Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - February 2026
/DEVELOPMENTS
House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson released the following statement after releasing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026: “A new farm bill is long overdue, and the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 is an important step forward in providing certainty to our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. We made historic agricultural investments last summer in the Working Families Tax Cuts, but there are many key policy components that remain to be addressed. With that in mind, the House Committee on Agriculture will begin marking up a new farm bill February 23.”
USDA’s recent Land in Farms reported the number of U.S. farms shrank by 15,000 in 2025, bringing the total to 1.865 million. Analysis from the AFBF noted that farm bankruptcies were also on the rise. The largest decline at the state level was Texas, which lost 2,000 operations. No state saw an increase in farms, but multiple states did indicate no change from the prior year. Pro Farmer reported the number of farms decreased in every economic category except for farms making one million dollars or more in sales each year. The total amount of land in farms, Pro Farmer said, came in at 873.95 million acres, a 0.3% decrease from the 2024 figure.
At its 2026 Winter Policy Conference, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture members encouraged USDA to develop an additional pathway for products from state-inspected meat and poultry processing facilities to be sold across state lines. “One of NASDA’s most critical roles is safeguarding the nation’s food supply, detecting and preventing the spread of foodborne illnesses and supporting small and medium-sized producers,” said CEO Ted McKinney.
Kip Tom, former U.S. ambassador to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, warns that new European sanctions could roil fertilizer markets and create an “unintended crisis” for U.S. ag. As part of the European Union’s sanctions on Russia, it is phasing in new tariffs on fertilizer. Some states, like Finland and Sweden, have also proposed an outright ban. “Shocks or policy changes can have significant ripple effects globally,” Tom writes in a forthcoming paper for the America First Policy Institute.
From its Olathe, Kansas, operations, John Deere recently announced the introduction of the G5e Universal and CommandCenter™ displays designed to offer a scalable entry point into the John Deere Precision Ag ecosystem. The new G5e displays bring customers an easy-to-use and affordable solution, allowing them access to John Deere’s technology portfolio at an approachable entry point. Unlocking wireless connectivity; ISOBUS certification; and compatibility with tractors, implements, and utility vehicles, the G5e provides farmers with an easier opportunity to benefit from documentation, guidance and section control. “The G5e helps make John Deere’s precision ag technology more accessible – especially for farmers and ranchers or those getting started with precision ag tools – so they can begin seeing the benefits without a large upfront investment,” said Ryan Stien, precision ag marketing manager.
While farm loan sizes grew in 2025, Ty Kreitman, associate economist at the Omaha branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, said that “as the size of notes grew, maturities (payment length) for most types of non-real estate farm loans increased in 2025.” The average maturity of farm operating loans during 2025 increased by about three months compared with 2024 and reached record highs in the fourth quarter. “The average maturity on machinery and equipment loans also increased over the past year and hit the highest level since 2021.”
CattleFax vice president of market analysis Kevin Good says cattle availability will remain constrained in the first half of the year due to limited feeder cattle supplies. Prices are forecast to be steady-to-higher in 2026, with risk increasing later in the year as markets anticipate larger supplies in 2027. Cow-calf producers are expected to retain the strongest leverage as the cycle turns, supporting continued profitability for several more years. CattleFax forecasts the average 2026 fed steer price at $224/cwt., steady with 2025.
Kansas Department of Agriculture is seeking feedback from Kansans for the 2026 Kansas Custom Rates Survey to collect information on rates paid for agricultural custom work. The survey is administered through the Kansas State University Land Use Survey Office and will be open through March 31, 2026. “We view the Kansas Custom Rates Survey as a very valuable tool for farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses to access as they consider contracts and agriculture service arrangements,” said Secretary Mike Beam. “KDA works to provide support and assistance to help make Kansas agriculture more successful, and we are pleased to partner with K-State to publish this biennial survey.” The 2026 Kansas Custom Rates Survey is voluntary, anonymous and confidential. To participate in the survey, visit www.tinyurl.com/custom26.
EPA has reapproved the weed killer dicamba for use on genetically modified soybeans and cotton, a pesticide that has raised widespread concern over its tendency to drift and destroy nearby crops. The agency said dicamba was critical for farmers who would otherwise have their crops threatened by fast-growing weeds. To ensure the pesticide is used safely, the agency said it imposed strong protections and limits on its use. Bayer, a manufacturer of dicamba, said the federal registration will allow them now to seek state approvals. They’ll launch training for applicators in the coming weeks. Dicamba is a common weed killer that can be sprayed on top of genetically engineered crops. It kills the weeds but doesn’t hurt the crops. It has been in use for decades, but it has become more widespread on farms in recent years.
Bayer announced this month a proposed $7.25 billion settlement between its indirect subsidiary Monsantoand plaintiffs alleging that exposure to Roundup caused their non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Company leaders say they are hoping this will resolve the vast majority of remaining Roundup cases. Bayer CEO Bill Anderson said in a news release that the proposed class settlement agreement, together with a pending Supreme Court case, “provides an essential path out of the litigation uncertainty and enables us to devote our full attention to furthering innovation development.” The Supreme Court has set an argument date of April 27 on a petition brought by Monsanto where the court will seek to answer the question of whether the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act “preempts a label-based failure-to-warn claim where EPA has not required the warning.” The settlement was filed in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis, which still must decide whether to approve it. Anderson said the settlement is open to all outstanding plaintiffs, including those litigating as part of multi-district federal litigation in California. Bayer has estimated the number of outstanding cases nationwide at about 67,000. Bayer previously spent about $10 billion to settle about 100,000 claims and has set aside $5.9 billion for future cases. Anderson has warned that if the company cannot resolve the claims, it may have to discontinue its glyphosate business. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the popular herbicide Roundup. “The goal in reaching this class settlement and pursuing our Supreme Court case is to reach the greatest possible closure for the Roundup litigation,” Bill Dodero, senior vice president and general counsel at Bayer, said.
The Farmers’ Almanac isn’t going out of business after all, reports the Associated Press. “But it is leaving Maine for the bright lights of New York City and a new owner.” Beloved by farmers and gardeners, the almanac was first printed in 1818, relying on a secret formula of sunspots, planetary positions and lunar cycles to generate long-range weather forecasts. It has been acquired by Unofficial Networks, a digital publisher focused on skiing and outdoor recreation. That means the almanac will keep operating despite announcing in November that its 208-year run was coming to an end. A new Farmers’ Almanac website will be “a living, breathing publication with fresh, daily content” and there are plans to bring back a print edition, said TimKonrad, founder and publisher of New York-based Unofficial Networks. “I saw the announcement that one of America’s most enduring publications was set to close,” Konrad said, “and it felt wrong to stand by while an irreplaceable piece of our national heritage disappeared.” The deal will prioritize “preserving and sustaining the iconic publication,” according to a statement from Unofficial Networks and Peter Geiger, the almanac’s longtime publisher. Farmers’ Almanac was founded in New Jersey before moving its headquarters to Lewiston, Maine, in 1955. Over the years, scientists have sometimes chafed at the publication’s predictions. Studies of their accuracy have found them to be a little more than 50% accurate. That is about on par with random chance. But Geiger, whose family had the Farmers’ Almanac for more than 90 years, said they’re “going out a winner” by having predicted a cold and snowy 2026.
American farmer sentiment dropped sharply in January as economic anxieties intensified, according to the monthly Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The index fell to 113 in January from 136 in December, with the future expectations index declining 25 points. Half the producers surveyed reported their operations were worse off than a year ago, while 30% anticipated further deterioration over the next 12 months. Export concerns have deepened significantly. Some 16% of respondents expected agricultural exports to decline over five years, up from just 5% in December. Among corn and soybean growers, 21% predicted declining soybean exports, with 80% expressing concern about Brazilian competition. The barometer's farm capital investment index dropped to 47, its lowest reading since October 2024. Only 4% plan to increase machinery purchases this year. Operating debt emerged as a troubling factor. Among farmers expecting larger loans this year, 31% cited unpaid debt from prior years, which is up from 5% in 2023. "As in the last few months, producers were asked if the U.S. is headed in the 'right direction' or on the 'wrong track,'" according to a summary of the survey. "The percentage of producers who indicated the U.S. is headed in the 'right direction' dropped from 75% in December 2025 to 62% in January 2026." The share of those who said it's on the "wrong track" jumped from 25% to 38%, a 52% increase. The survey of 400 agricultural producers was conducted January 12–16.
PEOPLE
Ernie Minton, who recently stepped down as Eldon Gideon Dean of the College of Agriculture and now serves as special assistant to the president, was presented with the Meritorious Service award at the Kansas Soybean Celebration last month for his role in the campaign. Minton has served K-State’s College of Agriculture since 1983, spending 25 years as a faculty member before moving up the ranks to become dean. During his time in office, he says that physical infrastructure was a priority from the start. Several buildings from the 1950s and 1960s were aging out, most notably Shellenberger Hall, which houses the Department of Grain and Food Science. Since Minton’s appointment as dean in 2019, the K-State College of Agriculture has consistently ranked among the nation’s top 10 agriculture programs. “The Ag Innovation Initiative is a strong investment for Kansas Soybean because it will bring K-State facilities on par with the talent we have there,” says Kaleb Little, KSC Administrator. “That means better research, more innovation and advancement in crop production.” Kansas Soybean is proud to honor Minton for his many achievements as dean, including his spearheading of this initiative. “Ernie Minton was a critical leader not only in sharing the vision of the university, but also doing the legwork to see what could be possible and pushing stakeholders to come together and make it a reality,” Little said.
Iconic writer and editor for Drovers magazine, Greg Henderson was celebrated for his decades of service during the 2026 Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame Banquet in Nashville. From feedlots to board rooms, Henderson devoted his life to listening to beef producers, elevating their stories and championing the people in the trenches every day. An award-winning journalist and revered voice for the beef industry, Henderson provided timely information and in-depth analysis on all segments of the business, including cattle-feeding margins, market trends, genetic advancements, emerging technologies and the impacts of economic factors on beef prices and production.
Nearly 50 years ago, Dr. William Schapaugh accepted a job as Kansas State University’s first soybean breeder. He has long partnered with the Kansas Soybean Commission, carrying out decades of checkoff-funded research to drive progress in soybean genetics. At the annual Kansas Soybean Celebration, KSC presented Schapaugh with the Pinnacle Award, the organization’s highest honor, given in recognition of a career dedicated to the soybean farmers of Kansas. “I just loved to work on soybeans,” Schapaugh says, describing the beginning of his career in 1979. “Soybean farming in Kansas was growing exponentially. The soybean commission was just getting organized at that time. They felt like there was just tremendous potential, and they were right.”
Kansas Beef Council past chairman Randall Debler of Alma, Kansas, was elected to the Beef Promotion Operating Committee during the 2026 CattleCon in Nashville, Tennessee. Debler will serve in this key national role, strengthening Kansas’ representation and leadership at the national level. “We are thrilled to see Randall elected to the BPOC,” KBC Executive Director Scott Stebner said. “His leadership of and dedication to the beef industry is exceptional, reflecting the strong leadership coming out of Kansas and the value of having our beef producers represented nationally.”
Natalie Turner is now communications director for Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan). She was previously a public affairs specialist at the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
EVENTS
Kansas State University’s Cattlemen’s Day will be held March 6 at the new Bilbrey Family Event Center in Manhattan. Topics on the agenda include using genetic tools to advance the next generation of livestock, how cow size and heavier carcass weights are impacting the cowherd and feedlot performance, navigating farm and ranch transitions, an update on New World screwworm and the Asian longhorned tick, and a cattle market outlook. The Legacy Sale will begin at 4:00 that afternoon in the Stanley Stout Center. The evening prior, Tracy and Yvonne Brunner of Ramona will be honored as Stockman of the Year during the Stockmen’s Dinner. The event will also be held at the Stanley Stout Center, beginning at 6:00 p.m. More information at https://www.asi.k-state.edu/events/cattlemens-day/.
University of Missouri Extension specialists will offer updates to help producers grow better forages for healthier herds and better profits at the annual Christian County Livestock and Forage Conference, 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 3. The free event will be held in the Agriculture Building of Ozarks Technical Community College’s Richmond Valley campus, 3369 W. Jackson St., Ozark, said MU Extension agronomist Tim Schnakenberg. Speakers include agronomist Josh Dunn, who will talk about soil fertility in southern Missouri. He will give practical insights into ways to boost forage quality and yield. Agricultural business specialist Jake Hefley will offer business updates, and livestock specialist Ian McGregor will share ways producers can improve cattle performance on endophyte-infected pastures. Lynn Morris of the Christian County Commission will give remarks during the dinner served by Meat Hooks of Clever. There is no charge for the meal or event, but registration is required. For more information, call 417-581-3558.
University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI-MU) will host the 2026 Abner W. Womack Missouri Agricultural Outlook Conference on Wednesday, April 8. The free event will be held at the Poehlmann Education Center at the MU Bradford Research Farm in Columbia. Now in its 12th year, the Womack Conference delivers objective, data-driven insight on agricultural markets, policy and farm-level challenges that matter most to Missouri’s producers and agricultural stakeholders, conference organizers say. FAPRI director Seth Meyer will provide an overview of the institute’s 2026 agricultural market baseline, including projections for commodity markets, farm income and key policy drivers influencing the year ahead. Meyer, who previously served as USDA’s chief economist and as chairman of the World Agricultural Outlook Board, brings a wealth of national and global market perspective to Missouri agriculture. USDA Undersecretary of Farm Programs and Conservation Richard Fordyce will deliver the keynote. He will discuss federal conservation strategy, farm program implementation, and national priorities shaping agriculture in 2026 and beyond. The conference is free to attend, and lunch is provided by the Abner W. Womack Excellence in Agricultural Policy Endowment. Visit https://mizzou.us/Womack2026 for an agenda and online registration. For more information, contact Ben Brown at bpbrown@missouri.edu or 573-882-6527.
The U.S. Commercial Service, part of the International Trade Administration, will host a U.S. Pavilion at Grain SA’s NAMPO Harvest Day in Bothaville, South Africa — the largest agricultural machinery trade show in the southern hemisphere. The show highlights South Africa’s agricultural significance, bringing together technology, machinery, products, services and innovations across the farming and livestock sectors. Space in the embassy-supported U.S. Pavilion is limited to seven exhibitors. An informational webinar will be held March 3 to review market opportunities, participation details and exhibitor options. Limited spots remain. Click here for more information.