K-State in the news

Recent news highlights

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

Monday, Nov. 9, 2026

National/International

USDA Invests in Alternative Crop Growth
11/6/2026 Farms.com
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is supporting efforts to expand alternative crop production across the country through a new round of research funding. USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded $1.8 million through its Supplemental and Alternative Crops competitive grant program. The funding awarded for fiscal year 2026 will support four projects led by organizations located in different parts of the country. Award recipients include Kansas State University, New West Genetics Inc., Pennsylvania State University, and Texas A&M University.

K-State, Purdue set pest training for crop and grain storage pros
11/6/2026 Feed&Grain
Kansas State University Research and Extension and Purdue University are hosting pest management training this fall, with Kansas sessions focused on field pests and an Indiana workshop aimed at protecting grain after it goes into storage. … The Kansas program covers weed, insect and disease management in western and central Kansas. Topics include weather, drone applications and weed detection, glufosinate applications in dry environments, and insect pests from 2026 and those to watch in 2027. The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) will present the core hour on state regulations.

State/Regional

Cash flow should guide farmland renting versus buying
11/6/2026 High Plains Journal
With farmland values at historically high levels and farm income under pressure, producers weighing whether to rent or buy additional acres must look beyond land prices and potential appreciation to determine what their operations can afford. Brian Briggeman, an agricultural economics professor at Kansas State University, said cash flow should be the starting point for evaluating whether to rent or purchase farmland. Producers also need to consider their financial position, long-term growth plans, borrowing capacity, and the stability of their relationships with landowners.

Local

K-State Developing Scholars Program gives research opportunities to new students
11/08/2026 JC Post
K-State's Staley School of Leadership announced that the Developing Scholars Program admitted 24 new students as part of its 2026-27 academic year cohort on Oct. 28. … Susan Rensing, director of the Developing Scholars Program, said the program helps K-State fulfill its mission as a land-grant university. "Getting more students involved in undergraduate research is part of the K-State strategic plan," Rensing said. "It's also a big part of our mission as a land-grant institution. One of the unique things about the Developing Scholars Program is that we have long-standing partnerships with various community colleges throughout the state of Kansas, especially in the southwest. Transfer students from those community colleges have been a big part of our students over the years."