The Kansas Governor’s Office announced Aug. 15 that the state’s agricultural exports amounted to $5.46 billion in 2022. That’s a significant jump from 2019, when Kansas exported $3.8 billion in agricultural production and products.

The top ag export for Kansas was red meat, making up $2.1 billion, or 38.9%, of all agricultural exports from the state. Cereals, including corn, wheat, and sorghum, were in second place at 24.5% of exports. In third were oilseeds, primarily soybeans, which were 12.5% of total agricultural exports.

Mexico continues to be Kansas’ largest buyer, importing $2.17 billion of the state’s production in 2022. Japan came in second with $781 million, and Canada was third with $594 million, according to the governor’s office.

Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam represented the state in the annual Tri-National Accord in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Aug. 15. The accord brings state ag leaders together to discuss the critical issues that Mexico, Canada and the U.S. face, including animal health, rural development and agricultural technology.

“Kansas is a national leader in agriculture, and the continued growth in agricultural exports shows the significance of the work being done throughout the Kansas ag industry to develop these international markets,” Beam says.

To see the full report on Kansas’ ag exports in 2022, go to agriculture.ks.gov/International.

Kansas Agricultural Producer Survey

Researchers at Kansas State University are looking at attitudes and perceptions of input and service providers within the state. The work could help input providers deliver better value to serve you.

Plus, if you complete the survey — which should only take 5 to 10 minutes — you can enter a drawing for a chance to win $500, $200 or $50 gift cards (17 chances to win).

You can be assured that your responses will be confidential. All data will be reported in the aggregate and as anonymous.

To complete the survey, visit Agricultural Producer Survey.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this survey, please contact Aaron Johnson at [email protected], or the K-State Institutional Review Board Chair Lisa Rubin at [email protected].

Nominate a Teacher of the Year

Each year, Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom recognizes one Kansas teacher who is committed to connecting their classroom to Kansas agriculture. Any certified K-12 teacher who teaches in a Kansas classroom and integrates agricultural concepts into nonagricultural curricula is eligible for this award.

Since 2013, the Kansas Farm Bureau Foundation Excellence in Teaching Awards have recognized up to five teachers annually. The winner of the KFAC Teacher of the Year Award will receive an all-expense paid trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference held in June each year.

The 2023 application process is now open! Nominate, apply, and learn more here.

Additionally, KFAC reminds pre-kindergarten to 12th grade teachers that the CHS Foundation provides $500 grants each year to those who use agricultural concepts to teach their subjects. There is a wide list of eligible projects, and teachers have until June 1 the following year to complete their project and submit a final report. Only state-certified classroom teachers employed by a school district or private school are eligible to apply, which must be by Sept. 14. Learn more at agclassroom.org/teacher/grants.

Apply for Taiwan Agricultural Youth Exchange Program

The 2023 Taiwan Agricultural Youth Exchange Program is currently accepting applications from K-State undergraduate students who are interested in agriculture and would like to represent Kansas in a weeklong international exchange program in Taiwan Nov. 17–25, 2023.

The program is coordinated by the Kansas Department of Agriculture with the support of K-State’s College of Agriculture and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver under a bilateral exchange program between K-State and National Chung Hsing University.

Up to six K-State undergraduate students will be selected to tour agricultural facilities and businesses in Taiwan to learn more about Taiwanese agriculture and culture. Dan Moser, associate dean of academic programs, announced the College of Agriculture will award a $1,000 scholarship to each student selected to participate in the program.

Students must be a currently enrolled undergraduate in good standing at K-State with a strong agricultural background and a valid U.S. passport, and must be able to pay for some of the airfare costs and meals (approximately $1,000).

Find specific application requirements on the KDA website. The application deadline is Sept. 5. For additional information, contact Dana Ladner, KDA outreach and education program manager, at [email protected] or 785-564-6660.

Call for speakers

The Women Managing the Farm Conference organizers are calling for breakout session speaker proposals for its next annual meeting, Feb. 14-16, in Manhattan, Kan.

Voluntary speaker proposals are being accepted through Oct. 1. These hourlong sessions can cover a variety of topic areas including financial, human-personal, legal, price-marketing, production, community advocacy or development, retail agriculture, social media, agritourism and more.

Submissions must include presenter contact information, description of the session, target audience, learning objectives and hands-on application of information to be shared with conference participants. Notifications of accepted proposals will be announced this fall. Presenters for accepted proposals will receive complimentary registration for the 2024 Women Managing the Farm Conference.

To submit a proposal, visit K-State Women Managing the Farm.