Agriculture Today

Latest Episodes:

2095 - Organ Recipient Gets Rabies from Donor...2025 Cattle Abortion Causes Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

Fins, Fur and Feathers: A Unique Spread of Rabies
Common Causes of Cattle Abortions in 2025
Less Dairies, Bigger Herds

00:01:05 – Fins, Fur and Feathers: A Unique Spread of Rabies: Drew Ricketts and Joe Gerken from K-State begin today's show with part of a Fins, Fur and Feathers podcast episode where they conversed about a rare case of rabies.

Fins, Fur, and Feathers

wildlife.k-state.edu

00:12:05 – Common Causes of Cattle Abortions in 2025: K-State veterinarian Gregg Hanzlicek keeps the show rolling as he breaks down the common causes of abortions in cattle from his 2025 lab data.

ksvdl.org

866-512-5650

ksvdl YouTube

00:23:05 – Less Dairies, Bigger Herds: The Kansas dairy industry is showing sustained growth in terms of milk production. However, K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk ends the show saying dairy herds increased in size in 2025, but the total number of dairy farms decreased — something he expects to continue in 2026.

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.

2094 - Cash, Futures and Demand for Cattle...Herbicide Resistance in Kansas Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Cattle Market and Meat Demand Monitor Update
50 Years of Herbicide Resistance, Part 1
50 Years of Herbicide Resistance, Part 2

00:01:05 – Cattle Market and Meat Demand Monitor Update: Glynn Tonsor, K-State livestock economist, starts today's show recapping the recent cattle market and highlighting the last Meat Demand Monitor of 2025.

December Meat Demand Monitor

Brian Coffey - A Microeconomic Assessment of the U.S. Retail Beef Market

00:12:05 – 50 Years of Herbicide Resistance, Part 1: The show continues with K-State weed scientist, Pat Geier, as he discusses the anniversary of 50 years of herbicide resistance in Kansas. He explains the first weed that had resistance.

Fifty Years of Herbicide Resistance in Kansas

eUpdate.agronomy.ksu.edu

00:23:05 – 50 Years of Herbicide Resistance, Part 2: K-State's Pat Geier also ends the show as he talks about how to help reduce additional herbicide resistance for growers.

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

2093 - Grain Reports and Markets...Swine Profitability Jan 09, 2026

Show notes

Grain Futures and Cash Trends and USDA Reports
2026 Swine Profitability Conference
Continued Warm or Cold Winter?

00:01:05 – Grain Futures and Cash Trends and USDA Reports: Daniel O'Brien, K-State grain economist, kicks off today's show discussing the trends in futures and cash and his expectations for the USDA reports that are coming out on January 12.

Daniel on AgManager.info

00:12:05 – 2026 Swine Profitability Conference: Keeping the show rolling is K-State Extension swine specialist, Joel DeRouchey, previewing the upcoming Swine Profitability conference and who attendees will be able to learn from.

Swine Profitability Conference

00:23:05 – Continued Warm or Cold Winter?: K-State meteorologist Chip Redmond wraps up the show explaining if Kansas residents can be expecting a snowstorm this winter or continued above average temperatures.

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

K‑State Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment 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

2092 - Factors of Life Expectancy...Social Determinants Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

How Where You Live Impacts Life Expectancy, Part 1
How Where You Live Impacts Life Expectancy, Part 2
Creating Thriving Soil

00:01:05 – How Where You Live Impacts Life Expectancy, Part 1: Today's show begins with Zaira Ruiz, Kansas 4-H regional specialist and faculty at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Garden City, as she explains how social determinants impact health. She lists the various social factors.

00:12:05 – How Where You Live Impacts Life Expectancy, Part 2: Zaira continues the show discussing examples of social determinants in Kansas and superfund sites.

Links for More Information: Social Determinants, A Tale of Two Zip Codes, Havard Study, Epidemic of Loneliness, General Surgeon Social Connection, Wichita Life Expectancy, American Heart Association - Midwest Region, EPA Superfund Sites, Iola Case Study

00:23:05 – Creating Thriving Soil: Pottawatomie County Extension Agent, Shannon Blocker, ends the show sharing ways to improve soil to boost resilience, create a thriving landscape and provide long-term soil vitality.

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

2091 - Kansas FSA Leadership...KARL Class Applications Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

Farm Service Agency Committee and Acre Rates
Applications for the Next KARL Class
When to Check Cows for Pregnancy

00:01:05 – Farm Service Agency Committee and Acre Rates: Starting the show is David Schemm, state executive director of the Kansas Farm Service Agency, as he explains the state committee and highlights commodity per acre rates.

Farmers.gov

00:12:05 – Applications for the Next KARL Class: Jill Zimmerman, president of the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership Program, continues today's show discussing the KARL program and how people can become a part of the community.

KARLprogram.com

00:23:05 – When to Check Cows for Pregnancy: Part of the Beef Cattle Institute's Cattle Chat podcast concludes the show as Brad White, Bob Larson and Scott Fritz converse about timing options for checking cow pregnancy.

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.

2090 - U.S. Soybeans in Africa...Barriers to Grain Entering Africa Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

Africa Being the Next Grain Market for the U.S., Part 1
Africa Being the Next Grain Market for the U.S., Part 2
Dairy Needs Biosecurity Plans

00:01:05 – Africa Being the Next Grain Market for the U.S., Part 1: Today's show starts with two segments from Guy Allen, the senior economist at the IGP Institute, and Peter Goldsmith, director and principal investigator of the Soybean Innovation Lab at the University of Illinois, as they discuss how Africa could be the next big market for U.S. growers.

00:12:05 – Africa Being the Next Grain Market for the U.S., Part 2: Guy and Peter continue the show explaining challenges and barriers to opening the market.

Articles on AgManager.info - Should U.S. Growers Look to Africa as the Next Big Market?

Understanding Africa's Food and Oil Demand Trends

Understanding Africa's Soy Import Demand

Selected Import Markets for Soybeans, Meal and Oil

00:23:05 – Dairy Needs Biosecurity Plans: K-State dairy specialist, Mike Brouk, ends the show saying every dairy needs a biosecurity plan whether it's for bird flu, New World Screwworm or foot and mouth disease.

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

2089 - New Year's Cattle Market...Extension for Producers Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

Cattle Market 2025 Recap and 2026 Expectations
Extension Communication
Traits of Domesticated Raccoons

00:01:05 – Cattle Market 2025 Recap and 2026 Expectations: A recap of 2025 and expectation for 2026 for the cattle market with Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University livestock economist, begins today's show.

00:12:05 – Extension Communication: Keeping the show rolling is Sandra Wick from K-State's Post Rock District as she explains how communications between producers, Extension agents and specialists happens to help with questions.

ksre.ksu.edu

00:23:05 – Traits of Domesticated Raccoons: Drew Ricketts, K-State wildlife specialist, ends the show as he discusses how raccoons are showing more traits that signal domestication.

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

2088 - Grain Records and Declines...Trade and Transportation Jan 02, 2026

Show notes

U.S. Grain Expectations for 2026, Part 1
U.S. Grain Expectations for 2026, Part 2
Weather Application Recommendations

00:01:05 – U.S. Grain Expectations for 2026, Part 1: Today's show kicks off with Guy Allen, the senior economist at the IGP Institute at K-State, and Daniel O'Brien, K-State grain economist, as they discuss their 2026 grain outlook. In the first segment they chat about export expectations, the U.S. dollar and transportation.

00:12:05 – U.S. Grain Expectations for 2026, Part 2: Guy and Daniel continue their second segment looking into other countries, conflict, the Monroe Doctrine and tariffs and how they all have an impact on the grain market.

Daniel on AgManager.info

00:23:05 – Weather Application Recommendations: K-State meteorologist Chip Redmond ends the show highlighting his favorite ways to track and look into expected weather and also what to avoid.

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

2087 - FSA State Executive Directors and Programs...Cattle Rations Use Failed Wheat Crop Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
Used Failed Wheat Crop for Cattle
Understanding More About Bull Fertility

00:01:05 – Farmer Bridge Assistance Program: David Schemm, state executive director for the Kansas Farm Service Agency, kicks off the show as he highlights what he learned in Washington D.C. and the new Farmer Bridge Assistance Program.

Farmers.gov

00:12:05 – Used Failed Wheat Crop for Cattle: Continuing the show is grad student in K-State's Animal Sciences and Industry, Adam King, discussing how producers can use a failed wheat crop for cattle rations.

adamking@ksu.edu

eabriggs@ksu.edu

00:23:05 – Understanding More About Bull Fertility: Part of the Beef Cattle Institute's Cattle Chat podcast with Brad White, Bob Larson, Todd Gunderson and Jason Warner concludes today's show as they converse about bull fertility.

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.

2086 - Whitetail Deer Impacts...Fall Infections of Rust in Wheat Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

Fins, Fur and Feathers: Pros and Cons of Whitetail Deer
Rust Infections in Wheat
Matching Finances and Production Data

00:01:05 – Fins, Fur and Feathers: Pros and Cons of Whitetail Deer: The show begins with part of a Fins, Fur and Feathers podcast episode where Drew Ricketts and Joe Gerken talk about balancing the positive and negatives of whitetail deer.

Fins, Fur, and Feathers

wildlife.k-state.edu

00:12:05 – Rust Infections in Wheat: Kelsey Andersen Onofre, K-State wheat pathologist, and Logan Simon, K-State Extension agronomist, keep the show moving as they discuss rust in wheat and other challenges they expect the crop to encounter this season.

Fall Infections of Rusts in Kansas Wheat

00:23:05 – Matching Finances and Production Data: K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk ends the show explaining matching data from the production site with the financial output of the farm to measure financial success.

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected