Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - September 2025
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DEVELOPMENTS
From its Olathe, Kansas operations, John Deere recently announced the introduction of the V452M round baler that provides enhanced productivity and precision to larger-scale hay and forage operations. The V452M headlines the newly updated lineup of VR and CR round baler models, introducing a new naming convention and advanced features purpose-built for heavy crop and silage conditions, while the current 1 Series round balers remain and continue to serve customers with their baling needs. “The V452M and the broader VR and CR model updates are designed for more density, more productivity and more actionable data,” said Kaylene Ballesteros, John Deere marketing manager. “This update enhances our variable chamber and combination balers with features that support high-volume silage and heavy crop conditions, while complementing the proven performance of our 1 Series models. It’s about giving our farmers and ranchers the right tool for their operation, whether they’re baling 500 or 5,000 bales a year.”
The Kansas Beef Council, in partnership with NCBA, has launched a nationwide campaign to deliver toolkits to more than 5,000 family physicians and general practitioners, including more than 100 in Kansas. These toolkits will reach up to 500,000 consumers with trusted, health-related information about beef. Each toolkit provides evidence-based research showing beef is a high-quality, nutrient-dense protein; clinical takeaways that make it easy for doctors to translate the science into practice; and clear patient handouts that empower families to choose protein-rich, balanced and satisfying foods that support strength and satiety. Healthcare professionals remain one of the most trusted sources of nutrition information. By equipping them with science-backed materials, beef is positioned as a foundational food for health. This type of outreach has garnered positive results. Surveys repeatedly show an 80% average increase in the likelihood that healthcare professionals will recommend beef after receiving these toolkits.
A follow-up to the initial Make America Healthy Again report was released this month. The second installment of the report expanded on the benefits of high-quality protein, such as beef, and highlighted the critical role cattle producers play in helping make America healthy again. The original report was released in May. “Millions of American families build a healthy plate around our product every week,” said NCBA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane. “We will continue working with President Trump’s Administration to keep the supply chain moving and keep the safest, highest quality beef in the world on grocery store shelves.”
This month, President Trump announced a disaster declaration granting $5.7 million in federal emergency aid to the state of Kansas. The Kansas delegation urged President Trump to make a disaster declaration for the State of Kansas following the severe wind storms, flooding and tornadoes that occurred from June 3-7, 2025. Governor Laura Kelly formally submitted the request for federal support on August 6, 2025. “I appreciate the president and FEMA for approving Kansas’ request for federal support and a major disaster declaration following these devastating storms. This declaration will provide our state and local governments with resources to help Kansans recover and rebuild even stronger.”
McDonald’s plans to invest $200 million over the next seven years to promote regenerative agricultural practices on cattle ranches. In a statement to the press September 15, Cesar Piña, McDonald’s chief supply chain officer for North America, said, “As a brand that serves more than 90% of Americans every year, we recognize the responsibility we have to help safeguard our food systems for long-term vitality.” Regenerative techniques aim to conserve water, enhance soil health and reduce the need for synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. Cattle ranchers practicing regenerative agriculture move cattle frequently and let the land recover for weeks or months. That helps produce more grass with deeper roots, which take more carbon from the air to help improve soil. McDonald’s said its investment will help accelerate regenerative grazing and water and wildlife conservation on ranches spanning 4 million acres in up to 38 states. Jeff Trandahl, the executive director and CEO of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, said regenerative practices can ultimately improve the productivity of grasslands and increase ranches’ profitability. The foundation expects the first round of awards will be announced in January 2026. Source: Associated Press, September 16, 2025.
A report released this month from Rabobank and the World Egg Organization indicates the global egg market will expand by 22% by 2035, with emerging markets accounting for over 90% of that growth. Rising incomes, urbanization and changing consumer preferences in Asia, Africa and Latin America are driving expansion, while mature markets are increasingly demanding value-added egg products, wrote Meredith Dawson, managing editor, WATT PoultryUSA and Egg Industry, September 12, 2025. Per capita egg consumption varies across regions from under 50 eggs annually in parts of Africa to over 300 eggs in Mexico and Japan. Emerging markets are experiencing the fastest consumption increases as incomes rise. "Eggs will maintain their strong market position compared to other proteins, although growth is expected to slow slightly to approximately 2.0% year-on-year over the next decade," said Nan-Dirk Mulder, RaboResearch Senior Global Specialist in Animal Protein. Going forward, the growth of egg consumption in developing regions will require changes to egg distribution systems, marketing approaches and product development strategies.
Last week, Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) confirmed a new case of New World Screwworm in Sabinas Hidalgo, located in the state of Nuevo León, less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. This is the northernmost detection of NWS during this outbreak, and the one most threatening to the American cattle and livestock industry. Sabinas Hidalgo is located near the major highway from Monterrey, Nuevo León, to Laredo, Texas, which is one of the most heavily trafficked commercial thoroughfares in the world.” Protecting the United States from NWS is non-negotiable and a top priority of the Trump Administration,” said USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins. “This is a national security priority. We have given Mexico every opportunity and every resource necessary to counter NWS since announcing the NWS Bold Plan in June 2025. Nevertheless, American ranchers and families should know that we will not rely on Mexico to defend our industry, our food supply, or our way of life. We are firmly executing our five-pronged plan and will take decisive action to protect our borders.” Additionally, USDA will soon release a significant plan to help rebuild the American cattle supply, incentivizing U.S. ranchers, and driving a full-scale revitalization of the American beef industry.
A new economic study from the National Corn Growers Association and the Renewable Fuels Association shows that expanding year-round, nationwide consumer access to fuels with a 15% ethanol blend would provide a boon to the American economy, benefiting farmers, communities and consumers alike. “The study findings support what corn growers have been saying all along, and that is that higher sales of corn ethanol are good for the economy, and that is particularly true for rural America,” said Illinois farmer and NCGA president Kenneth Hartman Jr. “Given the state of the farm economy and the focus on increasing jobs available to Americans, we would encourage Congress to act quickly and pass legislation that allows consumers to access E15 year-round.” The study shows that providing consistent access to E15 year-round would provide an additional $25.8 billion to U.S. gross domestic product, boost incomes by $10.3 billion and support 128,000 additional full-time jobs. The Economic Impact of Permanently Allowing Year-Round Sales of E15 – A Joint Study by National Corn Growers Association & Renewable Fuels Association is available here.
Net farm income in the U.S. is projected to reach $177 billion in 2025, a sharp increase from $128 billion in 2024, according to the latest report on annual U.S. farm income and consumer food prices from the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI). Record cattle prices and large one-time government payments have boosted 2025 income, but declines in crop prices and projected reductions in future government support raise concerns about the outlook for 2026. “Despite strong income this year, much of the gain is temporary,” Pat Westhoff, director of FAPRI, said. “As emergency payments dry up and crop prices remain weak, we project a $31 billion decline in farm income next year.” The report incorporates data available in August 2025, including USDA crop production estimates and economic forecasts from S&P Global. It also accounts for modifications in key farm programs and tax credits related to biofuel production that were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law in July. “These forecasts are conditional on current policies and market expectations,” Westhoff said, adding that they “provide a useful benchmark for evaluating potential impacts of economic shifts, weather events and future policy changes.”
Following a near-record peak this summer for import cargo, volume at the nation’s major container ports is expected to decline for the remainder of the year amid rising tariffs, according to the Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. “We have seen the implementation of reciprocal tariffs across the globe, with a number of key trading partners being subjected to tariffs higher than the earlier 10% tariffs,” said Jonathan Gold, NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy. “We also continue to see more and more sectoral tariffs impacting a wider scope of products. Retailers have stocked up as much as they can ahead of tariff increases, but the uncertainty of U.S. trade policy is making it impossible to make the long-term plans that are critical to future business success.”
Drovers State of the Beef Industry Report, released September 15, breaks down the July USDA cattle inventory and cattle on feed reports. While the USDA reports the smallest U.S. herd in history and continuing tightening numbers on feed, analysts predict producers have not yet experienced the highest cattle prices. As a result, notes the report, 2025 and 2026 beef production forecasts are reduced from last month. Cattle prices are raised significantly in both the second half of 2025 and in 2026 on recent cattle price reports, strong beef prices, and tighter cattle supplies. Beef imports for 2025 and 2026 are revised considerably downward as limited imports from Brazil are expected. Exports were revised moderately downward in 2025 and 2026 on lower projected production. More information is available here.
Make America Healthy Again Commission’s policy recommendations for addressing chronic childhood disease takes a proactive, science-based approach toward agriculture’s role in reaching the commission’s objectives, according to the Kansas Corn Growers Association. KCGA leaders were encouraged that the report did not call for additional and unnecessary actions against atrazine and glyphosate, two pesticides that help growers control weeds and are vital tools for sustainability practices. In its initial report in May, the MAHA Commission called out atrazine and glyphosate, causing concern among corn farmers. KCGA, along with the National Corn Growers Association, launched an aggressive effort to ensure that the use of these key crop protection tools continues to be governed by our government’s rigorous, science-based regulatory system. In July, KCGA Secretary Brett Grauerholz attended a roundtable discussion with officials from Health and Human Services and USDA, hosted by Kansas Senator Roger Marshall. “Sometimes it just takes corn farmers going to Washington DC to explain to the policymakers what is actually happening on our farms when it comes to soil health, sustainability and responsible pesticide use,” explained Grauerholz. “Our proactive efforts truly made a difference.”
More than 100 pork producers from 20 states traveled to Washington, D.C., this month to call on Congress to deliver an urgent legislative fix to California’s Proposition 12, which is driving up costs for consumers, threatening small family farms, and disrupting interstate commerce. During their time on Capitol Hill, producers met with Members of Congress and staff to share firsthand accounts of how Prop. 12’s costly requirements are forcing sweeping changes across the pork supply chain. Producers emphasized that without federal action, family farms will be left behind, and pork prices could continue to rise. As part of the fly-in, NPPC rolled out a food truck on Capitol Hill, serving breakfast to lawmakers, staff and media. Branded with the message “Breakfast is Essential. So is Fixing Prop 12,” the truck spotlighted how a patchwork of state laws, spurred by Prop. 12, threatens affordable access to everyday staples like bacon, ham and sausage.
Following recent incidents across the country of individuals getting sick from raw milk, Kansas State University dairy specialist Mike Brouk encourages consumers to remember the risks associated with drinking raw milk. “It’s not unusual each year to see reports from different places around the country where people become sick after consuming raw milk,” he said. It can be serious, particularly when it involves young children. Dairy products purchased in grocery stores are all manufactured from pasteurized milk. Pasteurization is a process that applies heat to destroy pathogens in food. For the dairy industry, this involves heating every particle of milk or milk product to a specific temperature for a designated time. “The bacteria we are mostly concerned about are things like E. coli, listeria, salmonella and campylobacter, which all have negative effects to human health,” Brouk said. Source: K-State Extension News Service.
New checkoff-funded research shows eating animal-sourced protein is not linked to a higher risk of death and may even offer protective benefits against cancer-related mortality. The study, published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, analyzed data from nearly 16,000 adults ages 19 and older using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. During the study, researchers examined how much animal and plant protein people typically consumed and whether those patterns were associated with their risk of dying from heart disease, cancer or another cause. The researchers found no association between total protein, animal or plant, and risk of death. When both forms of protein were included in the analysis, the results remained consistent, suggesting that plant protein has a minimal impact on cancer mortality, while animal protein may offer a small protective effect. “There’s a lot of confusion around protein—how much to eat, what kind and what it means for long-term health. This study adds clarity, which is important for anyone trying to make informed, evidence-based decisions about what they eat,” explained Stuart Phillips, professor and chair of the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University, who supervised the research. While observational studies like this cannot prove cause and effect, they are valuable for identifying patterns and associations in large populations. Combined with decades of clinical trial evidence, the findings support the inclusion of animal proteins as part of a healthy dietary pattern.
The Livestock Marketing Information Center, Lakewood, Colorado, reports that pasture and rangeland in the U.S. are in good shape for much of the country this year. Some areas in the West are struggling, but the Plains, Corn Belt, and Southeast appear to be doing well. A little over 30% of range and pastureland conditions were rated as poor to very poor. This is the lowest for this time of year since 2019. Regionally, the western states (including the West Coast, Great Basin states, Arizona, and New Mexico) continue to struggle with poor conditions. In August, over 50% of pasture and range conditions were rated as poor to very poor. This is the worst for this time of year since 2021. This is also well above the five-year average of around 40%. So far, these conditions generally support cow-calf producers’ ability to grow herds. Good forage availability is necessary for expansion, but it is not sufficient. The right market incentives and time are also needed to see expansion. Additionally, there are still a couple of months left before winter sets in which will also impact producer decisions.
Farm Journal’s Machinery Pete, LLC, a leading online marketplace for used farm and construction equipment, announced its partnership with AgDirect, one of the nation’s leading ag equipment financing providers, to deliver financing solutions directly within eligible equipment listings. This partnership makes it easier for farmers shopping on MachineryPete.com to not only find the right equipment but also to explore flexible financing options from AgDirect all in one trusted environment. “Farmers want simple, straightforward tools that help them make faster, smarter equipment decisions,” said Casey Seymour, general manager of Machinery Pete. “By partnering with AgDirect, we’re integrating financing into the buyer journey, so farmers can evaluate equipment and payment options side by side, streamlining the path from search to purchase.”
PEOPLE
Richard Fordyce has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, overseeing the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Risk Management Agency. A fourth-generation Missouri farmer, Fordyce previously served as Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, and Chair of the Missouri State Soil and Water Districts Commission. He was sworn in by Secretary Brooke Rollins in Kansas City on Thursday, September 25, in conjunction with the Ag Outlook Forum. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his work to ensure farm programs are practical for producers while safeguarding soil, water, and working lands.
Kim Chipman, an award-winning journalist with more than two decades of experience covering markets, companies, policy and politics with Bloomberg News, is joining Agri-Pulse Communications as congressional editor. Chipman spent 28 years with Bloomberg News, where she most recently wrote on biofuels and crop inputs including fertilizer. She spent nine years at Bloomberg’s Washington bureau before moving to Chicago to cover breaking news from the Midwest. “Kim brings to the Agri-Pulse team a wealth of experience covering agriculture, and environmental and energy issues. She will be an invaluable asset as Agri-Pulse deepens its industry-leading coverage of federal food and ag policy,” said Agri-Pulse editor-in-chief Philip Brasher.
Natalie Hoagland of J&N Ranch recently was featured in the “Voices of the Outdoors” video series created by Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. Each episode is a collaboration between an outdoor enthusiast and a beef producer, facilitated by BIWFD and state beef council teams to showcase the shared values of caring for the land and experiencing the outdoors. The Kansas Beef Council connected BIWFD with Hoagland for the seventh installment of the series, which is being promoted to consumer audiences across YouTube, social media and streaming platforms. Hoagland hosted professional gravel cyclist Alexey Vermeulen at her family’s ranch. During the visit, she shared her family’s story, educated Vermeulen about the unique Flint Hills ecosystem and promoted beef production in Kansas. Vermeulen has ridden his bicycle by J&N Ranch multiple times during the annual UNBOUND Gravel bike race, based out of Emporia. Source: Kansas Livestock Association, September 25.
EVENTS
Kansas youngsters have entered 2,104 animals in the 93rd Kansas Junior Livestock Show, which will take place October 3-5 at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. A total of 845 exhibitors from across the state have entered 183 market steers, 359 breeding heifers, 257 market hogs, 343 breeding gilts, 258 market lambs, 290 breeding ewes, 211 market goats and 203 commercial does. KJLS will award cash to exhibitors of the top five animals in both market and breeding shows in all four species. Direct cash payouts will range from $2,500 to $250 for steers and heifers; $1,500 to $250 for market hogs and breeding gilts; $1,250 to $300 for market lambs and breeding ewes; and $1,250 to $300 for market goats and commercial does. New this year, KJLS will have a supreme female drive to select the top five breeding females of each species. Additionally, in the registered divisions of the heifer, gilt and ewe shows, bred-and-owned breed champions and reserves, as well as top five overall, will be chosen. For more information, including a full schedule of events, go to www.kjls.net.
KC Animal Health Corridor will celebrate its 20-year anniversary in 2026. AHC represents a hotbed of innovation and business development all focused on veterinary medicine. The Corridor, centered in Kansas City, reaches from Columbia and St. Joseph in Missouri to Manhattan in Kansas – an area that features over 300 companies and 20,000 people working in animal health. “These companies represent 56% of animal health, diagnostics and pet food sales worldwide,” wrote Joseph Harvey, Head of Animal Health at UK-based Agribusiness Intelligence/IHS Markit, September 8, 2025. Since 2006, some 85 companies have joined existing businesses in the region, adding 4,500 new jobs, more than $405 million in new payroll and around $4 billion in new capital investment. Harvey’s article in full – including interviews with local animal health industry notables such as Kimberly Young, Scott Bormann, Laura Olsen, Yvonne Hsu, Linda Rhodes Fabian Kausche and Craig Wallace – is available at www.ihsmarkit.com.
The American Royal’s annual World Series of Barbecue® takes place November 5-9 at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. It is the world’s largest competition of its kind, and is also the American Royal’s largest fundraiser. Proceeds from the event go straight to the American Royal’s mission to be the nation’s leader for food and agriculture education, events and engagement. Tickets are on sale now.
Other upcoming American Royal events include:
The 2025 Angus Convention is Kansas City bound. This fall, cattle producers of all types will head to the Midwest metropolis known as the Heart of America with a shared purpose – to connect with fellow cattlemen and women, expand industry knowledge and take part in conversations that drive breed progress. The Kansas City Downtown Marriott will host the main stage events, Angus University sessions, social gatherings. More information is available at www.angusconvention.com.
FarmCon, the ag innovation and investment sector’s most energizing event, is gearing up for its 2026 annual conference, January 7-8, 2026, at Loews Kansas City Hotel. Widely hailed as agriculture’s select event for top-tier farmers, innovators and investors, FarmCon 2026 will include exclusive content, deeper investor connections, and a high-voltage atmosphere where ag innovation meets capital empowerment. More than 1,200 premier farmers, leading ag entrepreneurs, tech disruptors, investors and legacy industry titans are expected. “FarmCon is fueled by relentless optimism that the best days of American agriculture aren’t behind us, they’re just beginning,” said Kevin Van Trump, the curator and host of FarmCon. "Ultimately, the benefactors from the activity created at FarmCon are American farmers."Van Trump, also Founder & CEO of Farm Direction, author of The Van Trump Report, angel investor, and host of the Highly Volatile podcast, said this year’s event will ignite conversations and the flow of investment capital across agriculture. For more information visit www.farmcon.com.
Kansas State University Olathe is offering free webinars to learn more about its bachelor’s and master’s degrees in several animal health and horticulture sciences:
Master's Degree in Veterinary Biomedical Science — Noon on Oct. 1
Graduate Certificate in Animal Health Regulatory Affairs — 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 1
Graduate Certificate in Animal Health Data Analytics and Insights — Noon on Oct. 15.
Master's Degree in Horticulture and Urban Food Systems — Noon on Nov. 5
More information available here.