News

A discussion of the results from the just-released 2019 Kansas Net Farm Income summary from the Kansas Farm Management Association, featuring:  the average net income statewide, as well as the region-by-region averages; the percentage of those income numbers attributable to government payments; and comments on the general economic state of farmers and ranchers in each of the six association regions...the guests are KFMA executive director Kevin Herbel and associate director Mark Dikeman, along with area economists Jordan Steele, Logan Hedlund, Will Feldkamp, Bryan Manny, Chelsea Plummer and Dillon Rapp.

K-State livestock economist Glynn Tonsor comments on the trends in the cattle markets: he talks about the gradual rise in cattle slaughter volumes as more packing plants return to operation, and about continued encouraging news in the beef demand arena.

Washburn University professor of agricultural law Roger McEowen reviews the history of the Packers and Stockyards Act, and how the courts have historically interpreted its regulation of price manipulation the meat packing industry...it's back in the limelight as the president and several state attorneys general have requested an investigation of the industry by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the wide gap between cattle prices and retail meat prices.

K-State livestock economists Ted Schroeder and Glynn Tonsor take a close look at the state of the beef packing industry, which is under extreme duress from the closures caused by the coronavirus outbreak: specifically, they respond to questions that have arisen about the structure of the packing sector, and whether packer concentration is contributing to the interruption in overall meat supply flow. They also comment on how the disruptions relate to market price discovery as it affects livestock sellers.

K-State agricultural economist Robin Reid, Extension community vitality specialist Nadine Sigle and Barber County Extension agent Robin Eubank-Callis talk about resources available from K-State Research and Extension to help farm families make contingency plans in the midst of the COVID-19 situation, in three areas: gathering farm and ranch information, farm family record-keeping, and business continuity planning.

K-State agricultural economist Brian Briggeman and the president of the Kansas Cooperative Council, Brandi Miller, talk about the availability of loans from the Small Business Administration to agricultural producers and cooperatives under the new Paycheck Protection Loan Program, which is part of the federal coronavirus aid package...they hosted a webinar panel discussion on how producers and cooperatives can work with their lenders on obtaining these loans.

K-State agricultural economist Leah Tsoodle goes over some of the key findings of the new 2019 Pasture Leasing Arrangements in Kansas report, based on a statewide survey of landowners and tenants on the particulars of pasture lease agreements. She covers some of the trends commonly found in the state.

The director of the Farm Analyst program out of K-State, Duane Hund, talks about a slew of calls he and his team have been receiving in recent days from farmers about what to do amidst the market plunge caused by the coronavirus issue...he is advising producers to stay the course in their farming activities and management, and to work closely with financial lenders, vendors and others for the duration of this downturn.