Kansas Wheat

"Wheat was and is the crop of first importance. It is the backbone of our economy and has made Kansas famous around the world." --Erich Freuhauf (KSHS Wheat in Kansas Lesson Plan)

The Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service reported today that 84 percent of the wheat acreage in our state had been cut before rains over the July 4th weekend shut down the harvest.

Besides the nickname, "The Sunflower State," Kansas is also known as "The Wheat State" or "The Breadbasket of the World." About 25 percent of the U.S. hard red winter wheat harvest is grown in Kansas.

"Nearly one-fifth of all wheat grown in the United States is grown in Kansas. Kansas ranks first in the nation in flour milling, wheat gluten production and wheat stored. Roughly one-third of Kansas' 63,000 farmers grow wheat. Normally, Kansas farmers produce about 400 million bushels of wheat a year, with a production value that hovers around $1 billion." [from: Kansas Dept. of Agriculture]

Wheat is a vital part of our economy, culture and history. Below are links to information on Kansas wheat provided by various state and federal agencies.

Kansas Wheat Commission
http://www.kswheat.com/
(The Kansas Wheat Commission is a grower-funded, grower-governed wheat products advocacy organization)
Their site includes:
--Educational Materials
--Information for Buyers and Processors
--Information for Consumers
--Information for Wheat Producers
--Just For Kids
--Kansas Bakeries Directory
--Kansas Wheat Blog
--News
--Online Videos
--Photo Gallery
--Recipes
--Straw Art
--Wheat Facts
--Wheat Mania: All About Wheat

Wheat Page
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/wheatpage/
(Kansas State University Research and Extension)

Wheat People: Celebrating Kansas Harvest
http://www.kshs.org/exhibits/wheat/wheat.htm
(An online exhibit provided by the Kansas State Historical Society)

Kansas Memory: Wheat
http://www.kansasmemory.org/category/14
(Digitized primary sources provided by the Kansas State Historical Society)

Kansas Wheat History
http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Kansas/Publications/Crops/whthist.pdf (2009 publication by Kansas Agricultural Statistics cooperating with the Kansas Dept. of Agriculture)

Winter Wheat in the Golden Belt of Kansas
http://www.skyways.org/orgs/fordco/malin/
(A transcription of a 1944 history of wheat in Kansas agriculture written by James C. Malin)

Kansas Wheat (FaceBook)
http://www.facebook.com/kansaswheat
(A FaceBook page that promotes wheat growing and growers in the Sunflower State)

Article contact: Bill Sowers
(Check out recent additions to our collection)

Fall Harvest Means Farmers Markets!

More and more urban Kansans are wanting to know where their food is coming from, who grows it, and the methods the grower has utilized. There is no better way than to go to a local farmers market and meet and talk with the growers themselves. Last month, Secretary of Agriculture Josh Svaty challenged Kansans to add more locally grown foods to their menus in support of Kansas Farmers Market Month. September is a wonderful month to visit your local market for the beginnings of fall harvest! Want to know how you can bring homegrown foods to your table?

Svaty's press release regarding farmers market challenge
http://www.ksda.gov/news/id/311

KSDA farmers markets page
http://www.ksda.gov/kansas_agriculture/content/148

Kansas farmers market official homepage- find a market near you!
http://www.ksfarmersmarkets.org

Growing Local- by American Farmland Trust
http://www.farmland.org/programs/localfood/default.asp

Find more Kansas products at Simply Kansas!
http://www.simplykansas.com/Pages/SimplyKansasHome.aspx

Kansas Department of Agriculture-Division of Food Safety and Lodging
http://www.ksda.gov/food_safety/

For growers and producers:

Learn more about marketing your wares from the Kansas Department of Commerce
http://www.kansascommerce.com/Divisions/RuralDevelopment/AgMarketing.aspx

K-State University Department of Food Science
http://foodsci.k-state.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tab

Kansas rules and regulations for producers at farmers markets
http://www.ksfarmersmarkets.org/sites/default/files/ksfm_rulesregs_revised2009_web.pdf

Market your product online at the Simply Kansas! directory
http://www.kansascommerce.com/Divisions/RuralDevelopment/AgMarketing/SimplyKansas.aspx

Article contact: Kim Harp (Check out recent additions to our collection here)

Who is... the Kansas Department of Agriculture?

The Kansas winter wheat harvest is starting to roll in and we here at the KGI thought it would be great to spotlight a government agency that has a deep rooted history to help keep the agriculture-based Kansas economy moving. The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KSDA) is a regulatory agency that serves all Kansans. It is charged by law to ensure: a safe food supply; responsible and judicious use of pesticides and nutrients; the protection of Kansas' natural and cultivated plants; integrity of weighing and measuring devices in commerce; and, that the state's waters are put to beneficial use. This department works with Federal and local agencies to ensure that the food grown in Kansas that is put on the world's plate is safe and wholesome and that the waters that flow through Kansas are appropriated carefully and will continue to flow for future generations.

Department Head: Secretary Adrian Polansky, read his biography at:
http://www.ksda.gov/kansas_agriculture/about/

Department reports to: Governor

Homepage: http://www.ksda.gov/

You can find Kansas laws and regulations that apply to agriculture, lodging and water resource management at:
http://www.ksda.gov/statutes/

Find the forms for reporting to the KSDA at:
http://www.ksda.gov/open_records/

KSDA is committed to educating students about the importance of farming. Learn more at:
http://www.ksda.gov/kansas_agriculture/content/236

Find the list of upcoming seminars or meetings with or by KSDA at:
http://www.ksda.gov/events/

KSDA recently launched a site to help Kansans support their local growers at:
http://www.simplykansas.com/Pages/SimplyKansasHome.aspx

Learn more about finding or selling locally grown produce at farmers markets all across Kansas:
http://www.ksda.gov/kansas_agriculture/content/148

KSDA provides access to help for Kansas farming families through various services:

Loans and grants available for agriculture:
http://www.ksda.gov/kansas_agriculture/content/237

Connections through its news service:
http://www.ksda.gov/kansas_agriculture/content/313

The Kansas Rural Family Helpline provides free confidential support to rural families struggling with unmet emotional, medical, financial or legal need.

Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services provides low-cost financial counseling and legal assistance.

WORKS -- Work Opportunities for Rural Kansans is a statewide program helping farmers, ranchers and their families find work off the farm or ranch. The program is through Kansas Legal Services.

Kansas AgrAbility is a part of a national network of programs that inform, educate and assist farmers and farm families who have disabilities.