Latest news with #K-StateResearchandExtension
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Adapt or die': Western Kansas farmers consider alternative crops to save water
In dry western Kansas, the sound of artificial rain spraying from center pivot irrigation sprinklers fills the spaces between the small towns. Irrigation has turned this region into a productive agricultural powerhouse, churning out millions of bushels of grain. Heath Koehn farms with his dad near Montezuma over the Ogallala aquifer that supplies farmers with irrigation and communities with drinking water. He knows that changes are coming to the way they farm. 'Changes are going to have to be made with that aquifer. It's like adapt or die,' Koehn said. A lot of farmers in the area feel the same way. The underground water supply that used to be plentiful is running dry fast. Some areas might only have a couple of decades left at current pumping rates. In order to maintain life in western Kansas, farmers are contemplating pivoting to crops that use less water. Koehn decided for the first time to grow something he's never grown before: canola. He grew this instead of wheat due to wheat prices being so low. 'I've got some limited irrigation. I wanted to diversify and not just have all my eggs in one basket,' Koehn said. That change might sound minor, but it's a herculean task. The major systems that make up the complicated agriculture web are all built around irrigated commodity crops like corn, wheat and soybeans. Growing anything else is rare because it comes with more risk and no guaranteed crop insurance or local buyers. Koehn's farm is an example of southwest Kansas farmers looking to the future and trying new crops to save water and prepare for western Kansas to become more parched. The main problem lies within the crops that farmers grow. Traditional crops like corn and soybeans require a lot of water. The Kansas Geological Survey, which monitors the underground water in the state, estimates that 70% of the aquifer will be gone in 50 years. Statewide, the amount of water pumped from underground and sprayed onto crops averages out to more than 2 billion gallons per day. But Kansas State University has studied different crops that require less water and could be viable options in western Kansas. Logan Simon, agronomist for K-State Research and Extension, said the western Kansas environment requires greater creativity from those in agriculture. 'All of the crops that we're looking at here are going to be providing some sort of benefit in the form of a reduction in the water required,' Simon said. Earlier this year, Simon hosted alternative-crop schools around western Kansas, offering information on what options farmers have. The standout choices are canola, cotton, camelina and cowpeas, which include black-eyed peas. These crops not only require less water, but they can be harvested with equipment farmers already have and fit the same uses. Almost all commodities grown in western Kansas are for cattle feed or biofuels. 'The idea is not necessarily to replace all of these things, but provide alternatives to just build a more robust system,' Simon said. A canola crushing plant opened last year in northwest Kansas giving a new market to farmers. Canola compared to a crop like corn needs about 40% less water. Not only does this save dwindling water supplies but it diversifies how farmers make their money. Instead of just one industry like livestock feed, a farmer can sell their products to multiple industries. The crops can be used for human consumption, biofuels or making textiles. Alternative crops sound like they can solve all the water problems on the frontier. But so far, farmers aren't giving up their acres of corn and wheat for peas and canola. That's because farming at the end of the day is a business. Farmers need to plant what will turn a profit. 'Imagine that you just couldn't make a salary this year,' ag economist for Iowa State University Chad Hart said. In the current agricultural system, commodity crops like corn and soybeans are the most economically efficient, despite their water inefficiencies. Farmers really don't have much of a choice if they want to make money. 'You have to be willing to accept more risk to establish that alternative crop, because there aren't these built in mechanisms that we usually have,' Hart said. The agriculture system is built to avoid risk. Crop insurance, government subsidies and bank loans are all built around corn and other traditional commodity crops, not the possible alternatives. Southwest Kansas is one of the most profitable regions in the state because of irrigated agriculture from the aquifer. Corn profits can range to $160 per acre, while canola in a good year can hit $150 per acre. But corn has a stable market and is heavily supported by crop insurance. With a crop like corn, a farmer in southwest Kansas might lose more water, but at least they can guarantee some income if there's a drought or hailstorm. And they know that the local feedlots, grain elevators and ethanol plants will gladly buy their corn. The same cannot be said for a cowpeas or canola. 'Just because you grow it doesn't mean you'll have customers,' Hart said. 'Farmers have to spend more time thinking about how to market that crop.' And local communities do not want to stop irrigating altogether. Irrigation brings in more money to farms, and to all the things the farm touches. The local grain elevators, the feedlots, the truck drivers and the meatpacking plants. Congress first authorized federal crop insurance in the 1930s to help agriculture recover from the Dust Bowl. It started as a way to compensate farmers if a natural disaster struck and ruined their crop yields, which farmers still need today. But it also makes it harder for farmers to practice water-efficient farming. For example, if for whatever reason an irrigated crop fails, farmers aren't allowed to stop irrigating the failed crop because they need to prove they weren't at fault for the crop failure. These 'Good farming practices' are standards that guide crop insurance payments. And crop insurance and subsidies are no small thing. In 2025, government payments are projected to make up 23% of the total net farm income, a significant increase from 8-9% annually between 2022 and 2024. According to Iowa State Research Extension, approximately 90% of acres growing corn and soybeans were insured using federal Revenue Protection programs. Not only does this protect the farm's physical crops, but also all but guarantees a farmer will be paid even if the price for these commodities dip. In 2024, the U.S. paid farmers over $2 billion to grow corn through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program. But farmers don't want to only depend on crop insurance, they want to grow successful crops. Alex Millershaski, a farmer in Gray County, has seen a massive change over the years when it comes to how much water his land can produce. 'We used to have twenty-something wells on the farm, and we're only pumping four now,' Millershaski said. Millershaski is still skeptical of growing alternative crops, but having less water available is making him consider trying something different. He has seen some neighbors try canola and cotton. And he thinks next year he will give canola a try in place of his usual wheat crop. Canola doubled in acres planted last year in Kansas to 3,000. And while cotton is expected to see a decline across the U.S., Kansas is expected to see almost a 13% increase. Processors in western Kansas, like 21st Century Bean, make cowpeas more viable. They buy and process wholesale beans for human consumption. All those factors make Millershaski open to look at the options. 'Do you want to try something different? And it's sometimes just that simple,' Millershaski said. Calen Moore covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can email him at cmoore@ . This story was originally published by KMUW.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
K-State research and extension upcoming callery pear program: pear down
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Abigail Gettinger and Lane Weins with K-State Research and Extension joined the 27 News morning newscast to discuss an upcoming workshop, Pear Down: Managing Callery Pears in NE Kansas. During the workshop, you can learn more about the Callery Pear, its identification, management, history, the negative effects the tree has on local ecosystems and more. The workshop is from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 9th at the Rossville Senior Center at 429 Pearl St. in Rossville. Exploring Topeka's oldest businesses and their lasting legacy The workshop is free but you do have to register, you can do so by calling 785-232-0062 or by emailing msbarron@ To hear more about the workshop and the Callery Pear, you can watch the interview above. To learn more about the workshop, click here. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Unexpected heroes join the fight against insect scourge that threatens 18 states: 'We are able to find them as quickly as possible'
The spotted lanternfly may be small, but its impact is anything but. Since it was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, this invasive insect has expanded into at least 18 states, threatening over 70 plant species — including grapes, hops, and fruit trees. Left unchecked, it could devastate industries and ecosystems alike. But now, an unexpected group of heroes is joining the fight: highly trained detection dogs. Much like bomb-sniffing or search-and-rescue dogs, these canine conservationists are trained to track down spotted lanternflies by scent, helping conservationists stop infestations before they spread. "They've been trained to smell out something we want them to find," said Kansas State University wildlife expert Drew Ricketts, according to the K-State Research and Extension. Their noses are proving far more effective than human eyes, especially in dense forests and hard-to-reach areas where traditional monitoring falls short. Once an infestation is found, crews can remove eggs, apply targeted insecticides, or even introduce natural predators to keep the bug population in check. "As invasive species start to expand, we are able to find them as quickly as possible and can remove them to keep a new population from starting," Ricketts explained. This innovative use of detection dogs is part of a growing movement in conservation. Canines have already been trained to locate coyote scat for wildlife research and to track down endangered bird nests for monitoring. Now, their keen sense of smell is being harnessed to fight one of the country's most destructive invasive species. Ricketts highlighted that the urgency is only growing. He said spotted lanternflies have already been detected as far west as Iowa, and experts fear they could soon take hold in Kansas. That's especially concerning for the state's growing vineyard industry. "Within one growing season of the infestation starting, you could see 80% to 100% vine loss," Ricketts warned. While early detection is crucial, so is community action. The best way to stop the spread is to spot and report them through platforms, such as iNaturalist, and eliminate spotted lanternflies at any stage of their lifecycle, especially by destroying their eggs before they hatch. While it may not feel good to eliminate life, taking action against invasive species is essential to preserving native ecosystems — including the one in your own backyard. By combining innovative solutions like detection dogs with community action, we have a real chance to curb the spread of spotted lanternflies before they cause irreversible damage. Protecting native ecosystems starts with vigilance — and sometimes, that means letting a well-trained nose lead the way. Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Absolutely It depends on the species I don't know No — leave nature alone Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
