October 2025
K-State in the news
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, Nov. 7, 2025
National/International
Novel discovery leads to new grant studying oil production in canola and related crops
11/07/25 WSU Insider
Last year, the team revealed that certain plants can remodel the chemical makeup of their seed oils after the oil has already been produced. Former WSU postdoctoral researcher Prasad Parchuri, a co-author on the original paper, is now a faculty member at Kansas State University and is collaborating with WSU associate professor Phil Bates on the new grant.
State/Regional
Drones help shape the future of rural hospital services
11/05/25 Ag Daily
The UAV was Pyka’s Pelican 2, a 20-foot long, all-electric aircraft with a 38-foot wingspan, 650-pound payload capacity, and a maximum range of 200 miles that looks like a small airplane minus the cockpit and pilot. It carried an automated external defibrillator (AED) more than 30 miles, following a flight plan developed by Kelly Hills and Kansas State University’s Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus.
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025
National/International
Long-awaited ACRE Act boosts banks’ ag lending competitiveness
11/05/25 ABA Banking Journal
Jennifer Ifft, a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University, says that extending short-term loans is a tactic long taken by crop farmers.
State/Regional
Ensuring Quality and Nutrition: Three Easy Steps For Forage Analysis
11/05/25 Drovers
K-State’s Emma Briggs shares tips for forage and feed sampling and testing.
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025
National/International
Ecosense Unveils EcoQube Flex™: A New Era in Truly Portable, Battery-Powered Continuous Radon Monitoring
11/03/25 Associated Press
Ecosense, a global leader in radon detection technology, is excited to announce the upcoming launch of EcoQube Flex™, a next-generation, battery-powered continuous radon monitor that delivers unmatched accuracy in a compact, truly portable design. Its patented ion chamber technology — validated by the University of Michigan and Kansas State University Radon Chamber — delivers research-grade accuracy in minutes, not days.
Dr. Seuss manuscript found in California university archives to be new children’s book
11/03/25 The Orange County Register
"Sing the 50 United States!" featuring the Cat in the Hat will be published by Random House Children's Books in June 2026. Philip Nel, a university distinguished professor of children’s literature at Kansas State University, said the format of some illustrations shared online this week by the publisher was similar to Geisel’s songbook, which featured 19 songs. “It looks like a cut song from ‘The Cat in the Hat Songbook’ that he was considering expanding into a full book, based on what I’ve seen from their news release,” Nel said. “It looks like it was a complete song, not a complete book as such.” Nel, who has written books and taught courses on Seuss, has gone through material in the UCSD archives many times. He said there are other unpublished works in the collection that are “worthy of seeing the light of day.”
Local
K-State Researchers work with Nanotechnology to Revolutionize Farming
11/03/25 Wildcat 91.9
Kansas State University researchers are using some of the smallest tools in science to solve one of farming’s most significant problems. Pest control. Through the use of nanotechnology, scientists like Dr. Jeff Whitworth, Extension Specialist in Entomology, and graduate researcher Selom Amego are studying how microscopic particles can make agriculture safer, more efficient, and more sustainable for Kansas farmers.
Monday, Nov. 3, 2025
National/International
Kansas State Libraries to Launch Mobile Innovation Lab
10/31/2025 School Library Journal
This spring, the Kansas State University (K-State) Libraries, in Manhattan, KS, will launch a Mobile Innovation Lab, in partnership with the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab. The towable trailer—packed with innovative technology and programming resources designed to inspire curiosity, spark innovation, and support digital equity—will deliver hands-on, STEM-focused learning experiences to middle and high school students across the state.
New DDGS calculator to debut at K-State Swine Day
10/31/2025 National Hog Farmer
Kansas State University swine experts have created a new swine calculator that they say can help producers increase profitability on their farms. The tool, which can be found online, will be highlighted during the university's annual Swine Day, which will be held Nov. 20 in Manhattan. The calculator predicts pig growth performance and carcass yield based on dietary nutrient composition and user provided ingredient prices to determine the optimal level of dried distillers grains with solubles in the diet.
Dr. Seuss manuscript found in UCSD archives to be new children's book
11/01/2025 The Sacramento Bee
Philip Nel, a university distinguished professor of children's literature at Kansas State University, said the format of some illustrations shared online this week by the publisher was similar to Geisel's songbook, which featured 19 songs. "It looks like a cut song from 'The Cat in the Hat Songbook' that he was considering expanding into a full book, based on what I've seen from their news release," Nel said. "It looks like it was a complete song, not a complete book as such." Nel, who has written books and taught courses on Seuss, has gone through material in the UCSD archives many times. He said there are other unpublished works in the collection that are "worthy of seeing the light of day."
State/Regional
Wheat Scoop: Kansas agriculture works better together
11/02/2025 Hutch Post
"Whether it's research at K-State or joint market development abroad, we're all working toward the same mission: helping farmers succeed," Gilpin said. "We face different challenges, but we share the same fields and communities." The CEOs highlighted the strength of Kansas research leadership, especially through Kansas State University’s College of Agriculture. From developing wheat varieties resistant to disease and drought to improving sorghum genetics through the Center for Sorghum Improvement, farmer-funded checkoff dollars are driving real results. Investments in research partnerships across K-State departments help create practical, farmer-focused innovation.
Local
From classroom to crisis: K-State team tackles aerospace supply chain challenge
11/01/2025 The Mercury
When a supplier crisis threatened to halt aircraft production and put $34 million in sales at risk, a team of Kansas State University business students stepped in to find a solution — on paper, at least. Three College of Business Administration students earned third place at the Collins Aerospace 2025 Case Competition in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The event brought together regional universities to tackle a real-world supply chain emergency: a key supplier facing bankruptcy and leaving major aerospace programs scrambling for critical parts.