Kansas State University

K-State in the news — May 2024

Some of the top stories mentioning Kansas State University are posted below. Download an Excel file (xls) with all of this month's news stories.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

National/International

‘Poorly timed extremes’ to blame for deteriorating winter wheat in one top growing state
05/14/24 Successful Farming 
Christopher Redmond, assistant meteorologist at Kansas State University, says that extremes in the weather that have been timed poorly “are the primary driver for the higher percentage of poor ratings in the current Kansas wheat crop.”

State/Regional

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

National/International

Solar storm crashes GPS systems used by some US farmers, stalling planting
05/14/24 The Star Online
Terry Griffin, an associate professor in agricultural economics at Kansas State University, spoke on the powerful geomagnetic storm that cast the northern lights’ vivid colors across the Northern Hemisphere over the weekend that also caused some navigational systems in tractors and other farming equipment to break down at the height of planting season.

State/Regional

K-State lands $6M grant led by Feed the Future Innovation Lab on Sustainable Intensification
05/14/24 Sunflower State Radio
Kansas State University officials have cited a Manhattan-based innovation lab’s “decade of success” in providing global food security as key to a $6 million award announced recently by the U.S. Agency for International Development. Officials with USAID announced that K-State’s Feed the Future Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab, or SIIL, will receive the grant to strengthen existing agricultural research, education and outreach entities in Guatemala.

Monday, May 13, 2024

National/International

A Kansas State University researcher recently received a $1 million grant to develop ASF vaccines
5/10/2024 RFD TV
The recent spread of high path avian influenza has underscored the need to protect the industry from foreign animal diseases. A Kansas State University researcher recently received new support to battle one of the biggest global threats to pork production— African swine fever. Dr. Waithaka Mwangi spoke with RFD-TV’s own Tammi Arender on the status of ASF, a $1 million dollar grant to develop deployable vaccines, and the next steps.

*ADM donates $1 million to Kansas State's Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation
5/10/2024 Bake Magazine
Kansas State University announced on May 8 that ADM has pledged $1 million to the university’s Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation, one of four new or renovated facilities included in the university’s visionary Agriculture Innovation Initiative led by the College of Agriculture.

What Farmers Need To Know About Severe Solar Event With Potential To Disrupt GPS
5/10/2024 Ag Web Farm Journal
"The good news is those radio blackouts for GPS may only last for a few hours or half a day," says Dr. Terry Griffin a Professor & Cropping Systems Economist at Kansas State University. "My message is: if this is a radio blackout then patience is your best bet. Go check the NOAA website and if the planetary K-Index is red instead of green then go have an early lunch." From an agricultural perspective, Dr. Griffin has been studying the economic impacts of GPS outages for several years. He’s found that even a few hours to half a day of lost GPS signal can come with a cost for farmers. That's especially true for farmers who miss an optimum planting or harvesting window. Pushing field work later into the season can ultimately cost them yield and performance during the season.

State/Regional

Many students from Kansas State University walked across the stage to start a new journey in life
5/11/2024 WIBW
Many students walked across the stage today at the Kansas State University commencement. The day started with the College of Arts and Science students walking leading into the College of Education, and Business, and ending with the College of Engineering. About over 3,000 students graduated today and many are ready for their next chapter in life.

*K-State's Concrete Canoe team advances to nationals after placing first at regional competition
5/12/2024 WIBW
Kansas State University's Concrete Canoe team has advanced to the national competition after placing first at regionals. According to Kansas State University officials, the Concrete Canoe team took first place at its regional competition at the Mid-America Student Symposium hosted by Missouri University of Science and Technology in April.

Local

*Woods named director of K-State's A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication
5/11/2024 The Mercury
Heather Woods, associate professor in the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication in the College of Arts and Sciences, has been named director of the school after serving as interim director since November 2023. Woods joined Kansas State University's department of communication studies in 2017 and helped facilitate its recent merger with the A.Q. Miller school. She previously served as associate director of graduate programs and research in both the school and the communication studies department.

Friday, May 10, 2024

National/International

Scouts likely to see a varied Kansas wheat crop
5/10/24 Baking Business
Beyond the drought effects, scouts will be on the lookout for three other factors Kansas State University agronomists have said are present to some degree in the crop.

State/Regional

*ADM donates $1 million to agricultural innovation at Kansas State University
5/10/24 KRVN Rural Radio
ADM will give $1 million to Kansas State University’s Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation. The center is one of four facilities included in the Agriculture Innovation Initiative led by K-State’s College of Agriculture.

Local

*K-State student has played the organ for thousands of graduates. Now it’s his turn to walk
5/9/24 WIBW
A Kansas State student who’s played a special role in a few graduations will now walk across the stage this weekend. David Ochner, an engineering student, started playing the organ in the fall of 2019 and played for commencements starting in 2021. 

*U.S. Department of Energy awards nuclear engineering scholarships to three K-State students
5/9/24 WIBW
According to Kansas State University officials, three students in K-State’s Alan Levin Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering received undergraduate nuclear engineering scholarships from the U.S. Department of Energy for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Thursday, May 9, 2024

National/International

Do You Need a Financial Therapist?
5/8/24 Time
“Only a small fraction of mental health programs have even a single financial-related elective, despite financial stress being the number one stressor in American life,” says Megan McCoy, an assistant professor at Kansas State University’s Department of Personal Financial Planning, who teaches courses on financial therapy and is a certified financial therapist herself.

State/Regional

*Company donates $1M to K-State for ag innovation
5/8/24 KSN
ADM will give $1 million to Kansas State University’s Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation. The center is one of four facilities included in the Agriculture Innovation Initiative led by K-State’s College of Agriculture.

Local

*Salina Student Honored at K State
5/8/24 KSAL
A student from Salina is among those being recognized by Kansas State University’s College of Education award winners who excelled in and out of the classroom. Elyse Ramsey is among those being recognized.

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

National/International 

To combat cow flu outbreak, scientists plan to infect cattle with influenza in high-security labs
05/07/24 Science 
One goal of the lab work is to investigate how the virus is spreading from cow to cow. The working theory is that lactating cows with infected udders are spreading the virus to other dairy cows during the milking process, but that’s based on circumstantial evidence such as the presence of H5N1 in environmental samples from milk parlors. “The big question right now is whether the virus is mechanically transmitted or can be transmitted from cow to cow via aerosol as well,” says Jürgen Richt, a virologist at Kansas State University.

State/Regional

*Kansas State University announces schedule for weekend graduation ceremonies
05/08/24 Salina Post
Kansas State University has announced plans for this weekend’s spring 2024 graduation ceremonies at the Manhattan campus.

Local

*K-State's commencement organist prepares to graduate
05/07/24 Manhattan Mercury 
For David Ochner, a fifth-year senior at Kansas State University, graduating from college also means graduating from his role as organist for the university’s commencements.

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

State/Regional

State/Regional
*K-State College of Education announces outstanding students and future teachers
05/07/24 Salina Post
Kansas State University's College of Education is recognizing graduate and undergraduate student award winners who excelled in and out of the classroom. Debbie Mercer, interim provost and executive vice president and dean of K-State’s College of Education announced the spring 2024 student award winners.

KOERNER: Dining with Diabetes will be offered in June 2024
05/07/2024 Hays Post
Dining with Diabetes is a K-State Research and Extension health and wellness program that consist of a series of four classes that includes learning, demonstrations, physical activity and tasting healthy foods. The program's focus is to help individuals learn strategies to lessen the health risks of diabetes.

Monday, May 6, 2024

National/International

Bird flu's big question: What's driving its spread
5/3/2024 AXIOS
The virus' jump to cows poses new questions about it despite being studied for decades. "This is a different animal. We have to start all over again and understand what is going on," says Jürgen Richt, the director of Kansas State University's Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases.

State/Regional

*K-State Salina student project raises donations for children at Wesley
5/3/2024 12 NEWS
Students from Kansas State University Salina's Pilots For Kids program visited Wesley Medical Center this week to bring gifts to hospitalized youth in Wichita. Pilots For Kids at K-State Salina is a student-led organization dedicated to helping hospitalized children.

Biologists studying Kansas flying squirrels make surprising discovery
5/4/2024 FOX 4 Kansas City
Flying squirrels may not be the first animal that comes to mind when thinking about the Sunflower State, especially given the abundance of prairie habitat. However, biologists have found them living in the state’s few forested areas, often right under (or above) the noses of unsuspecting Kansans. Adam Ahlers, an associate professor with Kansas State University's Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources, says an extensive survey is underway to study the animals. The project aims to find out more details about the southern flying squirrel populations in Kansas such as their genetic information and population structure.

New KSU Dairy Science Facility Funded
5/5/2024 KSAL
A late addition to the state budget aimed at replacing the Dairy Science Unit at Kansas State University will help the dairy industry in Kansas to double. According to Senator J.R. Claeys of Salina, $36 Million in funding and bonding authority was added in the budget for K-State to replace the 1977 facility. Matching funds from the industry are required to reach the goal of a $40 Million dairy on campus. Research at the dairy will drive innovation for the industry in the state.

Local

*Dean of K-State Global Campus Karen Pedersen announces retirement
5/3/2024 The Mercury
Karen Pedersen, dean of Kansas State University Global Campus, has announced her retirement, effective Aug. 5. Pedersen was named dean of Global Campus in January 2018. Global Campus contributed much to the health and vitality of the university during the six years of Pedersen's tenure, including taking a central role in K-State’s pivot to remote instruction during the global pandemic. Under Pedersen's leadership, Global Campus experienced a straight-line upward trajectory in online program offerings, online enrollments and online learners served.

Friday, May 3, 2024

State/Regional

Newstalk: K-State Salina Pilots for Kids program
5/2/24 KWCH
Jack Byrne, a student in the professional pilot program at K-State Salina, stopped by KWCH's Newtalk segment to discuss a recent initiative to visit children at Wesley Children's Hospital and efforts to interest young generations in careers in aviation.

Legislature adopts potentially unconstitutional ban on ‘foreign adversary’ property ownership
5/2/24 Kansas Reflector
The attorney general would be responsible for establishing by Jan. 1, 2025, procedures for reporting divesture actions in Kansas. In addition to annual reports by the attorney general, Kansas State University would compile a summary of foreign holdings of real property in the state.

K-State Salina alumni fellow's unique path to success in uncrewed aircraft systems
5/2/24 Salina Post
Demuth credits his education that he earned at the campus for greatly accelerating his career path. "I have never really taken the time to look back on the unusual course that I have taken through my career and how much that reflected on Kansas State University until now," said Demuth. "There is just so much that I owe to K-State that helped get me to where I am today."

Local

*K-State launches online graduate certificate in strategic health communications
5/2/24 WIBW
Officials with K-State indicated the certificate is designed for working professionals in public health and hospital administration, health care, environmental communication, public relations, research, media, government and many others as well as graduate students.

*Bringing KU and K-State together for a greater cause
5/2/24 KSNT
K-State 105 Director Jessica Gnad joined the 27 News morning show to talk about the collaboration between K-State and Kansas Health System, the importance of healthcare in the rural community and ensuring all 105 counties in the Sunflower State have access to vital local care providers.

*Valor Honey provides the opportunity for veterans and others to find a passion in beekeeping
5/2/24 WIBW
The organization is now teamed up with Kansas State University to offer accredited series of courses for those wishing to go into the field of beekeeping. Along with offering the program to veterans and K-State students, they also have Afghan refugees and offer internships as well. While currently in a warehouse the organization plans on moving operations to K-State’s campus to build the program.

Thursday, May 2, 2024

National/International

Pandemic boosts tech use in financial planning

5/1/24 Wealth Professional
The Canadian Foundation for Financial Planning, formerly known as the FP Canada Research Foundation™, has funded a study conducted by Kansas State University researchers.

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces New Multi-Sector Actions to Eliminate Systemic Barriers in STEMM
5/1/24 WhiteHouse.gov
Kansas State University College of Education: The College of Education formulated a new group representing grant-based programs and faculty that develops strategies to support the recruitment, preparation, and retention of teachers of color from diverse populations nationally and internationally.

May Lawn Care: Do You Even Need to Water Grass?
5/1/24 Backyard Boss
However, according to Kansas State University, the amount of moisture you need to apply to your lawn at one time depends on soil type and root depth. Sandy soils, for instance, drain liquid faster than clay soils. Thus, sandy soil lawns require more frequent watering with smaller amounts per session to prevent runoff and waste.

State/Regional

*Derby student named K-State ambassador
5/1/24 Derby Informer
The College of Health and Human Sciences at Kansas State University announced its student ambassadors for the 2024-25 academic year. Derby native Livie Heseltine, a sophomore in communication sciences and disorders, was selected as a student ambassador for the upcoming year. The student ambassadors work to promote the college to alumni, prospective students and current K-State students, both on and off campus.

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

National/International

Researchers develop rapid detection tool for swine disease
04/30/24 DVM360
The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) bestowed a $1 million grant to scientists at Iowa State University, as well as collaborators from South Dakota State University, University of Minnesota, Kansas State University, Ohio Animal Diseases and Diagnostic Laboratory, and Purdue University. The collaborators will use the Swine Disease Reporting System to quickly detect new strands of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV).

State/Regional

K-State Agricultural Economist Honored
04/30/24 KSAL
A Kansas State University agricultural economics professor whose nearly four-decade career includes helping to generate more than $2.7 billion through a grid premium program for producers has been named the 2024 winner of the Mark and Eva Gardiner Innovation and Excellence faculty award.

Local

*K-State researcher lands $2.6 million for African Swine Fever research
04/30/24 Manhattan Mercury
A K-State researcher has new support to battle one of the biggest global threats to the $57 billion pig and swine production industry in the U.S.

 

 

*Note: Asterisks indicate clips that resulted from recent news releases or pitches from Communications and Marketing.