January 2026
K-State in the news
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, Jan. 16, 2026
National/International
US farm economy shows widening cracks as costs rise, jobs vanish
1/15/26 Reuters
Many farmers are instead pushing older machinery to last longer. Terry Griffin, an agricultural economics professor at Kansas State University, analyzed U.S. Fire Administration data and found that as farm incomes fell in recent years, the number of combine fires in Kansas surged. "It's like if you have an old car and don't have the money to keep it up, you stop changing the oil or keeping it clean," Griffin said. "You need money to maintain your equipment."
Phillips community members excited about 'transformation' of lumber mill site
1/15/26 WJFW-TV
An old lumber mill in Phillips, Wisconsin, hasn’t been in use since 2015, yet it remains in Philips to this day, taking up precious space along the beautiful shore. The nonprofit group Price County United Limited held a community meeting Wednesday night with a team from Kansas State University. The KSU team specializes in cleaning brownfields which are contaminated properties. “There are so many moving parts and different aspects that need to go into a project like this from infrastructure to financial to environmental aspects,” said Roxanne Anderson, regional director for K-State's Technical Assistance for Brownfields program.
State/Regional
Kansas State University nuclear reactor provides students with hands-on experiences
1/14/26 KWCH, WIBW
“The student interest in nuclear engineering has really taken off over the past five, seven years,” KSU Nuclear Engineering Program Director Amir Bahadori said. “We’re seeing very strong interest, probably as a result of a lot of the discussions that you hear with big tech companies, with the federal government.”
New aviation program headlines Spring Hill High School expansion
1/14/26 The Olathe Reporter
Williams said the idea came from board member Jon Chitwood, but took shape through visits to other programs in Gardner, Ottawa, Lee’s Summit and Kansas State - Salina — K-State Salina could partner up with the Spring Hill program for college credits... "...to be able to see the programs, the drone programs and what they utilize for drones right now, the opportunity for our students," Williams said. "Some of the jobs that are out there for our students that they probably don’t even know exist right now when it comes to aviation.”
Donations fund music and STEM opportunities
1/14/26 Abilene Reflector-Chronicle
Assistant Superintendent Rick Rivera said the district’s ABC after-school strings program partners with Kansas State University, where music students travel to Abilene to provide string lessons to local students. The program culminates in a student performance each December. “This is a great opportunity for our students and for the Kansas State students to get real-world experience providing instruction,” Rivera said, noting that much of the funding goes toward stipends for the college instructors’ travel and teaching time.
K-State partnership puts cutting-edge drone tech in farmers' hands
1/16/26 Precision Farming Dealer
In addition to K-State’s expertise in agriculture and unmanned aerial systems, K-State will play a big role in helping Kelly Hills work with the large data sets collected from farmers’ lands, said Ajay Sharda, professor of biological and agricultural engineering and an ID3A director. “We have a diverse range of skillsets, including remote sensing, data analytics, working with large and small machines, and economic responses,” said Sharda. “There’s a whole team of people, and they’re all directly or indirectly involved with ID3A. It’s an amazing opportunity for us to put a pin on the map.”
Local
K-State nuclear engineering program provides hands-on experience with reactor operation
1/15/26 KSNT
"Getting to take a student into the control room, show them this is what a nuclear reactor console looks like and when you move these buttons, this is what happens over in the bay," said Amir Bahadori, program director. "You're actually controlling the splitting of the nucleus of atoms."
Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026
National/International
Microplastics from washing clothes could be hurting your tomatoes
1/15/26 Washington Post
Mary Beth Kirkham, an agronomy professor at Kansas State University who was not involved in the study, said she has seen positive results. She described an experiment in which corn grown with microplastics in the soil had higher protein levels than corn grown without the contaminants. “The corn grown with microplastics in the soil had more nitrogen in it, which led to more protein," Kirkham said. But the increased protein from the contaminants does come with trade-offs, Kirkham said. Microplastics are a known carrier of heavy metals, which if consumed can have negative health effects.
State/Regional
Study: Racoons are becoming more domesticated
1/15/26 Rural Radio Network
New research from Kansas State University comparing raccoons from urban and rural counties found that animals in heavily populated areas had slightly shorter snouts, a trait sometimes linked to early stages of domestication.
Local
Hypertension awarenesss & prevention opportunities
1/13/26 JC Post
K-State Extension, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, is offering a free Hypertension Awareness and Prevention Program this spring. Sessions will be led by American Heart Association Certified Healthy Heart Ambassadors.
Monday, Jan. 12, 2026
State/Regional
Getting accurate results from pregnancy checking your cows
1/9/2026 High Plains Journal
The group explained that pregnancy checking serves as more than a headcount of bred cows — it is a management tool that influences nutrition plans, marketing decisions and culling strategies. However, checking too early can lead to uncertainty. "Timing really matters when it comes to pregnancy diagnosis," K-State veterinarian Bob Larson said. "If you check too early, you may identify pregnancies that won't be maintained or miss pregnancies that occur later."
Mix of technologies can help farmers save water
1/10/2026 FarmProgress – Kansas Farmer
But while irrigation technology has a lot of upside, success depends on its simplicity, durability, ease of use and reliability. No matter how efficient it is, modern irrigation tech needs to make economic sense. Jonathan Aguilar, an ag engineer at Kansas State University, offered his state as a good example of how irrigation technology can save both money and water. Despite voluntarily using less water, some farmers in Kansas are still making as much as their neighbors who haven't reduced irrigation usage. "There are ways that this can be done. It's just a matter of how extensive the money savings are that [farmers] can possibly get from the system," Aguilar said.
Local
K-State horticulture expert says gardening is good for mental wellness
1/9/2026 The Mercury
Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini said research has shown mental health benefits associated with gardening, including reduced levels of depression, anxiety and increased satisfaction with quality of life. "Perhaps you have your own experiences with such benefits and that's why you continue to garden," Domenghini said. "Gardening can alleviate stress by providing food security. It is a source of physical activity and can serve as a social hobby."
Friday, Jan. 9, 2026
State/Regional
Sky-high innovation, boots-on-ground farmer insight
1/8/26 HutchPost
But it's still a farmer's calloused hands that sort through soil, steer a tractor's wheel or guide a drone's controls, highlighting the need to find the best ways to bring innovations into the hands of farmers. That's why Kansas State University's Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics, or ID3A, is partnering with Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems to develop the next generation of precision agriculture alongside those who will implement it.
USDA report expected to shape commodity prices heading into 2026
1/8/26 Brownfield Ag News
Dan O’Brien with Kansas State University says there’s been some uncertainty around total U.S. crop production due to the government shutdown and lack of reports in November. “Whether the numbers are going to be right or not, if they’re going to be changed later, I think the market will take this as the final put-to-bed, supply-side information that we have.”
Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026
National/International
Feeding your dog corn from the beach: what veterinarians say about it
1/7/26 Todo Noticias
According to veterinarian Dr. Susan C. Nelson , a clinical professor at the Kansas State University Veterinary Health Center , dogs should not eat corn on the cob , as the hard part can cause serious health complications. “If dogs ingest the cob or pieces of it, it can cause a life-threatening obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract,” explains the specialist.
State/Regional
This Kansas house being built with hemp is designed to keep down electricity bills
1/8/26 KCUR and other NPR stations
Kansas State University and Habitat for Humanity of the Northern Flint Hills are working on an affordable house in Ogden, Kansas, that will use hemp insulation to keep its residents warm in winter and cool in summer.
Venezuela situation could add uncertainty to commodity, energy markets
1/7/26 Brownfield Ag News
Dan O’Brien with Kansas State University says commodity prices have been steady so far. “They really have responded in a neutral-quasi positive manner. We haven’t seen analysts or traders overall move to the negative side.” He says it’s too early to determine if it will affect U.S. ag exports, but geo-political issues with China could come into play due to their relationship with Venezuela. “This isn’t going to probably encourage the Chinese to rush headlong to make more U.S. purchases. If anything, particularly for soybeans, they’re going to be more cautionary.”
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026
State/Regional
Potato…Po-tah-to: Knowing the variety makes a difference in how you cook versatile vegetable
01/06/26 High Plains Journal
Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee says that even though two potato varieties may seem the same, there can be a big difference in how each makes it to the dinner table.
Local
K-State seeks to grow rural Kansas' skilled trades workforce with grant
1/6/25 Manhattan Mercury
Kansas State University is transforming Kansas’ manufacturing workforce pipeline by expanding access to high-quality training, strengthening STEM teaching and providing personalized advising in rural school districts.
Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026
National/International
Why grip strength may be one of the best predictors of how well—and how long—you live
01/05/25 National Geographic
Pete Rohleder, a kinesiologist at Kansas State University, weighs in on how grip strength could be an indicator of your overall health.
State/Regional
In Kansas, tumbleweeds are an icon of the Plains. They’re also an invasive nuisance
01/06/26 KCUR
Tumbleweeds have taken over the High Plains. They thrive so well that they are part of the culture of the West. But this ample supply of blowing weeds can hurt farm yields, wreak havoc on neighborhoods and cause fire dangers. They are so well adapted for the High Plains that they keep Kansas State University weed scientist Patrick Geier pretty busy.
Border Queen Harvest Hub commercial kitchen opens in Caldwell building entrepreneurship for food enthusiasts
12/31/25 Summer News Cow
Shared commercial kitchens are currently trending among communities, and Caldwell jumped on board to open one recently. “This is a true collaboration of numerous entities,” says Stacy Davis, SCED director, in January. “K-State 105, SCED, Kansas Farm Bureau, Shop Kansas Farms, Vision Caldwell, Caldwell Chamber of Commerce, Sumner County Research and Extension, Border Queen Harvest Hub, and KanOkla are coming together to make this happen. This commercial kitchen will stimulate economic prosperity by providing the public access to a facility that allows them to grow a food business.”
Meet the new director at K-State Extension Sedgwick County
12/22/25 KSN TV
Kelli Anderson, Director and Community Vitality Agent at K-State Extension Sedgwick County, joined 3KSN to discuss the latest updates at the K-State Extension Sedgwick County office and how they are bringing expertise and resources to Kansans.
Monday, Jan. 5, 2026
State/Regional
A Kansas nuclear engineering program is back and students are quickly signing up
1/02/2026 KCUR
College students at Kansas State University are increasingly eyeing careers in nuclear technology. So the school has relaunched a bachelor’s degree that originally blazed a trail in the U.S. for nuclear studies.
Laura Kelly says water a top priority for her last year as governor
1/02/2026 Hutch Post
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said creating a sustainable water plan is one of her two top priorities for her last year as governor. Western Kansas has faced years of declining groundwater levels. The Kansas State University Foundation said about a quarter of the High Plains Aquifer, which supplies about 90% of water used in Kansas, is at "minimum threshold," meaning it's unable to extract 200 gallons per minute, the minimum needed for large-scale irrigation.
Asian longhorn tick, theileriosis concerning to K-State professor
1/02/2026 High Plains Journal
Livestock producers need to be aware of the Asian longhorn tick and what it can do to their cowherds. That's the assessment of Greg Hanzlieck, professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, associate director of the K-State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and section head for the field disease investigation program and outreach. He addressed attendees at the Kansas Livestock Association convention in Manhattan during late November.