June 2026
K-State in the news
Some of the top stories mentioning Kansas State University are posted below. Download an Excel file (xlsx) with all of this month's news stories.
Friday, June 26, 2026
National/International
'Stuck in survival mode': Why only 15% of Americans feel hopeful about money — and how to join them
6/25/26 MoneyLion
“We’re seeing inflation at higher rates, though not in all sectors,” said Megan McCoy, program chair and associate professor for Kansas State University’s Personal Financial Planning program. “The price of TVs may seem OK, but where inflation is hitting is in food costs and housing. Those are felt faster.”
State/Regional
K-State's flexible new degree programs prepare students to be agricultural leaders in the places that need them most
6/25/26 KWCH
K-State is making it easier for rural students to earn an agriculture degree in areas farther away from the main campus. In addition to work on the main campus or online, the school is now allowing students to earn part of their degree at the office in Garden City. The school has also diversified the ag program itself by offering more degrees that fall within the ag industry.
Thursday, June 25, 2026
National/International
After drought and wildfires, wheat farmers in the Great Plains are in for a rough year
6/24/26 Nebraska Public Radio
Logan Simon, an agronomist for Kansas State University, said 20% of the wheat crop has been abandoned entirely. “That is very high for Kansas," he said. "That's not common for us." Simon said conditions during planting season showed a lot of promise, but then it stopped raining, and the wheat just could not push through.
State/Regional
How the Dust Bowl changed Kansas farming practices
6/23/26 KAKE
Brian Olson shared information about the Dust Bowl's impacts on crops and how farming practices changed as a result.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
National/International
Do I need a prenup? Here’s what I learned from talking with attorneys—and a financial therapist
06/23/26 CNBC
Megan McCoy, a financial therapist and professor at Kansas State University offered me two tips for framing the conversation.
State/Regional
Reading Make Cents 4H financial literacy
06/22/26 KSN News
We’re looking forward to another K-State segment on Monday, June 22. Our guests will be our two summer 4-H interns in Sedgwick County: Chloe Gerona-Sanchez, a junior in animal science at Kansas State University, and Olivia Brooks, a senior in elementary education at Emporia State University. Both interns are from the Wichita area and they are teaching a summer program for 8- to 11-year-olds called Reading Makes Cents.
Why Kansas cattle producers must act fast against New World screwworm
06/23/26 Kansas Farmer
In order to more fully understand this pest and its population movements, Cassandra Olds, assistant professor of veterinary entomology at Kansas State University, analyzed historical reports from university experts of the past, including records kept by EG Kelly, the university’s Extension entomologist from 1918 to 1949.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
National/International
8 spots in every home that collect dirt faster than anywhere else
06/22/26 MSN.com
The kitchen sink sees more action than almost any other surface in the house, and that constant use comes with a serious bacterial price tag. Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee points out that the kitchen sink is used for a wide variety of tasks and activities, making it a prime location for foodborne illness bacteria to linger and potentially cross-contaminate food.
Journey Through America’s Best Public Gardens, One State at a Time
06/22/26 SheBudgers
The Kansas State University Gardens in Manhattan, Kansas, is a beautiful 19-acre space that serves as a public garden and a teaching and research facility for students. It’s free of charge and open to the public from March to November. Visitors can observe an impressive variety of perennials and the conservatory, which is home to tropical plants and cacti.
Why beef prices keep climbing
06/22/26 Marketplace
The price of a pound of ground beef is up almost 13% compared to May of last year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The cost has more than doubled over the past 15 years. “Personally, I think the bigger story in beef prices is the consumer demand side,” said Brian Coffey, a professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University. “Protein is kind of all the rage now, and specifically consumers have kind of gone back to red meat as a source of protein,” he said.
State/Regional
Kansas community to open new grocery store
06/23/26 KSNW-TV
The final touches for Dighton’s new grocery store are being added ahead of opening day. On Saturday at 7 a.m., residents of the small western Kansas town will open the new Lane County Community Grocery store. Since January 2024, community members have had limited options for buying groceries after a fire destroyed the only store. The new, 8,000 square feet store at 326 East Long Street was made possible by community efforts spurred by the Lane County Community Foundation, Kansas Healthy Food Initiative and Kansas State University’s Rural Grocery Initiative.
Building a better school breakfast: K‑State partnership has students develop sorghum muffin recipe for Kansas school cafeterias
06/22/26 Salina Post
For every child who walks into school and worries only about whether chocolate milk is available for breakfast, there are teams of K-State researchers, scientists and industry partners working behind the scenes to make sure the rest of the food on that tray is as nutritious as possible. Over the past year, K-State faculty and students in bakery science and industry have partnered with state and industry leaders to help develop a sorghum-based muffin mix that could eventually be served in Kansas schools.
Monday, June 22, 2026
National/International
How Far Could New World Screwworm Spread This Summer?
6/19/2026 AG WEB
As social media fills with maps and predictions about how far New World screwworm might spread this summer, many livestock producers are asking the same question: When will it get to me. According to Cassandra Olds, Kansas State University Extension entomologist, that's the wrong place to start. "I think everybody's kind of bracing thinking when will it get to me, and that can be difficult to know for sure," she says. She argues producers should focus on understanding how the pest moves and what management steps can slow it down or keep it out of their herds in the first place.
Foraging solutions found in foreign fields
6/20/2026 WORLD-GRAIN
Even though Romulo Lollato had traveled more than 9,000 miles and 30 hours away, he ended up in a climate and wheat-producing region that looked almost exactly like the one he had just left in Kansas. But that was kind of the point of Lollato's sabbatical — a six-month jaunt to Adelaide, Australia — to learn from the country's agriculture industry, meeting with experts and colleagues and touring agricultural operations in the land down under.
State/Regional
Will costs drop in Kansas as U.S. and Iran enter peace agreement?
6/18/2026 KSNT
The average price for gas skyrocketed during the conflict. Before Trump struck Iran, gas in the Sunflower State averaged about $2.50 per gallon. That average got up as high as $4.10 per gallon in May. It now sits at about $3.70 per gallon. So, could this peace agreement drive costs down even more? "The good news is that, yeah we can probably expect gas prices to continue to go down," said Dr. Lance Bachmeier, a professor of Economics at Kansas State University. "That's certainly something to celebrate."
Study: Post-wheat cover crops offer grazing potential
6/21/2026 Hutch Post
Most High Plains wheat fields sit idle until the next planting season, but research from a multistate collaboration suggests those acres could offer valuable livestock grazing opportunities — if producers are willing to navigate the region’s volatile weather and limited moisture. "Disrupting good wheat stubble always deserves careful consideration, but when the moisture outlook is favorable, it can do more than sit idle; it can support livestock and protect the soil with the addition of cover crops," said Sandy Johnson, K-State Extension beef specialist and contributor to "Cover Crops Grown Post-Wheat for Forages Under Dryland Conditions in the High Plains."
Thursday, June 18, 2026
State/Regional
How are Kansas agriculture officials monitoring New World Screwworm threat?
6/17/26 KSNT
Kansas State University agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor said consumer demand and household finances are currently more influential on beef prices than the screwworm threat. “We have more and more people saying their finances are worse, and that’s a headwind against beef demand,” Tonsor said. “When it comes to economic impact in the system, we’re actually seeing a slowing down of willingness to pay for some beef products.”
Local
City approves pursuing Campus Creek watershed study with K-State
6/17/26 Manhattan Mercury
Public works director Brian Johnson said that as a state entity, Kansas State University doesn’t have to abide by city water detention regulations, but reached out to the city to collaborate on flooding management. “They have come to us to be a good neighbor and a good partner, and asked us to partner with them on this downtown east-west master plan and look at possibly doing some sort of detention or projects upstream,” he said.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
State/Regional
Use imagery to see field from a different angle
6/16/26 Farm Progress and Kansas Farmer
This season, participants in the national and Kansas State University Testing Ag Performance Solutions competitions are receiving routine aerial imagery through a partnership with Ceres Imaging. Throughout the growing season, participants have access to updated imagery and analytics designed to identify field variability, irrigation concerns and crop stress patterns before they are obvious from the ground.
Local
City commission sets funding boundaries for Edge District, Champions Gate
6/16/26 Manhattan Mercury
The K-State Foundation’s Edge District received defined boundaries after two unanimous Manhattan City Commission votes Tuesday.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
National/International
Wolf Creek powers Kansas—and its students
6/15/26 Nuclear Newswire
“We’ve had discussions with companies that want to use the reactor as a resource to help educate their employees, giving them hands-on experience that they haven’t had in their engineering career. Or there are some that need an initial introduction into nuclear, given the fact that there’s this huge workforce increase required to expand nuclear power to meet our energy needs,” said Amir Bahadori.
State/Regional
Short and drooping wheat seen in current harvest
6/15/26 KMUW
Logan Simon, an agronomist for Kansas State University, says 20% of the wheat crop has been abandoned entirely. Which is very high for Kansas. “That's not common for us. I would argue that most of that's going to be in southern and western Kansas.”
Monday, June 15, 2026
National/International
U.S.'s screwworm fix is still a year away, risking more spread
6/13/2026 FORTUNE
The USDA has already opened a new facility in Texas solely for dispersing flies, and earlier this week said it had developed a way to double production with a new male-only strain of sterile flies. Those preemptive investments are "probably already mitigating some of that risk," said Glynn Tonsor, a professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University.
Bumpy road ahead for freight
6/12/2026 WORLD-GRAIN
Guy Allen, senior economist with the International Grains Program at Kansas State University, said fuel surcharges are likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future because of ongoing uncertainty in global energy markets. While freight markets have adapted to higher costs, Allen said rail pricing this year may be influenced just as much by grain production patterns. The smaller hard red winter wheat crop in Kansas and portions of the western Plains could alter traditional shipping patterns, forcing grain to move greater distances domestically while reducing some export volume.
K-State Expert Says Drones Can Improve Crop Scouting, Reduce Labor
6/12/2026 MorningAgClips
Drones are becoming an increasingly important tool for farmers seeking to improve efficiency and crop management, according to a Kansas State University precision agriculture expert. Deepak Joshi, a faculty member in K-State's Department of Agronomy, said the growing use of drones in early-season crop scouting can help producers quickly assess plant germination, stand counts and field conditions while reducing labor demands.
State/Regional
Kansas farmers look abroad to grow their business
6/14/2026 The Topeka Capital-Journal
Beyond trade and food assistance, our universities play a foundational role in international agriculture by conducting research and scaling innovations. Kansas State University has spent more than a decade leading Feed the Future Innovation Labs — U.S. government-funded research programs developing drought-tolerant wheat and sorghum varieties, improving food safety and protecting crops from pests and disease. During those cuts to USAID, Kansas State University was the only program spared while the other 16 were shuttered. Congress has since appropriated grant money for up to seven labs. The breakthroughs produced through the labs have simultaneously helped farmers overseas and directly benefit our economy at home. Researchers have found that every dollar invested in agricultural research generates more than eight dollars in economic benefit back to the United States.
ER visits for tick bites on the rise throughout the Midwest
6/13/2026 Lawrence Journal-World
Susan Nelson, clinical professor and veterinarian at the Kansas State University Hill’s Pet Health and Nutrition Center, said in April that regularly grooming pets can help owners to more easily find and remove ticks.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
National/International
What to Do If You Find a Wasp Nest on Your Home, According to Pest Experts
6/11/26 Better Homes & Gardens
“If we're talking about yellowjackets and hornets, you just don't want to fool with them,” adds Raymond Cloyd of Kansas State University. “If you're a homeowner and you encounter wasps in your home, it may indicate that they’ve established a nest, and you should call a professional. You don’t want to run the risk of getting stung.”
Alana Wood named 2026 Paul Thomas Intern of the Year
6/10/26 The Produce News
The 2026 recipient is Alana Wood, a student at Kansas State University majoring in horticulture production. Outstanding interns are also recognized as honorable mentions. The 2026 honorable mentions are Lemuel Dill and Parker Carlson. Lemuel is also a student at Kansas State University, majoring in horticulture production.
Local
Kansas continues response plan for invasive pest
6/4/26 WIBW
Cassandra Olds, an assistant professor of veterinary entomology at Kansas State University, explained the unusual strategy called the sterile fly program. “If you mate a wild female with a sterile male, she thinks she’s mated and lay eggs, but those eggs are sterile and it doesn’t occur to her to mate with anybody else,” Olds said.
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
National/International
General Richard B. Myers, 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joins With Honor Action Advisory Board Amid Surge in Military Veterans Running for Office Nationwide
06/09/26 Associated Press
After leaving uniform, he held the Colin L. Powell Chair for National Security, Leadership, Character and Ethics at the National Defense University and served as the 14th president of Kansas State University, his alma mater, from 2016 to 2022.
State/Regional
Can your damaged tree be saved after Kansas storms? Here’s what experts say
06/09/26 Wichita Eagle
Whether you experienced minor or severe tree damage, Kansas State University extension agents have advice for how to safely clean up, evaluate and care for your trees.
Businesses excited to showcase Kansas City flavors at FanFest
06/02/26 KCTV
Another local vendor is Blended Vibes Catering. Owners Larry and Joleen Fennell started their business in 2023 and currently operate in a kitchen space at K-State Olathe.
Local
Gardening also provides food safety lesson for children
06/09/26 Manhattan Mercury
Karen Blakeslee, coordinator of K-State’s Rapid Response Center for Food Science, said young gardeners often become excited about growing fruits and vegetables but may not realize the importance of handling produce safely before eating it.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
National/International
Deadly Screwworm Pest Spreads With Three New Cases
06/08/26 Bloomberg
Glynn Tonsor, a professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University, weighs in on the appearance of the Screwworm and it's impacts.
Simple Changes Make The Difference In Cooling Off Cattle
06/08/26 Global Agriculture
Cattle incapable of relieving themselves of high temperatures experience heat stress. Humans alleviate overheating through sweating, but Kansas State University beef extension veterinarian A.J. Tarpoff said cattle do not have that option.
States Where People Overspend the Most on Car Loans
06/03/26 Wallet Hub
Frank G. Cabano, assistant professor of marketing at Kansas State University's College of Business Administration, offers tips for consumers looking to buy a car without straining their finances.
Monday, June 8, 2026
National/International
Low Prices Increase Chances for Kansas Farm Payments
6/5/2026 RFD TV
Low projected crop prices are making federal farm program payments more likely for wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and soybean producers. Kansas State University economist Rich Llewelyn estimates marketing-year prices remain below effective reference prices for all four crops.
Implement strong identification processes
6/6/2026 AGRI-VIEW
In today's cattle market, something as simple as a tag number or brand can carry added importance for producers working to protect their investment. With cattle prices reaching historic highs, proper identification and branding have taken on new importance for beef producers, according to Kansas State University beef cattle veterinarian A.J. Tarpoff. "Cattle identification is essential when it comes to proving ownership," Tarpoff said. "With the value of cattle today, having a reliable form of identification serves as a simple but effective insurance policy for producers."
State/Regional
Impact of Iran war pressing input costs
6/5/2026 High Plains Journal
The war in Iran is making it painful for farmers, and the longer it lingers means high fertilizer and diesel fuel prices are going to hover over the ag industry. Gregg Ibendahl, an agricultural economics professor who studies farm input costs and finances at Kansas State University, provided an update during a recent K-State webinar. Ibendahl said high volatility is nothing new in the ag sector. Four years ago, Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent oil prices to $130 per barrel, although they came down relatively soon.
'Destructive' Japanese beetles are active in Kansas. Here's how to get rid of them
6/5/2026 The Wichita Eagle
A notoriously harmful pest is once again active in Kansas, threatening your lawn and vegetable gardens along with your flowers, plants and trees. The culprit is the Japanese beetle — and the adults are known as one of the Sunflower State's "most destructive insect pests of horticultural plants," according to Kansas State University Research and Extension. "Japanese beetles are a widespread and destructive pest affecting landscapes, gardens, and turfgrass across Kansas," Matthew McKernan, consumer horticulture extension associate, said in the June 2 K-State Horticulture Newsletter. "Both larvae (grubs) and adults (beetles) cause plant damage."
Local
Late-season rain stalls rapidly maturing Kansas wheat
6/5/2026 The Mercury
"This has been a really challenging year for the wheat crop around the state," said Romulo Lolloto, K-State wheat and forages extension specialist. "The crop is further ahead in development than usual, so a lot of the rain will not benefit parts of the state … probably the majority of south central Kansas."
Friday, June 5, 2026
National/International
Detection at the nanoscale: A phosphate-detecting electrochemical sensor
6/4/26 Phys.org
Graphene, the "wonder material," has shaped much of Suprem Das's research career. From nano-manufacturing to advanced printing for applications such as sensing and energy, Das is committed to finding graphene solutions with real-world impact. Das and his team manufacture graphene in the form of printable ink for various applications.
State/Regional
What is the screwworm and should Kansas ranchers be concerned?
6/4/26 KSN
“Because the USDA has such an aggressive management strategy in place, that helps to soften the blow of just one case showing up,” said Todd Gunderson, a clinical assistant professor of beef production medicine at Kansas State University.
The Screwworm Battle Begins on U.S. Soil: Now What?
6/4/26 AgWeb
Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University professor of agricultural economics, stresses, “First and foremost, I don’t anticipate a beef demand challenge from it. There’s no reason to believe a consumer should be concerned.”
Thursday, June 4, 2026
National/International
Nebraska stakes out new ground on farm data ownership as other states weigh broader measures
6/3/26 AgriPulse
Kansas State University economist Terry Griffin told Agri-Pulse that data doesn’t generally “play well” within the legal concept of private ownership under British common law, a predecessor to much of the U.S.’s legal tradition. He said he’s pointed out in past discussions with farmers that data’s characteristics tend to fit more closely with the idea of a “public good” than a “private good,” though he added that’s generally been an unpopular message.
“A lot of farmers would say, ‘I don’t care what you say, I own my data,’” Griffin said. But he added, “It’s not like owning grain or livestock or a pencil or land. It’s got very different characteristics than those physical goods.”
Local
Stormont Vail Health, PrairieLINK Awarded KDHE Grant to Advance Rural Health Transformation
6/3/26 JC Post
The funding will support the continued development of the PrairieLINK Health Alliance of Kansas, a collaborative regional effort focused on strengthening access, coordination, and long-term sustainability of rural healthcare services. PrairieLINK is a partnership among Stormont Vail Health Flint Hills Campus and rural clinics, Morris County Hospital and rural clinics, Community HealthCare System and rural clinics, F.W. Huston Medical Center and rural clinic, Midland Care Connection, and Kansas State University. Together, these organizations represent a diverse network of critical access hospitals, rural providers, community-based organizations, and academic leaders working to improve care delivery and health outcomes across a multi-county region.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
National/International
University Trends in Plant Intellectual Property Protection
TechPipeline
At Kansas State University (K-State), the focus of the plant breeding program for wheat — a sexually propagated crop — means that plant patents are not the primary tool. Instead, K-State relies primarily on PVP certificates, which allow farmers to save seed for replanting while protecting against unauthorized commercial use. Chris Brandt, Associate Vice President for Research at the Kansas State University Research Foundation, explained the institution’s philosophy.
State/Regional
Kansas wheat farmers face up to 20% yield loss amid drought, freezes
06/2/26 KWCH
One expert at Kansas State University said the worst areas include parts of central and southwest Kansas. Some communities are weeks ahead of when they typically harvest.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
National/International
How data and AI help reshape water policy in the agricultural heartland
06/02/26 SAS
Producing nearly a quarter of America’s wheat supply, along with significant quantities of corn, soybeans, sorghum and sunflowers, Kansas remains a critical contributor to feeding the nation and the world. Livestock is also a major driver of the economy – and it depends on water for everything from pasture and forage to animal health and processing. The Kansas Department of Agriculture estimates beef cattle ranching and farming account for about $13.5 billion in the Kansas economy. These realities raise the stakes for water policy decisions about how limited supplies are managed and how water quality is protected. This is the work at the heart of the Kansas Water Institute (KWI) at Kansas State University: turning science and data into trusted insights that help sustain the state’s water resources for current and future generations.
A new project aims to bring more AI literacy to rural Ohio
06/02/26 WYSO-FM
For years, there’s been a push to create better broadband infrastructure in rural areas, where access to high speed internet can be hard to come by. Wright State University, in partnership with Kansas State Extension, is tackling a new digital frontier: artificial intelligence. The university received $2.5 million in grant money from the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education to develop an AI curriculum for rural educators at Ohio and Kansas high schools and colleges.
State/Regional
Hutch Community Foundation launches nonprofit training series
06/1/26 Hutch Post
The Hutchinson Community Foundation is launching a series of workshops aimed at helping Reno County nonprofits strengthen leadership skills, improve organizational capacity and increase their chances of securing grant funding. One of the first workshops in the series will focus on "All Things Kansas," a public data portal developed through Kansas State University. The resource allows nonprofits to access detailed local information that can strengthen grant applications.
California company establishes partnership with K-State to advance aerospace training
06/01/26 KSN-TV
Spencer Schrader, director of applied aviation research lab at K-State Salina, joined KSN News to talk about a partnership with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and what it means for students.
Monday, June 1, 2026
State/Regional
Schroeder receives prestigious Amethyst Award for lifetime of service and contributions to K-State
5/29/26 The Fence Post
Ted Schroeder’s tenure at Kansas State University spans 40 years, and throughout his lifetime of service, he has contributed significantly to advancing the university’s mission. Now, the university distinguished professor of agricultural economics is the recipient of the Amethyst Award, K-State’s most prestigious award.
Kansas ag leaders weigh solutions for veterinarian shortages that affect rural communities
5/31/26 Wichita Eagle
Kansas State University officials are supporting programs that introduce veterinary students to rural lifestyles and gathering data to understand where shortages exist, said Brad White, director of K-State’s Beef Cattle Institute and director of the Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas.