By LESLIE MANNING <a href="https://www.facebook.com/southeastspotlight/">The Spotlight</a> “We’ve never really been a one size fits all,” Mason Winter said. “In the sale barn industry, you get a taste of it all, and make due with what you’ve got.”

In December, Winter came on board at Farmers and Ranchers Livestock, Salina, representing the new ownership, Winter Livestock.

“We are going to keep everything the same,” Winter said. “Salina is the largest sale barn in Kansas, so whatever they were doing is working really well for them.”

Winter was born and raised in Dodge City, where his family owns and operates a sale barn, Winter Livestock, that began with his great-grandpa.

“I’m the fourth generation,” Winter said. “My family came to Dodge in 1936. My great-grandpa, Karl, bought stock yards from the railroads, and turned it into the local sale barn. It’s treated us pretty well ever since.”

Winter Livestock expanded throughout the generations, to its current capacity of three sale barns in Kansas, one in Colorado and one in Wyoming. Winter, one of four siblings, earned a degree in ag business from Oklahoma State, while returning home on weekends and for Wednesday sales to help operate the Dodge City sale barn. Upon graduation, Winter ran the Dodge City location.

“(Growing up) I was around the sale barn as much as possible,” Winter said. “I tried to dive in as much as I could. Once I got to high school, I started helping and not being in the way of everybody.”

Since December, Winter has dove in at Farmers and Ranchers Livestock, learning everything he can from sale barn manager, Mike Samples.

“It’s no secret in the state of Kansas that this is Mike Samples’ sale barn,” Winter said. “This place was built on his shoulders. We are happy to build off of what he has built.”

Samples will stay on as manager for two more years, to teach Winter the ropes of the structures in place at Farmers and Ranchers Livestock.

“There’s not really a secret formula,” Winter said. “You work really hard and treat people well, and they seem to do the same back to you. (Sale barns) all kind of follow the same plan, and the same systems, with their own personal touches on them.”

Farmers and Ranchers Livestock will continue to operate with a flat rate commission per head. Preparing cattle for the auctions on Mondays and Thursdays, with special auctions for vaccinated calves on Tuesdays, will remain a priority.

“The feeding, the watering and the facilitating of the cattle is a job in and of itself,” Winter said. “We’re trying to get as close to what they weighed at home. We want the smallest amount of shrink as possible. Through grass hay and pellets, we try to mitigate that shrink as much as possible.”

Kyle Elwood, will remain the assistant manager at Farmers and Ranchers Livestock, preparing the cattle for sale days. Elwood has been the assistant manager and an auctioneer for Farmers and Ranchers Livestock for over 30 years.

“Kyle has about as good of eye as anyone I’ve met,” Winter said. “He knows what is going to sell each week, and what the buyers are looking for. It’s impressive how in tune he is with where the cattle need to be and how they need to be sorted.”

Packaging the producer’s cattle, by characteristics like color, weight and sex, will remain the same.

“Each producer’s cattle is represented in categories in and of themselves,” Winter said. “Buyers are looking for the biggest bunch of like cattle that they can put together. As long as there’s something for them to buy, they make our job really easy. They are competing against each other, so their competitive spirits drive up the costs.”

Buyers will continue to see a selection of bottle calves, weaned calves, cow/calf pairs, cows and bred cows.

“We’ve got every facet covered and the buyers make our job really easy,” Winter said.

According to Winter, the hardest part of the job is unloading and loading and keeping everything straight.

“Everything that comes in has to go back out to its new home with low stress and no injuries,” Winter said. “It’s a lot of thankless jobs, that we wouldn’t be able to do without. It’s a lot of getting cattle in and getting cattle out.”

Horse sales will also continue at Farmers and Ranchers Livestock, with the 2025 sales scheduled for May 17 and one in October. Hog sales will continue on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. A buffalo sale is planned for December.

“I am here to learn as much as I can from Mike and Kyle,” Winter said.

Mike Samples began managing Farmers and Ranchers Livestock on August 31, 1987. Raised on an 80-acre farm north of Erie, he joined the FFA chapter in high school under the direction of vo-ag teacher, Ken Nuntin. Samples’ first FFA project was raising six pigs, leading him into raising hogs and cattle.

Also, while in high school, Samples went to the sale barn in Parsons as often as he could. Wanting to be a part of the auction world, he started driving and traveling with famous cattleman, E.J. Peck, learning about the cattle industry.

Samples worked for the Fredonia market, later running the Chanute Sale Barn for a short while before becoming the manager of the Parsons Livestock Market for Russell and Mark McKee. He had been running the sale barn in Parsons, when he left to take over Farmers and Ranchers Livestock in Salina.

“It was in pretty sad shape when I got here,” Samples said. “I’ve never had a lot of give up in me. I just went to driving around the country and meeting people. A lot of places I went to, people actually ran me off their property, because they didn’t like Farmers and Ranchers. I just kept coming back. Most of those people made really good customers of mine.”

In 1987, Farmers and Ranchers Livestock was owned by Joe Clemence, John Clemence, Chris Hoffman and Bill Hoffman. Joe Clemence was the son of an original owner, Laurence Clemence. Laurence Clemence started Farmers and Ranchers Livestock with Merrill Christiansen and Bob Muir in 1966.

“There were two sale barns already in Salina,” Samples said. “They shut the other two barns down. They got all the cattle and the other barns just went away.”

According to the Kansas State Department of Agriculture, by 1987, numbers were down, with Farmers and Ranchers Livestock running 88,606 head of cattle across the auction block during the year. By building relationships with producers and buyers, Samples increased those numbers to over 200,000 head each year.

“They didn’t have buyers and they didn’t have an active market,” Samples said. “Roger Johnson told me when I got here, ‘You’ll never be able to fill this barn back up, because you don’t have the buyers.' I got the buyers, I got the cattle and I got the market and all is good.”

Samples knew buyers, and began calling people. Now, every major feeding group in the Midwest is represented in the buyers’ seats at Farmers and Ranchers Livestock.

“When I got here, Junction City was getting a lot of cattle,” Samples said. “I just, slowly but surely, got the farmers to bring their cattle to us. It was not an easy task and it was not a quick task. It took time. After I got the thing going and started, then we became the largest livestock auction in Kansas.”

Winter Livestock owned the two largest sale barns in Kansas, Dodge City and Pratt. According to Samples, Dodge City had the biggest sale barn in Kansas for 50 years. Mike Lewis, a friend of Samples, ran the Winter Livestock sale barn in Pratt.

“When I started getting the business going, Mike Lewis was trying to pass Dodge,” Samples said. “Nobody had every passed Dodge. We joked with each other that I was going to pass them both after Pratt passed Dodge.”

Samples attributes the success of Farmers and Ranchers Livestock to several factors, including the location. With Salina at the junction of I-135 and I-70, the sale barn was easily accessible to both buyers and sellers. In addition, Samples notes, the conditions of the region allows for good livestock production.

“I like this part of the world, because there’s grass,” Samples said. “There are cattle and crops to feed the cattle.”

The success is also rooted in Samples’ drive and motivation.

"I had always wanted to run a big successful sale barn,” Samples said. “You gotta love what you do, people have to know that you like what you do and enjoy what you are doing.”

In 2021, Samples was inducted into the Cattle Marketing Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to competitive marketing, as the backbone of true price discovery.

“Farmers and Ranchers is very highly respected in the auction business in Kansas and the Midwest,” Samples said. “We get sellers from Western Kansas, from Oklahoma, from Missouri and all over the state of Kansas.”

Samples intends to manage the barn for the next two years, and introduce Mason to the network of buyers and producers composing the business of Farmers and Ranchers Livestock.

“The main thing, I have a very tight relationship with my customers,” Samples said. “I thought when I first met Mason he would fit in. He’s met the people well, and they like him. People were looking for a home. They were going other places, and we give them a home.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740163753293.jpeg" alt="Mason Winter Photos Courtesy Leslie Manning" />
 <figcaption>Mason Winter Photos Courtesy Leslie Manning</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE MANNING <a href="https://www.facebook.com/southeastspotlight/">The Spotlight</a> “We’ve never really been a one size fits all,” Mason Winter said. “In the sale barn industry, you get a taste of it all, and make due with what you’ve got.”In December, Winter came on board at Farmers and Ranchers Livestock, Salina, representing the new ownership, Winter Livestock.“We are going to keep everything the same,” Winter said. “Salina is the largest sale barn in Kansas, so whatever they were doing is working really well for them.”<h2>Under new ownership</h2>Winter was born and raised in Dodge City, where his family owns and operates a sale barn, Winter Livestock, that began with his great-grandpa.“I’m the fourth generation,” Winter said. “My family came to Dodge in 1936. My great-grandpa, Karl, bought stock yards from the railroads, and turned it into the local sale barn. It’s treated us pretty well ever since.”Winter Livestock expanded throughout the generations, to its current capacity of three sale barns in Kansas, one in Colorado and one in Wyoming. Winter, one of four siblings, earned a degree in ag business from Oklahoma State, while returning home on weekends and for Wednesday sales to help operate the Dodge City sale barn. Upon graduation, Winter ran the Dodge City location.“(Growing up) I was around the sale barn as much as possible,” Winter said. “I tried to dive in as much as I could. Once I got to high school, I started helping and not being in the way of everybody.”Since December, Winter has dove in at Farmers and Ranchers Livestock, learning everything he can from sale barn manager, Mike Samples.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740163646969.jpeg" alt="Mike Samples" />
 <figcaption>Mike Samples</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s no secret in the state of Kansas that this is Mike Samples’ sale barn,” Winter said. “This place was built on his shoulders. We are happy to build off of what he has built.”Samples will stay on as manager for two more years, to teach Winter the ropes of the structures in place at Farmers and Ranchers Livestock.“There’s not really a secret formula,” Winter said. “You work really hard and treat people well, and they seem to do the same back to you. (Sale barns) all kind of follow the same plan, and the same systems, with their own personal touches on them.”Farmers and Ranchers Livestock will continue to operate with a flat rate commission per head. Preparing cattle for the auctions on Mondays and Thursdays, with special auctions for vaccinated calves on Tuesdays, will remain a priority.“The feeding, the watering and the facilitating of the cattle is a job in and of itself,” Winter said. “We’re trying to get as close to what they weighed at home. We want the smallest amount of shrink as possible. Through grass hay and pellets, we try to mitigate that shrink as much as possible.”Kyle Elwood, will remain the assistant manager at Farmers and Ranchers Livestock, preparing the cattle for sale days. Elwood has been the assistant manager and an auctioneer for Farmers and Ranchers Livestock for over 30 years.“Kyle has about as good of eye as anyone I’ve met,” Winter said. “He knows what is going to sell each week, and what the buyers are looking for. It’s impressive how in tune he is with where the cattle need to be and how they need to be sorted.”Packaging the producer’s cattle, by characteristics like color, weight and sex, will remain the same.“Each producer’s cattle is represented in categories in and of themselves,” Winter said. “Buyers are looking for the biggest bunch of like cattle that they can put together. As long as there’s something for them to buy, they make our job really easy. They are competing against each other, so their competitive spirits drive up the costs.”Buyers will continue to see a selection of bottle calves, weaned calves, cow/calf pairs, cows and bred cows.“We’ve got every facet covered and the buyers make our job really easy,” Winter said.According to Winter, the hardest part of the job is unloading and loading and keeping everything straight.“Everything that comes in has to go back out to its new home with low stress and no injuries,” Winter said. “It’s a lot of thankless jobs, that we wouldn’t be able to do without. It’s a lot of getting cattle in and getting cattle out.”Horse sales will also continue at Farmers and Ranchers Livestock, with the 2025 sales scheduled for May 17 and one in October. Hog sales will continue on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. A buffalo sale is planned for December.“I am here to learn as much as I can from Mike and Kyle,” Winter said.<h2>Building a sale barn</h2>Mike Samples began managing Farmers and Ranchers Livestock on August 31, 1987. Raised on an 80-acre farm north of Erie, he joined the FFA chapter in high school under the direction of vo-ag teacher, Ken Nuntin. Samples’ first FFA project was raising six pigs, leading him into raising hogs and cattle.Also, while in high school, Samples went to the sale barn in Parsons as often as he could. Wanting to be a part of the auction world, he started driving and traveling with famous cattleman, E.J. Peck, learning about the cattle industry.Samples worked for the Fredonia market, later running the Chanute Sale Barn for a short while before becoming the manager of the Parsons Livestock Market for Russell and Mark McKee. He had been running the sale barn in Parsons, when he left to take over Farmers and Ranchers Livestock in Salina.“It was in pretty sad shape when I got here,” Samples said. “I’ve never had a lot of give up in me. I just went to driving around the country and meeting people. A lot of places I went to, people actually ran me off their property, because they didn’t like Farmers and Ranchers. I just kept coming back. Most of those people made really good customers of mine.”In 1987, Farmers and Ranchers Livestock was owned by Joe Clemence, John Clemence, Chris Hoffman and Bill Hoffman. Joe Clemence was the son of an original owner, Laurence Clemence. Laurence Clemence started Farmers and Ranchers Livestock with Merrill Christiansen and Bob Muir in 1966.“There were two sale barns already in Salina,” Samples said. “They shut the other two barns down. They got all the cattle and the other barns just went away.”According to the Kansas State Department of Agriculture, by 1987, numbers were down, with Farmers and Ranchers Livestock running 88,606 head of cattle across the auction block during the year. By building relationships with producers and buyers, Samples increased those numbers to over 200,000 head each year.“They didn’t have buyers and they didn’t have an active market,” Samples said. “Roger Johnson told me when I got here, ‘You’ll never be able to fill this barn back up, because you don’t have the buyers.' I got the buyers, I got the cattle and I got the market and all is good.”Samples knew buyers, and began calling people. Now, every major feeding group in the Midwest is represented in the buyers’ seats at Farmers and Ranchers Livestock.“When I got here, Junction City was getting a lot of cattle,” Samples said. “I just, slowly but surely, got the farmers to bring their cattle to us. It was not an easy task and it was not a quick task. It took time. After I got the thing going and started, then we became the largest livestock auction in Kansas.”Winter Livestock owned the two largest sale barns in Kansas, Dodge City and Pratt. According to Samples, Dodge City had the biggest sale barn in Kansas for 50 years. Mike Lewis, a friend of Samples, ran the Winter Livestock sale barn in Pratt.“When I started getting the business going, Mike Lewis was trying to pass Dodge,” Samples said. “Nobody had every passed Dodge. We joked with each other that I was going to pass them both after Pratt passed Dodge.”That is exactly what happened.Samples attributes the success of Farmers and Ranchers Livestock to several factors, including the location. With Salina at the junction of I-135 and I-70, the sale barn was easily accessible to both buyers and sellers. In addition, Samples notes, the conditions of the region allows for good livestock production.“I like this part of the world, because there’s grass,” Samples said. “There are cattle and crops to feed the cattle.”The success is also rooted in Samples’ drive and motivation."I had always wanted to run a big successful sale barn,” Samples said. “You gotta love what you do, people have to know that you like what you do and enjoy what you are doing.”In 2021, Samples was inducted into the Cattle Marketing Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to competitive marketing, as the backbone of true price discovery.“Farmers and Ranchers is very highly respected in the auction business in Kansas and the Midwest,” Samples said. “We get sellers from Western Kansas, from Oklahoma, from Missouri and all over the state of Kansas.”Samples intends to manage the barn for the next two years, and introduce Mason to the network of buyers and producers composing the business of Farmers and Ranchers Livestock.“The main thing, I have a very tight relationship with my customers,” Samples said. “I thought when I first met Mason he would fit in. He’s met the people well, and they like him. People were looking for a home. They were going other places, and we give them a home.”

'Winter Livestock' takes ownership of 'Farmers and Ranchers Livestock'

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Amy France from Scott City Kansas. She is chairman of the National Sorghum Producers Association and testified before a U.S. Senate committee last week.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yjo5T4F0Z5Y?si=zvLRdXCigR7GItCb" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Amy France from Scott City Kansas. She is chairman of the National Sorghum Producers Association and testified before a U.S. Senate committee last week.

Forward Ever: Amy France, chairman of National Sorghum Producers Association

By MADDY MEIER Director of Communications and Outreach

Despite the sorghum harvest in Kansas beginning to wind down, the Sorghum Connection Series remains committed to empowering the state's sorghum industry.

This innovative program, launched in September by the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission (KGSC) in collaboration with K-State Research and Extension and the K-State Department of Plant Pathology, announces a comprehensive winter educational program.

Building on the success of its inaugural field day series, which focused on stalk rot prevention and producer profitability, the Sorghum Connection team offers an additional series of one-day events across central and western Kansas. These events will delve deeper into key topics gained from the field days. These events will be held in Salina on December 4, Hays on December 5, and Garden City on December 6.

Attendees will gain valuable insights from leaders at Kansas State University on critical topics:

● Managing Chinch Bug Populations, presented by Anthony Zukoff

● Effective Weed Management Strategies, presented by Sarah Lancaster

● Unleashing the Potential of Sorghum in the Pet Food Industry presented by Julia Pezzali

● Navigating the Sorghum Market Outlook, presented by Dan O’Brien

"The Sorghum Connection Series is more than just a series of events; it's an investment in the future of sorghum production in Kansas,” says Maddy Meier, KGSC’s director of communications and outreach. “By providing producers with access to the latest research and information, we're empowering them to make informed decisions and drive innovation in the heart of sorghum country."

Each event begins with registration at 8:00 a.m. and concludes at approximately 3:00 p.m. To register or learn more, visit <a href="http://www.ksgrainsorghum.org">www.ksgrainsorghum.org</a>.

The Sorghum Connection Series offers a unique opportunity for Kansas sorghum growers to connect, learn, and stay ahead of the curve. Don't miss this chance to cultivate success in the years ahead.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731420536037.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By MADDY MEIER Director of Communications and OutreachDespite the sorghum harvest in Kansas beginning to wind down, the Sorghum Connection Series remains committed to empowering the state's sorghum industry.This innovative program, launched in September by the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission (KGSC) in collaboration with K-State Research and Extension and the K-State Department of Plant Pathology, announces a comprehensive winter educational program.Building on the success of its inaugural field day series, which focused on stalk rot prevention and producer profitability, the Sorghum Connection team offers an additional series of one-day events across central and western Kansas. These events will delve deeper into key topics gained from the field days. These events will be held in Salina on December 4, Hays on December 5, and Garden City on December 6.Attendees will gain valuable insights from leaders at Kansas State University on critical topics:● Managing Chinch Bug Populations, presented by Anthony Zukoff● Effective Weed Management Strategies, presented by Sarah Lancaster● Unleashing the Potential of Sorghum in the Pet Food Industry presented by Julia Pezzali● Navigating the Sorghum Market Outlook, presented by Dan O’Brien"The Sorghum Connection Series is more than just a series of events; it's an investment in the future of sorghum production in Kansas,” says Maddy Meier, KGSC’s director of communications and outreach. “By providing producers with access to the latest research and information, we're empowering them to make informed decisions and drive innovation in the heart of sorghum country."Each event begins with registration at 8:00 a.m. and concludes at approximately 3:00 p.m. To register or learn more, visit <a href="http://www.ksgrainsorghum.org">www.ksgrainsorghum.org</a>.The Sorghum Connection Series offers a unique opportunity for Kansas sorghum growers to connect, learn, and stay ahead of the curve. Don't miss this chance to cultivate success in the years ahead.

Sorghum Connection series offers winter support for Kansas growers

K-State Research and Extension news service

<a href="https://youtu.be/V6q46furWPc" target="_blank">In this video</a>, K-State Research and Extension cow-calf specialist Jason Warner discusses safety considerations when making a decision to allow cows to graze sorghum residue after harvest.

“The quantity and quality of (sorghum) residue is the highest it is going to be immediately following harvest,” Warner said.

He said that K-State research indicates that in most situations, there should be enough dry matter residue from the grain sorghum harvest to support one non-lactating cow for 50 to 60 days per acre.

Producers often are concerned, however, about nitrate toxicity and prussic acid toxicity, which can cause a form of asphyxiation – or oxygen loss – to the animal. Both conditions are more common in years when crops are drought-stressed, according to Warner.

“With nitrate toxicity, nitrates will accumulate in the bottom one-third of the stock, or stem,” he said. “So, always remember that we don’t want to force those animals to graze down into the lower one-third of the stock by leaving them on those residue fields longer.”

Prussic acid may accumulate in the upper portions of the residue. Warner notes that producers can reduce the risk of prussic acid poisoning by avoiding grazing just prior to a killing freeze, when the plant is still actively growing.

View the full video, including Warner’s recommendations, at&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/V6q46furWPc">https://youtu.be/V6q46furWPc</a>.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V6q46furWPc?si=NiUOiY48uOf34UX7" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> K-State Research and Extension news service<a href="https://youtu.be/V6q46furWPc" target="_blank">In this video</a>, K-State Research and Extension cow-calf specialist Jason Warner discusses safety considerations when making a decision to allow cows to graze sorghum residue after harvest.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730121462211.jpeg" alt="Warner" />
 <figcaption>Warner</figcaption>
 </figure>“The quantity and quality of (sorghum) residue is the highest it is going to be immediately following harvest,” Warner said.He said that K-State research indicates that in most situations, there should be enough dry matter residue from the grain sorghum harvest to support one non-lactating cow for 50 to 60 days per acre.Producers often are concerned, however, about nitrate toxicity and prussic acid toxicity, which can cause a form of asphyxiation – or oxygen loss – to the animal. Both conditions are more common in years when crops are drought-stressed, according to Warner.“With nitrate toxicity, nitrates will accumulate in the bottom one-third of the stock, or stem,” he said. “So, always remember that we don’t want to force those animals to graze down into the lower one-third of the stock by leaving them on those residue fields longer.”Prussic acid may accumulate in the upper portions of the residue. Warner notes that producers can reduce the risk of prussic acid poisoning by avoiding grazing just prior to a killing freeze, when the plant is still actively growing.View the full video, including Warner’s recommendations, at&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/V6q46furWPc">https://youtu.be/V6q46furWPc</a>.

KSRE Video: Tips for safely grazing sorghum residue after harvest

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

No matter the sport or age of an athlete, it is often recommended that at the end of the season, the body should be given time to rest. That body management strategy can apply to bulls after they’ve completed the breeding season, according to the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute.

<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/10/11/replacement-heifers-pain-management-bull-management/" target="_blank">Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast</a>, K-State veterinarians Bob Larson and Brian Lubbers talked about bull longevity in the herd. In this case, it was bulls coming off of summer breeding pastures in spring calving herds.

“In single-sire herds in which replacement heifers are retained, the bull will need to be replaced more frequently (than with multiple sire herds) to avoid breeding sires to their daughters,” Larson said. “In a larger herd where the mating can be controlled, bulls may be able to stay in the herd 4-6 years or even longer.”

He said regardless of the bull’s age, breeding soundness exams need to be done annually near the start of the breeding season.

“As bulls get past middle age, their fertility starts to decrease,” Larson said. “They also start to have more musculoskeletal issues because of their size, and that can lead to foot and leg problems.”

Lubbers said fall is a good time to evaluate the hooves of the bulls because hoof growth slows in the winter weather.

“Fall is a good time to do some routine hoof trimming not only from the slowed hoof growth but also if they experience an injury in the process, there is time for them to heal,” Lubbers said. “And while it isn’t common, if there is a severe injury that happens when the bull is put on the trimming table, there is time to replace him ahead of the breeding season.”

Regarding nutrition management, K-State beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster offered some recommendations.

“Yearling and two-year-old bulls are still growing, so they will need a higher quality diet than mature bulls outside of the breeding season,” Lancaster said. “But they probably don’t need supplements unless they lost a lot of weight during the breeding season, and they need to regain body condition.”

He said producers should offer good quality hay to the younger bulls. Once he is mature, his nutritional needs are less so the quality of hay can also be decreased.

“A mature bull has the lowest nutritional requirements of any animal in the herd, so he can be fed the lowest quality hay due to his maintenance needs,” Lancaster said.

Because of the different nutritional needs of cattle in the herds, Lancaster advised that producers separate the bulls from the cows when not in the breeding season.

“By leaving the bulls with the cows outside of the breeding season, nutritionally speaking, there is a risk that the bulls will get over-conditioned from eating the supplements that the cows need,” Lancaster said.

To hear the full discussion,&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/10/11/replacement-heifers-pain-management-bull-management/" target="_blank">listen to Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714569477275.jpeg" alt="K-State beef cattle experts offer strategies for caring for bulls between breeding seasons. Image Courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>K-State beef cattle experts offer strategies for caring for bulls between breeding seasons. Image Courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:lmoser@ksu.edu">By LISA MOSER </a>K-State Research and Extension news serviceNo matter the sport or age of an athlete, it is often recommended that at the end of the season, the body should be given time to rest. That body management strategy can apply to bulls after they’ve completed the breeding season, according to the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute.<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/10/11/replacement-heifers-pain-management-bull-management/" target="_blank">Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast</a>, K-State veterinarians Bob Larson and Brian Lubbers talked about bull longevity in the herd. In this case, it was bulls coming off of summer breeding pastures in spring calving herds.“In single-sire herds in which replacement heifers are retained, the bull will need to be replaced more frequently (than with multiple sire herds) to avoid breeding sires to their daughters,” Larson said. “In a larger herd where the mating can be controlled, bulls may be able to stay in the herd 4-6 years or even longer.”<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/1sxyooyQITpyKZjXM03UeW?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>He said regardless of the bull’s age, breeding soundness exams need to be done annually near the start of the breeding season.“As bulls get past middle age, their fertility starts to decrease,” Larson said. “They also start to have more musculoskeletal issues because of their size, and that can lead to foot and leg problems.”Lubbers said fall is a good time to evaluate the hooves of the bulls because hoof growth slows in the winter weather.“Fall is a good time to do some routine hoof trimming not only from the slowed hoof growth but also if they experience an injury in the process, there is time for them to heal,” Lubbers said. “And while it isn’t common, if there is a severe injury that happens when the bull is put on the trimming table, there is time to replace him ahead of the breeding season.”Nutrition tipsRegarding nutrition management, K-State beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster offered some recommendations.“Yearling and two-year-old bulls are still growing, so they will need a higher quality diet than mature bulls outside of the breeding season,” Lancaster said. “But they probably don’t need supplements unless they lost a lot of weight during the breeding season, and they need to regain body condition.”He said producers should offer good quality hay to the younger bulls. Once he is mature, his nutritional needs are less so the quality of hay can also be decreased.“A mature bull has the lowest nutritional requirements of any animal in the herd, so he can be fed the lowest quality hay due to his maintenance needs,” Lancaster said.Because of the different nutritional needs of cattle in the herds, Lancaster advised that producers separate the bulls from the cows when not in the breeding season.“By leaving the bulls with the cows outside of the breeding season, nutritionally speaking, there is a risk that the bulls will get over-conditioned from eating the supplements that the cows need,” Lancaster said.To hear the full discussion,&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/10/11/replacement-heifers-pain-management-bull-management/" target="_blank">listen to Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;on your preferred streaming platform.

KSRE Cattle Chat: Bull management in the fall

K-State Division of Communications and Marketing

Join Kansas State University on Sept. 27 and 28 for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ag.k-state.edu/ag-experiences/celebrate-ag-day/">Celebrate Agriculture Weekend</a>, two days of activities for all ages hosted by the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ag.k-state.edu/">College of Agriculture</a>.

From an exclusive College of Agriculture experience for high school students to pregame activities for children, alumni and friends, the Celebrate Agriculture&nbsp;Weekend offers a little something for everyone.

The weekend starts with an exploration event, the Student Summit, for high school students to learn more about K-State's programs related to agriculture, food and natural resources from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27.

Students will tour the campus and the residence halls, meet current K-State students and faculty, participate in hands-on workshops,&nbsp;and explore opportunities related to sustainability, natural resource management, conservation, animal health, food production and much more.

<a target="_blank" href="https://kstate.ag/ag-day-summit">Registration is open</a>, and space is limited to 160 students and guests.Friday night&nbsp;will feature&nbsp;a sizzling Cookout on the Quad in front of Waters Hall from 5-8 p.m. Enjoy food, live music, friendly games of cornhole and camaraderie. Mingle and make memories with fellow&nbsp;agriculture&nbsp;enthusiasts.

No need to register in advance; there will be food for the first 250 people starting at 5:30 p.m.The festivities continue on game day, Sept. 28, with the return of Ag Ville on the Bramlage Coliseum&nbsp;concourse and outdoor terraces. 

Before the K-State Wildcats take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys on the gridiron, explore interactive displays from various K-State College of Agriculture departments, clubs and organizations to delve deeper into the diverse world of agriculture.From cutting-edge research to hands-on experiences, there's something for everyone to discover. The concourse will open&nbsp;four&nbsp;hours before kickoff&nbsp;and close one hour before kickoff.&nbsp;

Guests who&nbsp;visit five booths and get&nbsp;their&nbsp;passport stamped&nbsp;will&nbsp;get a free&nbsp;"Celebrate Agriculture"&nbsp;T-shirt while supplies last.

Finally, don't miss the College of Agriculture's&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kstate.ag/tailgate2024">Alumni and Friends Tailgate</a>&nbsp;on September 28 on the floor of Bramlage Coliseum. It opens four hours before game time and closes one hour before kickoff. This exclusive event is free and open to the first 350 registered people.

Those who register and attend get a free K-State College of Agriculture baseball hat. Plan today&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kstate.ag/celebrateagday2024">Celebrate Agriculture Weekend</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 27 and 28.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726493413396.jpeg" alt=" Kansas State University's Celebrate Agriculture Weekend on Sept. 27-28 features activities for high school students, children, alumni and friends. Pictured above, Carlos Pires, doctoral student in agronomy, conducts a demonstration for visitors at the 2023 event." />
 <figcaption> Kansas State University's Celebrate Agriculture Weekend on Sept. 27-28 features activities for high school students, children, alumni and friends. Pictured above, Carlos Pires, doctoral student in agronomy, conducts a demonstration for visitors at the 2023 event.</figcaption>
 </figure>K-State Division of Communications and MarketingJoin Kansas State University on Sept. 27 and 28 for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ag.k-state.edu/ag-experiences/celebrate-ag-day/">Celebrate Agriculture Weekend</a>, two days of activities for all ages hosted by the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ag.k-state.edu/">College of Agriculture</a>.From an exclusive College of Agriculture experience for high school students to pregame activities for children, alumni and friends, the Celebrate Agriculture&nbsp;Weekend offers a little something for everyone.The weekend starts with an exploration event, the Student Summit, for high school students to learn more about K-State's programs related to agriculture, food and natural resources from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27.Students will tour the campus and the residence halls, meet current K-State students and faculty, participate in hands-on workshops,&nbsp;and explore opportunities related to sustainability, natural resource management, conservation, animal health, food production and much more.<a target="_blank" href="https://kstate.ag/ag-day-summit">Registration is open</a>, and space is limited to 160 students and guests.Friday night&nbsp;will feature&nbsp;a sizzling Cookout on the Quad in front of Waters Hall from 5-8 p.m. Enjoy food, live music, friendly games of cornhole and camaraderie. Mingle and make memories with fellow&nbsp;agriculture&nbsp;enthusiasts. No need to register in advance; there will be food for the first 250 people starting at 5:30 p.m.The festivities continue on game day, Sept. 28, with the return of Ag Ville on the Bramlage Coliseum&nbsp;concourse and outdoor terraces. Before the K-State Wildcats take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys on the gridiron, explore interactive displays from various K-State College of Agriculture departments, clubs and organizations to delve deeper into the diverse world of agriculture.From cutting-edge research to hands-on experiences, there's something for everyone to discover. The concourse will open&nbsp;four&nbsp;hours before kickoff&nbsp;and close one hour before kickoff.&nbsp;Guests who&nbsp;visit five booths and get&nbsp;their&nbsp;passport stamped&nbsp;will&nbsp;get a free&nbsp;"Celebrate Agriculture"&nbsp;T-shirt while supplies last.Finally, don't miss the College of Agriculture's&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kstate.ag/tailgate2024">Alumni and Friends Tailgate</a>&nbsp;on September 28 on the floor of Bramlage Coliseum. It opens four hours before game time and closes one hour before kickoff. This exclusive event is free and open to the first 350 registered people.Those who register and attend get a free K-State College of Agriculture baseball hat. Plan today&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kstate.ag/celebrateagday2024">Celebrate Agriculture Weekend</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 27 and 28.&nbsp;&nbsp;

K-State hosts Agriculture Weekend celebration, Sept. 27-28

<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.

<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.