Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - June 2026
DEVELPOMENTS
With Kansas City playing a key role in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and expecting to host over 600,000 soccer fans from all over the world, the Kansas Department of Agriculture recently issued a reminder to livestock producers and operations to review biosecurity practices and safety precautions. Biosecurity practices such as controlling people and vehicles on farms, ranches and operations should be taken to prevent the introduction and spread of disease to livestock, poultry and agricultural operations. “Taking some simple precautions can help reduce that risk and keep animals healthy,” said KDA. More detailed guidance about biosecurity related to the 2026 World Cup can be found in KDA’s Threats to Biosecuritydocument.
Speaking of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, statisticians at Austria’s University of Innsbruck ran 100,000 computer simulations to determine which countries had the best shot at winning the coveted Copa Mundial. A machine learning algorithm was used to track all matches played at major soccer tournaments worldwide since the 2006 World Cup. This year the World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams. The results show that Spain is the favorite for the title closely followed by England, France and Germany. The United States reached the Knockout Stage, as was predicted. But after that the probability for Team USA’s going to the championship match fades. The bright side for Kansas and Missouri fans, though, is that three of the top six teams with good odds to win it all have made the Kansas City metropolitan area their home-away-from home for over a month. According to U of Innsbruck’s prognostications, England is number two behind favorite Spain, while Argentina and The Netherlands are rated fifth and sixth respectively. Algeria, ranked 24th, is staying in nearby Lawrence, Kansas.
Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association awarded scholarships to seven Kansas students for the 2026-27 academic year. Each year, KARA awards one $1,000 Jim Lee Memorial Scholarship; five $2,500 KARA General Scholarships; one $2,500 Dr. David Whitney Agronomy Scholarship. KARA also administers applications for the Steve Taylor Memorial Scholarship on behalf of Fairbank Equipment. “The future of Kansas agriculture depends on talented young people who are willing to lead, innovate and serve their communities,” KARA President and CEO Ron Seeber said. “These students have demonstrated exceptional promise, and we are proud to invest in their educational journeys. Through the support of our members and industry partners, KARA remains committed to helping develop the workforce and leadership that will drive our industry forward.” KARA’s scholarship program is supported through contributions from members and industry supporters who recognize the importance of investing in future generations of agricultural professionals.
A suspected case of New World Screwworm in South Texas is currently under investigation by the USDA. The flesh-eating parasite has slowly closed in on the U.S. border over the last several months. A case of NWS may have been detected in South Texas. The sample is now at USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, for confirmatory testing. said the USDA. The most recent confirmed case of NWS was detected on June 1st in a goat 25 miles from the U.S. border. The USDA is currently taking several actions to slow and halt the spread of New World screwworm, including the release of sterile flies, intense surveillance and trapping. “There is no doubt that this is a very, very serious threat to our livestock,” stated USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins.
President Trump appointed John Bellinger as senior advisor for New World ScrewwormPreparedness on June 8. In his newly created role, Bellinger will work with USDA to further drive efforts to combat NWS, exploring all available technologies.
Missouri Farm Bureau reports the 2026 Missouri legislative session proved to be productive. MOFB says it focused on legislation that reduced regulatory burdens for agriculture and created incentives for agricultural businesses. The General Assembly granted a five-year extension for value-added agriculture tax credits with the passage of Senate Bill 913, which MOFB says will help promote continued investment in both farmer-owned processing cooperatives and small meat processing facilities, while supplying a boost to small businesses across rural Missouri. MOFB also supported Senate Bill 1033, a law it says will modernize air quality regulations and repeal motor vehicle emission inspection requirements for certain farm vehicles. Source: Mike Fiegenbaum, Missouri Farm Bureau.
Federal News Networkreported that “many employees working in USDA’s food assistance programs would rather quit their jobs than relocate across the country, according to an internal poll conducted by their union.” USDA announced last month that most Food and Nutrition Service employees will relocate to other parts of the country, after shuttering its Washington, D.C. headquarters and several of its regional offices. But the National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 226, which represents FNS employees, says more than 80% of staff who took an internal survey claim they will not relocate to keep their jobs. Another union survey of other USDA employees tapped to relocate found similar results. A majority of employees report being hesitant to move for reasons such as family commitments and spouses who have careers in the Belt Way. Source: Farm Policy News, June 5, 2026.
USDA is rolling out details for how Washington-Beltway workers would be relocated. USDA will establish an operational support hub for its Foreign Agricultural Service in Kansas City, Missouri, moving most of its capital-area employees to the station. Many Rural Development Agency workers will be asked to move to two hubs in St. Louis or the Dallas-Fort Worth area. , Some will remain in Washington to handle congressional outreach and interagency needs, noted USDA. “Our promise to the American people requires us to make tough but necessary decisions – including ending wasteful spending on underused facilities and modernizing organizational structures that don’t fit today’s needs,” USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden said in a news release. “By acting now, we’re positioning the Foreign Agricultural Service – and the entire department – to continue serving the American people for generations to come.” Source: USDA June 16, 2026; Politico, June 18, 2026
Farmer sentiment declined slightly in May as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell to 119, down from 121 in April. May’s results indicated mounting concern about rising input costs and financial pressures. Although the Future Expectations Index increased by 1 point, the Current Conditions Index dropped 8 points from April, falling to its lowest level since December 2024. At 51%, high input costs were identified by respondents as their top concern. Additionally, 46% said that high input costs are limiting improvements in their financial position this year. The survey was conducted among 400 farmers across the nation from May 11-15.
Frontier BioStrategy and Calibrate Agribusiness Consultancy announced a strategic alliance to help ag-biological companies move from innovation to full-scale commercialization. The partnership pairs Frontier BioStrategy’s work at the strategic and architectural level, spanning regulatory architecture, commercial strategy, and product development governance, with Calibrate’s hands-on commercialization, producer engagement, channel development, and go-to-market execution.
Kansas Corn Growers Association welcomed Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson’s announcement of a long-awaited investigation into the fertilizer industry’s pricing practices and market concentration. The FTC chairman announced the investigation at a gathering of farmers from across 18 states including Kansas, on a North Texas farm. “I’m announcing that, on my order, the commission some time ago commenced a major industry-wide investigation into the precipitous rise of fertilizer prices in this country, which has affected so many of our nation’s farmers, including everyone in this room, including the issuance of compulsory process,” Chairman Ferguson said. “USDA data has shown the single largest increase in input costs of farmers across the United States since 2020 has come from fertilizer and these continued price increases are not something our nation, much less our farmers, can continue to ignore.”
PEOPLE
Joe Goggins, a lifelong livestock marketer and rancher, will soon take the helm as president of the Livestock Marketing Association. He will assume the role during the association’s annual convention in June. He graduated from Montana State University with a degree in animal science before pursuing his passion for auctioneering. A longtime LMA supporter whose family has deep roots in the organization – his father also served as president – Goggins has been involved in the association for approximately 20 years, previously serving on the board of directors and executive committee.
EVENTS
Kansas City is world-famous for its barbeque, notes the Kansas Beef Council, but it is also considered by many to be the soccer capital of America. Not to mention that Kansas City is home to two of the world’s perennial soccer powers during the World Cup 2026 this month – England and Argentina. KBF says, “We’re bringing those two passions together in a big way.” The Kansas Beef Council is partnering with Sporting KC, Kansas’ professional soccer team, to showcase beef as the protein that powers athletes, families and fans alike through in-stadium branding, fan engagement activities, youth soccer events and nutrition education. With Sporting KC drawing more than 360,000 fans to Children's Mercy Park each season, the partnership provides an opportunity to connect with a young, active audience and highlight beef's role in fueling strength, endurance and recovery..
The Kansas Department of Agriculture will host its 10th Annual Kansas Governor’s Summit on Agricultural Growth, August 20, 2026 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan. The Ag Growth Summit is an annual gathering to discuss strategies, innovations, and opportunities for expanding and strengthening Kansas agriculture. It serves as a platform for industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to share insights and build connections . Visit www.agriculture.ks.gov/Summit for registration and more details about the agenda.
The Land Institute will celebrate its 50th anniversary in Salina, Kansas, along the banks of the Smoky Hill River, September 25-27. It will be a weekend of speakers, perennial grain foods, artists, musicians, hands-on demonstrations, and more. The Land Institute invites members of the perennial community to reflect on the past 50 years of its collective work to transform food systems for people and the planet and envision the next 50 years of a global perennial agriculture revolution. Register to attend at www.landinstitute.org