Kansas is not only among the nation’s top states for raising livestock, it is also located within the world’s large concentration of public and private entities in the animal health and nutrition sectors including research and production of therapeutics, diagnostics, biologics, and nutrition and feed products to support the industry. Kansas was also selected to be home for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, a state-of-the-art biocontainment laboratory for the study of diseases that threaten both America’s animal agricultural industry and public health. As the global population continues climbing and demand for animal-based protein increases, the animal health sector will play an important role in raising healthy animals, and Kansas has potential to be an important animal health hub.

Consolidated Notes from Animal Health Sector Workshop
Animal Health Sector (includes desired outcomes and action items)

The beef cattle sector has been and continues to be the single largest sector in the Kansas agriculture industry, with cattle and calves generating $8.97 billion in cash receipts in 2014, which accounts for more than 54 percent of Kansas agricultural cash receipts that year. Nationally, Kansas is among the top three beef states, accounting for more than 19 percent of fed cattle in the United States. Kansas is home to a robust beef packing industry, processing more than 5 billion pounds of red meat. In addition to managing volatile markets, consumer demand, regulatory challenges and weather extremes, the Kansas beef community will work to grow its role as a trusted leader throughout the beef production community. 

Consolidated Notes from Beef Sector Workshop
Beef sector document (Draft created prior to Summit)

The corn sector of the Kansas agriculture economy includes the production of corn and the first purchaser uses of that corn such as livestock feeders, ethanol plants and exporters. Not every part of Kansas is well-suited to the production of corn but trait technologies and improvements in irrigation technologies are increasing the number of acres that are suitable. In addition, opportunities related to improving soil health, targeted pesticide use and application technologies, management of weather, incorporation of big data into farm management and access to useful crop insurance all will help increase production capabilities in Kansas.  Beyond traditional outlets for corn, including livestock, ethanol and exports being critical to sustain and increase future demand, opportunities exist for corn in emerging technologies as well as renewable-based chemical production. 

Consolidated Notes from Corn Sector Workshop
Corn sector document (Draft created prior to Summit)

Cotton production and ginning in Kansas have exceeded 1.1 million bales since 1996. Infrastructure investments in the cotton industry have helped establish four gins in Kansas. Although a relatively small percentage of the national average production, in specific regions in southern Kansas, there exists an opportunity to incorporate more cotton production into a traditional crop-rotation cycle as a means to add a high-value crop that has lower water requirements compared to other crops. 

Consolidated Notes from Cotton Sector Workshop
Cotton sector document (Draft created prior to Summit)

In 2015 Kansas was home to 143,000 dairy cows that produced more than 3.1 billion pounds of milk, and Kansas continues to be one of the fastest-growing regions for dairy production nationwide. In addition, milk processing capacity has grown in Kansas since 2012, and by 2017 an estimated 75 percent of milk produced in Kansas will be processed within the state’s borders. Due to abundant land, feed supply, ideal climate, proactive water policies and a positive business environment, Kansas has the opportunity to continue growing its position as a leader in dairy production and milk processing. 

Consolidated Notes from Dairy Sector Workshop
Dairy sector document  (Draft created prior to Summit)

Kansas is home to agricultural equipment and technology companies in a broad range of sizes and specializations. Many of these companies have an international presence and impressive market penetration within the United States. Pairing the prevalence of the agricultural industry with Kansas’s pro-business climate and Midwest values makes Kansas a prime location for entrepreneurs and established businesses alike to create or expand.

Consolidated Notes from Equipment and Technology Sector Workshop
Equipment and Technology sector document (Draft created prior to Summit)

Forage production plays a critical role in the state’s agricultural industry, providing Kansas livestock producers with hay, silage, and grazing sources from multiple diverse plant species. Forage is uniquely vital to livestock production since forages, such as silage, cannot be shipped in from long distances. Advancements in plant genetics and irrigation technologies, growth in livestock production in Kansas, land availability, and maintaining and improving export infrastructure, and expanded access to foreign hay and alfalfa markets provide opportunities for growth in forage production in Kansas.

Consolidated Notes from Feed and Forage Sector Workshop
Feed and Forage sector document (Draft created prior to Summit)

Kansas is home to large-scale food processors as well as small, locally owned processors. Food processing in Kansas has a total output of $4.25 billion per year. Central location and freight options create a logistics advantage for Kansas to not only add value to those commodities produced in the state, but for products that are shipped in from other states for further processing before moving on to their next destination.

Consolidated Notes from Food Processing Sector Workshop
Food Processing sector document (Draft created prior to Summit)

The pet food industry is growing rapidly in Kansas. This business growth will develop into a larger market of value-added products from the resources available in Kansas. Two of the top five pet food companies own manufacturing operations in the state.  The pet food industry contributes $7 billion in sales. With the growing trend of pet ownership, the pet food industry is poised for additional growth. This business growth will develop into a larger market of value-added products from the resources available in Kansas.

Consolidated Notes from Pet Food Sector Workshop
Pet Food sector document (Draft created prior to Summit)

In 2015, Kansas producers sold 3,298,673 market hogs, feeder pigs and seedstock, which produced more than 600,000,000 pounds of pork. Modern swine production has become very specialized, with growth occurring primarily in the central and western regions of Kansas. While Kansas lacks a large-scale processing facility in the state, pork products are currently imported into Kansas for further value-added processing. Based on current industry trends, opportunities may exist for increased value-added processing, or large-scale pork processing, and increased swine production by identifying a specific niche within the production chain. 

Consolidated Notes from Pork Sector Workshop
Pork sector document (Draft created prior to Summit)

While considered relatively small compared to other species of livestock production, Kansas is home to innovative and high-value egg laying and poultry genetic companies. Abundant feedstock supplies and land availability paired with a relatively small number of poultry operations makes Kansas an attractive choice to poultry farms looking to grow or expand. 

Consolidated Notes from Poultry Sector Workshop
Poultry sector document (Draft created prior to Summit)

Kansas is ranked first in grain sorghum production in the United States, growing more than 46 percent of the nation’s crop, and first in sorghum for silage production. While sorghum has historically been used for livestock feed, ethanol production and exports, it is gaining popularity as a food and pet food product because of its nutritional, gluten-free and non-GMO properties. Located at Kansas State University, the Center for Sorghum Improvement is focused on increasing grain sorghum productivity and market expansion opportunities. In addition to improved production capabilities in Kansas, there are also opportunities for increased processing of sorghum for ethanol and food ingredients.

Consolidated Notes from Sorghum Sector Workshop
Sorghum sector document (Draft created prior to Summit)

The oilseed sector in Kansas is primarily composed of soybean, sunflower and canola production as well as the first purchaser uses of the oilseeds, including crushers, refiners and biodiesel manufacturers, and feed stream users. In Kansas, the by-products, including soybean meal, can be just as important as the oil when used as an ingredient in livestock and pet feeding. The state has six soybean crush facilities. The oil goes into familiar products such as vegetable oil for all manner of food products and oil for biodiesel. Advancements in soybean and canola genetics in recent years make oilseeds more viable on more acres of dryland in Kansas, and other opportunities exist related to biodiesel production, additional processing, such as soymilk, and livestock feeding.

Consolidated Notes from Soybeans and Other Oilseeds Sector Workshop
Soybeans and Other Oilseeds sector documents (Draft created prior to Summit)

Kansas is well positioned to grow a variety of specialty crops including pumpkins, squash, decorative corn, watermelon, muskmelon, sweet corn, sweet potatoes and ethnic crops. Increasing consumer interest in local food systems is bringing attention to the Kansas specialty crop industry. Additionally, more than 780,000 acres in Kansas have historically been involved in horticulture activities, including fruit, berries, nuts, vegetables and melons, grapes and wine, medicinal plants, Christmas trees, sod, nurseries and greenhouses, florists, arborists, turf installation and maintenance, and lawn care firms. Based on current industry trends and results of an ongoing Statewide Survey of Specialty Crop Production, tools to encourage growth, increase competitiveness and identify marketing outlets for the specialty crop industry in Kansas will be identified and prioritized.

Consolidated Notes from Specialty Crops Sector Workshop
Specialty Crops sector document (Draft created prior to Summit)

In addition to more traditional livestock, Kansas is also home to other species, including goats, sheep, bison, alpaca, llamas and more. Kansas ranked 13th nationally in meat goats, with 40,000 head, and the industry has experienced continuous growth in recent years. In addition to opportunities to expand production of specialty livestock species in Kansas, there also exists potential to capitalize on consumer demand growth local products through increased small-scale processing capacity for specialty livestock.

Consolidated Notes from Specialty Livestock Sector Workshop
Specialty Livestock sector document (Draft created prior to Summit)

A growing sector within agriculture is unmanned aircraft systems as farmers and ranchers work to implement precision technologies into their management practices. As a leader in both agriculture and aviation, an atmosphere exists in Kansas that promotes and supports future aviation technology. One of the nation’s first unmanned aircraft systems bachelor’s degree programs is offered in Kansas, and opportunities exist to not only expand use and production of UAS technologies but also to be an education and training hub for this growing sector.

Consolidated Notes from UAS Sector Workshop
UAS sector document (Draft created prior to Summit)

Known as the “Wheat State,” Kansas is not only the nation’s leading wheat producer, but also ranks first in flour milling capacity in the United States and is a recognized knowledge base in the global industry. While Kansas is the world’s best source for hard red wheat, opportunities exist with new hard white wheat varieties as well as through expanded international trade and further value-added processing.

Consolidated Notes from Wheat Sector Workshop
Wheat sector document (Draft created prior to Summit)

Before farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses have to manage through natural challenges, like drought or blizzards, and market challenges from volatility in the marketplace, many face some challenges before they even enter the business. From accessing the capital necessary to get started or to expand in agriculture, identifying the next generation of ownership for existing operations, addressing statutory roadblocks related to who can own agricultural operations in Kansas, and more, numerous challenges make it difficult, if not impossible, for growth to occur. Identifying solutions to these challenges will be critical to future growth of Kansas agriculture. 

Consolidated Notes from Barriers to Entry Workshop
Barriers to Entry crossover document (Draft created prior to Summit)

Now, more than ever before, consumers are interested in how and where their food is produced. While this presents a tremendous opportunity for Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses, to “tell our story” about agricultural practices in Kansas, it also presents an enormous challenge in ensuring that consumers are not misled by food and animal activists opposed to the modern agricultural practices on which our industry relies. As we work to grow the agricultural industry, it will be important to work alongside Kansas communities to provide accurate information regarding modern production agriculture and prevent misconceptions from blocking growth opportunities. Identifying solutions to these challenges is key to establishing a trusting relationship with consumers and welcoming environment for a growing and robust Kansas agricultural industry. 

Consolidated Notes from Consumer Awareness and Community Acceptance Workshop
Consumer Awareness and Community Acceptance crossover document (Draft created prior to Summit)

With more than 99 percent of global consumers residing outside Kansas, growth in state’s agricultural industry relies on the ability to access and compete in the global marketplace. In 2015, Kansas exported more than $3.3 billion in agricultural products, with the top exports being beef, cereal grains, oilseeds, animal and vegetable fats, and milling products. Global demand for food and agricultural products from Kansas will continue to grow, and it will be important for Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses to take advantage of programs and services aimed at providing assistance in opening new markets and gaining new international customers. 

Consolidated Notes from Global Opportunities Workshop
Global Opportunities crossover document (Draft created prior to Summit)

Safely and efficiently moving agricultural products – from live animals and raw commodities to value-added food, feed, energy and fiber products – relies on a robust and modern transportation system. Kansas ranks third nationally in total road mileage with approximately 140,000 total road and street miles and more than 10,000 highway miles. In addition, Kansas has nearly 4,800 miles of track providing critical rail services. Opportunities exist to improve existing infrastructure but also to develop systems and infrastructure to enhance transportation capabilities to improve efficiency and competitiveness of Kansas agriculture. 

Consolidated Notes from Transportation and Logistics Workshop
Transportation and Logistics crossover document (Draft created prior to Summit)

Water and the Kansas economy are directly linked, and providing farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses with tools and flexibility to better manage their water resources will be critical to future growth of Kansas agriculture. In recent years, tools like Water Conservation Areas, Local Enhanced Management Areas, Multi-Year Flex Accounts, and more have been developed based on specific calls from Kansans for flexible tools to encourage water conservation and management. While these tools will be critical to water conservation efforts now and into the future, there also exists the need to continuously improve the regulatory environment in Kansas to ensure rules are fair and adequate and that water-users’ needs are met in a timely fashion. 

Consolidated Notes from Water and Natural Resources Workshop 
Water and Natural Resources crossover document (Draft created prior to Summit)

Job opportunities in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, or the environment will outpace the number of individuals with the education and skills necessary for the positions in the next five years, according to a nationwide survey conducted by USDA and Purdue University. In Kansas, in addition to having access to a sufficient number of labors and skilled workers, agricultural employees also face challenges related to the need for training, and leadership development and management programs, as well as meeting quality of life and community services necessary to recruit and retain good talent. Identifying solutions to these challenges will require a better understanding of the needs of both employers and employees. 

Consolidated Notes from Workforce Workshop
Workforce crossover document (Draft created prior to Summit)