward to further analyzing and providing comment on this issue.”

Researchers from the University of Kansas have created a web-based app for the public that provides free satellite monitoring and analysis of vegetation and crop health across Kansas and the nation, called Sentinel GreenReport Plus. “Remote sensing and satellite imagery technology has been improving in terms of the spatial footprint that it can represent in a pixel,” said Dana Peterson, director of KansasView and senior research associate with Kansas Applied Remote Sensing, a program of the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research. The KU team said the public-facing digital tool could be used further to assess vegetation destruction from natural hazards or even more routine damage like hail.

Earlier this month, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins launched an $8.5 million sterile New World Screwworm fly dispersal facility in South Texas and announced a sweeping plan to enhance USDA’s already robust ability to detect, control and eliminate this pest. Urgent actions are necessary to finish the fight against NWS and protect the United States. NWS is a devastating pest that causes serious and often deadly damage to livestock, wildlife, pets, and, in rare cases, humans. While NWS has been eradicated from the United States for decades, recent detections in Mexico as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz, about 700 miles away from the U.S. border, led to the immediate suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border on May 11, 2025.

In meetings with the British government earlier this month American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall emphasized the importance of finalizing a new trade deal to expand access to markets in the United Kingdom. Duvall was in Great Britain to meet with policymakers and to observe British farming practices. “I had positive meetings with the U.K.’s Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,” he said. “We discussed the importance of creating new trade deals for America’s farmers and ranchers, and I shared with them the strength and safety of American agriculture.” In reality, Duvall noted, U.S. and U.K. have a lot in common regarding food production practices.

Government payments and crop insurance helped to keep Kansas accrual net farm income mostly steady in 2024 compared to 2023, according to a report from the Kansas Farm Management Association. KFMA Executive Director Mark Dikeman said his organization’s analysis indicates an average net farm income of $98,583, down just slightly from $100,618 in 2023, a 2% drop. “Dry regions of the state and depressed crop prices led to lower incomes for crop producers,” Dikeman said. “For those in the beef cattle sector, strong market conditions resulted in strong incomes, but also made the cost of replacement and expansion difficult. Government program payments, including payments accrued to the 2024 crop year, provided significant support to producers.” Dikeman said the U.S. Congress passed the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program in late December 2024. Even though those payments weren’t received until 2025, on an accrual basis, the payments were earned in 2024.

Farmer sentiment reached a four-year high in May, driven by growing optimism on agricultural exports and the impacts of tariffs on farm income, according to the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. Increases in the Index of Current Conditions and the Index of Future Expectations contributed to the 158 reading, a 10-point jump from April’s 148. The current conditions index was up 5 points at 146 and the future expectations index showed a 12-point jump from April to 164. This uptick in farmer sentiment was influenced by “a more positive view of the U.S.’s long-run agricultural trade prospects,” the report said. The survey also found that 52% of producers predicted increased agricultural exports over the next five years, the highest percentage of positive responses to the export outlook since November 2020. The barometer summary also states that producers’ thoughts on tariffs are softening. In May, only 43% of respondents indicated negative expectations of tariff impacts on farm income, compared to 56% in April and 57% in March. The May barometer survey was conducted May 12-16. (Source: Agri-Pulse Communications)

The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee recently passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would expand healthy milk options for children by reversing the law that removed whole milk from school cafeterias. The legislation was first introduced by Kansas Senator Roger Marshall in June 2023 and reintroduced in April 2025 with numerous bipartisan sponsors and co-sponsors. “Whole and reduced-fat milk should have never been excluded from the National School Lunch Program,” said Senator Marshall. “Now, 13 years after its removal, nearly 75% of children do not receive their recommended daily dairy intake. By increasing kids’ access to milk in school cafeterias, we will help prevent diseases down the road and encourage nutrient-rich diets for years to come. ”Studies show whole and 2% milk are the two most popular varieties sold and, therefore, are the most likely to be consumed by students. The legislation now will proceed to the Senate floor for a vote. If approved, it will move to the House for consideration.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Rural Crimes Investigative Unit and the Livestock and Farm Protection Task Force are aware of the false statement made last month regarding New World Screwworm in Missouri. The two groups, along with Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, are currently investigating this matter, and the case is considered an open and active investigation. The investigation is the result of a May 28 request from Missouri Attorney General and Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn to discover the culprit and determine if this was an act with malicious intent to cause panic in agricultural markets. RCIU focuses solely on the investigation of crimes unique to the agricultural industry and farming communities within the state of Missouri.

Livestock Marketing Association, Overland Park, Kansas, applauded the introduction of the Helping Ensure Rural Inheritance Transfers Are Generationally Enduring, or HERITAGE Act. The bill, set in motion by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, would help preserve family-owned agricultural land by adjusting the Internal Revenue Code that forces many families to sell their farmland to pay federal estate tax liabilities. Mike VanMaanen, LMA president and owner of Eastern Missouri Commission Co., welcomed the bill. “As an auction market owner and cattleman, I see firsthand how the death tax negatively impacts not only livestock producers, but our nation’s food security,” he said. “We appreciate Sen. Hyde-Smith’s commitment to the cattle industry, rural communities and consumers everywhere.” The HERITAGE Act would amend IRC Section 2032A, which was enacted in 1976 to allow special-use valuation of farmland to reduce the estate tax value of farming operations.  The maximum reduction under the 1976 law was just $750,000. Adjusted for inflation in 2025 that figure is $1.42 million, and is woefully inadequate for preserving modern family farm operations — many of which are considered “land rich but cash poor.” Hyde-Smith’s legislation would, among other things, increase the special-use valuation cap to $15 million for qualified real property used for farming purposes.  This change would help keep many heirs from being forced to face a choice between selling portions of their productive farmland or incurring substantial debt to pay estate tax liabilities.

The recently released Make America Healthy Again Commission Report questioned the safety of key herbicides Kansas farmers use. The mention of glyphosate and atrazine was tempered with language warning that “precipitous changes in agricultural practices could have an adverse impact on American agriculture and the domestic and global food supply.” The Kansas Corn Growers Association and the National Corn Growers Association have been working proactively to help the MAHA Commission and the Administration understand how corn farmers are working to grow the safest, healthiest and most abundant crops in the world. “We expected the MAHA report to attack pesticides, particularly glyphosate and atrazine. Leaders of the MAHA movement continue to make unsubstantiated health claims against the herbicides which aren’t based on sound scientific evidence. Some of those unfounded opinions are in this report,” KCGA CEO Josh Roe said. “Our association and its leaders have worked on these issues for years, and continue to actively represent Kansas corn growers to help regulators understand how crop protection tools are safely used in our fields.”

Recently Dairy Farmers of America launched TruMoo Zero whole chocolate milk, a new higher-protein and lower-sugar innovation with all the rich and creamy taste of regular chocolate milk. Designed to appeal to consumers who seek added benefits from their beverages, TruMoo Zero provides 13 grams of protein, which is 50% more protein than regular chocolate milk, and no added sugar. “We know that many consumers today are interested in increasing protein consumption and reducing sugar intake,” said Rachel Kyllo, chief marketing officer of DFA beverages.

Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast Kansas State parasitologist Brian Herrin, DVM, spoke about one pathogen that ticks carry that infects cattle but not people: Theileria orientalis. This blood-borne parasite causes the disease bovine theileriosis. K-State veterinarian Brad White noted that bovine theileriosis can be hard to detect because the symptoms can mimic other diseases. “Because it attacks the red blood cells, cattle will become anemic and may be short of breath, depressed, and exercise intolerant, and those are all also signs of respiratory disease,” Dr. White said. Bovine theileriosis tends to appear in younger cattle, more so than some other diseases, and it is spread by ticks.“In the acute phase of the disease, there can be up to 20% death loss that happens quickly, and for those that survive, they will carry the parasite in their body the rest of their lives,” Dr. Herrin said. Full discussion can be heard on Cattle Chat on your preferred streaming platform.

PEOPLE

Compass Minerals has named Ashley Ward as Chief Accounting Officer. She most recently served as Vice President, Corporate Controller since July 2024. “Ashley has demonstrated consistent leadership, deep technical expertise, and a commitment to operational excellence during her time at Compass Minerals,” said Peter Fjellman, Chief Financial Officer. “This promotion is a reflection of the value she brings to the organization and our confidence in her ability to guide our accounting function.” After receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Wichita State University, she began her career in accounting at Flint Hills Resources, a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries.

Ben Nuelle joined the Missouri Pork Association as Director of Producer Services. He previously worked for the Iowa Pork Producers Association as Director of Public Policy, for Agri-Pulse as an Associate Editor, and on Capitol Hill as Agriculture Special Assistant for Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. (Source: Agri-Pulse Communications)

Mikaela Rojas has joined Missouri Farmers Care as a Communication Specialist. Mikaela will begin a new chapter this fall at the University of Missouri, where she plans to major in General Agriculture and minor in Journalism. Last year, Mikaela had the honor of serving as a Missouri State FFA Officer. In that role, she traveled the state, engaging with students and helping inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Ceva Animal Health North America, Lenexa, Kansas, named Scott Bennett to the newly created role of Director of Public Affairs and Market Access. He worked for Boehringer Ingelheim for the past three years as Senior Associate Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy focused on animal health. Earlier, he worked for the American Farm Bureau Federation. (Source: Agri-Pulse Communications)

EVENTS

Generally speaking, “people think of local food being found in a farmer’s market, but you also find it in your local grocery store,” says Amanda Lindahl, the program coordinator with Kansas Local Food Systems at Kansas State University. Lindahl notes that many of the issues related to selling foods locally will be presented during the Kansas Local Foods Summit which will be held July 29-30 at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina. This is the second year of the Summit, which is open to anyone wishing to learn more about how local foods can benefit communities around the state. More information is available online here.

Farm Aid is heading to Minnesota for the first time for its 40th anniversary festival on Saturday, September 20, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The event will launch a year-long celebration of four decades of impactful advocacy, historic cultural moments and unforgettable music. Farm Aid 40 will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young (and the Chrome Hearts), John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds), and Margo Price, as well as Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Trampled by Turtles, Waxahatchee, Eric Burton of Black Pumas, Jesse Welles, Madeline Edwards, and more artists to be announced. Ticket prices range from $101 to $390 (including fees; sales tax will be added) and will be available for purchase at farmaid40.org. A limited number of pre-sale tickets will be available beginning at 10 a.m. CDT on May 14. Visit www.farmaid.org/festival  for more information.

Kansas State University is hosting an AI in Kansas Ag Conference on July 22. The conference will highlight some of the newest agricultural technologies using artificial intelligence in areas ranging from row crops to livestock management.  Educational sessions will include discussions with expert panelists on topics such as the history of AI in agriculture, the trustworthiness of AI, and the costs and benefits of using precision agriculture tools like drones, automated equipment, virtual fencing, and more. There also will be a demonstration of a spray drone. The conference will conclude with dinner and other live demonstrations. Producers, industry stakeholders, researchers and community members are invited to attend. The conference will start at 1:00 p.m. Registration is free, but space is limited to the first 200 attendees. More information or to register click here.

The American Royal is hosting its 2025 Golf Tournament on July 28. This event promises to be an exciting day, bringing together golfers from the region for a day of friendly competition and camaraderie. This is an opportunity to enjoy a day on the course while supporting the American Royal scholarships and its mission to be the Nation’s leader for food and agriculture education, events, and engagement. More information and ticket purchasing is available here.

Dates have been set for the 2025 Kansas Livestock Association/Kansas State University Ranch Management Field Days. Larson Ranch, owned by Brady and Kyla Larson, will host the first event August 21 in Wichita County. The August 28 field day will be held in Woodson County at Wells Ranch, owned by Terry Wells. Each event will begin at 3:30 p.m. and include presentations on the history of the host ranch and tours of their cattle-handling facilities. Larson Ranch will feature educational sessions on research surrounding yield grading technology and bovine congestive heart failure in feedlot cattle. Topics on the agenda at Wells Ranch include the Asian longhorned tick and its transmission of Theileria orientalis, as well as the use of drones and other resources for controlling noxious weeds in grazing lands. Both events are free and will conclude with a beef dinner. The Farm Credit Associations of Kansas and Huvepharma are sponsoring the field days. More information at www.kla.org.    

Kansas State University Olathe will hold its annual Animal Health Regulatory Affairs Conference, emphasizing areas in biologics, pharmaceuticals, and nutrition. The three-day, in-person event takes place September 16-18. More information is available here.

Gregg Doud, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, joins AFA’s  Cultivating Leaders podcast. From his roots on a Kansas farm to the global stage of international trade, Gregg shares his career journey marked by dedication, conviction, and service to U.S. agriculture. He shares a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to negotiate billion-dollar trade deals, and why technical knowledge, cultural awareness and clear communication are vital skills. He has powerful advice on holding strong in negotiation, supporting U.S. agriculture, and navigating a changing career.  Listen in on these streaming platforms: