By Tom Parker Kansas governor Sam Brownback’s fiscal experiment has brought so many unprecedented changes and impacts to the state budget that it’s earned its own designation among other states—even conservative states—seeking similar tax-cutting proposals: “the Kansas Effect.” It is not an endearing term, said Duane Goossen. “As other states are considering different kinds of [...]
By Tom Parker To the average Kansas resident living in a metropolitan area, water is a given. Turn on the tap and water flows out. The water is clear, free of impurities and, apparently, infinite in supply. It’s more complicated in rural Kansas. Turn on the tap and water flows out, but it isn’t always [...]
Author and Quivira Coalition co-founder Courtney White to bring a 'different perspective' to Kansas. Ranchers Gail Fuller and Dale Strickler also to present. by Tom Parker At first glance, Courtney White might not seem like the ideal candidate to address the Kansas Graziers Association during their annual winter conference in January. He grew up in [...]
By Tom Parker When Rosanna Bauman took the stage at the annual Kansas Farmers Union State Convention in Topeka, she wordlessly held up an empty drinking glass and a saucer, placed them before her in a tray and began pouring water into the glass. Within seconds the water spilled over the rim and spread across [...]
Kansas Farmers Union, the state’s oldest active general farm organization, will hold its annual convention at the Ramada Downtown Hotel and Convention Center, Topeka, December 10-11, 2015. The general public is encouraged to attend. This year’s theme is Cultivating Healthy Rural Communities. In addition to rural revitalization through arts, culture and entrepreneurship, conference sessions will [...]
Eastern Kansas farmers should rethink tall fescue for grazing, agronomist says by Tom Parker Okay, so tall fescue has a bad rap. It has, shall we say, a checkered reputation. And for good reason, too. The cool-season forage could be a livestock producer’s best friend or it could be a killer—literally—depending on circumstances. Sure, it [...]
Events to serve audiences from beginning to experienced livestock producers Renowned Grazing Management Specialist Jim Gerrish will cover a wide range of beef production issues during three September Amazing Grazing events across Kansas. Jim Gerrish’s experience includes over 20 years of beef-forage systems research and outreach while on the faculty of the University of Missouri, [...]
Future bleak for beef industry unless changes are made, warns economist by Tom Parker Listening to economist Bill Helming talk forecasts and demographic changes and economic trends and growth rates and market shares and income streams and—above all—fractions and whole numbers and percentages is a lot like getting tossed into a commercial clothes dryer set [...]
Kansas Farmers Union will host “Singing the Cattle North,” a presentation and discussion by Jim Hoy on Saturday, August 29 at 6:30 P.M. at the Flying W Ranch, 1515 G Rd, Cedar Point, KS. Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. Contact the Kansas Farmers Union at 785-840-6202 or visit kansasfarmersunion.org [...]
Mark Green, NRCS Specialist, from Missouri will return to Kansas to offer his popular workshop on electric fencing and livestock watering options September 8, 2015 in Salina, KS. The workshop will be held at the Salina Ambassador Hotel, 1616 W. Crawford Street. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and program lasts until 4:00 p.m.. Water availability [...]
