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, Sept. 14, 2026

National/International

Machine Learning Improves Crop Stress Monitoring
9/11/2026 Farms.com
A crop field may appear healthy and productive, but plants can experience stress long before visible symptoms emerge, says Kelechi Igwe, a doctoral student in Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Kansas State University. Detecting these hidden signs early is essential because prolonged stress caused by factors such as heat and insufficient water can significantly reduce crop yields.

'Ethical nutrition': Rising in human food, also in pet food?
9/11/2026 PETFOOD INDUSTRY
Namely, 90% of the consumers surveyed said they would likely switch pet food brands if they learned competitors sourced from farms with better animal treatment. That puts companies like J.M. Smucker, cited for sourcing 100% cage-free eggs for its pet food products since 2022, as well as Goodness Gracious and Evermore Pet Food, mentioned as transitioning to cage-free eggs, in good stead in this regard. And, that data point aligns with similar data from an ongoing study launched in 2025 by Lonnie Hobbs Jr., Ph.D., assistant professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University: The 1,000 U.S. pet owners he surveyed rated animal welfare at 8.29 on a 10-point scale of importance for the pet foods they seek.

State/Regional

Two K-State faculty receive $7,500 Iman Awards for teaching and research
9/11/2026 The Kansas City Star
Two Kansas State University faculty members from the College of Agriculture the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering will each receive a $7,500 award in recognition of their accomplishments in teaching and research in a ceremony at the Alumni Center on Monday at 4 p.m. The awards are part of the annual Dr. Ron and Rae Iman Outstanding Faculty Awards introduced in 2007. Jessica L. Heier Stamm, associate professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, will receive the Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for teaching. Eduard Akhunov, university distinguished professor of plant pathology, will receive the award for research.

Local

Dividing plants is good for making friends, too
9/11/2026 The Mercury
Dividing and transplanting perennial plants may be more than a way for gardeners to rejuvenate tired landscapes and boost flower production. Kansas State University horticultural expert Travis Carmichael says it's also a way to make new friends. Carmichael, the horticulture and community development agent with K-State Extension’s office in Lyon County, said many perennials benefit from being divided every three to five years. Some vigorous growing plants can be divided even more often.