Agriculture Today

Latest Episodes:

2105 - Kansas Mussel Characteristics...Beef Retail and Demand Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

Fins, Fur and Feathers: Mussels in Kansas
US Beef Retail Market and Demand
Keeping Winter Calves Safe

00:01:05 – Fins, Fur and Feathers: Mussels in Kansas: Today's show begins with part of the Fins, Fur and Feathers from Drew Ricketts and Joe Gerken as they describe mussels and their population changes.

Fins, Fur and Feathers

wildlife.k-state.edu

00:12:05 – US Beef Retail Market and Demand: Brain Coffey, K-State agricultural economist, continues the show as he explains work looking into the U.S. beef retail market and beef demand.

A Microeconomic Assessment of the US Retail Beef Market - Beef Demand Matters

bcoffey@ksu.edu

00:23:05 – Keeping Winter Calves Safe: K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk ends the show discussing how to keep winter-born dairy calves healthy. He says it involves immediate drying and warming them after birth, providing a warm, dry, draft-free shelter with deep bedding for insulation, and the use of calf jackets to prevent cold stress.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

Agriculture Today is a daily program featuring Kansas State University agricultural specialists and other experts examining ag issues facing Kansas and the nation. It is hosted by Shelby Varner and distributed to radio stations throughout Kansas and as a daily podcast.

K‑State Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

2104 - Cattle and Beef in the Market...2025 Kansas Land Values Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

Cattle on Feed and Cold Storage Reports
Kansas Land Values
Faces in Agriculture: Tana McCarter

00:01:05 – Cattle on Feed and Cold Storage Reports: Tyler Cozzens and Brandon Dodd from the Livestock Marketing Information Center begin today's show as they explain what they saw in the recent Cattle on Feed and Cold Storage reports.

00:12:05 – Kansas Land Values: K-State Extension land and crop market specialist, Megan Hughes, keeps the show rolling as she discusses the 2025 Kansas Land Values book and how farmers and ranchers can use it.

2025 Kansas Land Values Book

mnhughes@ksu.edu

00:23:05 – Faces in Agriculture: Tana McCarter: Ending the show is a segment of Faces in Agriculture with Tana McCarter from Wilson County as she shares about her involvement and excitement in agriculture.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

2103 - Grain Market Concerns from Producers...Replacement Female Decisions Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

Recovered Grain Market After USDA Reports
Deciding on Replacement Females
Snow in Kansas

00:01:05 – Recovered Grain Market After USDA Reports: K-State grain economist Daniel O'Brien kicks off today's show as he shares about the cash, futures and trade for the grain market. He also says what growers have had the most concern about.

Daniel on AgManager.info

00:12:05 – Deciding on Replacement Females: Jason Warner, K-State cow-calf Extension specialist, continues the show as he discusses what cattle producers should evaluate when deciding on replacement females. He also mentions an available decision tool.

KSU - Beef Replacement Tool

00:23:05 – Snow in Kansas: Concluding the show is K-State meteorologist Chip Redmond as he explains what winter weather people in Kansas should be prepared for.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

2102 - Preparing Cattle for the Cold...Producers Staying Warm Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

Cold Stress for Cattle and People, Part 1
Cold Stress for Cattle and People, Part 2
How Insects Survive the Cold

00:01:05 – Cold Stress for Cattle and People, Part 1: Beginning today's show is K-State Extension beef cattle specialist, Justin Waggoner, as he discusses cold stress and what cattle producers should prepare for their livestock.

00:12:05 – Cold Stress for Cattle and People, Part 2: Justin keeps the show rolling as he continues talking about cold stress with reminders for producers to stay safe. K-State fashion studies' Kelsie Doty and Reannan Boisvert remind us about clothing choices to stay warm.

Episode 2062 - Picking Fabric to Stay Warm

00:23:05 – How Insects Survive the Cold: K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd ends the show explaining how insect pests are able to survive extreme cold and how to control the pests that emerge in the spring.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

2101 - Farm Service Agency Program Payouts...Livestock Lice Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

FSA Payouts and State Committee
Lice on Livestock in the Winter
Quality of Udders in Cattle

00:01:05 – FSA Payouts and State Committee: David Schemm, state executive director of the Kansas Farm Service Agency, begins the show as he recaps program payouts from 2025 and highlights the recently announced state committee.

Farmers.gov

00:12:05 – Lice on Livestock in the Winter: The show continues with K-State veterinary entomologist, Cassandra Olds, discussing lice on livestock in the winter and reminders for effective control.

A Winter Guide Keeping Lice in Check

00:23:05 – Quality of Udders in Cattle: Part of the Beef Cattle Institute's Cattle Chat podcast concludes the show as Brad White, Bob Larson and Phillip Lancaster chat about their feelings on the quality of udders on cattle.

BCI Cattle Chat Podcast

Bovine Science with BCI Podcast

Email BCI at bci@ksu.edu

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

2100 - All Things Chemical Weed Control...Farm Finances Class Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

2026 Chemical Weed Control Guide
Finances and the Farm Online Class
Assessing Resources to Make Decisions

00:01:05 – 2026 Chemical Weed Control Guide: Starting today's show is K-State weed specialist Sarah Lancaster as she highlights changes to this year's Chemical Weed Control Guide and what it provides to growers.

2026 Chemical Weed Control Guide

00:12:05 – Finances and the Farm Online Class: LaVell Winsor, K-State farm analyst, and Robin Reid, K-State Extension farm economist, continue the show discussing the Finances and the Farm online class.

Finances and the Farm

00:23:05 – Assessing Resources to Make Decisions: K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk ends the show saying this is a good time for dairy producers to assess their available forages and determine their planting and purchasing decisions for 2026.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

2099 - What the Cattle Market Saw Last Week...Crop Insurance Coverage Options Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

Cattle Market, Harvest Capacity and Exports
Supplemental and Enhanced Coverage Options
Fish Contaminants

00:01:05 – Cattle Market, Harvest Capacity and Exports: A cattle market update from Elliott Dennis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln livestock economist, begins today's show as he discusses what impacted the market last week, how packers are adjusting harvest and export relationships.

00:12:05 – Supplemental and Enhanced Coverage Options: Jenny Ifft, K-State Flinchbaugh agricultural policy chair, keeps the show rolling as she explains the supplemental coverage option and enhanced coverage option and what has changed since last year.

SCO and ECO Information and Examples

SCO Expected Payment Map

Crop Insurance Maps

Yield Correlation Tool

SCO and ECO Payment Calculator

00:23:05 – Fish Contaminants: Wrapping up the show is K-State fisheries and aquatics Extension specialist Joe Gerken as he chats about the concern of contaminants in fish.

KDHE Fish Contaminants

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

2098 - Grain Market Movement After USDA Reports...Exchange and Freight Jan 16, 2026

Show notes

Grain Market Reaction, Corn and Grain Sorghum
Wheat, Soybeans and Macroeconomics
Weather Conditions Creating Fire Concerns

00:01:05 – Grain Market Reaction, Corn and Grain Sorghum: Daniel O'Brien, K-State grain economist, and Guy Allen, the senior economist at the IGP Institute, begin the show as they discuss the overall market reaction to the USDA reports as well as feed grains.

00:12:05 – Wheat, Soybeans and Macroeconomics: Keeping the show and their conversation rolling are Daniel and Guy as they continue chatting about wheat and soybeans as well as also touching on transportation, foreign exchange and government payments.

Daniel on AgManager.info

00:23:05 – Weather Conditions Creating Fire Concerns: K-State meteorologist Chip Redmond concludes today's show as he notes how the current conditions in Kansas should have people paying extra attention to fire concerns.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

2097 - Flea Lifecycle...Conference for Women in Agriculture Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

Getting Rid of Fleas
Women Grow the Farm Conference
Successful Seed Growth

00:01:05 – Getting Rid of Fleas: Starting today's show is K-State crop entomologist Jeff Whitworth as he explains why he has been receiving more questions about fleas. He also describes their lifecycle.

00:12:05 – Women Grow the Farm Conference: LaVell Winsor and Robin Reid keep the show rolling as they highlight the goals and agenda for this year's Women Grow the Farm Conference.

WomenGrowTheFarm.com

00:23:05 – Successful Seed Growth: K-State instructor and Extension horticulture specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, ends the show discussing how to start seeds. She covers the seeds to use, starting mix, containers, water and the light needed to successfully grow seedlings.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

2096 - Ag Law and Tax Developments in 2025...Cover Your Acres Conference Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

Roger's Top 10 in Ag Law and Tax
Cover Your Acres Winter Conference
Cattle Management in Australia

00:01:05 – Roger's Top 10 in Ag Law and Tax: Roger McEowen, K-State and Washburn law professor, starts the show as he highlights his top ten developments in agricultural law and tax in 2025.

Roger on AgManager

00:12:05 – Cover Your Acres Winter Conference: K-State Northwest area agronomist, Jeanne Falk Jones, continues today's show previewing the Cover Your Acres Winter Conference and what topics are focused on.

Cover Your Acres

00:23:05 – Cattle Management in Australia: Ending the show is part of the Beef Cattle Institute's Cattle Chat podcast where they chatted with special guest Cameron Best from Australia and discuss how cattle management is different in Australia.

BCI Cattle Chat Podcast

Bovine Science with BCI Podcast

Email BCI at bci@ksu.edu

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

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