Kansas State University

K-State in the news — March 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, March 29, 2024

State/Regional

What veggies can grow in a partially shaded spot? Meet a handful that might produce
3/28/24 The Kansas City Star
With creativity, even those relegated primarily to shade can enjoy a harvest from their gardens, writes K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent Anthony Reardon.

Local

K-State Gardens plan pair of events to celebrate Spring
3/28/24 WIBW
Terry Olson, who directs the K-State Gardens' Run for the Roses 5K, and Scott McElwain, the gardens’ director, visited Eye on NE Kansas to share the details of a couple events hosted by the K-State Gardens.

*‘Manhattan Community Portrait’ portrays social art project at K-State’s Beach Museum of Art
3/27/24 WIBW
The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art at Kansas State University invites the public to join guest artist Susie J. Lee for a public presentation on the “Manhattan Community Portrait” project from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5, at Union Hall, 328 Poyntz Ave.

Thursday, March 28, 2024

National/International

*Moran announces $33.5 million in federal grants for K-State Salina
3/27/24 Yahoo News and Salina Journal
A total of $33.5 million is coming to the Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus thanks to funding from the federal government.

State/Regional

Harvesting Change: A Perennial Future
3/28/24 Flatland KC
But there are tremendous hidden costs in scaling up and those lower prices of foods,” said Matt Sanderson, a professor at Kansas State University. Sanderson teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses about community, sustainability, environment, global change, agriculture and food. “People are searching for alternatives,” Sanderson said. “Farmers are because of what they’re seeing (happen) on the landscape to biodiversity, to soil, to water, but also to their rural communities as they’re hollowing out.”  

*U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran announces more than $33 million investment for K-State Salina
3/27/24 Salina Post
In a packed room at the Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology College Center, attendees anxiously waited for U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran to visit the podium and make a hearty announcement — more than $33 million is coming to the Salina campus.

Local

*Officials talk about green space, historic buildings as they gather feedback on master plan
3/27/24 KMAN and Manhattan Mercury
K-State officials on Tuesday sought input as they continue work on the university’s new master plan.

*K-State's All-University Open House coming April 6
3/27/24 Manhattan Mercury
The open house is April 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Manhattan campus. This is the 55th year of the event, which spotlights Kansas State University’s undergraduate and graduate programs and projects.

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

State/Regional

*Moran announces $33.5 million investment in K-State Salina aerospace programs
03/26/24 KWCH-TV
A $33.5 million federal investment will transform K-State Salina’s aviation program by creating an Aerospace Innovation Training Hub.

Kansas House bills target foreign adversary drones, investments and property ownership
03/27/24 Kansas Reflector 
He would transfer the aircraft to Wichita State University and Kansas State University-Salina engineering programs, which would split $500,000 to conduct research into whether recording, processing or transmitting capabilities had been used for espionage. The universities could retrofit the drones with nonthreatening components in an effort to put them back into service.

Local 

K-State hosts town hall to gather feedback on facilities master plan
03/26/24 1350 KMAN
On Tuesday, Kansas State University held a town hall meeting as they begin the process of the university’s new master plan. It has been 12 years since the university last adopted a master plan.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

National/International

Realizing Potential | American Libraries Magazine
03/26/24 American Libraries Magazine
American Libraries spoke with professionals at public, school, and academic libraries using, and innovating with, artificial intelligence. In 2021, the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab (SFIL) at Kansas State University in Manhattan opened its AI Studio. The studio, located inside Hale Library—the main library on campus—provides access to technologies and programming to students and faculty across disciplines and members of the public.

Scientists collaborate to study cause of liver abscesses in cattle
03/26/24 The National Provisioner
A collaborative effort between scientists from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Texas Tech University, Kansas State University, and West Texas A&M University work on reliable and repeatable liver abscess models to learn the triggers for this costly condition in cattle that not only negatively impacts animal well-being but also causes liver condemnations and may lead to increased carcass trimming and an overall decrease in profitability.

State/Regional

Commissioners convene to canvass local election results
03/26/24 WIBW
Nathaniel Birkhead, Department Head of Political Science at Kansas State University, appeared on a live news story on the Presidential Primary Preference. "It's very easy to look at the things at the presidential ticket and make decisions based on that for every other office, but if we look at the state legislature right now, they're debating really important things. All these things are really consequential and that's not affected by who the president is.” said Birkhead.

Monday, March 25, 2024

National/International

How tiny houses built with dirt 'Legos' hope to help narrow KC's home ownership gap
3/24/2024 Yahoo!News and the KC Star
Michael Gibson, an associate professor in the architecture department at Kansas State University, thinks that earth bricks are a step in the right direction toward creating more affordable housing options for residents in the metro. "I think earth bricks are an interesting product and idea," says Gibson. "I think there is a shift happening in the field of design, that we are realizing scaling back on size will definitely help home ownership and make it more available to people." According to Gibson, the production of most compressed earth bricks are a great option for developers who are looking to cut costs on materials while also looking for an environmentally friendly standard for building.

This is some free financial therapy
3/22/2024 Marketplace
McCoy had to unwind her relationship with money and work through a lot of self-sabotage to get her finances on track. The end result of that work was not only a better financial situation, she said, but a better marriage. Now a licensed therapist and assistant professor at Kansas State University, McCoy helps others do the same. She said the real work of financial therapy isn't just learning the nuts and bolts of personal finance, but managing the attitudes we form about money at a young age.

Kansas State teams with Australia agtech accelerator on farm innovation
3/19/2024 Agriculture Dive
Australian startup incubator SparkLabs Cultiv8 on Tuesday announced a partnership with Kansas State University's research and development arm to drive growth in agriculture and food technologies. The joint effort with K-State Innovation Partners allows participating upstarts bilateral access to U.S. and Australian markets, investors, researchers, talent and other resources to help scale or bring their products to fruition.

State/Regional

New Beach Museum of Art exhibition features artists' studios, tools
3/22/2024 Hiawatha World Online
A new exhibition at the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art at Kansas State University offers a behind-the-scenes look at art studios from the artists’ perspectives. "Where the Magic Happens: Artists in the Studio" runs through Saturday, October 19, in the Beach Museum of Art's Mary Holton Seaton Gallery West.

Local

Effort to address childcare shortage takes a step forward
3/22/2024 JC Post
Participants in a childcare crisis summit have set overall goals for an effort to improve the service in Geary County. There is a big shortage in the county, which has one of the highest rates of need in Kansas. Geary County employers and families have 1,800 less child care placements than are needed … A total of 61 people participated in the summit which included local residents and representatives from USD 475 and Kansas State University.

Friday, March 22, 2024

State/Regional

The evolution of the wheat industry over the past 75 years
3/22/24 High Plains Journal
Imagine gazing out across a wheat field in 1949. It would present some obvious differences from the fields that dot the High Plains today. Kansas State University wheat breeder Allan Fritz said the most noticeable difference would be the height of the wheat 75 years ago, as that was prior to the introduction of semi-dwarf wheat.

Local

K-State Spanish classes helping museum translate Goodnow House tours
3/21/24 The Mercury
K-State students have been helping museum personnel with the Spanish translation of the Goodnow House tour. “We’re hoping this can become an audio tour,” said museum director Katharine Hensler, “where visitors can scan a QR code and get both the audio and the transcribed tour in Spanish.”

Next-Gen K-State to advance Research and Discovery Innovation
3/21/24 K-State Collegian
David Rosowsky, vice president for research, outlined the research goals in the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan, including building interdisciplinary research teams.

*K-State’s college of engineering selects 32 students for membership organization
3/21/24 WIBW
David Rosowsky, vice president for research, outlined the research goals in the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan, including building interdisciplinary research teams.

Thursday, March 21, 2024

National/International

*Devastating diseases threaten Kansas pets and livestock. This K-State lab keeps watch.
3/20/24 Rural Radio Network
The samples that could determine the fate of Kansas’ economy come to a small backroom at the back of Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine at dusk and dawn, as they do at midday and midnight.

State/Regional

Researching efficient nitrogen management
3/20/24 Kansas Farmer
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) awarded a $872,560 Seeding Solutions grant to Kansas State University to provide regional data on nitrogen management practices for producers in the Great Plains.

Local

K-State professor speaks about what to expect during solar eclipse at Flint Hills Discovery Center
3/20/24 WIBW
Christopher Sorensen is the Cortelyou-Rust University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics at Kansas State University and Vice President for Research and Design at Hydrograph, a startup based on his discoveries. He is an avid amateur astronomer who is spearheading the Solar Eclipse viewing activities at K-State. He has won numerous teaching awards and enjoys sharing his love of the night sky with others.

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

State/Regional

K-State Olathe names new exec to oversee strategic planning for wider eco-devo role
3/19/2024 Kansas City Business Journal
The college’s new strategic plan calls for increasing enrollment, boosting research revenue and strengthening community partnerships.

Local 

K-State President gives official update to City Commission
3/19/2024 News Radio KMAN
Kansas State University President Richard Linton spoke to the Manhattan City Commission Tuesday.

*K-State Technology Development Institute partners with veterinary college to develop 3D-printed animal eyes for ophthalmology training
3/19/2024 WIBW
Kansas State University veterinary students have a new and improved way to study veterinary ophthalmology.

Monday, March 18, 2024

National/International

*Students to host WINGS program during K-State Salina open house
3/16/2024 General Aviation News
Two Kansas State University Salina clubs, Flight Team and Women's Air Race Team, are planning Flight Fest during K-State Salina's open house on Saturday, April 6, 2024. Flight Fest will feature an FAA WINGS safety seminar about Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) on the K-State ramp at the Salina Regional Airport (KSLN).

'There is no reason for us to come': My algebra class taught me why America's teenagers are facing a bleak future.
3/17/2024 Business Insider
By the most recent count, as of August 2022, schools across the country were trying to fill upward of 55,000 open positions, analyses by researchers at Kansas State University found — a 53% increase from the year before.

State/Regional

Precision ag hits, misses and insights
3/15/2024 Iowa Farmer Today
To gain a better understanding of the conclusions in the report, I spoke to Terry Griffin, a faculty member of the Ag Economics Department at Kansas State University and one of the lead authors of the ARMS study … "One of the things I want producers and farmers to think about isn't just the technology on its own, but their own risk preference and how much time and effort that they're willing to invest," Griffin said. "So, for instance, automated guidance doesn't require a lot of training. Actually, it may require less training to operate the equipment than before the technology. But variable rate technology requires additional training and experience and education."

USGS reports M3.5 earthquake Friday near Kansas City International Airport
3/16/2024 KSHB
Abdelmoneam Raef, K-State associate professor of geology, was featured on a live broadcast on KSHB 41 about the earthquake near the Kansas City International Airport.

Noted soil chemist to talk about climate-resilient agriculture March 26
3/15/2024 KRVN 880 Rural Radio
Rattan Lal, a pioneer in soil-centric agricultural management to improve food security globally and a leader in developing climate resilient agriculture, will give the 2024 Roscoe Ellis, Jr. Lecture in Soil Science at Kansas State University on March 26.

Friday, March 15, 2024

State/Regional

AGC Awards: St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center in Manhattan a 'lifetime' project
03/15/24 The Business Journals
St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center in Manhattan is the overall winner in the Association of General Contractors of Kansas Awards. The three-phase construction effort spanned nearly three years and more than doubled the building's square footage.

Local focus group to look at early childhood care, education issues
03/15/24 High Plains Daily Leader
K-State researchers would like to invite the public to a focus group session to help understand issues related to recruitment and retention, professional development and the career pathway for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) professionals in the community.

K-state studies impact of fire on prairie grazing health
03/15/24
At a recent Cattlemen’s Day event, Kansas State University showcased research by graduate students on the ecological impacts of prescribed fire on the Kansas prairie, focusing on cattle grazing, weed control, and tick management.

K-state introduces wheat varieties named for legends
03/15/24
The agricultural sector is set to receive a significant boost this fall with the introduction of two new wheat varieties from Kansas State University's esteemed wheat breeding program. These varieties, named KS Bill Snyder and KS Mako, represent a blend of tradition and cutting-edge agricultural research, set to be distributed by Kansas Wheat Alliance seed associates.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

National/International

How Are Higher Ed Instructors Using GenAI Today?
3/13/2024 Government Technology
Theresa Merrick, an instructor and assistant director of the Writing Center at Kansas State University, said generative AI tools can help students get started on research paper assignments. This use of GenAI has become more accepted in recent months among writing instructors who were initially more concerned about how the tool would be used for plagiarism among students. She said she has also experimented with using the AI platform SciSpace for teaching research skills.

Space Weather: Start Planning Today for Tomorrow’s GPS Outage
3/13/2024 Drovers
It’s a simple question, but one that Dr. Terri Griffin, Kansas State University, suspects many farmers would have a hard time answering “Yes” to: Can you plant or harvest a crop without GPS? Instances of space weather, or solar flare events, can and often do cause GPS failures. Griffin says a lot of important, powerful and smart people in world government are concerned about these events becoming more commonplace.

State/Regional

Connected ‘Cats pay a visit to Liberal
3/13/2024 Liberal Leader and Times
K-State President Richard Linton and local Connected Cats students Brady Kappelmann and Bryan Symons, both Liberal High School graduates, were in Liberal last Wednesday for the Seward County stop, and Kappelmann and Symons talked about their involvement with Connected Cats.

Local

City officials discuss funding strategies for wastewater treatment plant expansion project
3/13/2024 KMAN
Manhattan city commissioners expressed support for the city’s idea to work with Kansas State University also on a project funding opportunity to obtain grant money from the federal government. “I think it’s pretty proactive to try to go after this grant because it will put us ahead of the game if we get surprises from the federal government on changes,” said Mayor Wynn Butler.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

National/International

2024's Best Online Checking Accounts
3/11/2024 WalletHub
Expert opinions

Derek Sensenig
Practicing Professor, Personal Financial Planning & Director of Personal Financial Planning Masters Program- Kansas State University - College of Health and Human Sciences

America Has a Farming Crisis
3/12/2024 Newsweek
A report by Kansas State University and the Kansas Department of Agriculture issued in November found that addressing farm labor shortages could boost Kansas's economy to the sum of $11.7 billion.

State/Regional

Local educators receive Spirit of K-State awards
3/12/2024 Liberal Leader and Times
Kansas State University is looking to connect with more communities throughout the state through its Connected ‘Cats program and recently, the program recognized a pair of Liberal High School teachers, Tasha Ebeling and Heather Watt, with its Connected Cats Spirit of K-State Award. 

Local

Hummingbirds staying in Kansas instead of migrating, expert says
3/12/2024 KSNT
K-State Professor of Biology Alice Boyle said it’s generally safer for the birds to raise their young in the temperate Kansas weather.

Monday, March 11, 2024

National/International

Chlamydia-like 'parrot fever' won't be the next bird flu pandemic, experts say
3/8/2024 BBC
Whether on vacation or at home, people should take certain precautions when interacting with wildlife to avoid psittacosis and other illnesses, adds Gretel Tovar-Lopez, assistant professor of exotic pet, wildlife and zoological medicine at Kansas State University. You should try to avoid areas in which wild birds congregate, and wash your hands frequently if you must come into contact with birds.

US Expert visits SKUAST-K to promote awareness of food security
3/10/2024 Greater Kashmir
Prof. Ramasamy Perumal, a renowned sorghum breeder from Kansas State University and Honorary Adjunct Professor at SKUAST-Kashmir, paid a visit to the agricultural university from March 6-9. During his stay, he visited the Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-K and delivered a talk on US agriculture, global efforts to promote millets and the research programmes on rainfed agriculture.

AIM Center for Excellence at Salina airport graduates first set of students
3/10/2024 Yahoo!News and Salina Journal
For the students that took part in the first section of the AIM program, there was a sense of joy in coming out of it with not only competency-based microcredentials through Kansas State University-Salina, but more importantly skills than can shape their potential path forward in industry.

State/Regional

Funding, technical assistance through SSBCI help businesses grow
3/6/2024 High Plains Journal
Without GROW Kansas, Razer Precision Instruments (RPI) would not be a business today, according to its president, Kenny Burris. RPI manufactures a small pressure gauge vital to many processes and industries. "Faulty gauges created the idea for a business," Burris said, "to build a better gauge for industry." With help from GROW Kansas, the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), Burris is making a go at it from his warehouse in Junction City, Kan.

Early on, Burris recognized that he needed technical assistance and access to capital. He reached out to Bret Lanz, commercialization manager at Technology Development Institute (TDI) at Kansas State University. Lanz said RPI had an idea for the business, and it had experienced owners. It needed help, however, with the manufacturing piece of the business plan. TDI provided the technical assistance and connected Burris with funders.

'Morel' Values: Online classes will help enthusiasts ID, sell popular wild mushroom
3/9/2024 Salina Post
K-State Research and Extension, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, is offering online classes to help people earn the necessary approval to sell wild morel mushrooms.

Friday, March 8, 2024

State/Regional

*Kansas State University president visits Reno County
3/7/24 Hutch Post
"K-State 105 is about taking the advantage of the networks we have and the relationships that we have with the extension and every single county and community in the state," K-State President Richard Linton said. "And it's about business development, it's about economic growth and its about job creation and it's also about how do we build partnerships to able to make it attractive for industry and companies to want to build more in Kansas or want to come to Kansas to be able to build out their businesses." 

Local

*K-State veterinary students learn to use animal eye exam equipment using 3-D printing technology
3/7/24 WIBW
K-State officials indicated the TDI and the College of Veterinary Medicine developed a new training aid to help veterinary students learn to use eye exam equipment on several species of animals patients: 3D-printed eye globes replicating the eyes of dogs, cats, horses and rabbits.

*K-State’s college of engineering remains top choice in Kansas for students
3/7/24 WIBW
K-State officials indicated the TDI and the College of Veterinary Medicine developed a new training aid to help veterinary students learn to use eye exam equipment on several species of animals patients: 3D-printed eye globes replicating the eyes of dogs, cats, horses and rabbits.

Riley County Extension program focuses on changing national narratives on rural living
3/7/24 KMAN
At an event on rural living hosted by K-State Research and Extension's Riley County office, guest educator Benjamin Winchester said rural America isn’t dying, but rather going through a slow transformation. He noted a 2009 Pew Research Study that found 51% of Americans would prefer to live in rural areas.

*K-State's Susan Metzger discusses Kansas Water Institute, water research
3/7/24 KSNT
Susan Metzger appeared live on the KSNT morning show to discuss the importance of water research and the Kansas Water Institute.

Thursday, March 7, 2024

National/International

WQC speakers talk quality, yield, management
3/7/24 Baking Business
Lucas Haag, a Kansas State University associate professor, extension agronomist at K-State Research & Extension and a wheat producer, gave an overview of what the state’s extension service does and how that fits into the broader wheat chain.

State/Regional

*K-State conducting cancer research in 3 Kansas counties
2/26/24 KWCH
The Johnson Cancer Research Center at Kansas State University is funding a research initiative to evaluate two potential cancer risks in Russell, Ellsworth and Lincoln counties.

Spring ahead of schedule in Kansas — climatologists uncertain for severe weather season
3/6/24 Salina Post
"This winter played out like a classic El Niño. We were much above normal [temperatures] and had above-normal precipitation—that's the hallmark of El Niño," said K-State Research and Extension Assistant State Climatologist Matthew Sittel. "The problem this time of year is that the signal is less obvious."

Seward County community visit
3/6/24 KSCB
Connected Cat, Brady Kappleman, promoted the March 6 Seward County community visit and open forum. Live interview begins at approximately 3:30 mark.

Local

Third annual Social Media Week at K-State features events in artificial intelligence and more
3/6/24 WIBW
News segment featuring the March 6 Social Media Week browsing fair.

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

National/International

*Researchers explore links between gut microbes and effective colon cancer care
03/05/24 Medical Xpress
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, and a Kansas State University graduate student is doing research to identify and improve effective colon cancer care.

State/Regional

*Connected Cat Brady Kappelmann featured on radio interview 
03/05/24 KSCB

*K-State engineer receives NSF grant to explore methods to reduce animal testing in drug development
03/05/24 KMUW 
Davood B. Pourkargar was featured on a live radio broadcast on KMUW, the National Public Radio member station in Wichita.

Kansas State professor making healthy food more accessible for all
03/05/24 FOX4
This Kansas State professor is working to feed the world. Eleni Pliakoni teaches and researches urban food production and post-harvest handling at K-State’s Olathe campus.

Local

PBS stations to air documentary on Kansas prescribed burning
03/05/24 1350 KMAN
Carol Baldwin, a member of K-State Research and Extension’s range management staff, said prescribed fire is a rich part of the history of the Flint Hills region, an area of nearly 4 million acres in central Kansas.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

National/International

March Is the Best Time For Planting Grass Seed
03/05/24 Back Yard Boss
According to Kansas State University Extension, the best time to plant warm-season grass seeds such as zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, or St. Augustine is March through early April. However, the best time to plant cool-season grasses such as sheep fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and tall fescue is from late summer to early fall.

State/Regional

‘Mob grazing’ topic at multi-species seminar
03/05/24 High Plains Journal
The term “mob grazing” may seem mean different things to different people, but the benefits to multi-species grazing can be clearing observed when done properly.  K-State Research and Extension units from across northeast Kansas will be hosting the annual Sheep and Goat School in Holton on March 13, to discuss this topic. 

Monday, March 4, 2024

National/International

Realizing Potential: Libraries employ (and investigate) artificial intelligence
3/1/2024 American Libraries Magazine
In 2021, the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab (SFIL) at Kansas State University in Manhattan opened its AI Studio. The studio, located inside Hale Library—the main library on campus—provides access to technologies and programming to students and faculty across disciplines and members of the public. "People are very interested in what AI is doing for them," says Jeff Sheldon, SFIL's associate director. "With that comes exploration of things like ethics and how to apply [them]."

Babies born March 2 can get a free book for Dr. Seuss Day
3/1/2024 USA TODAY
As for "The Cat in the Hat," "the cat is somewhere in between offensive and inoffensive," Philip Nel, Kansas State University professor of English and author of "Was the Cat in the Hat Black?: The Hidden Racism of Children's Literature and the Need for Diverse Books," previously told USA TODAY. Nel said that telling aspects of the cat clearly are derived from racist blackface performers popular a century ago – performers, who, like the cat, often wore white gloves and neckwear.

Realizing potential: Libraries employ (and investigate) artificial intelligence
3/1/24 American Libraries Magazine
In 2021, the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab (SFIL) at Kansas State University in Manhattan opened its AI Studio. The studio, located inside Hale Library, provides access to technologies and programming to students and faculty across disciplines and members of the public. “People are very interested in what AI is doing for them,” says Jeff Sheldon, SFIL’s associate director. “With that comes exploration of things like ethics and how to apply [them].”

How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard — Easy Expert Tips Stop Them From Slithering
3/2/2024 Yahoo!Life and For Women First
"Tall grass is always snake habitat," says Drew Ricketts, associate professor and extension wildlife specialist for Kansas State University Research and Extension. That's because tall grasses help snakes hide from their natural predators, birds like hawks and owls. Since snakes are also generally shy animals and prefer being left alone, taller grasses give them ample hiding places. So neglecting to mow your yard can be a problem.

State/Regional

K-State president speaks at Cattlemen's Day
3/1/2024 High Plains Journal
Cattle producers heard about plans at Kansas State University from its top cat on March 1 in Manhattan, Kansas. President Richard Linton opened the 111th K-State Cattlemen's Day and talked about the university's strategy for the future.

Local

State wheat experts to outline best practices for growing wheat in Kansas
3/3/2024 JC Post
K-State Research and Extension and Kansas Wheat are hosting a pair of meetings in Dodge City (March 7) and Wichita (March 8) to share what those organizations term "a prescription for producing high-yielding and high-quality wheat in a sustainable manner." The meetings – called Kansas Wheat Rx – combine suggested management practices for the economical and sustainable production of high-quality winter wheat in Kansas. The information is based on research conducted at Kansas State University and funded – at least in part – by Kansas Wheat, a cooperative agreement between the Kansas Wheat Commission and the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers.

Severe weather looms; make plans now to stay safe, says K-State meteorologist
3/2/2024 The Mercury
Kansas State University meteorologist Chip Redmond agrees that weather in Kansas can change pretty quickly, so it's important to know what to do in any situation in order to remain safe. "It starts with preparedness," said Redmond, who is also manager of the Kansas Mesonet. "We all should have a plan, including such things as just knowing how you get your weather alerts. You may get those from a weather radio or other sources, such as news media. And then, you need to talk with your family."

Friday, March 1, 2024

National/International

How K-State's B. Jan Middendorf is shaping sustainable farming practices around the globe
2/29/24 USA TODAY/The Topeka Capital-Journal
B. Jan Middendorf — Kansas' selection for USA TODAY's 2024 Women of the Year — is the associate director of Feed the Future Innovation Lab. Her team receives funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development to conduct agricultural research on sustainable farming practices in developing countries in Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and East and West Africa.

‘The lifeblood of the community’: States invest to save rural grocery stores
3/1/24 States Newsroom
In Kansas, 1 in 5 rural stores closed between 2008 and 2018, according to the Rural Grocery Initiative at Kansas State University. No new store has opened in half of the 105 communities that lost grocers over that time.

Realizing potential: Libraries employ (and investigate) artificial intelligence
3/1/24 American Libraries Magazine
In 2021, the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab (SFIL) at Kansas State University in Manhattan opened its AI Studio. The studio, located inside Hale Library, provides access to technologies and programming to students and faculty across disciplines and members of the public. “People are very interested in what AI is doing for them,” says Jeff Sheldon, SFIL’s associate director. “With that comes exploration of things like ethics and how to apply [them].”

What it will take to combat the baking industry’s labor shortage
2/29/24 Baking Business
In response to the industry’s heightened labor challenges, the organization in 2021 started its “Your Future in Baking” initiative, providing hands-on demonstrations and presentations to high school students to promote the industry and Kansas State University’s Bakery Science program. Since the initiative’s founding, BNEF has reached more than 2,500 students, teachers and administrators. 

State/Regional

*Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are key garden macronutrients
3/1/24 The Kansas City Star
While the desired nutrients may be present in these, other side effects of the sources should be thoroughly researched before investment and application. Organic sources can also be slow and unpredictable, so patience is critical, writes Anthony Reardon, KSRE horticulture extension agent in Johnson County.

Local

*K-State to host third annual Social Media Week
3/1/24 The K-State Collegian
The A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication partnered with the K-State Division of Academic Success and Student Affairs to present the third annual K-State Social Media Week on March 4-8.

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