Michelin announced its plan in May to invest more than $100 million into its Junction City, Kan., operations over the next five years to increase production capacity of tracks for agricultural equipment.

The investment, part of Michelin’s global growth strategy, will increase the output of Camso agricultural rubber tracks to better respond to market evolution. This includes both aftermarket and original equipment customers.

Camso, a brand under the Michelin Group, specializes in off-road tires, rubber tracks and systems for the material handling, construction, agriculture and powersports industries. Camso products are designed to meet the unique mobility needs of each application in the off-highway vehicle market. Learn more at michelinman.com.

Certified Angus Beef Grass-Fed rolls out

Consumer demand for high-quality beef has been a longtime sales driver for Certified Angus Beef (CAB) and ultimately has increased demand for superior Angus genetics. Now, that will include a grass-fed option: Certified Angus Beef Grass-Fed by Niman Ranch.

“While our core focus remains on the quality of our traditional product, we recognize that there is a growing consumer interest in grass-fed beef,” says John Stika, CAB president. “This product will represent a small portion of total sales, but it’s an important addition that helps us meet the needs of consumers who have different preferences — while offering them the high-quality beef they expect from us.”

The Certified Angus Beef Grass-Fed by Niman Ranch product will make up less than 1% of the total CAB supply. A niche product, the grass-fed, natural beef will initially only be available through a few exclusive restaurants and grocery stores.

Consistent with all CAB-brand products, the grass-fed beef must meet all 10 specifications to qualify for the brand. With marbling a necessary specification to guarantee flavor and tenderness in beef, exceptional Angus genetics are key. Learn more at certifiedangusbeef.com.

Rural road safety improvements

Gov. Laura Kelly announced that more than $8.8 million from the Kansas High-Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) Program will go to 19 rural counties to improve the safety and efficiency of roads and local roadways.

The HRRR program is a federally funded initiative designed to improve safety on rural roads through state and local partnerships. This year’s 19 HRRR projects were selected from 50 applications seeking $30.3 million in federal funds. Kansas HRRR funds cover 90% to 100% of the total project cost, with the counties making up the difference if necessary.

Projects in this program fall into one of two categories: systemic (encompassing a local roadway network) or site-specific. Projects in the systemic category are 100% federally funded, and site-specific projects are 90% federally funded.

The funds are for federal fiscal year 2025 and will be awarded to the following counties: Barton, Cherokee, Cowley, Crawford, Ellis, Ellsworth, Finney, Graham, Harper, Kearny, Leavenworth, Linn, Marion, Morris, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Rawlins, Rice and Sheridan.