Kansas State University

K-State in the news — Nov. 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.

Friday, Nov. 22, 2024

National/International

AgriSA says agriculture’s ability to reduce emissions recognised at COP29
11/21/24 Polity
Our American farmer counterparts highlighted research from the Kansas State University indicating that the largest reduction of emissions on farms will come from the aggressive adoption of practices that farmers are already accustomed to.

State/Regional

How Topeka business concierge center will connect entrepreneurs to opportunities
11/21/24 Topeka Capital-Journal
“This type of collaborative engagement with community partners is the mission of a next-generation land-grant university like Kansas State University put into action,” said Jessica Gnad, K-State 105 director.

KS Republicans back Trump’s tariff proposal. Why experts fear trade war could hurt farmers
11/21/24 Kansas City Star
“In the agriculture environment, one of our biggest competitors for the crops that we grow here is Brazil, and then of course there’s Canada and Australia for wheat and corn,” Amanor-Boadu said. 

Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024

National/International

What financial therapists want you to know about your maxed out credit cards
11/20/24 BankRate
"If you're in debt, you are more likely to experience mental health issues like anxiety [and] depression. But it also is bi-directional, so people with mental health issues are more likely to be in debt," said Megan McCoy.

CISA’s Internship Program Delivers Outstanding Results in Vulnerability Management
11/20/24 Homeland Security Today
Sophia H., from Kansas State University, performed market research, capability, and legal analysis to enhance VM operations through the integration of open-source information and tools.

SPECIAL REPORT: Biosecurity in swine production: Impact on animal and gut health
11/20/24 Feedstuffs
Dr. Jordan Gebhardt shares how biosecurity affects gut health in animals.

State/Regional

K-State researcher to focus lead research in Kansas City, Kan.
11/20/24 Wyandotte County
Ganga Hettiarachchi, a K-State professor of soil and environmental chemistry, received nearly $800,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to identify cost-effective soil amendments and reduce the impact of elevated lead levels in Kansas City, Kansas.

Kansas has Potential to be More Than Green. It Could be Greenhouse Gas Negative, Report Says
11/20/24 KNCK
A Kansas State University professor who is a lead author of a just-released national report on agriculture's ability to become greenhouse gas negative says that Kansas producers are "in a great position" to help U.S. agriculture meet that goal.

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024

State/Regional 

Experts say Farm Bill will be difficult to pass, but farmers remain optimistic
11/19/24 KSN
“So you know, maybe the Republicans want to wait to next year to get the all-Republican congress. They might be able to pass one that’s more favorable to them,” said Jennifer Ifft, associate professor with the department of agriculture economics at Kansas State University. “There are a couple of reasons why you might want to do it this year. So, the 2017 Trump tax cuts from his first administration expire next year. So, Congress is going to be busy already. And just in terms of how they budget for the Farm Bill, but in terms of how they budget, there might be more budget to work with this year than next year.”

These high-flying highlights mark 100-plus years of Salina aviation history
11/20/24 Salina Journal 
Also by the end of 1965, the Schilling Institute, a two-year technical school that eventually became Kansas State University Salina, was established with a professional pilot program started as an associate degree in 1986.

That’s not a ladybug creeping into your home. Watch out for this invasive bug in Wichita
11/19/24 Wichita Eagle 
The Asian lady beetle is commonly found in Wichita homes later in the year, looking for a warm place for the winter, said Raymond Cloyd, a professor with Kansas State University’s entomology department.

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024

National/International 

ISFD awards 2024 student scholarship
11/19/24 Furniture Today
Lindsey Molitor has won the International Society of Furniture Designers' Tom Conley Scholarship for her Indoor Garden project. After careful review, a panel of professional product designers selected Lindsey Molitor from Kansas State University as the recipient of the International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) 2024 Tom Conley Student Scholarship. Molitor will earn her Master of Industrial Design degree in May 2025.

KSU chosen to lead sustainable ag program
11/19/24 BakingBusiness.com
Kansas State University will lead a program to make agriculture more resilient to varying management practices, climates and extreme weather events. The university was chosen to manage the Climate Resilient Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab (CRSIIL) with funding of up to $50 million over the next five years. CRSIIL is part of the US Agency for International Development’s Feed the Future program.

State/Regional 

Increasing Feed Efficiency For Cows
11/19/24 KSAL-AM
Many people add such supplements as vitamins, minerals, probiotics and botanicals to their diet for a variety of reasons, but often it is to maintain or improve their health. Feed additives are also incorporated in cattle diets with a similar end goal, say the experts at the Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute. Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, the experts said that adding an ionophore to the cow’s diet is beneficial for her feed efficiency. Ionophores are antibiotics that target bacteria and protozoa in the rumen.

K-State crowned National Champion Meat Judging Team
11/19/24 Farmtalk News
The Kansas State University Meat Judging Team won National Champion honors at the International Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest hosted in Dakota City, Nebraska. The team was recognized Sunday, November 10. The last time K-State won the title was 1992. The team was the high team in beef judging, pork judging, placings, reasons and overall beef. Individually four students placed in the top 10 overall. 

Local

K-State Gardens celebrate 150 years in 2025
11/19/24 The Times
In 2025, the Kansas State University Gardens, a beloved destination for students, faculty, staff and the Manhattan community, will celebrate a remarkable milestone: 150 years of growth, service and community. The university will commemorate the anniversary with a yearlong celebration honoring the rich legacy of horticultural excellence. There will be opportunities to celebrate the gardens throughout 2025 with a variety of exciting events across campus and the Manhattan community.

Monday, Nov. 18, 2024

National/International 

K-State Olathe to Build $4M Manufacturing and Bulk Solids Center
11/15/2024 Powder & Bulk Solids
Kansas State University is putting $4 million into a new advanced manufacturing and bulk solids center at its Olathe campus to accelerate its progress. One year after announcing the new strategic plan, K-State Olathe Dean and CEO Ben Wolfe shared a letter to the K-State community. He said that making a $4 million strategic investment "will enable us to accelerate our progress and build a state-of the-art Advanced Manufacturing and Bulk Solids Technology Center to support hands-on learning and expanded research. Construction begins later this month to transform previously unfinished space into a platform for supporting the manufacturing jobs of the future and innovation in processes and materials. Industry partners, understanding the critical need for these services, have already pledged donations of $1.2 million in equipment donations."

US Bioenergy Technologies Office and Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management award $20.2M to advance algae
11/17/2024 BiofuelsDigest
In Washington DC, the U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office and Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management announced $20.2 million in funding for 10 university and industry projects to advance mixed algae development for low-carbon biofuels and bioproducts. In Topic Area 2: Conversion of Algal Biomass for Low-Carbon Agricultural Bioproducts, Arizona State University, in partnership with Colorado State University, Kansas State University, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, will use carbon dioxide from natural gas combustion and fermentation to cultivate algae to generate an animal feed additive that has a beneficial omega-3 fatty acid profile targeted at improving animal health and reducing enteric CH4 emissions.

State/Regional 

'Know Your Water' scheduled Nov. 18
11/12/2024 Hays Post
Join an engaging event hosted by K-State 105 and the Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment focused on water education and conservation. The event will feature a variety of interactive demonstrations to learn about water systems, efficient irrigation techniques, and stormwater and non-point source pollution through hands-on showcases and demonstrations. This community visit includes a tour of Pleasant View Farms, where you can see water quality improvement efforts in action.

Wheat beyond the value of grain
11/15/2024 Hutch Post
Kansas Wheat, in collaboration with Kansas State University researchers, has officially kicked off a new educational campaign aimed at farmers, landowners, financial institutions and policymakers. "Wheat: Beyond the Value of the Grain" emphasizes the wide-ranging advantages of including winter wheat in a cropping system, extending far beyond the grain's market price.

Local

Business Concierge Office creates fresh opportunities for students
11/15/2024 WIBW
The next generation of entrepreneurs is already showing interest in Topeka and Shawnee County's new Business Concierge Office. The office promises to be a resource hub for local entrepreneurs, welcoming small and big businesses alike. … K-State 105, which promotes economic vitality in all 105 counties in Kansas, joins Go Topeka in spearheading the endeavor.

Seven Kansas Water Plan Partnership Initiative Projects receive more than $320,000
11/15/2024 WIBW
Governor Laura Kelly announced on Friday that more than $320,000 will go toward seven new partnership initiatives for the second year of funding through the Kansas Water Office's Kansas Water Plan Partnership Initiative (KWPPI). Kansas State University will lead the Flickner Innovation Farm project, including the implementation of a 360 RAIN System.

Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024

Local

K-State helping Salina company
11/13/2024 KSAL
K-State’s Technology Development Institute provided design and prototyping assistance to Vortex Coatings to help bring a new applicator to the market just in time to display at the world’s largest automotive tradeshow.

KSUnite celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion at K-State
11/13/2024 KSAL
“Each of our three campuses exemplifies the core values that are highlighted in next-gen K-State. Connection, courage, impact, learner-focused, people-centered, and stewardship,” said Rana Johnson, vice president for diversity, equity, inclusion  and belonging. “Each campus highlighted their unique people and stories, showcasing what makes K-State a truly special place.”

KSUnite: Recap
11/13/2024 Wildcat 91.9
Kansas State University held its KSUnite event Wednesday at the K-State Student Union, featuring a community voices panel and emphasizing the message "You belong at Kansas State.

K-State Gardens to mark 150 years with slate of events
11/13/2024 The Manhattan Mercury
In 2025, the Kansas State University Gardens will celebrate its sesquicentennial. Officials said Wednesday there will be opportunities to celebrate the gardens throughout 2025 with a variety of events across campus and the Manhattan community.

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024

State/Regional

Potential for U.S. agriculture to be a net-negative greenhouse gas emitter
11/13/2024 National Hog Farmer
“Right now, U.S. agriculture represents 10% of our greenhouse gas emissions. We think with medium adoption, we can get almost to zero, one or 2%. And then again, high adoption, and we're not talking 100%, we're talking 75% adoption, then we can draw down and actually be 4% or 6% greenhouse gas negative,” says Chuck Rice, Kansas State University and one of the compilers of the report.

Local

K-State selected for multimillion-dollar project on climate resilience
11/12/2024 The Junction City Post
Kansas State University officials say a multimillion-dollar award from the U.S. Agency for International Development will support work by researchers on multiple continents to make agriculture more resilient to varying management practices, climates and extreme weather events.

Two K-State faculty receive $5,000 Iman Awards for teaching and research
11/12/2024 The Manhattan Mercury
Lisa Pohlman, doctor of veterinary medicine and professor of clinical pathology, will receive the Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching. The recipient of the Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Research is Waithaka Mwangi, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology.

Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024

National/International

KSU-IGP offers pet food formulation course for commercial production
11/11/2024 Pet Food Industry
Kansas State University's International Grains Program Institute is offering a virtual Pet Food Formulation for Commercial Production January 6-10, 2025. The course is designed for pet food company employees in roles such as formulation, new product development, quality control, marketing, procurement, ingredient supplying, equipment manufacturing, technical and sales positions, students, and new company startups in the pet food industry.

What keeps the animal feed industry up at night?
11/11/2024 Feedstuffs
The American Feed Industry Association will be hosting an educational program tackling hot topics facing the animal food industry at the upcoming International Production & Processing Expo, happening Jan. 28-30, 2025, in Atlanta, Ga. The program, "What's Keeping the Feed Industry Up at Night?" will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Jan. 29, 2025. Jordan T. Gebhardt from the Kansas State University department of diagnostic medicine/pathobiology will present "ASF & Potential Vulnerabilities in Feed Production."

State/Regional

Kansas State University lands USAID grant for research on sustainably boosting crop yield
11/11/2024 Kansas Reflector
The U.S. Agency for International Development pledged up to $50 million over the next five years for research led by Kansas State University to raise agricultural productivity while moderating environmental tradeoffs. The infusion of USAID funding guaranteed continuation of Kansas State’s work in the field of “sustainable intensification,” which calls on researchers to develop methods and technologies of increasing crop yield without cultivating more land. A challenge for scholars is to advance production on an international scale while making farming more resilient to climate change and extreme weather in regions of the planet with distinct management practices.

Local

How nitrate pollution has cut off a quarter of Pratt's water supply
11/11/2024 The Topeka Capital-Journal
In south-central Kansas, scientists from Kansas State University sampling private wells across 10 counties say most of the nitrate they've found comes from chemical crop fertilizer. South-central Kansas groundwater is particularly vulnerable to this contamination for several reasons. The region's groundwater is often very close to the surface. Much of the region is also sandy, making for especially permeable ground. "Sandy soil means that water percolates through that soil very quickly," K-State geology professor Matthew Kirk said, "and makes its way down to the water table."

Monday, Nov. 11, 2024

National/International

Kansas State University’s Rana Johnson Honored with Frank Abbott Award
11/10/24 Southern Regional Education Board
Rana Johnson, Kansas State University’s Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, was honored with this year’s Frank Abbott Award at the Institute on Teaching and Mentoring Oct. 30 to Nov. 3 in New Orleans, Louisiana. A former Southern Regional Education Board State Doctoral Program scholar, Dr. Johnson has worked as a volunteer, recruiter, presenter and, most recently, a member of the SREB Regional Advisory Committee since graduating from the University of Kentucky in 2001. Johnson, who has personally sponsored numerous student attendees, has not missed a single Institute gathering.

USAID pledges $57 Million and beyond to drive Agricultural Innovation Globally
11/10/24 AgroSpectrum Asia
The United States, through USAID, committed $57.4 million, working with Congress, to accelerate food security initiatives and advance novel climate-smart agricultural solutions to reduce global hunger, poverty, and undernutrition. Announced at the 2024 World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue in Iowa, more than $38 million will support Feed the Future – the U.S. government’s global hunger initiative – Innovation Labs. The Feed the Future Innovation Lab network, including two newly funded labs, will advance technology development and draw on the expertise of top U.S. universities and host country research institutions to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges in agriculture and food security. The Climate Resilient Sustainable Intensification lab, led by Kansas State University, will conduct research to develop and adapt technologies that increase agricultural productivity on less land with fewer environmental tradeoffs.

State/Regional

Kansas child care providers say subsidies difficult to access, survey finds
11/09/24 Hutch Post
Kansas’ child care providers view the state’s child care subsidy program as cumbersome and ineffective, according to a new survey, but they also see ways to fix the underused system. In partnership with Kansas State University, the Hutchinson-based United Methodist Health Ministry Fund highlighted a report Wednesday detailing providers’ perceptions of the state’s child care subsidy program. Child care providers and administrators across Kansas said that the state’s processes can be a barrier to those seeking assistance due to excessive paperwork, lack of communication and stringent eligibility requirements, the survey found. That’s in addition to inadequate reimbursement rates and delayed payments.

Who gets grandma’s yellow pie plate?
11/09/24 The Cowley CourierTraveler
Today’s families are complex and K-State Research and Extension has partnered with University of Minnesota Extension to help. “Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate” is an educational program that provides a step-by-step guide to passing on personal possessions. Planning ahead allows for more choices, the opportunity for communication and fewer misunderstandings and conflicts (i.e. less family feuds).Across generations, objects have meaning and carry history. The experiences of each person and every family is different. The decision about who gets what and why are also different.

Friday, Nov. 8, 2024

State/Regional

Abortion a top issue for Democrats in 2024, but Kansans felt different at polls
11/8/24 Topeka Capital Journal
“Despite recent speculation that the presidential race specifically might be closer, in Kansas, Republicans maintained robust support across the ballot, and that was from everything from or that was everything from the presidential race all the way down to those state legislative races,” said Brianne Heidbreder, an associate professor of political science at Kansas State University.

Using technology to improve cattle diagnostics in feedlots
11/8/24 Brownfield Ag News
Dr. Luis Feitoza with the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University explains what he’s looking for during the ultrasound. “It ranges one through five,” he says.  “One is being a normal animal in a way that we did not find any abnormality or artifacts and five being an animal that it is the highest level of severity in the pathology or involvement of lungs.”

Local

Winter Dance Concert to showcase K-State talent
11/7/24 KSNT
Associate Professor of Dance at K-State Kate Digby and Dance Student Ann Stegman join the 27 News Morning crew ahead of this year’s Winter Dance Concert. 

K-State engineers to send condensation study to International Space Station
11/8/24 The K-State Collegian
Jane Turner, masters student in mechanical engineering, said the study focuses on how air molecules move. “What we’re trying to investigate is how much the heat transfers, because part of that value, the part of the contribution to that value is from natural convection,” Turner said. “We’re trying to figure out through the experiment how much heat — the natural convection, which is due to gravity — affects how the frost forms.”

Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024

National/International

"Beyond the Wire: US Military Deployments and Host Country Public Opinion"
11/6/24 New Book Network
Guests on the podcast are Michael Allen, who is a Professor of International Relations in the School of Public Service at Boise State University; Michael Flynn, who is Professor in the Department of Political Science and Director of the Security Studies Program at Kansas State University; and Carla Martinez Machain, who is a Professor of Political Science at the University at Buffalo.

State/Regional

Voter turnout lags behind record-high 2020 in preliminary results
11/6/24 Topeka Capital Journal
“There is something about Donald Trump's position on the ballot, not the endorsements, but his position on the ballot, that absolutely brings folks out. And when they vote for him, they also vote down the ballot,” said Nate Birkhead, a political science professor at the Kansas State University.

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024

National/International

How does the Electoral College work?
11/5/2024 Reuters and Yahoo!News
In this refile, Nathaniel Birkhead, professor of political science at K-State, explains the Electoral College. "The way that it works is rather than having a national popular vote, each state has a given set of electors, and the candidate that gets the majority in that state will then have those electors meet, in what we call a college, to actually formally cast a vote for president."

State/Regional

Ways to reduce shrink when marketing cattle
11/5/2024 Farm Talk
Dr. Colin Palmer, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, says shrink is often misunderstood—especially the drawbacks to cattle health. Cattle do better (staying healthier, bouncing back more quickly after transport and sale) if they are not excessively shrunk during stressful times. "A study at Kansas State University and University of Arkansas reported that steers gathered at daybreak from pasture and placed in holding pens without feed or water shrank at the rate of 1.25% of body weight per hour during the first 2 to 2.5 hours, and 1.61% of body weight during the next 2.5 to 3 hours," says Palmer.

EPA Awards Nearly $600K Grant to Kansas Selectee for Pollution Prevention in Business
11/5/2024 KRVN Rural Radio
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that Kansas State University has been selected to receive nearly $600,000 in grants to provide technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities.

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024

National/International

Agricultural Youth Exchange connecting Kansas State University students with Taiwan
11/05/24 Brownfield Ag News
An agricultural youth exchange program at Kansas State University is helping students learn more about global agriculture. Each year, thanks to a partnership between Kansas State University and Taiwan’s National Chung Hsing University, six students spend a week traveling abroad.

State/Regional

Dining with diabetes course slated for Nov. 18
11/05/24 Salina Post
The Kansas Department of Health and the Environment estimates that more than 240,000 Kansans have Type II diabetes, a form of the disease in which the body does not produce enough insulin – or doesn’t use insulin properly – resulting in high blood sugar levels. Christina Holmes, a family and consumer sciences specialist in K-State Research and Extension’s southeast regional office is one of the organizers for the statewide Dining with Diabetes course that is offered online and in-person through Kansas extension offices. Holmes said the course focuses on such areas as carbohydrate control, portion control, physical activity and things people can do to reduce their likelihood of developing diabetes.

 

Monday, Nov. 4, 2024

National/International

Climate and Energy News Roundup: November 2024
11/1/2024 Augusta Free Press
Food and Agriculture: A Kansas State University study has shown soil treated with manure or compost fertilizer stores more carbon than soil treated with chemical fertilizers or no fertilizer. This underscores the benefits of sustainable farming by highlighting how organic compost and manure not only support the health of the soil but also directly fight rising global temperatures through carbon sequestration.

Pigeon Fever in Horses
11/1/2024 The Horse
"The (C. pseudotuberculosis) bacterium is viable for months in the soil, as well as on hay or in shavings," says Cassandra Olds, PhD, veterinary entomologist and assistant professor at Kansas State University, in Manhattan. "There can also be a long time between infection and when they get sick," she adds, which can make it more challenging for owners and veterinarians to determine the source. "The place where the bacteria enter the body is not always the same place that the disease symptoms are observed," she explains. "The bacteria may enter a scratch on the leg or hock sore contacting the ground, but a pus-filled swelling is observed on the chest."

State/Regional

K-State Professor Designs Biodegradable Garments for Sustainable Deathcare
11/1/2024 Flatland KC
A professor at Kansas State University aims to tackle that question in a new exhibition on green burial practices. Sherry Haar, fashion studies professor, designed several garments and textiles for burial made from natural fibers and dyes. Haar said she hopes to start a conversation about green burial practices. The exhibition is available to view for the next few weeks at K-State’s Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art.

Local

Community Collaboration Brings New Park Shelter to Junction City
11/1/2024 JC Post
Quality Play for All, in partnership with the City of Junction City said a new park shelter is being erected in the 5th Street Park. This project is a testament to the power of community collaboration, bringing together multiple entities to enhance the recreational facilities available to residents. … Students from Kansas State University's chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America have volunteered their time and skills to assist with the construction.

Friday, Nov. 1, 2024

National/International

EPA Announces Kansas Selectee to Receive Nearly $600K in Grants to Help Businesses Prevent Pollution
10/31/24 EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Kansas State University has been selected to receive nearly $600,000 in grants to provide technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities.

State/Regional

Kansas City Receives $6.4 Million HUD Grant to Address Lead Hazards in Homes
10/31/24 Kansas City
Community Partnerships: Key partners include K-State University, The Children’s Mercy Hospital and Clinics, and Neighborhood Housing Services

Local

K-State Plans Salina “Community Visit”
10/31/24 KSAL
Kansas State University is continuing community visits across the state and will spend Nov. 13-20 visiting several counties in central Kansas including Saline County.