K-State in the news

Recent news highlights

Read some of today's top stories mentioning Kansas State University. See more K-State faculty, staff and students in the news in the clip archives.

Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

National/International

Listening to hidden insects could give farmers an early warning of crop pests
10/7/26 Phys.org
At K-State, Emily Sur is working with her adviser, Brian McCornack, department head and professor of entomology at Kansas State University, as well as other university researchers to test the technology in soybean fields and cotton-filled greenhouses against the questions and conditions growers actually face. "Turning promising technologies into tools that can make a real difference for agriculture requires interdisciplinary teams that bring together expertise, research and a commitment to solving real-world problems," McCornack said. "No single lab has all the expertise needed to solve challenges like this."

Record pork production is coming, but will consumer demand keep pace?
10/7/26 SwineWeb
Dr. Glynn Tonsor, professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University, outlined the changing US pork market and the central role of consumer demand during the 2026 Four Star Veterinary Service Pork Industry Conference in Muncie, Indiana. One of Tonsor’s central messages was the need to distinguish pork consumption from pork demand. Per capita disappearance simply measures the amount of pork available domestically divided by the US population. It does not indicate how much consumers value that pork. “There’s not a dollar sign. There’s not a value in that,” Tonsor said of the per capita consumption figure. “But you can’t conclude anything about the consumer value of pork and the dollars coming back into the industry that pay the bills for everything, until you know something about the product, price and quantity.

State/Regional

Kansas State University program supports Rison in revitalizing brownfield properties
10/8/26 Deltaplex News
Brownfields are properties where redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or suspected presence of hazardous substances or other environmental concerns. Such properties can remain vacant or underused because of uncertainty surrounding their environmental condition. Kansas State University’s TAB program provides technical assistance to communities seeking to address those challenges. Its services include evaluating redevelopment opportunities, helping communities understand environmental assessment requirements, identifying potential funding sources and assisting with grant applications.

Local

K-State Rabies Laboratory sees increase in exposure to potential rabies cases
10/9/26 The K-State Collegian
The increase in bat encounters is not just being noticed around campus. The K-State Rabies Laboratory is also seeing a rise in potential exposure to rabies. Dr. Janine Seetahal, rabies section head at the Kansas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, said she has seen this rise firsthand. “For this year, we definitely did see more samples coming in between July to now,” Seetahal said. “This year, over last year’s number of samples, we have seen maybe a 40% increase within that time frame.”