Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - March 2026

Developments

Kansas Legislators are wrapping up committee meetings and bill hearings, and working bills on the House and Senate floors.

• Property tax - The House passed SCR 1603, which would amend the Kansas Constitution to limit valuation increases for real property. The constitutional amendment, if approved by voters, would establish the taxable value of real property to be the lesser of the fair market value of the property or the average fair market value. The Legislature would set the number of years to be used in determining the average fair market value. The House also added an amendment on the floor to allow freezing or limiting property tax valuations for qualified seniors, the definition of which would be determined by the Legislature in the future.

• Water - The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources passed HB 2114, a bill originally opposed by KLA, that was amended in committee to resolve KLA’s multiple concerns. The bill amends numerous statutes pertaining to the regulation of dams and other water structures. It was passed out of committee as amended, then passed the full Senate 39-1.

• Livestock theft - The Senate passed HB 2413 by a vote of 39-0. The bill, supported by KLA, would increase the severity level of punishment for livestock theft, specifically horses and cattle, to a level 5, nonperson felony. Currently, severity of the crime is based on value, with increasing penalties depending on the value of the livestock stolen. The bill contained an amendment adjusting its implementation date and the House non-concurred. The bill will go to a conference committee this week.

  Source: Kansas Livestock Association, March 20, 2026.

At the Ag Business Council’s Ag Innovation Forum 2026 last month, Alfonso Clavijo, Director, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, reviewed how NBAF is honing its capabilities and developing partnership opportunities “with the goal of countering intentional and unintentional threats” to animal husbandry and crop production worldwide. “NBAF is currently collaborating with several academic institutions through partnership and workforce development funding.” For example, Dr. Clavijo said NBAF’s Biologics Development Module will enable stronger collaboration with the veterinary biopharmaceutical industry to accelerate vaccine development. “There are opportunities for industry engagement in the advanced development pipeline and improved probability of successful technology transitions,” he noted.

Even though the value of U.S. agriculture exports has declined, a new report – 2026 Feeding Our Economy, published by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers – says America’s food and agriculture industries generate more than $10.4 trillion in economic activity, representing nearly 20% of the U.S. economy, and supporting 48.7 million jobs nationwide. The sector also provides more than $3 trillion in wages and contributes $1.35 trillion in federal, state, and local taxes. "U.S. equipment manufacturers are proud to play a role in feeding the nation and the world,” said AEM Senior Vice President, Industry Sectors and Product Leadership Curt Blades. “The 2026 Feeding the Economy report highlights the importance of the food and agriculture value chain to the U.S. economy and the need for comprehensive policies to support and bolster the farm economy. When farmers and ranchers succeed, America succeeds.”

Last week, the House Ag Committee approved Farm Bill 2026 which now heads to the full House for a vote. House Ag Committee Chair G.T. Thompson says he's confident it will pass even with the so-called "poison pills." The committee moved the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 with a bipartisan vote of 34-17. The legislation aims to strengthen community development resources, deploy rural infrastructure and support conservation and land stewardship.

AFBF recently released a notification that severe weather, high expenses and global uncertainty are hitting farmers from all sides, squeezing them to the breaking point. Fifty-four agriculture groups laid out the challenges facing rural America in a letter to President Trump March 19. The letter recognizes progress made last year in enhancing farm risk management tools and securing much-needed tax relief for farmers, but says additional resources are needed during these turbulent times. “That relief,” AFBF stressed, “should build on recent efforts to deliver Farmer Bridge Assistance Program payments, and should include meaningful support for all specialty crop, sugar and alfalfa growers, assistance for farmers and ranchers dealing with catastrophic weather events, and build longer-term demand stability for U.S. agriculture through year-round sales of E15 and tax incentives to increase use of domestic agricultural products, such as the Buying American Cotton Act and the Grown in America Act.”

Farmers, food businesses, and buyers from across Kansas and Missouri gathered on March 11 at Kansas State University Olathe for a Meet the Buyers event designed to strengthen marketplace connections and expand business opportunities. "Many of our local producers have said they want an opportunity to level up and expand their food businesses,” said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam. “They need to enter new markets. This event allowed farmers to showcase the passion and love that goes into the products they make.” The event combined one-on-one conversations and facilitated introductions, and educational sessions focused on preparing farmers and food businesses for wholesale success. Topics included what buyers look for in products, how to meet wholesale requirements, and tips for building long-term business relationships. The KDA’s Ag Marketing team organized the event in collaboration with partners across Kansas and Missouri to highlight the importance of strong connections in agriculture. The event highlighted how building relationships between producers and buyers plays a critical role in sustaining and growing the regional food system. For more information about KDA Ag Marketing programs visit FromtheLandofKansas.com or call 785-564-6700.

AFBF issued a statement this month saying the proposed merger of the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railways would leave farmers with fewer transportation options and vulnerable to shipping cost increases at a time when balance sheets have been squeezed to the breaking point by rapidly rising input costs. Transportation, marketing and storage expenses are projected to rise to a record $14 billion in 2026. AFBF economists analyzed the UPNS merger in its latest Market Intel report. The $85 billion proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would create the first coast-to-coast Class I railroad in U.S. history. The system would span roughly 50,000 route miles across 43 states. “It would leave farmers more dependent on fewer railroads,” said AFBF, “at a time when they already have almost no ability to walk away from higher costs or poor service.” According to AFBF, the merger does not create new competition for agriculture, rather it removes what little leverage remains by eliminating key routing and interchange options that currently help keep rates and service in check.

Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Agriculture announced that Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems has been awarded $3 million to develop Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technology for agricultural use. This technology can be used by farmers, ranchers, and agriculture business retailers to improve yields, cut input costs, manage livestock, and expand opportunities for precision agriculture development in the state of Kansas. “Through investments into cutting-edge precision agriculture technology, we are giving Kansas farmers and ranchers a leg up,” Gov. Kelly said. “Kansas’ vast cropland and grassland acreage, as well as our diversified agriculture industry, make us the ideal location for these developments.” The funding was approved by the Kansas Legislature and Governor Kelly during the 2025 legislative session.  “Kelly Hills is building on a storied history of agriculture and aviation innovation in the state of Kansas,” said Kansas Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam. “This investment will ensure that Kansas farmers and ranchers remain at the forefront of the industry.” Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems was established in 2024 by Heinen Brothers Agra Services to bring advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and autonomous ground vehicles into the agricultural sector. Kelly Hills’ mission is to enhance farming operations by integrating cutting-edge technology that improves precision, efficiency, and safety.

In a first-of-its-kind effort highlighting the growing role of women in the cattle industry, the Kansas Department of Agriculture partnered with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to host an all-women delegation of six cattle producers from Chihuahua, Mexico, for a multi-state trade mission focused on U.S. beef cattle genetics. The program took place earlier this month and provided participants with opportunities to explore U.S. beef cattle genetics, strengthen industry relationships, and identify potential suppliers for future purchases. The delegation represented Mujeres Ganaderas de México (MUGAM; “Cattlewomen of Mexico”) and traveled through New Mexico and Kansas the first week of March to strengthen commercial relationships and explore opportunities to import U.S. beef genetics. The mission was made possible through the departments’ membership in U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc., with funding support from the USDA Market Access Program. “Mexico is an important market for beef genetics, and this visit expanded those connections to support long-term growth opportunities for Kansas livestock producers,” said KDA Secretary Mike Beam. “We appreciate our partnership with USLGE as well as with our counterparts at the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.” For more information, contact KDA International Trade Director Katheryn Wessel at Katheryn.Wessel@ks.gov or 785-564-7466, or NMDA Marketing Specialist Juan Sanchez at jsanchez@nmda.nmsu.edu or 575-339-5047.

Farmer sentiment improved in February as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer (AEB) Index rose from 113 points in January to The Current Conditions Index increased by 11 points, while the Future Expectations Index dropped 1 point. The Future Expectations Index this month was 45 points lower than last year’s February index, reaching its lowest level since September 2024. Although concerns about agricultural exports moderated somewhat from the previous month, they are still higher than those expressed in December. In addition, the percentage of respondents who think the U.S. is headed in the “right direction” declined for the second month in a row. The February barometer survey took place from February 2-6, 2026.

The state’s leading biofuels advocates, Renew Kansas Biofuels Association, Kansas Corn and Kansas Sorghum Producers extended their joint appreciation to Kansas Governor Laura Kelly for her continued support of year-round E15 following a statement the Kelly Administration issued on Feb. 24, 2026. “We thank Governor Kelly for her statement supporting E15 and the benefits year-round access would bring to our state’s farmers, fuel retailers, drivers and communities,” said Ron Seeber, president and CEO of Renew Kansas Biofuels Association. “We appreciate her pushing Congress to take action, and we also support her willingness to move forward with an opt-out waiver as an option if a national solution is not reached. Either way, year-round E15 will strengthen our state’s economy.” Renewable Fuels Association notes ethanol and distillers grains production in Kansas has a $1.1 billion impact on the state’s economy, while drivers in Kansas currently consume approximately 125 million gallons of ethanol, saving $366 million annually and avoiding 1.8 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. “The Kansas Corn Growers Association appreciates Governor Kelly’s pressure on Congress to pass year-round E15 at the federal level. A federal fix is badly needed so that E15 can be sold year-round, nationwide at this time of depressed commodity prices,” said Josh Roe, CEO of Kansas Corn. “Additionally, the Governor can provide regulatory certainty to Kansas fuel retailers by signing onto the EPA opt out, like eight of her midwestern colleagues have done. This provides regulatory certainty for Kansas fuel retailers and farmers, no matter what happens at the federal level, a certainty that retailers in neighboring states of Nebraska and Missouri enjoy.”

Earlier this month, Farm Progress reported that “across the United States, farmland is a casualty in the nation’s artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency pursuits, as tech giants race to build massive computing facilities.” These centers house the digital files that underpin AI, cryptocurrencies, cloud computing, self-driving tractors and a host of other emerging technologies. Midwest states are quickly becoming hubs because of their centrality, comparatively inexpensive land and plentiful natural resources. Illinois has 222 data centers, Farm Progress said. Offers can be lucrative but not necessarily wanted. In November, one Kentucky farmer turned down a $10 million offer to sell his 250-acre farm to a mysterious data center developer. “Despite sums that often dwarf the land’s recent value, farmers are increasingly shutting the door,” the magazine’s editors said.

Recently Zippy Duvall applauded the bipartisan passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 in the House Agriculture Committee. “AFBF appreciates the leadership of chairman Glenn Thompson and lauds the supportive members of the committee on both sides of the aisle for recognizing that a new farm bill is critical as farmers face headwinds not seen in a generation. The farm bill has a ripple effect across the country by supporting the farmers who grow the food that stocks every kitchen pantry in America.”  Duvall emphasized that farmers are also counting on the Senate Agriculture Committee to follow suit and schedule a farm bill markup soon. “This is an opportunity for both chambers to work on a bipartisan basis to do the right thing – not only for farmers, but for every family that depends on them. We call on members of Congress to step up and say yes to a strong U.S.-grown food supply.”

Kansas Corn Growers Association leaders said they were pleased with the passage of the “skinny” Farm Bill in the House Agriculture Committee. Kansas Representatives Tracey Mann and Sharice Davids both voted in favor of the Farm Bill. However, KCGA remains extremely frustrated with the lack of movement for passage of year-round access for E15 fuel. A Democrat-backed E15 amendment to the Farm Bill in the committee was shot down in a partisan vote, with Rep. Davids voting in favor. Republican committee members voted against the amendment on a procedural basis. “We are well aware that E15 lies outside of the jurisdiction of the House Ag Committee, but desperate economic times in farm country call for unorthodox measures, and we’re disappointed with progress on E15,” KCGA CEO Josh Roe said. “If Congress was concerned about playing by the rules, then we would have a report out of the E15 task force by now. The task force has missed the imposed deadline for an agreement, and we’re past the promised deadline of the end of February for a House vote.”

Events

University of Missouri Extension will offer a workshop on how to manage pests, soil fertility, growing climate and irrigation in high tunnels 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday, May 1, at Milsap Farm in Springfield. MU Extension horticulturist Justin Keay said the workshop will help growers understand some of the unique challenges in the high tunnel growing environment, and how to manage these potential problems to maximize production and increase revenue. “Growing in high tunnels is becoming more popular and these structures provide many benefits such as season extension, increased yields, and reduction of certain fungal and bacterial diseases,” Keay said. “However, high tunnels are a significant investment, and there are some production challenges unique to high tunnels that growers need to understand so they can make sure the tunnel pays off.” Register at https://pears.io/events/mu/5177. For more information, contact Keay at justin.keay@missouri.edu or 573-324-5464.

Celebrating the International Year of the Women Farmer, the University of Missouri Extension’s Pearls of Production program is hosting a free global speaker series in 2026. The series will feature women agricultural leaders from around the world. The series is designed to connect agricultural professionals, researchers, and producers, said Heather Conrow, Pearls of Production committee chair and an MU Extension livestock and poultry specialist.  “Through engaging virtual conversations and hands-on trainings, the program supports participants in enhancing skills, improving efficiency, and adopting best practices in animal agriculture,” Conrow said. All sessions in the free speaker series will be presented live on Zoom. Organizers plan to announce additional international speakers throughout the year and invite recommendations for potential participants.

• April 22 – Kate Hoare, United Kingdom dairy farmer known for an off-grid system featuring a biomethane-capturing slurry lagoon.

• May 27 – Judith de Vor, fifth-generation regenerative dairy farmer from the Netherlands.

• June 24 – Louise Bulmer, from Scotland’s Rural College, specializes in equine nutrition and research on the gut-brain axis.

Learn more at https://muext.us/PearlsofProduction. For questions, contact Ms. Conrow at hconrow@missouri.edu or 660-248-2272.

People 

The American Royal has announced key leadership updates, naming Jackie McClaskey as President and Chief Innovation Officer and promoting Pat Macy to CEO, while also appointing Jessica Marsh as director of events. McClaskey, who has been with the organization for seven years, will continue to lead development of the new American Royal campus along with its events, educational initiatives, and programming, bringing prior experience from the Kansas Department of Agriculture, where she served as Secretary, and Kansas State University’s College of Agriculture. Macy, who previously served as managing director, steps into the CEO role with a background that includes leadership positions at Cerner and Oracle, where he managed large-scale system implementations for major health care organizations. Board Chair Walt George noted that both leaders bring a strong commitment to advancing the organization’s mission and future growth. In addition, Marsh joins the leadership team with more than 15 years of event production experience, including roles at Kansas City University and Motivation Through Incentives, and will help lead the American Royal’s event strategy as it expands programming and prepares to open its new campus in Kansas City, Kansas.

Bohl Government Affairs, a Washington-based federal government relations firm, has announced its launch. Founded by Eric Bohl, the firm provides federal advocacy, legislative strategy, and regulatory guidance across sectors including agribusiness, healthcare, and emerging technology. Bohl brings extensive experience working with Members of Congress and federal agencies, including seven years on Capitol Hill and service as Chief of Staff to Rep. Jason Smith (MO-08). He previously led public affairs for a statewide advocacy organization and spent five years in private legal practice. Learn more at www.bohlga.com.

Kansas State University has officially named Dr. Dan Moser as the new dean of the College of Agriculture. Moser, a K-State alumnus, had been serving as interim dean since last summer. Prior to taking that position, he was the associate dean of academic programs in the College of Agriculture. “Dean Moser knows how to get the best out of K‑State's network of promising students, world-leading agricultural researchers and change-making alumni, because he's long been among them,” said Jesse Perez Mendez, provost and executive vice president. “We’re setting a standard as a next-generation land-grant university, and Dean Moser's leadership will ensure the College of Agriculture is a crucial component of that work.” As chief academic and administrative officer of the College of Agriculture and K‑State's agricultural experiment station, Moser will provide strategic vision, direction, and support for the college’s faculty and staff.

Kansas State University Olathe is hiring a Director of Strategic Partnerships and Regional Engagement to lead and expand our collaborations with industry, civic organizations, and community partners in support of academic programs, research and professional education. This role advances key strategic priorities for K-State Olathe and the broader university. Apply by April 10.  <kstateolathe@olathe.k-state.edu>

Abby Goins was promoted to legislative director in the office of Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb. She has been with the office nearly two years, recently as a legislative assistant. A Kansas native and Kansas State University alumnus, Goins earlier worked for Rep. Tracey Mann.  Rylee Rosamond joined the office of Rep. Tracey Mann, as a legislative assistant. She will be focused on covering agriculture, food, energy, and trade issues. Rosamond was previously a legislative aide in the office of Sen. Markwayne Mullin. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications

The Kansas Corn Commission welcomed one new commissioner and two returning commissioners upon completion of the Kansas commodity commission elections for the North Central, Central and South Central Districts. Central District Corn Commissioner Derek Belton, Tampa, and South Central District Corn Commissioner, Kent Moore, Iuka, were reelected to the commission. Brett Graueholz, Republic, was elected to represent growers in the North Central District, filling the position of Mike Brzon, Courtland. The commodity commissioners are elected by growers in their districts in elections conducted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Elections for the grain sorghum, soybean, sunflower and wheat commissions were also held.