<a href="mailto:jbklaudt@ksu.edu">By JACOB KLAUDT </a>K-State Research and Extension news service

The inaugural Kansas Landowner Conference took place in 2023, helping landowners removed from agriculture learn more about managing their properties and developing relationships with tenants.

This year, K-State Research and Extension farm economist Robin Reid said event coordinators added a day to the conference due to positive feedback from past attendees.

The conference is set for Oct. 10-11 at the K-State Alumni Center in Manhattan, Kansas.

“We had a great turnout at the first conference,” she said. “Previously, it was all in one day. We have found since then that there are many issues that landowners want to learn more about, so we expanded it to two days, giving participants more availability to desired information.”

“We know that this is smack dab in the middle of harvest for some people,” said Ashlee Westerhold, K-State director of the Office of Farm and Ranch Transition. “However, our target audience are those who own Kansas land but are not operating the land themselves.”

Reid added, “A demographic that we really want to experience this conference are those who did not necessarily grow up on the farm or those who inherited a farm and do not know where to start on how to handle being a landowner and working with a tenant.”

Due to the recent downturn in the farm economy, Reid said this year’s event will include more breakout sessions around topics that will “impact every Kansas landowner’s bottom line.”

“For crop-share landlords that do their grain marketing, we have an awesome session on how to put together a marketing plan, navigate crop insurance and select government support programs,” she said.

“Some of the other sessions revolve around components of a well-written lease, leasing rates and how to effectively negotiate with tenants.”

Additional breakout sessions happening during the 2024 Kansas Landowner Conference on Oct. 10 include:

Wind and Solar Leases, with Kansas Farm Bureau’s Wendee Grady – 1:30 p.m.

Climate and Carbon Credits, with K-State’s Micah Cameron-Harp – 1:30 p.m. Hunting leases, with K-State wildlife specialist Drew Ricketts – 2:30 p.m. &nbsp;Charitable Strategies in Agriculture, with K-State Foundation senior director of gift planning Darci Cain – 2:30 p.m.

Reid said landowners on the fence about participating should strongly consider it because industry experts will be presenting on the topics they receive the most questions about.

“The agricultural economics department gets information requests all the time about things like ‘What is the going rate for pasture rental in my area?’, ‘What are the legal implications of renting?’ and ‘What should I have in a written lease?’” she said.

“Our attendees will be able to answer those questions after the conference, feel comfortable with that information and know the people to contact if they want to learn more,” Westerhold said.

Currently, the early-bird cost of attendance is $350 per person, or $650 for two business partners. Westerhold said prices will increase after Sept. 15.

“At the 2024 conference, we are offering a business partner discount rate because we know a lot of our attendees are couples, siblings and parents/children, so having both people there to experience this event is something we wanted to encourage,” she said.

More event information is available online from the&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/landowner">K-State Department of Agricultural Economics</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725463500929.png" alt="K-State Research and Extension farm economist Robin Reid says the 2024 Kansas Landowner Conference will be a completely in-person event with no virtual option. " />
 <figcaption>K-State Research and Extension farm economist Robin Reid says the 2024 Kansas Landowner Conference will be a completely in-person event with no virtual option. </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:jbklaudt@ksu.edu">By JACOB KLAUDT </a>K-State Research and Extension news serviceThe inaugural Kansas Landowner Conference took place in 2023, helping landowners removed from agriculture learn more about managing their properties and developing relationships with tenants.This year, K-State Research and Extension farm economist Robin Reid said event coordinators added a day to the conference due to positive feedback from past attendees.The conference is set for Oct. 10-11 at the K-State Alumni Center in Manhattan, Kansas.“We had a great turnout at the first conference,” she said. “Previously, it was all in one day. We have found since then that there are many issues that landowners want to learn more about, so we expanded it to two days, giving participants more availability to desired information.”“We know that this is smack dab in the middle of harvest for some people,” said Ashlee Westerhold, K-State director of the Office of Farm and Ranch Transition. “However, our target audience are those who own Kansas land but are not operating the land themselves.”Reid added, “A demographic that we really want to experience this conference are those who did not necessarily grow up on the farm or those who inherited a farm and do not know where to start on how to handle being a landowner and working with a tenant.”Due to the recent downturn in the farm economy, Reid said this year’s event will include more breakout sessions around topics that will “impact every Kansas landowner’s bottom line.”“For crop-share landlords that do their grain marketing, we have an awesome session on how to put together a marketing plan, navigate crop insurance and select government support programs,” she said.“Some of the other sessions revolve around components of a well-written lease, leasing rates and how to effectively negotiate with tenants.”Additional breakout sessions happening during the 2024 Kansas Landowner Conference on Oct. 10 include:Wind and Solar Leases, with Kansas Farm Bureau’s Wendee Grady – 1:30 p.m.Climate and Carbon Credits, with K-State’s Micah Cameron-Harp – 1:30 p.m. Hunting leases, with K-State wildlife specialist Drew Ricketts – 2:30 p.m. &nbsp;Charitable Strategies in Agriculture, with K-State Foundation senior director of gift planning Darci Cain – 2:30 p.m.Reid said landowners on the fence about participating should strongly consider it because industry experts will be presenting on the topics they receive the most questions about.“The agricultural economics department gets information requests all the time about things like ‘What is the going rate for pasture rental in my area?’, ‘What are the legal implications of renting?’ and ‘What should I have in a written lease?’” she said.“Our attendees will be able to answer those questions after the conference, feel comfortable with that information and know the people to contact if they want to learn more,” Westerhold said.Currently, the early-bird cost of attendance is $350 per person, or $650 for two business partners. Westerhold said prices will increase after Sept. 15.“At the 2024 conference, we are offering a business partner discount rate because we know a lot of our attendees are couples, siblings and parents/children, so having both people there to experience this event is something we wanted to encourage,” she said.More event information is available online from the&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/landowner">K-State Department of Agricultural Economics</a>.

Kansas Landowner Conference 2024 schedule

<a href="mailto:lmoser@ksu.edu">By LISA MOSER</a> K-State Research and Extension news service

The decision to eliminate someone’s job after years of solid performance is not one that many employers make without serious consideration.

In the case of a beef cattle operation, the decision to sell the cow from the herd is often influenced by a variety of factors, including her performance, the quality of her offspring, cattle prices and marketing opportunities among others, say the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute.

Speaking on a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/calf-performance-cow-cullling">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast, the experts addressed a question from a listener who asked about how a calf’s performance should be factored into the decision to sell its mother.

“The decision to cull a cow from the herd is a complex decision and it usually isn’t just one thing that drives that decision,” K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers said.

Specific to a calf’s performance, if the cow is in good body condition but the calf is not at the appropriate weight for its age, K-State beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster said it is likely that the cow is not supplying enough milk to meet that calf’s dietary needs.

“If the calf looks rough and the cow is in good shape, it tells me that calf is relying too much on the grass to meet its nutritional needs, and in a drought environment that can be challenging,” Lancaster said.

K-State veterinarian Bob Larson agreed and advised producers to evaluate the cow’s udder.

“If the calves are smaller than expected, make sure to confirm the cow has a functional udder,” Larson said

The experts agreed that studying the individual records can help make the decision to sell a cow that, historically, has raised small calves.

“By looking at the year-over-year records, a producer can see what the trend has been,” K-State agricultural economist Dustin Pendell said.

Those records can also tell producers the breeding date, pregnancy status and date of calving, and Larson said those are important to know when evaluating the performance of the cow-calf pair.

“If the calf’s performance is lower than average, I’d look at when the cow calved relative to the others in the herd and her pregnancy status,” Larson said. “If she has a calf each year that is within a reasonable weight per day of age, then I’d keep her in the herd rather than replacing her with a cow whose performance is unknown.”

Larson added that the weaning weights of the calves will vary depending on the dam’s age.

Another factor that can influence the size of the calf is the cow’s diet during pregnancy, according to Lancaster.

“If those smaller calves are born to cows that aren’t getting enough nutrition in the mid-to-late gestation, it can have a stunting effect on those calves,” he said.

To hear the full discussion, listen to&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/calf-performance-cow-cullling">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725379882363.jpeg" alt="K-State Beef Cattle Institute experts discuss offspring performance factors that might influence the decision to keep or sell its mother." />
 <figcaption>K-State Beef Cattle Institute experts discuss offspring performance factors that might influence the decision to keep or sell its mother.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:lmoser@ksu.edu">By LISA MOSER</a> K-State Research and Extension news serviceThe decision to eliminate someone’s job after years of solid performance is not one that many employers make without serious consideration.In the case of a beef cattle operation, the decision to sell the cow from the herd is often influenced by a variety of factors, including her performance, the quality of her offspring, cattle prices and marketing opportunities among others, say the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute.Speaking on a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/calf-performance-cow-cullling">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast, the experts addressed a question from a listener who asked about how a calf’s performance should be factored into the decision to sell its mother.“The decision to cull a cow from the herd is a complex decision and it usually isn’t just one thing that drives that decision,” K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers said.Specific to a calf’s performance, if the cow is in good body condition but the calf is not at the appropriate weight for its age, K-State beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster said it is likely that the cow is not supplying enough milk to meet that calf’s dietary needs.“If the calf looks rough and the cow is in good shape, it tells me that calf is relying too much on the grass to meet its nutritional needs, and in a drought environment that can be challenging,” Lancaster said.K-State veterinarian Bob Larson agreed and advised producers to evaluate the cow’s udder.“If the calves are smaller than expected, make sure to confirm the cow has a functional udder,” Larson saidThe experts agreed that studying the individual records can help make the decision to sell a cow that, historically, has raised small calves.“By looking at the year-over-year records, a producer can see what the trend has been,” K-State agricultural economist Dustin Pendell said.Those records can also tell producers the breeding date, pregnancy status and date of calving, and Larson said those are important to know when evaluating the performance of the cow-calf pair.“If the calf’s performance is lower than average, I’d look at when the cow calved relative to the others in the herd and her pregnancy status,” Larson said. “If she has a calf each year that is within a reasonable weight per day of age, then I’d keep her in the herd rather than replacing her with a cow whose performance is unknown.”Larson added that the weaning weights of the calves will vary depending on the dam’s age.Another factor that can influence the size of the calf is the cow’s diet during pregnancy, according to Lancaster.“If those smaller calves are born to cows that aren’t getting enough nutrition in the mid-to-late gestation, it can have a stunting effect on those calves,” he said.To hear the full discussion, listen to&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/calf-performance-cow-cullling">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.

KSRE Cattle Chat: How offspring performance influences culling decision

By PAT MELGARES K-State Research and Extension News Service

Kansas farmers will soon have the opportunity to explore the use of drones in agriculture at a public meeting on Sept. 10 in Garnett. Hosted by the Frontier Extension District and Coffey County Extension Office, the meeting titled *Using Drone Technology in Agriculture* will offer insights into how drones can enhance agricultural production.

The event is co-sponsored by the Anderson County and Coffey County conservation districts. There is no cost to attend, but interested individuals must register by calling Ryan Schaub at 785-448-6826 or emailing him at reschaub@ksu.edu.

“In our area, we have seen a growing interest in how to start businesses that use drones for spraying herbicides and insecticides on fields,” said Schaub, a crop production and farm management agent with K-State Research and Extension’s Frontier District. “These inquiries often lead to further questions about regulations and which drones are best suited for purchase.”

According to Fortune Business Insights, the global agriculture drone market was valued at $4.98 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $6.11 billion by the end of 2024. By 2032, the market is forecasted to reach $23.78 billion.

“The farmers I talk to are asking about how to use drones for various tasks like spreading cover crops or spraying insecticides on small acreage row crop ground,” Schaub said. “There are also numerous other applications, such as checking cattle during calving season or spraying herbicide on hilly pastures.”

In addition to live drone demonstrations, the Sept. 10 meeting will feature several expert speakers. Spencer Schrader, the flight operations manager for K-State Salina’s Uncrewed Aircraft Systems program, will discuss industry regulations, types of drones, and making aerial applications with drones. Jaymelynn Farney, a beef systems specialist with K-State Research and Extension, will present her research on using drones to measure pasture biomass. Trevor Witt, owner of Kairos Geospatial, will cover practical applications of drone remote sensing for natural resource conservation. Kelly Nainsky-Wenzel from the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s pesticide and fertilizer division will discuss KDA’s role when drones are used to apply herbicides. Haley Larson, a professor at K-State Olathe, will speak on using drones in feedyards and emerging technologies in agriculture.

“Each speaker brings unique, hands-on experience in using drones for various applications,” Schaub noted. “For attendees, learning about the diverse ways the same equipment can be utilized helps justify their investment.”

For more details, visit [Frontier Extension District's website](https://www.frontierdistrict.k-state.edu).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725282117888.jpeg" alt="Kansas farmers will get a hands-on look at agricultural uses of unmanned aerial vehicles—more commonly called drones—during an upcoming public meeting in Garnett." />
 <figcaption>Kansas farmers will get a hands-on look at agricultural uses of unmanned aerial vehicles—more commonly called drones—during an upcoming public meeting in Garnett.</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAT MELGARES K-State Research and Extension News Service Kansas farmers will soon have the opportunity to explore the use of drones in agriculture at a public meeting on Sept. 10 in Garnett. Hosted by the Frontier Extension District and Coffey County Extension Office, the meeting titled *Using Drone Technology in Agriculture* will offer insights into how drones can enhance agricultural production.The event is co-sponsored by the Anderson County and Coffey County conservation districts. There is no cost to attend, but interested individuals must register by calling Ryan Schaub at 785-448-6826 or emailing him at reschaub@ksu.edu.“In our area, we have seen a growing interest in how to start businesses that use drones for spraying herbicides and insecticides on fields,” said Schaub, a crop production and farm management agent with K-State Research and Extension’s Frontier District. “These inquiries often lead to further questions about regulations and which drones are best suited for purchase.”According to Fortune Business Insights, the global agriculture drone market was valued at $4.98 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $6.11 billion by the end of 2024. By 2032, the market is forecasted to reach $23.78 billion.“The farmers I talk to are asking about how to use drones for various tasks like spreading cover crops or spraying insecticides on small acreage row crop ground,” Schaub said. “There are also numerous other applications, such as checking cattle during calving season or spraying herbicide on hilly pastures.”In addition to live drone demonstrations, the Sept. 10 meeting will feature several expert speakers. Spencer Schrader, the flight operations manager for K-State Salina’s Uncrewed Aircraft Systems program, will discuss industry regulations, types of drones, and making aerial applications with drones. Jaymelynn Farney, a beef systems specialist with K-State Research and Extension, will present her research on using drones to measure pasture biomass. Trevor Witt, owner of Kairos Geospatial, will cover practical applications of drone remote sensing for natural resource conservation. Kelly Nainsky-Wenzel from the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s pesticide and fertilizer division will discuss KDA’s role when drones are used to apply herbicides. Haley Larson, a professor at K-State Olathe, will speak on using drones in feedyards and emerging technologies in agriculture.“Each speaker brings unique, hands-on experience in using drones for various applications,” Schaub noted. “For attendees, learning about the diverse ways the same equipment can be utilized helps justify their investment.”For more details, visit [Frontier Extension District's website](https://www.frontierdistrict.k-state.edu).

Sept. 10 meeting to highlight use of drones in agriculture

Agricultural operations in Kansas have been significantly impacted by recent drought. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these adverse weather events. 

Impacted producers should contact their local <a href="https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?service=page/ServiceCenterSummary&amp;stateCode=20&amp;cnty=169">USDA Service Center</a> to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure, and livestock losses and damages.

Livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land may be eligible for the 2024 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). 

To participate in LFP producers must own, cash or share lease, or contract grow eligible livestock, provide pasture or grazing land to eligible livestock on the beginning date of the qualifying drought, certify that they suffered a grazing loss due to drought, and submit an acreage report to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for all grazing land for which a grazing loss is being claimed. FSA maintains a list of counties eligible for LFP and makes updates each Thursday. 

Meanwhile, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) provides eligible producers with compensation for above normal costs of hauling water and feed to livestock as well as transporting livestock to forage or other grazing acres. 

For ELAP, producers are required to complete a notice of loss and a payment application to their local FSA office no later than the annual program application deadline, Jan. 30, 2025, for 2024 calendar year losses.   

Additionally, eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers may be eligible for cost-share assistance through the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes or vines. TAP complements the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) or crop insurance coverage, which covers the crop but not the plants or trees in all cases.

 For TAP, a program application must be filed within 90 days of the disaster event or the date when the loss of the trees, bushes or vines is apparent. 

“Once you are able to evaluate the impact on your operation, be sure to contact your local FSA county office to timely report all crop, livestock and farm infrastructure damages andlosses,” said Dennis McKinney, State Executive Director for FSA in Kansas. “To expedite FSA disaster assistance, you will likely need to provide documents, such as farm records, herd inventory, receipts and pictures of damages or losses.”  

FSA also offers a variety of direct and guaranteed farm loans, including operating and emergency farm loans, to producers unable to secure commercial financing. Producers in counties with a primary or contiguous disaster designation may be eligible for low interest emergency loans to help them recover from production and physical losses. Loans can help producers replace essential property, purchase inputs like livestock, equipment, feed and seed, cover family living expenses or refinance farm-related debts and other needs.

Additionally, FSA offers several loan servicing options available for borrowers who are unable to make scheduled payments on their farm loan programs debt to the agency because of reasons beyond their control.

 Producers who have risk protection through Federal Crop Insurance or FSA’s NAP should report crop damage to their crop insurance agent or FSA office. If they have crop insurance, producers should provide a notice of loss to their agent within 72 hours of initial discovery of damage and follow up in writing within 15 days.

For NAP covered crops, a Notice of Loss (CCC-576) must be filed within 15 days of the loss becoming apparent, except for hand-harvested crops, which should be reported within 72 hours.

“Crop insurance and other USDA risk management options are offered to help producers manage risk because we never know what nature has in store for the future,” said Collin Olsen, Director of USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) Regional Office that covers Kansas. “The Approved Insurance Providers, loss adjusters and agents are experienced and well-trained in handling these types of events.”

Risk Management  Producers who have risk protection through Federal Crop Insurance or FSA’s NAP should report crop damage to their crop insurance agent or FSA office. If they have crop insurance, producers should provide a notice of loss to their agent within 72 hours of initial discovery of damage and follow up in writing within 15 days.

FSA’s Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) can assist landowners and forest stewards with financial and technical assistance to implement emergency water conservation measures, restore fencing, remove debris, replace damaged irrigation system, land leveling and more. 

Outside of the primary nesting season, emergency and non-emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres may be authorized to provide relief to livestock producers in areas affected by a severe drought or similar natural disasters. Producers interested in haying or grazing of CRP acres should contact their county FSA office to determine eligibility.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can help farmers make their operation more resilient in the face of drought in future years. Through conservation planning and practices that will improve soil health and water conservation, farmers can reduce future crop loss due to drought and enhance resiliency to changing climatic conditions. Financial help for implementing conservation practices may be available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Long-term damage from drought can include forage production loss in pastures and fields and increased wind erosion on crop fields not protected with soil health practices. Producers can visit their local USDA Service Center to learn more about these impacts, potential recovery tactics and how to take steps to make their land more resilient to drought in the future.

“The Natural Resources Conservation Service can be a very valuable partner to help landowners with their recovery and resiliency efforts,” said David Doctorian, NRCS State Conservationist in Kansas. “Our staff will work one-on-one with landowners to make assessments of the damages and develop approaches that focus on effective recovery of the land.”

The state offices for the Kansas Natural Resources Conservation Service is located at 760 S Broadway Blvd. in Salina.&nbsp;

Additional USDA disaster assistance information can be found on <a href="http://farmers.gov">farmers.gov</a>, including USDA resources specifically for producers impacted by drought.

Those resources include the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet, Loan Assistance Tool, and Natural Disasters and Crop Insurance fact sheet. Additionally, FarmRaise offers an FSA educational hub with an ELAP decision tool as well as farm loan resource videos. For FSA and NRCS programs, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center. 

For assistance with a crop insurance claim, producers and landowners should contact their crop insurance agent.

The USDA is transforming America’s food system by placing a greater emphasis on resilient local and regional food production. The agency is working towards creating fairer markets for all producers while ensuring that all communities have access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food. Additionally, the USDA is building new markets and income streams for farmers and producers by promoting climate-smart food and forestry practices.&nbsp;

USDA is making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America.USDA is committed to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce that is more representative of America.

To learn more, visit <a href="http://usda.gov">usda.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724941053597.png" alt="usda.png" />
 <figcaption>usda.png</figcaption>
 </figure>USDAAgricultural operations in Kansas have been significantly impacted by recent drought. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these adverse weather events. Impacted producers should contact their local <a href="https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?service=page/ServiceCenterSummary&amp;stateCode=20&amp;cnty=169">USDA Service Center</a> to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure, and livestock losses and damages.<h2>USDA Disaster Assistance  </h2>Livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land may be eligible for the 2024 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). To participate in LFP producers must own, cash or share lease, or contract grow eligible livestock, provide pasture or grazing land to eligible livestock on the beginning date of the qualifying drought, certify that they suffered a grazing loss due to drought, and submit an acreage report to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for all grazing land for which a grazing loss is being claimed. FSA maintains a list of counties eligible for LFP and makes updates each Thursday. Meanwhile, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) provides eligible producers with compensation for above normal costs of hauling water and feed to livestock as well as transporting livestock to forage or other grazing acres. For ELAP, producers are required to complete a notice of loss and a payment application to their local FSA office no later than the annual program application deadline, Jan. 30, 2025, for 2024 calendar year losses.   Additionally, eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers may be eligible for cost-share assistance through the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes or vines. TAP complements the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) or crop insurance coverage, which covers the crop but not the plants or trees in all cases. For TAP, a program application must be filed within 90 days of the disaster event or the date when the loss of the trees, bushes or vines is apparent. “Once you are able to evaluate the impact on your operation, be sure to contact your local FSA county office to timely report all crop, livestock and farm infrastructure damages andlosses,” said Dennis McKinney, State Executive Director for FSA in Kansas. “To expedite FSA disaster assistance, you will likely need to provide documents, such as farm records, herd inventory, receipts and pictures of damages or losses.”  FSA also offers a variety of direct and guaranteed farm loans, including operating and emergency farm loans, to producers unable to secure commercial financing. Producers in counties with a primary or contiguous disaster designation may be eligible for low interest emergency loans to help them recover from production and physical losses. Loans can help producers replace essential property, purchase inputs like livestock, equipment, feed and seed, cover family living expenses or refinance farm-related debts and other needs.Additionally, FSA offers several loan servicing options available for borrowers who are unable to make scheduled payments on their farm loan programs debt to the agency because of reasons beyond their control.<h2>Risk Management </h2> Producers who have risk protection through Federal Crop Insurance or FSA’s NAP should report crop damage to their crop insurance agent or FSA office. If they have crop insurance, producers should provide a notice of loss to their agent within 72 hours of initial discovery of damage and follow up in writing within 15 days.For NAP covered crops, a Notice of Loss (CCC-576) must be filed within 15 days of the loss becoming apparent, except for hand-harvested crops, which should be reported within 72 hours.“Crop insurance and other USDA risk management options are offered to help producers manage risk because we never know what nature has in store for the future,” said Collin Olsen, Director of USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) Regional Office that covers Kansas. “The Approved Insurance Providers, loss adjusters and agents are experienced and well-trained in handling these types of events.”FSA also offers a variety of direct and guaranteed farm loans, including operating and emergency farm loans, to producers unable to secure commercial financing. Producers in counties with a primary or contiguous disaster designation may be eligible for low interest emergency loans to help them recover from production and physical losses. Loans can help producers replace essential property, purchase inputs like livestock, equipment, feed and seed, cover family living expenses or refinance farm-related debts and other needs.Additionally, FSA offers several loan servicing options available for borrowers who are unable to make scheduled payments on their farm loan programs debt to the agency because of reasons beyond their control.Risk Management  Producers who have risk protection through Federal Crop Insurance or FSA’s NAP should report crop damage to their crop insurance agent or FSA office. If they have crop insurance, producers should provide a notice of loss to their agent within 72 hours of initial discovery of damage and follow up in writing within 15 days.For NAP covered crops, a Notice of Loss (CCC-576) must be filed within 15 days of the loss becoming apparent, except for hand-harvested crops, which should be reported within 72 hours.“Crop insurance and other USDA risk management options are offered to help producers manage risk because we never know what nature has in store for the future,” said Collin Olsen, Director of USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) Regional Office that covers Kansas. “The Approved Insurance Providers, loss adjusters and agents are experienced and well-trained in handling these types of events.”<h2>Conservation  </h2>FSA’s Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) can assist landowners and forest stewards with financial and technical assistance to implement emergency water conservation measures, restore fencing, remove debris, replace damaged irrigation system, land leveling and more. Outside of the primary nesting season, emergency and non-emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres may be authorized to provide relief to livestock producers in areas affected by a severe drought or similar natural disasters. Producers interested in haying or grazing of CRP acres should contact their county FSA office to determine eligibility.USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can help farmers make their operation more resilient in the face of drought in future years. Through conservation planning and practices that will improve soil health and water conservation, farmers can reduce future crop loss due to drought and enhance resiliency to changing climatic conditions. Financial help for implementing conservation practices may be available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.Long-term damage from drought can include forage production loss in pastures and fields and increased wind erosion on crop fields not protected with soil health practices. Producers can visit their local USDA Service Center to learn more about these impacts, potential recovery tactics and how to take steps to make their land more resilient to drought in the future.“The Natural Resources Conservation Service can be a very valuable partner to help landowners with their recovery and resiliency efforts,” said David Doctorian, NRCS State Conservationist in Kansas. “Our staff will work one-on-one with landowners to make assessments of the damages and develop approaches that focus on effective recovery of the land.”The state offices for the Kansas Natural Resources Conservation Service is located at 760 S Broadway Blvd. in Salina.&nbsp;<h2>More Information </h2>Additional USDA disaster assistance information can be found on <a href="http://farmers.gov">farmers.gov</a>, including USDA resources specifically for producers impacted by drought. Those resources include the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet, Loan Assistance Tool, and Natural Disasters and Crop Insurance fact sheet. Additionally, FarmRaise offers an FSA educational hub with an ELAP decision tool as well as farm loan resource videos. For FSA and NRCS programs, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center. For assistance with a crop insurance claim, producers and landowners should contact their crop insurance agent.The USDA is transforming America’s food system by placing a greater emphasis on resilient local and regional food production. The agency is working towards creating fairer markets for all producers while ensuring that all communities have access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food. Additionally, the USDA is building new markets and income streams for farmers and producers by promoting climate-smart food and forestry practices.&nbsp;USDA is making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America.USDA is committed to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce that is more representative of America.To learn more, visit <a href="http://usda.gov">usda.gov</a>.

USDA offering disaster assistance to Kansas Ag poducers impacted by drought

Cereal rye grain possesses many uses within crop and livestock production. Growers make rye part of their corn-soybean crop rotation to boost yields, while ranchers needing an alternative feed might hay it for their livestock.

Recently, a listener who plants rye as a cover crop asked the hosts of&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/08/16/listener-question-ffar-icasa-grant-listener-question/" target="_blank">K-State’s Cattle Chat podcast</a>&nbsp;if rye grain can be included in cattle rations. Kansas State University beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster said “yes,” noting it depends on the class of cattle.

“Cattle can have rye grain in their diets,” he said. “It is nutritionally similar to other cereal grains like oats and barley, with a higher fiber content than wheat.”

Producers often plant rye for its cold tolerance and relatively low soil and moisture requirements. Lancaster said an after-harvest benefit includes rye grain’s ability to replace corn (one of the more expensive feedstuffs) in certain cattle diets.

“There is a study that looked at growing cattle on rye instead of corn as a grain source and those researchers saw no difference in cattle performance,” he said.

“Whether it is growing replacement heifers or backgrounding feeder cattle, I think a producer could pretty much substitute all of the corn in a diet with whole rye grain.”

On the other hand, producers may not want to feed rye grain to cattle in the finishing phase of the feeding period.

“Another part of that research evaluated finishing cattle on rye grain rather than corn,” Lancaster said. “Overall, the cattle that had rye grain in their diet had a lower dry matter intake, their average daily gain was lower and feed conversion was worse.”

Producers who elect to feed rye grain do not need to have it processed before feeding, according to Lancaster.

“The same study assessed hammer milling rye versus feeding it whole. Processing did not seem to improve cattle performance, so I do not think producers need to spend the money to have it milled,” he said.

Additionally, producers should scout the rye seed heads in a field prior to feeding, K-State veterinarian Bob Larson said, to avoid health problems caused by ergot fungus.

“Rye is at a bigger risk for ergot fungus than other cereal grains,” he said. “It can be quite damaging to animals that consume it. The arteries in their body constrict, and the blood flow to their tails and feet can be restricted to a degree where they are damaged and may even fall off.”

“Go out and walk through that field you are planning on feeding rye from and look at the seed heads. The fungus is a little bigger than a rye seed and will be a dark black or brown.”

Larson said even if only a portion of a field has ergot fungus, a producer should not feed any grain from that crop to livestock.

K-State veterinarian Brad White wrapped up the conversation, saying: “I think with that caution (regarding ergot toxicity) in mind – and depending on the kind of cattle you are feeding – rye can certainly be a component of a ration.”

To hear the full discussion,&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/08/16/listener-question-ffar-icasa-grant-listener-question/" target="_blank">listen to Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724177925597.png" alt="K-State beef cattle experts received a listener question about rye grain on the most recently released Cattle Chat episode. They examine whether producers should feed whole rye grain to cattle. Image Courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>K-State beef cattle experts received a listener question about rye grain on the most recently released Cattle Chat episode. They examine whether producers should feed whole rye grain to cattle. Image Courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:jbklaudt@ksu.edu">By JACOB KLAUDT </a>K-State Research and Extension news serviceCereal rye grain possesses many uses within crop and livestock production. Growers make rye part of their corn-soybean crop rotation to boost yields, while ranchers needing an alternative feed might hay it for their livestock.Recently, a listener who plants rye as a cover crop asked the hosts of&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/08/16/listener-question-ffar-icasa-grant-listener-question/" target="_blank">K-State’s Cattle Chat podcast</a>&nbsp;if rye grain can be included in cattle rations. Kansas State University beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster said “yes,” noting it depends on the class of cattle.“Cattle can have rye grain in their diets,” he said. “It is nutritionally similar to other cereal grains like oats and barley, with a higher fiber content than wheat.”Producers often plant rye for its cold tolerance and relatively low soil and moisture requirements. Lancaster said an after-harvest benefit includes rye grain’s ability to replace corn (one of the more expensive feedstuffs) in certain cattle diets.“There is a study that looked at growing cattle on rye instead of corn as a grain source and those researchers saw no difference in cattle performance,” he said.“Whether it is growing replacement heifers or backgrounding feeder cattle, I think a producer could pretty much substitute all of the corn in a diet with whole rye grain.”On the other hand, producers may not want to feed rye grain to cattle in the finishing phase of the feeding period.“Another part of that research evaluated finishing cattle on rye grain rather than corn,” Lancaster said. “Overall, the cattle that had rye grain in their diet had a lower dry matter intake, their average daily gain was lower and feed conversion was worse.”Producers who elect to feed rye grain do not need to have it processed before feeding, according to Lancaster.“The same study assessed hammer milling rye versus feeding it whole. Processing did not seem to improve cattle performance, so I do not think producers need to spend the money to have it milled,” he said.Additionally, producers should scout the rye seed heads in a field prior to feeding, K-State veterinarian Bob Larson said, to avoid health problems caused by ergot fungus.“Rye is at a bigger risk for ergot fungus than other cereal grains,” he said. “It can be quite damaging to animals that consume it. The arteries in their body constrict, and the blood flow to their tails and feet can be restricted to a degree where they are damaged and may even fall off.”“Go out and walk through that field you are planning on feeding rye from and look at the seed heads. The fungus is a little bigger than a rye seed and will be a dark black or brown.”Larson said even if only a portion of a field has ergot fungus, a producer should not feed any grain from that crop to livestock.K-State veterinarian Brad White wrapped up the conversation, saying: “I think with that caution (regarding ergot toxicity) in mind – and depending on the kind of cattle you are feeding – rye can certainly be a component of a ration.”To hear the full discussion,&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/08/16/listener-question-ffar-icasa-grant-listener-question/" target="_blank">listen to Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.

KSRE Cattle Chat: To feed or not to feed rye grain

A large collaborative K-State 105 project is bringing together 12 partners — including Kansas State University units, other higher education institutions and health organizations — to help improve rural and agriculture-connected health across the state.

The Rural Ag Health Community Health Worker project focuses on sustaining the health and safety of rural Kansans and the agricultural workforce. The project is establishing resource and service hubs staffed by community health workers who are co-supervised by local K-State Research and Extension units and health care partners. The project has received funding and support through the K-State 105 initiative.

"Local extension units participating in the Rural Ag Health Community Health Worker project serve as a gateway to help rural residents manage chronic conditions, prevent injuries and reduce risk of illness," said Elaine Johannes, Kansas Health Foundation distinguished professor in community health and state extension specialist. "Extension units are known for providing education to promote and improve health; now, with the addition of community health workers, extension will be a resource and partner for local health care teams."

The community health worker project will involve work in 16 counties, including Allen, Bourbon, Clay, Cloud, Crawford, Jackson, Jefferson, Labette, Marshall, Montgomery, Nemaha, Neosho, Republic, Washington, Wilson and Woodson counties.

The K-State units involved in the project include five K-State Research and Extension units across the state, the College of Health and Human Sciences, the College of Agriculture and the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering.

The external and community partners include the University of Kansas Medical Center Communities Organizing to Promote Equity, or COPE; Unite Us, a technology company that focuses on social care delivery; the Kansas Community Health Worker Coalition with the Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute; Health Innovations Network of Kansas; and other local health care partners.

"K-State 105 is focused on bringing people and partners together for the good of Kansas, and that's exactly what this project is doing," said Jessica Gnad, K-State 105 director. "We're building an ecosystem of support to help address a key area — in this case, health care — that is affecting economic prosperity in Kansas."

The partners in the project are recruiting and hiring five community health workers who will be based in several K-State Research and Extension districts — including Wildcat, Southwind, Meadowlark and River Valley — as well as the K-State Research and Extension — Marshall County office. Members of KU COPE will help empower community health workers by providing their training and expertise to enhance the community health workers' ability to serve their communities. An aim is to share this model statewide to ensure consistent, high-quality and accessible health and social care services through an expanded community health workforce.

"When called upon, extension's community health workers can provide health coaching, client support, nonclinical services, care coordination and outreach activities with local health and care services," Johannes said. "Across the nation, community health workers' scope of work includes these services along with health education, supporting community health initiatives and being a liaison between providers and health care. Through this Rural Ag Health Community Health Worker project, we'll learn how extension can contribute to improved health care access for all."

K-State Research and Extension community health workers and their health care and service collaborators will use Unite Us' secure, closed-loop referral technology to connect clients to the care they need. Additionally, community health workers will gather information about prominent health issues and identify health disparities in the communities they serve, enabling more targeted and effective interventions.

"It is exciting to participate in this boots-on-the-ground project to identify if a model of employing community health workers is feasible and how they can make difference in the lives of Kansas families," said Susie Latta, K-State Research and Extension — Marshall County family and consumer sciences agent.

K-State 105 is Kansas State University's answer to the call for a comprehensive economic growth and advancement solution for Kansas. The initiative leverages the statewide K-State Research and Extension network to deliver the full breadth of the university's collective knowledge and solution-driven innovation to every Kansan, right where they live and work. Additionally, K-State 105 forges the connections and partnerships that create access to additional expertise within other state institutions and agencies, nonprofits and organizations — all part of an effort to build additional capacities and strengths in each of the 105 counties in the state.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722861930380.jpeg" alt="Susie Latta, left, K-State Research and Extension — Marshall County family and consumer sciences agent, and Arlene Wessel, center, community health worker, meet with a community member in Marshall County." />
 <figcaption>Susie Latta, left, K-State Research and Extension — Marshall County family and consumer sciences agent, and Arlene Wessel, center, community health worker, meet with a community member in Marshall County.</figcaption>
 </figure>K-State News ServiceA large collaborative K-State 105 project is bringing together 12 partners — including Kansas State University units, other higher education institutions and health organizations — to help improve rural and agriculture-connected health across the state.The Rural Ag Health Community Health Worker project focuses on sustaining the health and safety of rural Kansans and the agricultural workforce. The project is establishing resource and service hubs staffed by community health workers who are co-supervised by local K-State Research and Extension units and health care partners. The project has received funding and support through the K-State 105 initiative."Local extension units participating in the Rural Ag Health Community Health Worker project serve as a gateway to help rural residents manage chronic conditions, prevent injuries and reduce risk of illness," said Elaine Johannes, Kansas Health Foundation distinguished professor in community health and state extension specialist. "Extension units are known for providing education to promote and improve health; now, with the addition of community health workers, extension will be a resource and partner for local health care teams."The community health worker project will involve work in 16 counties, including Allen, Bourbon, Clay, Cloud, Crawford, Jackson, Jefferson, Labette, Marshall, Montgomery, Nemaha, Neosho, Republic, Washington, Wilson and Woodson counties.The K-State units involved in the project include five K-State Research and Extension units across the state, the College of Health and Human Sciences, the College of Agriculture and the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering.The external and community partners include the University of Kansas Medical Center Communities Organizing to Promote Equity, or COPE; Unite Us, a technology company that focuses on social care delivery; the Kansas Community Health Worker Coalition with the Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute; Health Innovations Network of Kansas; and other local health care partners."K-State 105 is focused on bringing people and partners together for the good of Kansas, and that's exactly what this project is doing," said Jessica Gnad, K-State 105 director. "We're building an ecosystem of support to help address a key area — in this case, health care — that is affecting economic prosperity in Kansas."The partners in the project are recruiting and hiring five community health workers who will be based in several K-State Research and Extension districts — including Wildcat, Southwind, Meadowlark and River Valley — as well as the K-State Research and Extension — Marshall County office. Members of KU COPE will help empower community health workers by providing their training and expertise to enhance the community health workers' ability to serve their communities. An aim is to share this model statewide to ensure consistent, high-quality and accessible health and social care services through an expanded community health workforce."When called upon, extension's community health workers can provide health coaching, client support, nonclinical services, care coordination and outreach activities with local health and care services," Johannes said. "Across the nation, community health workers' scope of work includes these services along with health education, supporting community health initiatives and being a liaison between providers and health care. Through this Rural Ag Health Community Health Worker project, we'll learn how extension can contribute to improved health care access for all."K-State Research and Extension community health workers and their health care and service collaborators will use Unite Us' secure, closed-loop referral technology to connect clients to the care they need. Additionally, community health workers will gather information about prominent health issues and identify health disparities in the communities they serve, enabling more targeted and effective interventions."It is exciting to participate in this boots-on-the-ground project to identify if a model of employing community health workers is feasible and how they can make difference in the lives of Kansas families," said Susie Latta, K-State Research and Extension — Marshall County family and consumer sciences agent.K-State 105 is Kansas State University's answer to the call for a comprehensive economic growth and advancement solution for Kansas. The initiative leverages the statewide K-State Research and Extension network to deliver the full breadth of the university's collective knowledge and solution-driven innovation to every Kansan, right where they live and work. Additionally, K-State 105 forges the connections and partnerships that create access to additional expertise within other state institutions and agencies, nonprofits and organizations — all part of an effort to build additional capacities and strengths in each of the 105 counties in the state.

K-State 105 community health project helps rural Kansas and agricultural workforce

&nbsp;As grasses within a pasture mature, various physical changes occur, which impact the cattle grazing them. For instance, older plants dry out and lose nutritional value, but also develop coarse stems – making cattle more susceptible to injuries involving their face and eyes.

<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/07/26/heat-feeding-risk-management-facial-diseases-cull-criteria/" target="_blank">On a recent episode of the Cattle Chat podcast</a>, Kansas State University veterinarians recommend producers watch for lumpy jaw and wooden tongue as their pastures start getting “stemmy.”

“Green, growing grass isn’t likely to cause these problems,” said K-State veterinarian Bob

Larson. “Lumpy jaw and wooden tongue happen when the tissues of the mouth are damaged on rough textured forages.”

In the case of wooden tongue, damaging incidents to the mouth allow for germs that live within the animal to cause an infection.

“It’s not really something that cattle get from other cattle. It’s caused by bacteria that are normally in the mouth and throat area,” Larson said.

K-State veterinarian Brad White adds: “Coarse feeds and grasses can damage the mucous membranes and cause lesions.”

Cattle with wooden tongue display obvious physical symptoms, according to Larson and White.

“Their tongue gets large and tends to hang out of their mouth, making eating difficult. They look like they are panting or drooling,” Larson said.

“It gets stiff, swollen and painful,” White said. “You do not very often see an animal – a cow especially – sticking their tongue out of their mouth; they’re not doing it to play. They are doing it because their tongue won't go back in.”

Like wooden tongue, cattle contract lumpy jaw through the bacteria that inhabit their mouths.

“After an injury, (bacteria) gets into some of the other tissues of the mouth,” Larson said. “What's dangerous about that one is it can invade bone. If that happens, it becomes difficult to cure.”

Larson said when producers discover lumpy jaw and wooden tongue in their earlier stages, cattle have a better chance of recovering.

“A lot of times these cases will be treated intravenously,” he said. “This is pretty effective at bringing those two syndromes back to normal but contact your local veterinarian before making any treatment decisions.”

When examining an animal’s mouth and face for lumpy jaw and wooden tongue, Larson suggests that producers monitor the eyes as well for squamous cell carcinoma, or cancer eye.

If this affliction goes untreated, cattle may face the same fate as their lumpy jaw and wooden tongue-infected counterparts.

“Cattle can get a cancer of the eye – often in their third eyelid. If you treat it early with surgical removal of that area, those animals respond well and can go ahead and have multiple years of productive life after that,” Larson said.

However, “If that cancer spreads and it involves the bones of the head, that is not going to get better, and it is time to think about euthanasia just from an animal welfare standpoint.”

To hear the full discussion,&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/07/26/heat-feeding-risk-management-facial-diseases-cull-criteria/" target="_blank">listen to Cattle Chat&nbsp;</a>on your preferred streaming platform.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722362402192.jpeg" alt="Wooden tongue and lumpy jaw – diseases that affect older cattle – become more prevalent as grasses and forage mature. K-State veterinarians share their causes, and treatments and discuss another facial disease: cancer eye." />
 <figcaption>Wooden tongue and lumpy jaw – diseases that affect older cattle – become more prevalent as grasses and forage mature. K-State veterinarians share their causes, and treatments and discuss another facial disease: cancer eye.</figcaption>
 </figure>By JACOB KLAUDT KSRE&nbsp;As grasses within a pasture mature, various physical changes occur, which impact the cattle grazing them. For instance, older plants dry out and lose nutritional value, but also develop coarse stems – making cattle more susceptible to injuries involving their face and eyes.<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/07/26/heat-feeding-risk-management-facial-diseases-cull-criteria/" target="_blank">On a recent episode of the Cattle Chat podcast</a>, Kansas State University veterinarians recommend producers watch for lumpy jaw and wooden tongue as their pastures start getting “stemmy.”“Green, growing grass isn’t likely to cause these problems,” said K-State veterinarian BobLarson. “Lumpy jaw and wooden tongue happen when the tissues of the mouth are damaged on rough textured forages.”In the case of wooden tongue, damaging incidents to the mouth allow for germs that live within the animal to cause an infection.“It’s not really something that cattle get from other cattle. It’s caused by bacteria that are normally in the mouth and throat area,” Larson said.K-State veterinarian Brad White adds: “Coarse feeds and grasses can damage the mucous membranes and cause lesions.”Cattle with wooden tongue display obvious physical symptoms, according to Larson and White.“Their tongue gets large and tends to hang out of their mouth, making eating difficult. They look like they are panting or drooling,” Larson said.“It gets stiff, swollen and painful,” White said. “You do not very often see an animal – a cow especially – sticking their tongue out of their mouth; they’re not doing it to play. They are doing it because their tongue won't go back in.”Like wooden tongue, cattle contract lumpy jaw through the bacteria that inhabit their mouths.“After an injury, (bacteria) gets into some of the other tissues of the mouth,” Larson said. “What's dangerous about that one is it can invade bone. If that happens, it becomes difficult to cure.”Larson said when producers discover lumpy jaw and wooden tongue in their earlier stages, cattle have a better chance of recovering.“A lot of times these cases will be treated intravenously,” he said. “This is pretty effective at bringing those two syndromes back to normal but contact your local veterinarian before making any treatment decisions.”When examining an animal’s mouth and face for lumpy jaw and wooden tongue, Larson suggests that producers monitor the eyes as well for squamous cell carcinoma, or cancer eye.If this affliction goes untreated, cattle may face the same fate as their lumpy jaw and wooden tongue-infected counterparts.“Cattle can get a cancer of the eye – often in their third eyelid. If you treat it early with surgical removal of that area, those animals respond well and can go ahead and have multiple years of productive life after that,” Larson said.However, “If that cancer spreads and it involves the bones of the head, that is not going to get better, and it is time to think about euthanasia just from an animal welfare standpoint.”To hear the full discussion,&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/07/26/heat-feeding-risk-management-facial-diseases-cull-criteria/" target="_blank">listen to Cattle Chat&nbsp;</a>on your preferred streaming platform.

KSRE Cattle Chat: Cattle Chat: Look out for lumpy jaw and other facial diseases

<a href="mailto:lmoser@ksu.edu">By Lisa Moser</a>, K-State Research and Extension news service When tackling a building project, many find it helpful to follow a plan and use the right tool to save time, which will often also increase the likelihood of the desired outcome in completing the task.

In much the same way, veterinarians make choices regarding antibiotic selections in cattle, said the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute. How those antibiotics work is a question that the veterinarians answered on a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattle-chat-antibiotic-uses-in-cattle">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast.

“The basic definition is that an antibiotic is a chemical that interferes with bacterial growth or replication,” K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers said.

He added that antibiotics interrupt that replication in many ways, including some that interfere with bacterial cell wall growth, some that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis and others that stop bacterial replication by interfering with the DNA and RNA of the bacteria.

To better understand why an antibiotic is selected for one bacterium and not another, Lubbers suggests that producers ask their local veterinarian.

“The reasons veterinarians might choose one antibiotic over another are not only related to the drug’s mechanism of action; there are a lot of factors we think about when deciding to use a specific antibiotic for a certain case,” Lubbers said.&nbsp;

He said they also consider antibiotic resistance, especially when opting to prescribe antibiotics that fall into the same class of drugs that are also used to treat sickness in humans.

Another factor that is considered when prescribing antibiotics for food animals is withdrawal time K-State veterinarian Bob Larson said.

"With food animals, we need to be aware of the time those antibiotics remain in the body before they are harvested so that they are free of harmful antibiotic residues when they enter the human food chain," Larson said.&nbsp;

To get more information about how each antibiotic works, the veterinarians recommend reading the product labels.

“Producers often get questions from consumers, so those who are educated about antibiotic use are able to better portray how we practice antibiotic stewardship,” Lubbers said.

To hear the full discussion, listen to&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattle-chat-antibiotic-uses-in-cattle">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721835900992.jpeg" alt="Cattle Chat" />
 <figcaption>Cattle Chat</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:lmoser@ksu.edu">By Lisa Moser</a>, K-State Research and Extension news service When tackling a building project, many find it helpful to follow a plan and use the right tool to save time, which will often also increase the likelihood of the desired outcome in completing the task.In much the same way, veterinarians make choices regarding antibiotic selections in cattle, said the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute. How those antibiotics work is a question that the veterinarians answered on a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattle-chat-antibiotic-uses-in-cattle">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast.“The basic definition is that an antibiotic is a chemical that interferes with bacterial growth or replication,” K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers said.He added that antibiotics interrupt that replication in many ways, including some that interfere with bacterial cell wall growth, some that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis and others that stop bacterial replication by interfering with the DNA and RNA of the bacteria.To better understand why an antibiotic is selected for one bacterium and not another, Lubbers suggests that producers ask their local veterinarian.“The reasons veterinarians might choose one antibiotic over another are not only related to the drug’s mechanism of action; there are a lot of factors we think about when deciding to use a specific antibiotic for a certain case,” Lubbers said.&nbsp;He said they also consider antibiotic resistance, especially when opting to prescribe antibiotics that fall into the same class of drugs that are also used to treat sickness in humans.Another factor that is considered when prescribing antibiotics for food animals is withdrawal time K-State veterinarian Bob Larson said."With food animals, we need to be aware of the time those antibiotics remain in the body before they are harvested so that they are free of harmful antibiotic residues when they enter the human food chain," Larson said.&nbsp;To get more information about how each antibiotic works, the veterinarians recommend reading the product labels.“Producers often get questions from consumers, so those who are educated about antibiotic use are able to better portray how we practice antibiotic stewardship,” Lubbers said.To hear the full discussion, listen to&nbsp;<a href="https://ksre-learn.com/cattle-chat-antibiotic-uses-in-cattle">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.

KSRE Cattle Chat: Antibiotic uses in cattle

By JULIA DEBES Kansas Wheat

Take a break from the Kansas heat and join Kansas Wheat at High Plains Journal’s Sorghum U/Wheat U event on Tuesday, August 13, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Wichita.&nbsp;

“Kansas Wheat looks forward to Sorghum U/Wheat U each year as an educational event designed to help producers make their operations more efficient, effective and profitable,” said Kansas Wheat CEO Justin Gilpin. “Through breakout sessions and producer panels, the event addresses current challenges and trends in technology, management practices and marketing. All attendees will head home with information they can immediately put into practice.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The free, one-day event starts with breakfast sandwiches, coffee and a producer panel discussion featuring sorghum and wheat producers, including Kansas Association of Wheat Growers' Vice President, Chris Tanner, from Norton.&nbsp; READ MORE:

Breakout sessions throughout the day will provide additional opportunities for producers to hear the latest in wheat research, technology and management recommendations. Dalton Henry, vice president of trade policy with U.S. Wheat Associates, will discuss changes in wheat seed technology and policy implications for global trade. Romulo Lollato, K-State Research and Extension wheat and forage specialist will provide a rundown of this year’s wheat harvest and varietal and practice considerations as Kansas farmers prepare to plant wheat this fall.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kelsey Andersen Onofre, assistant professor of plant pathology in K-State's College of Agriculture, will provide updates on the diseases that impacted the 2024 wheat crop. She will also discuss the need for disease management following spring and summer rains, especially the need to control volunteer wheat early and throughout the fall to prevent Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus (WSMV) infections in the following wheat crop.&nbsp;

Additional breakout sessions will cover topics specific to sorghum, including how to manage sorghum fertility to maximize profitability, the National Sorghum Producers climate-smart sustainability program and emerging markets.&nbsp; READ MORE:&nbsp;

During a complimentary lunch, keynote speaker Matt Hines, a licensed commodity broker and risk management consultant with Lowen &amp; Associates, will provide a market outlook for the wheat and sorghum markets. Kansas Wheat and Kansas Grain Sorghum will also provide updates on the top issues each commodity is working to address at the regional, state and national levels.&nbsp;

Sorghum U/Wheat U is sponsored by High Plains Journal, Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, Kansas Wheat, United Sorghum Checkoff Program, DoubleTeam Sorghum Cropping Solution, Kauffman Seed, Heartland Soil Services, Conklin AgroVantage and American AgCredit.

View the full agenda for Sorghum U/Wheat U and pre-register to reserve a free lunch at www.hpj.com/suwu/. Registrations are encouraged by Friday, July 26, to help with meal counts, but late and on-site registrations will be offered. Continuing education credits are also available for certified crop advisors.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655426692793.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JULIA DEBES Kansas WheatTake a break from the Kansas heat and join Kansas Wheat at High Plains Journal’s Sorghum U/Wheat U event on Tuesday, August 13, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Wichita.&nbsp;“Kansas Wheat looks forward to Sorghum U/Wheat U each year as an educational event designed to help producers make their operations more efficient, effective and profitable,” said Kansas Wheat CEO Justin Gilpin. “Through breakout sessions and producer panels, the event addresses current challenges and trends in technology, management practices and marketing. All attendees will head home with information they can immediately put into practice.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The free, one-day event starts with breakfast sandwiches, coffee and a producer panel discussion featuring sorghum and wheat producers, including Kansas Association of Wheat Growers' Vice President, Chris Tanner, from Norton.&nbsp; READ MORE:Breakout sessions throughout the day will provide additional opportunities for producers to hear the latest in wheat research, technology and management recommendations. Dalton Henry, vice president of trade policy with U.S. Wheat Associates, will discuss changes in wheat seed technology and policy implications for global trade. Romulo Lollato, K-State Research and Extension wheat and forage specialist will provide a rundown of this year’s wheat harvest and varietal and practice considerations as Kansas farmers prepare to plant wheat this fall.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kelsey Andersen Onofre, assistant professor of plant pathology in K-State's College of Agriculture, will provide updates on the diseases that impacted the 2024 wheat crop. She will also discuss the need for disease management following spring and summer rains, especially the need to control volunteer wheat early and throughout the fall to prevent Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus (WSMV) infections in the following wheat crop.&nbsp;Additional breakout sessions will cover topics specific to sorghum, including how to manage sorghum fertility to maximize profitability, the National Sorghum Producers climate-smart sustainability program and emerging markets.&nbsp; READ MORE:&nbsp;During a complimentary lunch, keynote speaker Matt Hines, a licensed commodity broker and risk management consultant with Lowen &amp; Associates, will provide a market outlook for the wheat and sorghum markets. Kansas Wheat and Kansas Grain Sorghum will also provide updates on the top issues each commodity is working to address at the regional, state and national levels.&nbsp;Sorghum U/Wheat U is sponsored by High Plains Journal, Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, Kansas Wheat, United Sorghum Checkoff Program, DoubleTeam Sorghum Cropping Solution, Kauffman Seed, Heartland Soil Services, Conklin AgroVantage and American AgCredit.View the full agenda for Sorghum U/Wheat U and pre-register to reserve a free lunch at www.hpj.com/suwu/. Registrations are encouraged by Friday, July 26, to help with meal counts, but late and on-site registrations will be offered. Continuing education credits are also available for certified crop advisors.&nbsp;

Wheat Scoop: Sorghum U / Wheat U

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-winter/">ALLISON WINTER</a>

WASHINGTON — The stalemate over the current farm bill may be solidifying a new era in farm politics as it joins the last three farm bills in a trend of delays and partisan division — a contrast from the legislation’s history of bipartisanship.

Every five years, Congress is tasked with drafting a new federal farm bill. The omnibus law that began 90 years ago as various kinds of payments to support farmers now has an impact far beyond the farm, with programs to create wildlife habitat, address climate change and provide the nation’s largest federal nutrition program.

The current farm bill process, already nearly a year behind schedule, is at an impasse as Democrats and Republicans clash over how to pay for the bill and whether to place limits on nutrition and climate programs. The previous farm bill expired in September 2023 and has been extended through the end of this September.

Historically, farm bills were completed within a few months of their expiration date. Ten of the 13 farm bills since 1965 were enacted by December 31 in the year of their expirations. But three of the four farm bills since 2008 went beyond that date.

The last three bills — including the 2018 bill, which is the one recent version that passed on time — each had partisan disagreements about spending.

The trend represents a change in how the once-bipartisan legislation is viewed.

“The last two farm bills were the anomaly,” said Jonathan Coppess, a professor of Agricultural Law and Policy at the University of Illinois who has written a history of the farm bill. “Now that it has been three in a row, I’m not sure that holds.”

A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R45210.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service notes that starting in 2008, farm bills have been subject to delays, vetoes and insufficient votes to pass on the floor.

The report concluded: “Over time, farm bills have tended to become more complicated and politically sensitive. As a result, the timeline for reauthorization has become less certain.”

That uncertainty is true of the current farm bill, as Republicans in the House and Senate push for spending limits that Democrats say are non-starters.

“I don’t think we’re close to getting a farm bill done until the folks who are negotiating the farm bill are realistic about what’s doable within a constrained resource environment,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in an interview on the radio program&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DjdcUT0r3o" target="_blank">AgriTalk</a>&nbsp;June 21.

The Republican-led House Agriculture Committee approved its farm bill proposal&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/05/24/farm-bill-advances-from-u-s-house-panel-but-faces-a-tough-row-to-hoe/" target="_blank">largely on party lines</a>&nbsp;at the end of May, after hours of debate and complaints from Democrats that the process had not been as bipartisan as in years past.

Four Democrats voted for the bill in committee, but they joined 20 other Democrats on the committee in a “dissenting views” letter expressing “genuine concern over the trajectory of the Majority’s partisan farm bill” — which they predicted would be stuck in delay and dysfunction without significant changes.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has yet to vote. The Republican and Democratic leaders of the committee have each put forward contrasting bills and expressed their frustration.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie&nbsp; Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat who is retiring after this term, has called the process the “most frustrating” of her career and said she would not let the Republican approach for the farm bill be her legacy.

“I’ve actually been involved in six farm bills and led on three of them, and this has been the most frustrating time,” said Stabenow&nbsp;<a href="https://michiganadvance.com/2024/06/26/stabenow-says-gop-farm-bill-is-not-balanced-and-wont-pass-through-the-us-senate/" target="_blank">in an interview with&nbsp;Michigan Advance</a>&nbsp;at the end of June. “Because it’s so much more partisan than usual and particularly around food assistance.”

Partisan division is not uncommon in today’s Congress but is notable on the farm bill, which had historically brought together lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. Bipartisan support can be necessary for final passage because the size of the $1.5 trillion farm bill means it inevitably loses some votes from fiscal conservatives and others.

“If you don’t have a bipartisan bill, this is not going to happen, and that is no matter who’s in charge. The margins are too close to be able to get this done without bipartisan support,” said Collin Peterson, a former Democratic House member from Minnesota and Agriculture Committee Chairman.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2024/05/24/u-s-house-panel-debates-nutrition-benefit-changes-farm-bill/" target="_blank">key dispute</a>&nbsp;for Democrats this year is a funding calculation that would place limits on the “Thrifty Food Plan” formula that calculates benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP.

Republicans are using the limits to offset other spending in the bill on crop subsidies. The top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, said he wants to put “more farm in the farm bill.”

Peterson, who is now the head of an eponymous consulting firm, said in an interview with States Newsroom that Republicans would likely have to make changes to the nutrition title to get a bill to final passage.

“It is unrealistic to think they are going to get this done without significant changes in that part of the bill,” he said.

The nutrition program that is at the center of the impasse was added to the legislation 50 years ago to help build a coalition of wide-ranging bipartisan support.

Lawmakers added the nutrition title to the farm bill in 1973, a move that widened the vested interest in the bill in the House. Lawmakers who wanted to increase payments for cotton and wheat farmers in their districts were able to bring in support from representatives from districts whose citizens could benefit from food aid.

“That was the first coalition building between the two interests,” Coppess said. “But it was pretty intense. And it was an uneasy alliance from the start.”

Since then, the farm bill in many ways has become a food bill. Three-quarters of the mandatory spending in the bill falls under the nutrition title, which includes SNAP, the largest U.S. program that addresses hunger.

The program, formerly called food stamps, supplements food budgets for low-income households. Anti-hunger groups have joined the outside interests pushing for the bill every five years.

But with such a large funding line, the nutrition program has become a target for Republicans who want to cut it to offset other spending in the bill.

“The dispute is all the pay-fors,” Peterson said. “And that has been the issue for the last three farm bills and issue on this one as well.”

Peterson, who was chairman of the House Agriculture Committee for the 2008 farm bill and was the top Democrat on the committee for the 2013 and 2018 bills, said partisan division on the committee is not unfamiliar at this phase of the process.

The farm bills he worked on also had partisan votes in the House but eventually found support from both sides after conferencing with the Senate.

“At the end of the day, every one of those bills was partisan, until we got through the conference committee, and then at that point it was bipartisan, because the Senate brought some of that to the table,” Peterson said. “So, kind of, what’s going on here went on the last three farm bills.”

The most recent farm bill in 2018 was marked by contentious partisan debate centered on SNAP’s work requirements and other eligibility rules.

The House Agriculture Committee’s bill that year initially failed on the House floor and later squeaked through on a 213-211 vote. Twenty Republicans joined all House Democrats in voting against that bill.

After reconciling with the Senate bill and the removal of some of the contentious changes to SNAP, most Democrats flipped their votes in support and the House agreed to the final conference report in a bipartisan vote of 369-47. The dissenting votes included 44 Republicans and three Democrats.

The partisan division over the nutrition title creates new fault lines for the farm bill.

Historically, farm bill alliances were more regional than partisan. They were built on a common ground of support for shared crops or producers: cotton in the South, corn in the Midwest and wheat in the Western Plains.

“What was our biggest issue back in the four farm bills that I wrote was not Republican versus Democrat. It was usually Midwest against the Southeast or the Northeast or the Southwest from a crop standpoint,” former Senator Saxby Chambliss said in an interview.

Chambliss, a Republican from Georgia, was on the House Agriculture Committee from 1995 to 2002 and the Senate Agriculture Committee 2005 to 2011, which included a stint as chairman and ranking member.

“There’s a different political dynamic that exists in the Senate today that did not exist when I was there,”&nbsp; Chambliss said. “How much of that bleeds into the farm bill? I don’t know the answer to that, but obviously it’s a little more acrimonious than what I ever experienced.”

As partisan politics have become more entrenched in regions of the country, with the South becoming more closely aligned with the Republican Party, it has played out in farm-bill politics.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625596705829.png" alt="Partisan gridlock in Congress has led to a stalemate on the current farm bill, which provides crop subsidies and nutrition assistance. Hays Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Partisan gridlock in Congress has led to a stalemate on the current farm bill, which provides crop subsidies and nutrition assistance. Hays Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-winter/">ALLISON WINTER</a>WASHINGTON — The stalemate over the current farm bill may be solidifying a new era in farm politics as it joins the last three farm bills in a trend of delays and partisan division — a contrast from the legislation’s history of bipartisanship.Every five years, Congress is tasked with drafting a new federal farm bill. The omnibus law that began 90 years ago as various kinds of payments to support farmers now has an impact far beyond the farm, with programs to create wildlife habitat, address climate change and provide the nation’s largest federal nutrition program.The current farm bill process, already nearly a year behind schedule, is at an impasse as Democrats and Republicans clash over how to pay for the bill and whether to place limits on nutrition and climate programs. The previous farm bill expired in September 2023 and has been extended through the end of this September.Historically, farm bills were completed within a few months of their expiration date. Ten of the 13 farm bills since 1965 were enacted by December 31 in the year of their expirations. But three of the four farm bills since 2008 went beyond that date.The last three bills — including the 2018 bill, which is the one recent version that passed on time — each had partisan disagreements about spending.The trend represents a change in how the once-bipartisan legislation is viewed.“The last two farm bills were the anomaly,” said Jonathan Coppess, a professor of Agricultural Law and Policy at the University of Illinois who has written a history of the farm bill. “Now that it has been three in a row, I’m not sure that holds.”A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R45210.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service notes that starting in 2008, farm bills have been subject to delays, vetoes and insufficient votes to pass on the floor.The report concluded: “Over time, farm bills have tended to become more complicated and politically sensitive. As a result, the timeline for reauthorization has become less certain.”<h2>Spending debate</h2>That uncertainty is true of the current farm bill, as Republicans in the House and Senate push for spending limits that Democrats say are non-starters.“I don’t think we’re close to getting a farm bill done until the folks who are negotiating the farm bill are realistic about what’s doable within a constrained resource environment,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in an interview on the radio program&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DjdcUT0r3o" target="_blank">AgriTalk</a>&nbsp;June 21.The Republican-led House Agriculture Committee approved its farm bill proposal&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/05/24/farm-bill-advances-from-u-s-house-panel-but-faces-a-tough-row-to-hoe/" target="_blank">largely on party lines</a>&nbsp;at the end of May, after hours of debate and complaints from Democrats that the process had not been as bipartisan as in years past.Four Democrats voted for the bill in committee, but they joined 20 other Democrats on the committee in a “dissenting views” letter expressing “genuine concern over the trajectory of the Majority’s partisan farm bill” — which they predicted would be stuck in delay and dysfunction without significant changes.The Senate Agriculture Committee has yet to vote. The Republican and Democratic leaders of the committee have each put forward contrasting bills and expressed their frustration.<h2>‘The most frustrating time’</h2>Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie&nbsp; Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat who is retiring after this term, has called the process the “most frustrating” of her career and said she would not let the Republican approach for the farm bill be her legacy.“I’ve actually been involved in six farm bills and led on three of them, and this has been the most frustrating time,” said Stabenow&nbsp;<a href="https://michiganadvance.com/2024/06/26/stabenow-says-gop-farm-bill-is-not-balanced-and-wont-pass-through-the-us-senate/" target="_blank">in an interview with&nbsp;Michigan Advance</a>&nbsp;at the end of June. “Because it’s so much more partisan than usual and particularly around food assistance.”Partisan division is not uncommon in today’s Congress but is notable on the farm bill, which had historically brought together lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. Bipartisan support can be necessary for final passage because the size of the $1.5 trillion farm bill means it inevitably loses some votes from fiscal conservatives and others.“If you don’t have a bipartisan bill, this is not going to happen, and that is no matter who’s in charge. The margins are too close to be able to get this done without bipartisan support,” said Collin Peterson, a former Democratic House member from Minnesota and Agriculture Committee Chairman.The&nbsp;<a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2024/05/24/u-s-house-panel-debates-nutrition-benefit-changes-farm-bill/" target="_blank">key dispute</a>&nbsp;for Democrats this year is a funding calculation that would place limits on the “Thrifty Food Plan” formula that calculates benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP.Republicans are using the limits to offset other spending in the bill on crop subsidies. The top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, said he wants to put “more farm in the farm bill.”Peterson, who is now the head of an eponymous consulting firm, said in an interview with States Newsroom that Republicans would likely have to make changes to the nutrition title to get a bill to final passage.“It is unrealistic to think they are going to get this done without significant changes in that part of the bill,” he said.<h2>‘An uneasy alliance’ from the start</h2>The nutrition program that is at the center of the impasse was added to the legislation 50 years ago to help build a coalition of wide-ranging bipartisan support.Lawmakers added the nutrition title to the farm bill in 1973, a move that widened the vested interest in the bill in the House. Lawmakers who wanted to increase payments for cotton and wheat farmers in their districts were able to bring in support from representatives from districts whose citizens could benefit from food aid.“That was the first coalition building between the two interests,” Coppess said. “But it was pretty intense. And it was an uneasy alliance from the start.”Since then, the farm bill in many ways has become a food bill. Three-quarters of the mandatory spending in the bill falls under the nutrition title, which includes SNAP, the largest U.S. program that addresses hunger.The program, formerly called food stamps, supplements food budgets for low-income households. Anti-hunger groups have joined the outside interests pushing for the bill every five years.But with such a large funding line, the nutrition program has become a target for Republicans who want to cut it to offset other spending in the bill.“The dispute is all the pay-fors,” Peterson said. “And that has been the issue for the last three farm bills and issue on this one as well.”Peterson, who was chairman of the House Agriculture Committee for the 2008 farm bill and was the top Democrat on the committee for the 2013 and 2018 bills, said partisan division on the committee is not unfamiliar at this phase of the process.The farm bills he worked on also had partisan votes in the House but eventually found support from both sides after conferencing with the Senate.“At the end of the day, every one of those bills was partisan, until we got through the conference committee, and then at that point it was bipartisan, because the Senate brought some of that to the table,” Peterson said. “So, kind of, what’s going on here went on the last three farm bills.”The most recent farm bill in 2018 was marked by contentious partisan debate centered on SNAP’s work requirements and other eligibility rules.The House Agriculture Committee’s bill that year initially failed on the House floor and later squeaked through on a 213-211 vote. Twenty Republicans joined all House Democrats in voting against that bill.After reconciling with the Senate bill and the removal of some of the contentious changes to SNAP, most Democrats flipped their votes in support and the House agreed to the final conference report in a bipartisan vote of 369-47. The dissenting votes included 44 Republicans and three Democrats.<h2>A trend toward fracture</h2>The partisan division over the nutrition title creates new fault lines for the farm bill.Historically, farm bill alliances were more regional than partisan. They were built on a common ground of support for shared crops or producers: cotton in the South, corn in the Midwest and wheat in the Western Plains.“What was our biggest issue back in the four farm bills that I wrote was not Republican versus Democrat. It was usually Midwest against the Southeast or the Northeast or the Southwest from a crop standpoint,” former Senator Saxby Chambliss said in an interview.Chambliss, a Republican from Georgia, was on the House Agriculture Committee from 1995 to 2002 and the Senate Agriculture Committee 2005 to 2011, which included a stint as chairman and ranking member.“There’s a different political dynamic that exists in the Senate today that did not exist when I was there,”&nbsp; Chambliss said. “How much of that bleeds into the farm bill? I don’t know the answer to that, but obviously it’s a little more acrimonious than what I ever experienced.”As partisan politics have become more entrenched in regions of the country, with the South becoming more closely aligned with the Republican Party, it has played out in farm-bill politics.“You see a staunch realignment around where the regional and the partisan are now very similar,” said Coppess.