Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - July 2026
Developments
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $95 billion budget resolution that would direct up to $12 billion in disaster relief to farmers. House Agriculture Committee chairman G.T. Thompson said the dollars would go toward row crops, specialty crops, and sawmills. The American Farm Bureau Federation applauded the progress toward budget reconciliation. The National Farmers Union also welcomed the farm aid, but added that Congress must implement structural changes to preclude the need for ad-hoc bridge payments. Source: Progressive Farmer, July 22, 2026
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated that 95.3 million acres of corn were planted in the U.S. in 2026, down 3% from last year, according to the Acreage report released today. Soybean area planted is estimated at 85.4 million acres, up 5% from last year. Following up on the Prospective Plantings report released in March, NASS surveyed approximately 90,300 farm operators during the first two weeks of June to gather information on what farmers actually planted. All NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
The USDA says crop conditions held mostly steady in Kansas over the past week. According to the latest crop progress report, Kansas corn is 70% silking, 34% in the dough stage, and rated 54% good to excellent. Soybeans are 63% blooming, 39% setting pods, and rated 64% good to excellent. Pasture and range conditions are rated 50% good to excellent. The winter wheat harvest in Kansas is complete. Source: Brownfield Ag News.
University of Missouri researchers are turning a unique variety of corn into an effective natural alternative to artificial food dyes. At Mizzou’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, scientists are studying a variety of purple-colored corn traditionally grown in South America. Its vibrant shades come from anthocyanins, natural pigments that give blueberries, red cabbage, and grapes their colors. Unlike artificial dyes, which are petroleum-based and added purely for appearance, anthocyanins are rich in antioxidants known for reducing inflammation and supporting heart health. In corn, these colors are concentrated in the pericarp, the thin outer layer of the kernel. “It’s the layer that often gets stuck in your teeth,” Pavel Somavat, who has joint appointments in Mizzou’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and the College of Engineering, said. “In purple corn, that’s where our most valuable components are.”
Kansas animal health officials and scientists are stressing that a current outbreak of New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite affecting livestock and other animals, does not pose a food safety concern for consumers. “This is not a food safety concern, and that’s an important point we want everyone to understand,” said Dr. Sarah McReynolds, assistant animal health commissioner for the Kansas Department of Agriculture. “We are very concerned about it as an animal health risk, but it is not a food safety concern.”
Kansas State University received $500,000 for a pilot program in campus-scale sustainable food production. The project will bring together faculty, staff and students from across the university to develop, evaluate and demonstrate various methods to grow healthy, locally produced fruits and vegetables. “It was the genuinely interdisciplinary, multi-modal nature of the proposal that distinguished it in the eyes of both the initial review committee and our executive committee,” said Ian Jacobs, university strategy officer.
Kansas Department ofAgriculture partnered with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture to host an agribusiness delegation from India for a multi-state trade mission in mid-June. The delegation traveled through Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas to learn about Midwest value-added industries. Delegates were interested in the high-quality distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) produced in Kansas for dairy and poultry feed and the efficiency of ethanol production in the state. “International trade is built on relationships and trust,” said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam. “By welcoming this delegation to Kansas and sharing our production systems, research, and value-added industries, we’re laying the groundwork for partnerships that can benefit both Kansas agriculture and our counterparts in India for years to come.”
USDA announced that starting August 24, the port of entry at Douglas, AZ, will be reopened for live cattle imports from Mexico. Every animal entering the U.S. will undergo a full USDA inspection to ensure it is free of any signs of New World screwworm (NWS). In the weeks following the initial reopening, USDA will assess the live import protocol and decide when to open additional ports. More information about the reopening protocol is available via USDA’s press release.
Farmer sentiment declined by six points in June, according to the most recent Purdue University–CME Ag Economy Barometer. It matches the overall level of sentiment from January, at 113 points. High input costs are the “main thing limiting improvement” in their financial situation, 41.5% of the farmers surveyed said, slightly down from last month. About 17% of respondents said low output prices are their top concern, and 14% are most worried about weather. This month’s survey did not ask about the impact of the war in Iran on net farm income in 2026. Source: Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.
USDA Secretary Brooke L.Rollins has announced that the 2026 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants were released, completing awards totaling nearly $20 million across 68 projects. The program empowers American farmers, producers, ranchers, and fishers to serve their local foods in school meals, summer meals, and childcare settings.
Rural counties have some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the United States, according to Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap report released July 28, 2026. Food resources and lack of transportation options continue to pose access barriers in rural areas. “Food insecurity is not a distant problem—it is present in every community in America,” said Denis McDonough, the CEO of Feeding America, in the press release. “The data help us understand the scale of need, knowing that behind every number is a child, a family, a senior, a veteran, a neighbor working hard to make ends meet.” Source: Agri-Pulse, July 29, 2026.
Council member AgriThority has been selected as the field manager enablement, oversight, and institutional knowledge partner for the Transform Ag USDA Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) Initiative. The company will operate in close partnership with Chan Mazour, director of Farmer & Partner Success at Transform Ag. “AgriThority brings exactly what this initiative needs—a deep bench of agronomic expertise, proven data management capabilities, and a genuine understanding of what farmers require to succeed,” said Nick Goeser, managing director of Transform Ag.
People
The Cattlemen’s Beef Board awarded Glen Klippenstein the 2026 Beef Checkoff Visionary Award on July 14. He was one of the original members of the Beef Board in 1986 and chaired the board in 1990–1991. Klippenstein is from Maysville, Missouri.
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives has hired RJ Karney as vice president and head of government affairs. He previously worked for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture for over five years as the senior director of public policy. Prior to that, he spent almost 17 years working for the American Farm Bureau Federation, most recently as the director of congressional relations.
The National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization has selected Kelsy Sproul, a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Kansas State University, as the recipient of its 2026 CoBank Partnership in Agricultural Literacy Award.
Livestock Marketing Association announced the appointment of its leadership committees for the 2026–2028 term during the association’s Annual Convention in Deadwood, South Dakota. “LMA has never been better positioned for members to get involved and make a difference,” said LMA President Joe Goggins. “The record participation at our convention demonstrates the strength of this association and the willingness of our members to come together, share their experiences, and advocate for the future of our industry.” The following individuals from Kansas and Missouri will serve in committee leadership positions for the next two years:
Government and Industry Affairs Committee:Brody Peak, Emporia Livestock Sales, Kansas.
Market Access and Viability Committee:Byron Wheeler, Wheeler Livestock Auction, Missouri.
Sheep and Goat Committee: Tristen Tyler, Colby Livestock Auction, Kansas.
Kevin Mainord was elected chair of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. The officer team also includes Justin Rone, vice chair, and Nathan White, secretary-treasurer. Mainord succeeds Mark Lehenbauer as chair.
The Missouri Soybean Association has elected a new slate of officers to lead the organization’s policy and advocacy efforts on behalf of Missouri soybean farmers. Cody Brock of Stet has been elected president, Garrett Riekhof of Higginsville has been elected vice president and Tory Mery of Jackson has been slated to serve as secretary-treasurer.
Events
The 46th Annual American Royal BBQ gets under way September 30, running through October 4, 2026. For five straight days, hundreds of championship pitmaster teams will battle it out across brisket, ribs, chicken, and sauce categories, filling the air with the smoky aromas that put KC on the map as the true capital of barbecue.
The Kansas Department ofAgriculture convenes its 11th annual Kansas Governor’s Summit on Agricultural Growth on Thursday, August 20, at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Manhattan. This year’s Summit will be focused on transportation in agriculture, including the infrastructure, logistics, and networks that support the movement of Kansas agricultural products from farm to market. Keynote speaker Alejandra Castillo, president and CEO of the North American Export Grain Association, will focus on how investments in domestic infrastructure can solidify Kansas as a consistent international trade partner in the long term. K-State’s College of Agriculture will stage a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new agronomy innovation complex. All farmers, ranchers, agribusiness owners and industry professionals are welcome at the 2026 Ag Growth Summit. Registration is open now, and organizers encourage interested attendees to register by August 5 to guarantee a meal and preferred seating. Registration can be found at www.agriculture.ks.gov/Summit. For more information, contact Naomi Hawkinson at Naomi.Hawkinson@ks.gov or 785-564-6799.
MU Extension Livestock BusTour visiting livestock operations in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas will begin on September 22. To register or request more information, contact the Hickory County MU Extension Center at (417) 745-6767 or Davis at (417) 276-3313 or davismp@missouri.edu.
The Land Institute will celebrate its 50th anniversary in Salina, Kansas, along the banks of the Smoky Hill River, September 25–27. Register to attend at www.landinstitute.org.