October 2026
K-State in the news
Some of the top stories mentioning Kansas State University are posted below.
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026
National/International
Turning Student Success Data Into Action
10/12/26 Student Affairs Executive
K-State tracks traditional measures such as fall-to-fall retention, graduation rates and term-to-term persistence. It also examines leading indicators, including registration holds, course withdrawals, advising engagement, orientation participation, student voice responses through EdSights, and whether students register during priority registration. One example is K-State’s campus-wide progress report process, through which faculty teaching undergraduate courses provide midterm feedback. During the most recent spring term Watts referenced, 89% of instructors participated, generating hundreds of alerts that academic advisors and coaches used for proactive outreach.
Beef Demand Strengthens Despite Continued Household Financial Pressure
10/13/26 RFD-TV
Consumer willingness to pay for beef strengthened in September even as household financial pressure remained widespread, according to Kansas State University’s Meat Demand Monitor led by agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor. At retail, willingness to pay for ribeye steak rose from $19.54 to $20.71 per pound, while ground beef increased from $10.54 to $12.11. Beef’s projected retail market share held at 37%.
State/Regional
These are the top 10 universities and colleges in Kansas, according to WalletHub
10/13/26 Wichita Eagle
Financial company WalletHub has released its annual report ranking colleges and universities across the U.S. Analysts said they compared nearly 740 higher-education institutions and rated them on 30 “key measures” across seven categories, including cost, campus experience and educational outcomes. Key measures included admission rates, average class size, retention rates and the share of graduates who are offered full-time employment within six months. Kansas State University ranked No. 335, and the University of Kansas ranked No. 478.
Monday, Oct. 12, 2026
National/International
Insect Eavesdropper Helps Farmers Spot Pests Earlier
10/9/2026 Farms.com
Researchers at Kansas State University (K-State) are testing the Insect Eavesdropper, a technology that uses microphones, artificial intelligence, and data analysis to detect hidden insect activity in crops. The system could help farmers identify pest problems earlier and improve crop monitoring.
Tricky-to-track farm debt spurs USDA search for new measures
10/9/2026 Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Jenny Ifft, a Kansas State University agricultural finance professor currently working on a research project with USDA studying nontraditional farm lenders, estimates there could be two to three times as much debt as what USDA reports in its "individual and others" category, which the agency pegged at $45 billion in 2025.
State/Regional
SatRAP project tests satellite data for irrigation decisions
10/9/2026 High Plains Journal
As water supplies decline across the High Plains, researchers are testing whether satellite data can provide producers with information useful for making irrigation decisions. The Satellite Enabled Resilient Ag Project, known as SatRAP, is a five-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that began in 2025. The project brings together researchers from Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, Oklahoma State University, Texas Tech, Texas A&M University and West Texas A&M University, along with OpenET and NASA-affiliated researchers.
Food and mood? What you eat often affects how you feel
10/9/2026 Rural Messenger
Many Americans understand that the foods they eat influence their physical health, but a Kansas State University nutrition expert says diet also can play a role in mood and mental well-being. Chelsea King, a nutrition, food safety and health agent for K-State Extension’s office in Johnson County, said healthy eating is often discussed in the context of preventing chronic diseases, but nutrition also supports the brain and mental health.
Local
K-State gains ground in 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings
10/9/2026 The Mercury
Kansas State University moved into the top 80 public universities in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, with several undergraduate programs also moving up in this year’s rankings.
'Let markets work' | K-State researchers explain increased beef prices
10/9/2026 The Collegian
Brian Coffey and Glynn Tonsor, professors in the Department of Agricultural Economics, have conducted research to provide answers on where the price increase came from. The two K-State agricultural economists' work has served to make something clear: consumer demand for beef has played a bigger role in price increases than people realize. Tonsor and Coffey co-authored an assessment of the U.S. beef market. According to the assessment, although it is true that the low herd size contributes to prices, their data revealed that market changes have been "anything but one-dimensional" and are decades in the making.
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.”
Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026
National/International
US farm debt is at a record. Official data might be undercounting it
10/7/26 Reuters
A 2024 peer-reviewed study from Kansas State University, USDA's Economic Research Service and the National Credit Union Administration analyzed more than 4.4 million equipment liens across 14 farm states from 2001 through 2019. They found that equipment debt issued by non-traditional lenders was as much as four times larger than USDA data showed.
"How can lenders, policymakers, regulators and key stakeholders accurately assess debt volumes and farm financial stress when neither is reported for many lenders that serve the most stressed borrowers?" said Ifft, one of the authors.
Fertilizer prices likely to remain elevated
10/7/26 RFD-TV
Kansas State University agricultural economist Gregg Ibendahl says farmers were able to avoid some of this year’s higher prices by purchasing fertilizer earlier, but that likely will not be the case heading into 2027.
“Fertilizer prices went up a lot this spring, but the one good thing about that, I guess, not really a good thing about that, but the one benefit to farmers is a lot of farmers had their fertilizer purchased earlier last fall before the prices really went up. A lot of farmers really were able to avoid the higher fertilizer prices for this 2026 crop. That’s not going to be the case going into 2027. Fertilizer prices are already elevated; they’re likely to go even higher, so that’s going to be a big difference when you look at the cost of production for 2027. Farmers are going to have to pay the higher fertilizer prices."
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026
National/International
Kansas Agriculture Calls for Immigration Reform After ICE Raids
10/6/26 Successful Farming
During the week of the raids, Glynn Tonsor, a professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University, said the long-term effects of a beef processing slowdown are determined by how long it lasts. “It’s very hard to know the duration of these events, and with that, the duration of the labor response,” he said.
Eating Animal Protein Will Not Shorten Your Life: Researcher Debunks Anti-Beef Narratives
10/6/26 Drovers
Nutrition Scientist Yanni Papanikolaou lays out rigorous epidemiological evidence that dismantles those claims during the 13th Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems Lecture on Oct. 5, 2026, at Kansas State University. Presenting data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), Papanikolaou demonstrates high-quality animal protein is not only safe, but essential for human health across the lifespan.
State/Regional
Kansas Farm Bureau announces 2026 Rural Minds Matter Advocate of the Year award winners
10/6/26 Sunflower State Radio
Bashford, a K-State Extension agent in Morton County, was named Above 35 Advocate of the Year. She co-founded and coordinates a countywide Community Coalition that established three 988 crisis-support buildings, each with a direct-dial 988 phone, opioid overdose treatment and community blessing cabinet. Her work has helped reduce stigma, increase mental health literacy and bring crisis resources into everyday rural life.
“Crystal’s leadership has brought together national mental health advocacy organizations, agricultural associations and local communities to address the unique stresses facing rural families,” Brunkow says. “Her work ensures critical resources are available where they are most needed.”
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026
State/regional
Pink Pumpkin Project supports breast cancer awareness
10/06/2026 Hays Post
The Pink Pumpkin Project is turning a fall tradition into a reminder that breast cancer affects women and men, and that early detection does make a difference. The Pink Pumpkin Project brings together Kansas State University research and extension teams, the Cottonwood Extension District, master gardeners, conservation partners, HaysMed, the HaysMed Foundation and local businesses. Proceeds support the K-State Agricultural Research Center, the Cottonwood Extension District and the HaysMed Breast Care Center. The project began after Brian Olson, head of the Western Kansas Research and Extension Centers at K-State, heard about pink pumpkins and saw a way to connect the idea with local families affected by breast cancer.
Your Flower Friends: An Exercise In Recycling Love
10/05/2026 The KC Independent
The non-profit Your Flower Friends is a local example of recycling fresh, fragrant flowers used in weddings and events and repurposing them to brighten the days of people in nursing homes, hospitals, children’s hospitals, care centers, and more. Claire Taylor, a K-State student, envisioned a way for the perfectly good flowers left over from weddings and events in the Kansas City area to be donated, redesigned, and delivered to brighten others' lives. Claire and her mother bring volunteers together to pick up donated flowers and deliver them to be arranged in vases for the following day.
K-State veterinarians go on location to highlight learning opportunities at the Kansas State Fair Birthing Center
10/06/2026 Sunflower State Radio
Kansas State University veterinarians recently aired a long-running podcast at the Kansas State Fair Birthing Center, giving listeners a firsthand look at animal agriculture, livestock production and the birthing process. For decades, the birthing center has been a popular stop at the Kansas State Fair, where visitors can see calves, piglets and lambs being born while learning about animal health and care.
Monday, Oct. 5, 2026
State/regional
KCIA commits $1.5 million to research, promotion and value creation
10/02/2026 High Plains Journal
KCIA intends for collaboration to be central to the effort. The association plans to continue working with Kansas State University, Kansas Wheat, producer and commodity organizations, genetic suppliers, grain handlers, end users and private sector stakeholders to identify opportunities that align with the board’s vision and strategy.
K-State Hosts Nutrition Research Leader Yanni Papanikolaou
10/02/2026 Kansas Ag Connection
Kansas State University will host the 2026 Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems Lecture on October 5, 2026, featuring nutrition researcher Yanni Papanikolaou. The event will be held at McCain Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Local
Call Hall's next chapter: Ice cream returns in new 1863 Marketplace next spring
10/02/2026 Collegian
For students who arrived at K-State after the dairy bar closed for renovations in 2025, Call Hall ice cream has been more of a legend than reality. That is set to change next spring. The renovated Call Hall dairy plant is expected to resume production next March for the opening of the 1863 Marketplace, bringing back Purple Pride ice cream, milk, cheese and other Call Hall products after a nearly two-year absence. While an exact opening date has not been announced yet, the goal is for it to be officially open for production after spring break.
K-State enrollment inches up as statewide numbers decrease
10/02/2026 Wildcat 91.9
Four years ago, K-State’s enrollment dipped below 20,000 for the first time since 1988. Since then, it has slowly increased and continues that trend this year. President Richard Linton announced Sept. 18 during his State of the University Address that enrollment has risen 7.96% since he took office in February 2022.
Friday, Oct. 2, 2026
National/International
How El Niño will drive up the cost of foods you love
10/2/26 CNN
Nelson Villoria, an agricultural economist at Kansas State University, said there can be a time lag between an El Niño and its effects on food prices. “Tropical commodities such as palm oil, coconut oil, coffee and fishmeal, show the largest increases,” he said. With vegetable oils and coffee, prices can stay elevated for up to a year after an El Niño.
Exercise may blunt the genetic risk of depression, landmark study finds
10/2/26 ScienMag
But a new study published in Stress Biology by Veerendra K. Sharma, Sandeep Marla, and David E. Cook of Kansas State University and Oregon State University reveals an unexpected vulnerability: proteins that plant viruses evolved long ago to defeat one RNA-silencing system can also defeat another. The viral suppressors of RNA interference known as HcPro and P19, the researchers found, block not only the plant’s native RNAi machinery but also CRISPR-Cas13-mediated transcript interference, effectively acting as anti-CRISPR factors.
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026
National/International
Explainer-What Is Red-Dyed Diesel and Can It Help Lower Prices, as Trump Wants?
9/30/26 US News and World Report
"It would help less than it sounds like, and the version the administration can do without Congress wouldn't lower pump prices at all," said Gregg Ibendahl, an agricultural economics professor at Kansas State University. "It's a much safer idea than the export ban — mostly because it does less."
Plant Viruses Already Carry Weapons That Can Blind CRISPR-Cas13
9/30/26 ScienMag
But a new study published in Stress Biology by Veerendra K. Sharma, Sandeep Marla, and David E. Cook of Kansas State University and Oregon State University reveals an unexpected vulnerability: proteins that plant viruses evolved long ago to defeat one RNA-silencing system can also defeat another. The viral suppressors of RNA interference known as HcPro and P19, the researchers found, block not only the plant’s native RNAi machinery but also CRISPR-Cas13-mediated transcript interference, effectively acting as anti-CRISPR factors.
State/Regional
This grain could be an answer to drought-prone fields – if more Americans eat it
9/30/26 Harvest Public Media/NPR
Sorghum thrives in conditions that make other crops wilt. It welcomes heat and tolerates drought. The plant grows deep roots to capture hard-to-reach moisture beneath the soil, according to Sarah Sexton Bowser, director for the Center for Sorghum Improvement at Kansas State University. "A connecting thread of sorghum production across the globe is you find sorghum production in spots where things are tough," said Sexton Bowser.
Wichita middle school deals with bats as KDHE warns of potential rabies exposures
9/30/26 KMUW
Drew Ricketts, a wildlife expert at Kansas State University, said bats don’t typically attack humans. But their claws and mouths are so small that it can be hard to detect a bite or scratch.
K-State opens Western Star Global Grain and Food Center
9/30/26 Kansas Farmer/Farm Progress
Kansas State University’s College of Agriculture is renowned for its excellence in all aspects of agricultural research and education. On Sept. 18, members of the faculty and staff, along with dignitaries from across the state, gathered to cut the ribbon on the Western Star Global Grain and Food Center, a $130 million guiding star in the future of collaboration and discovery.
Local
New Call Hall facility will offer frozen treats and much more
9/30/26 Marysville Advocate
While there’s been plenty of excitement for Kansas State University’s new Western Star Grain and Food Center — a new state-of-the-art interdisciplinary center for food and grain research, development and education — there’s also been a lot of buzz surrounding the return of Call Hall ice cream and other dairy products.