K-State in the news

Recent news highlights

Read some of today's top stories mentioning Kansas State University. Download an Excel file (xls) with all of the day's news stories.

See more K-State faculty, staff and students in the news in the clip archives.

Monday, June 30, 2025

National/International

Brush away bovine stress
6/27/2025 Morning AGRI-VIEW
A new product that reduces animal stress could be the key to increasing artificial insemination rates in cattle. Kansas State University's Technology Development Institute, or TDI, collaborated with faculty in the College of Agriculture to design, produce and test the product. Assistant Professor Nicholas Wege Dias and Professor Sandy Johnson, both in Kansas State University's animal science and industry department, specialize in beef cattle reproduction and have been involved in several projects designed to improve the fertility of the animal. Their initial studies indicated that acclimating the animals to their surroundings during the artificial insemination, or AI, process reduced animal stress and increased reproduction by as much as 10 percent.

Would You Fly in a Plane Powered by Pig Poop?
6/28/2025 MSN and AZ Animals
The U.S. Department of Defense has sponsored a grant via BioMADE, a Manufacturing Innovation Institute, to create jet fuel from pig fecal matter. The $600,000 project is being spearheaded by Prathap Parameswaran, recipient of the Fornelli Engineering Professorship and associate professor of civil engineering at Kansas State University’s Carl R. Ice College of Engineering. Parameswaran will be working with both Iowa State University and the Quasar Energy Group to bring the concept of turning pig poop into aviation fuel to reality.

Cattle producers risk toxic algae blooms
6/29/2025 WVNews
"Warming climate, more frequent extreme weather events and fertilizer applications with increasing nitrogen and phosphorus runoff are all contributing to more frequent and severe harmful algal blooms," said Steve Ensley, veterinarian and clinical toxicologist for Kansas State University.

State/Regional

Redmond takes a look at wildfire risk for High Plains
6/28/2025 High Plains Journal
For Chip Redmond, fire behavior and fire conditions that lead to large fires are an interesting phenomenon. Redmond is an assistant meteorologist at Kansas State University and the K-State Weather Data Library/Mesonet manager. He spoke recently during the National Integrated Drought Information System Summer 2025 Drought and Fire Outlook webinar. "We really focus on topography, a lot," he said. "This weather and fuel that drives fire across the Plains. We need the fuel to be in the right stage, and that's all dependent on what the preceding weather has been."

Reduce mosquitoes by taking away their habitat
6/27/2025 Hutch Post
For many, the onset of summer means outdoor picnics, walks and time at the park, but a blood-sucking insect whose lifespan rarely lasts past two months often can put a bite in those plans. Kansas State University entomologist Jeff Whitworth said May and June tend to be the time of year when adult mosquito populations rise in Kansas. Many parts of the state received adequate rainfall during those two months, which promoted ideal conditions for mosquito breeding.

Local

Keep pets safe this Fourth of July with tips from K-State veterinarian
6/28/2025 Salina Post
While fireworks and festivities are staples of Independence Day, the holiday often brings anxiety and risk for pets. Loud noises, bright flashes, unfamiliar guests and tempting table scraps can all pose threats to their health and safety. Kansas State University veterinarian Susan Nelson encourages pet owners to start preparing early, especially if their pet has shown fear around fireworks in the past.