August 2014
Hi, lot’s of odds and ends this issue for the Presidents report. Bill Bullard / R-CALF First, and I’m still steaming, today (August 6th) Bill Bullard of R-CALF sent out a national press release slamming National Farmers Union for scheming with the NCBA, the American Farm Bureau, and the LMA to raise the beef checkoff amongst other charges. A paragraph from the release reads: Freed from the constraints of the member-interests of R-CALF USA, which is the largest producer-only cattle trade association in the United States, the NFU, LMA, NCBA [...]
Farmers Union to Host Budget Presentations Across State
Former State Budget Director to provide non-partisan perspective on past, present and future of Kansas budget and implications for schools and rural communities Kansas Farmers Union and a group of county chapters are hosting four state budget education presentations featuring former Kansas State Budget director Duane Goossen during the month of September. All presentations are open to KFU members and the general public. Goossen served as state budget director for 12 years in the administrations of three governors — Republican Bill Graves and Democrats Kathleen Sebelius and Mark Parkinson. More [...]
Three Kansans selected for NFU Beginning Farmer Institute class
In early June, National Farmers Union announced the 15 participants selected for the fourth class of its Beginning Farmer Institute. Those selected for the next class are Nicole Vojtech of Ohio; Tracey Zink of Nebraska; Courtney Krueger of North Dakota; Chris Holman and Kriss Marion of Wisconsin; Harrison Topp of Colorado; Glen Hughes and Thomas Clark of Indiana; Erin Bailey of Washington; Rick Duvall of Illinois; Chelsea Kruse of New Hampshire; Troy Hunoff of South Dakota; Nicholas Levendofsky, Matt Ubel, and Leah Chamley of Kansas. Nick, Matt, and Leah are Kansas’ [...]
Kansas Legislature Update
The Kansas Legislature adjourned in the early morning hours of May 3, making this the shortest legislative session in 40 years. State lawmakers passed a budget and approved funding for courts and schools, but failed to address the state’s falling revenue due to deep tax cuts passed in 2012 and 2013. Sharp declines in revenue are causing the state to quickly burn through its reserve funds, leaving some to wonder if the next Legislature will be able to fund critical state services. The following bills are updates from the previous [...]
KFU members to attend annual NFU Fly-In September 7-10
KFU President Donn Teske and Farmers Union members from across the state will attend National Farmers Union’s annual Legislative Fly-In September 7-10 in Washington, D.C. NFU organizes legislative fly-ins when vital issues come before Congress for a vote. These visits provide an excellent opportunity for producers to tell lawmakers firsthand how current government policy impacts them and others in their area. Fly-in participants can share a personal story and put a human face on how decisions in Washington, D.C., affect both producers and consumers across the United States. Along with [...]
Livestock water and electric fencing workshop set for September 9 in Topeka
Mark Green, NRCS specialist from Missouri will return to Kansas to offer his very popular workshop on electric fencing and livestock watering options September 9, 2014 in Topeka, KS. The workshop will be held at the Topeka Ramada, 420 SE 6th Avenue with registration beginning at 8:30 AM. The program lasts until 4:00 PM. Water availability is the number one limiting factor for grazing possibilities. The addition of electric fencing will increase grazing options that can in-turn benefit range health, the soil, as well as improve production and profitability. Green [...]
Amazing Grazing Funded for Second Year of Programming
Kansas Farmers Union (KFU) is pleased to announce it has received a second grant from the North Central Risk Management Education Center to fund Amazing Grazing II for Ruminants Great and Small. “The North Central Risk Management Education Center is dedicated to funding projects that help producers learn and adopt effective risk management practices and strategies. This project promises to help livestock producers manage current challenges from drought to land costs, implement effective strategies including managed grazing, and position their operations for success,” said Brad Lubben, Director of the NCRMEC. [...]
Welcome Our New Insurance Agent
Brandon is beginning his career with Midwest Regional Agency in Marysville KS and will be working with Fred Behrens as Fred makes the transition into retirement. Brandon is a native of Montana and has his B.A. degree from Montana State University and Masters of Education from St. Joes in Pennsylvania. He has been a member of the National Farmers Union since 1983 and has been very active in various aspects of the organization. Brandon and his wife Lisa have two children, William and Marie. Please join us and Welcome Brandon [...]
KFU Out and About
May The Salina Diocese Catholic Rural Life St. Isidore’s Feast Day Celebration was held May 15 in Cuba. Nick serves on the Catholic Rural Life Commission for the Salina Diocese, and represented KFU at the event. The annual event focuses on rural life and travels to different locations in the diocese each May 15. Mass was celebrated at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Cuba, followed by a blessing of seeds, soil, bees, and a field adjoining the parish property. The group toured the Dan Kuhn farming operation between Courtland and [...]
Strnad Tractor brings $135,000 in online auction
A century-old tractor will bring rewards to the Munden community for years to come after an online auction brought in $135,000 that will be donated to the community. The tractor, built by the Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company around 1914, had been owned by local farmer Henry Strnad, who bought it with his brothers in 1957. Only about half a dozen of this model of tractor are known to still exist. Strnad passed away in February, and the tractor was to be sold with the proceeds split between the Zion Evangelical [...]
New Kansas Farmers Union Website Launching Soon
We are so close to launching KFU’s new website. So close! Alas, we’re not quite there yet, so we thought we’d take this opportunity to share what we’re doing with the site and why. Back in January 2013, former Communication Coordinator Lauren Clary completed a web development class at McPherson College and used her new skills to create a KFU site from scratch. After Lauren departed, management of our website was passed on to me. I do have web management experience from past work, but taking over KFU’s site required [...]