Kansas Dairy reports Oct. 29 that the Kansas Department of Agriculture Animal Health Commissioner, veterinarian Dr. Justin Smith, officially rescinded the “Order Requiring Special Permits Related to the Movement of Lactating Dairy Cattle Due to the H5N1 Influenza A Virus.” The decision was based on the current H5N1 Influenza Virus A situation in the state, and lack of evidence of the virus currently affecting Kansas dairy herds.

“Continued and ongoing monitoring, lack of positive clinical or diagnostic reports, and increasing knowledge about the virus in bovine indicate that it is prudent and justified to rescind the order in its entirety,” the statement read.

This decision means that there are no requirements for intrastate movements of lactating dairy animals, or movements within the state of Kansas. However, interstate movements or movements of lactating dairy animals between states, are still subject to state law requirements for Certificates of Veterinary Inspection and premovement permitting must comply with the Federal Order “Requiring Testing for and Reporting of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Livestock,” which was implemented April 24.

Kansas Soybean Association to change meeting date

Kansas Soybean Association is rolling out a new tradition this coming January. The Kansas Soybean Celebration will be held Jan. 31, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Salina.

For 40 years, soybean growers have been gathering in Topeka each January for the annual Kansas Soybean Expo, which brought expert presentations in research and other topics. Recently, the Kansas Soybean Association decided to transition to this new format, with a central location and bookending the Kansas Commodity Classic.

The soybean celebration will begin at 2:30 p.m, following Kansas Commodity Classic. A social hour and networking will kick things off, followed by an evening with food stations, a program of awards, organization updates, and a featured speaker. Watch for event registration in early December at kansassoybeans.org/celebration.

KSU debuts new crop performance data website

Imagine having crop performance trial yield data in your hands within hours of researchers harvesting the fields. Kansas State University cropping systems agronomist Ignacio Ciampitti says that day is here, with the new K-State website, Analysis and Visualization of Crop Yield Trials, or AVYield.

This new database format offers more than 40 years of trial data on most crops grown in Kansas, including canola, corn, sorghum, soybean, sunflower and wheat. With a few clicks, farmers can find information based on variety, dryland or irrigated production, and geographic location in the state. It also includes information from the National Winter Canola Variety trials, coordinated by K-State canola breeder Mike Stamm, and collected from 30 locations across the U.S. since the mid-1990s.

Kansas Corn provided funding to build AVYield.

“We are one of the first groups in the country to introduce these types of tools,” Ciampitti said. “The beauty of it is that much of the research information we are producing related to crop production doesn’t take too long to get to farmers. Now, they can make their final decisions on planting crops based on information and visualization coming from this tool.”

USDA launches network to support financially distressed farmers and ranchers

USDA announced in late October it is launching the Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network, an initiative to provide personalized support to financially distressed producers nationwide.

Network partners include: Farm Aid, Rural Advancement Foundation International, the University of Arkansas, the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Center at Alcorn State University, and the University of Minnesota.

The initiative offers training and support for local community-based organizations to aid farmers in their communities with navigating the Farm Service Agency. The network will integrate knowledgeable service providers, who will deliver one-on-one support to borrowers so they can best make plans and understand options to overcome their financial challenges. The Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network will address the immediate needs of distressed borrowers and provide comprehensive, wraparound services aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by financially distressed producers.

Learn more at your local FSA office.