Our microbiology area has a dairy testing area and a biosafety level 2 area. We test dairy, meat and other human foods to ensure safety and wholesomeness. When there is an outbreak of foodborne illness, we analyze samples for foodborne organisms that may have caused the illness.

There are multiple chemistry areas in the agriculture laboratory. Our Feed and Fertilizer lab tests animal feeds and pet foods to safeguard the health of livestock and companion animals. The lab also tests feeds and fertilizers to ensure that consumers are getting the nutrients they are paying for at the levels specified on the label. During the growing season, we test a wide variety of samples that are related to cases of pesticide drift complaints. We also test industrial hemp samples to ensure compliance with the legal threshold of less than or equal to 0.3% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration.

The Kansas Metrology Laboratory is also under our roof. Metrology provides calibration services to customers in Kansas (including our Weights and Measures program) and beyond state lines. The Metrology Lab also provides calibration services to the KDA Weights and Measures program to ensure accurate inspection of fuel pumps and scales.

Within the lab, we have a vibrant team of chemists, microbiologists, and metrologists with a broad range of testing skills and experience. Our team knows the science and understands what it takes to support our customers and Kansas statutes. We all work together to ensure that our test results meet internationally recognized quality standards. In short, we are accredited to ISO 17025 for more than 50 routine chemistry and microbiology tests. Undoubtedly, this number of analytical tests will continue to grow. An important benefit of laboratory accreditation is that our test results are legally defensible. This means that our stakeholders can confidently use our data to make important regulatory or business decisions.

The modern infrastructure of the new building supports our ongoing need to offer the latest technology in laboratory analytics. For example, we will soon be able to test foods for heavy metals, such as lead and mercury. These data will be used to develop new guidelines for the safety of our food supply. We also have a state-of-the-art multipurpose room that broadens our ability to interact with our partners and stakeholders for training and virtual meetings at the local, state and federal levels.

We are excited about new opportunities to serve! We are strategically located just steps away from agency headquarters and Kansas State University. Our new building also has plenty of space for our lab instruments and scientists plus room to grow for any future agricultural testing needs. We are poised to be a partner in teaching, research and outreach initiatives. Discussions have begun on how we can support collegiate internship programs and STEM educational tours. This is important to us because one day we will need to pass the torch to the next generation of dedicated scientists.