kansas: Slow Start to 2013 for Kansas Business Economy - 01/08/13 07:42 PM
Ernie Goss, director of Creighton University’s Economic Forecasting Group and the Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics talks about the economy.  The headline reads economy stuck in neutral at this link and the Kansas summary is pasted below. 
Kansas: The Kansas Business Conditions Index for December dipped below growth neutral for December. The index declined to 46.6 from November’s 51.3 and October’s 47.9. Components of the index from the December survey of supply managers in the state were new orders at 48.9, production or sales at 44.6, delivery lead time at 51.9, employment at 41.0, and inventories at 46.8. “Over the last … (0 comments)

kansas: Kansas Rural Mainstreet Index and Farmland Index Drops - 08/02/12 10:07 AM
The Creighton University released its Rural Mainstreet Index and it took a nosedive.  The drought is impacting everything from farmland prices to farm equipment to ethanol plant closings. 
Following is the Kansas comments from the study:
Kansas: The Kansas RMI for July slumped to 43.2 from June’s 50.7 and May’s much stronger 62.1. The farmland price index sank to 58.4 from June’s 59.6. The state’s new-hiring index decreased to 49.9 from 55.6 in June. As in most states, some areas are doing well while others not. For example, Michael Johnson, CEO of Swedish American State Bank in Courtland, reported, “We have … (0 comments)

kansas: Kansas Farmers and Ranchers can opt for local FSA updates via email - 05/24/12 12:46 PM
Farmers and Ranchers in Kansas now have a more efficient timely option for receiving important Farm Service Agency (FSA) program eligibility requirements, deadlines and related information.  We are now offering free online communications through our GovDelivery electronic news service.  News will now be sent via e-mail right to your home or farm office or to your Smartphone – affording you immediate notification of farm program news pertinent to your agricultural operation.  
 
QUESTIONS? – Contact your local FSA Kansas County office if you need help.  Click here to access a Kansas FSA directory.
 
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kansas: Kansas Farmland Index update - 05/18/12 12:43 PM
Agricultural land values continue to inflate but at a more moderate pace.  Low interest rates help as well as liquid farmers.  Belief that above-average crop prices will persist helps fuel the rising land prices too. Creighton University’s latest Farmland-Price Index¹ eased a second straight month to 64.6 in May, from 69.4 in April. The May reading extends the land price expansion to 28 consecutive months. A reading above 50 suggests prices are rising.  Bankers in the Creighton survey say land appreciation rates rose in Kansas again.  The Confidence Index, which tracks bankers’ expectations for the rural economy six months out, eased slightly to 60.2 in May, from … (1 comments)

kansas: Recent Kansas Land Values - 05/14/12 03:01 PM
A recent issue of LandOwner Newsletter magazine reports some values for Kansas land sales.  In April a section of land in Kearny County Kansas that was under CRP at $40/acre sold for about $1,562 per acre.  In May some dryland cropland sold at auction for $4,000 per acre with was a new county record for Thomas County and the land was located southease of Colby.  
Many land values are not reported especially private-treaty lands sales.  Kansas Land Brokers tracks the land market in Kansas and if you are looking for land values in a particular county then give us a … (2 comments)

kansas: Bobwhite Quail Initiative in Kansas - 05/14/12 02:54 PM
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism has a new initative that will help with decling bobwhite quail populations in Kansas.  
Certain areas are designated including parts of Lyon, Wabaunsee, Coffey and Osage counties around areas like the Melvern Wildlife Area and the Lyone State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area. Another area includes Labette and Neosho counties and also the Grand Osage Wildlife Area (formerly the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Johnson County Kansas).
The program helps landowners with enrollment cost-shares and assistance with the program.  For more information go to
http://bringbackbobwhites.org/
 

 
 
 
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kansas: Wichita County Kansas Farm News - 05/11/12 02:55 PM
The May edition of the Wichita County Farm Service Agency Newsletter had news for area farmers including the following:
Feed Grain Maps Available for Pick Up  - Producers please stop by our office and pick up maps to record feed grain acreages.  

A new program tech has been hired.

Details about a down payment loan assistance program for new farmers is available.

Contact the Wichita County FSA office for more info or you can also sign to receive the newsletter digitally at http://fsa.usda.gov/ks or the Wichita County Farm Service Agency office at 612 W. Broadway Leoti, KS 67861-0340  Phone 620-375-2332

 



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kansas: Kansas Farm Service Agency help available if affected by tornadoes - 05/10/12 08:33 AM
USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Kansas announced that assistance is available for Kansas farmers that were affected by tornadoes and high winds in Edwards, Ellsworth, Rice and Stafford counties. The storms occurred on April 14 and 15, 2012.
 
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Cost-share assistance for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters is available. The damage must be of such magnitude that it would be too costly for the producer to rehabilitate without Federal assistance. Practices approved in these counties include: removing debris from farmland; grading, shaping, and re-leveling measures; restoring permanent fences; restoring conservation structures or other installations; and … (0 comments)

kansas: Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse Pasture Tour near Wichita Kansas - 05/10/12 08:04 AM
Kansas BLM is hosting a free tour on Saturday, June 9, 2012, of two wild horse long-term holding pastures in El Dorado, Kansas, located about 30 miles east of Wichita. This gives the public an opportunity to observe wild horses roaming in a pasture setting on thousands of acres.
Reservations must be made by June 1.  
RSVP phone number:         866-468-7826
Pick-up location:        
Walmart, 301 S. Village Rd, El Dorado, KS  67042
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kansas: Land Conservation: Buffers, CCRP - 05/03/12 07:49 AM
Considering conservation buffers on your land?  The USDA has 250,000 or more buffer contracts with about 160,000 farms and ranches. They may be a good choice for your land and for the environment. They are also economically viable for most operations.  The Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP) is one of the programs that provide financial incentives for farmers and ranchers.
 
Conservation buffers are areas or strips of permanent vegetation established around and in cropland. They are placed between surface water areas and agricultural fields. The buffers range in width from 40 feet to 150 feet.
 
What do Buffers do?
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kansas: Sales Tax Rates in Kansas - 04/11/12 09:11 AM
The Tax Foundation relased a report with the Sales Tax Rates in Major United States Cities and Wichita Kansas came in on the list as number 66 on the ranks.  The state rate in Kansas 6.3%  and the local rate is 1% for a total tax rate in Wichita, Kansas of 7.3%
 
Anchorage Alaska came in at the lowest as zero percent and the highest was Montgomery and Brimingham Alabama at 10% total rates. Seattle, Washington and Glendale Arizona and Chicago Illinois were the next higest at 9.5% and Kansas City Missouri came in at 7.85%
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kansas: Dairy in Kansas - 04/07/12 12:23 PM
Kansas may be more well known for sunflowers and wheat but we do have a solid dairy industry. 
There are about 400 dairy farms in Kansas.  Each dary cow produces about 8 gallons of milk a day or about 3,000 gallons a year Kansas dairy farms proudce about 290 million gallson of milk every year Dairy is the 4th largest agriculture business in Kansas Nearly all Kansas dairy farms are family owned  
Currently, the following are licensed or permitted in Kansas:
Dairy farms                                  410Milk haulers                                 177Milk tankers                                   84Tanker wash stations                      2Dairy processing plants                 12Milk transfer stations                      8Single service manufacturers          8Milk and dairy distributors             68
 
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kansas: Farmland: No Marketing Quota for 2013 Wheat Crop - 04/06/12 10:33 AM
In a 1938 Act it required a marketing quota for the 2013 wheat crop if the total supply of the crop would likely be excessive without the quota, so the Secretary of Agriculture decides by April 15, 2012, whether a quota is needed. Based on projected supply and demand, no quota is required. 

For more information visit
http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USFSA-38f3e0
 
 
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kansas: Kansas Farmland Index - 04/03/12 10:50 AM
The Kansas Farmland Index has slowed somewhat in 2012 compared to 2011 as shown in our chart.  Blue bars are 2011 and 2012 is red bars.  Will be interested to see how 2012 pans out for farmland values across the state.
 
 

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kansas: Higher Farmland Values - 03/30/12 06:23 PM
Don’t Say it Can’t Go Any Higher!
The big news on farmland values in October was the $16,750 per acre price for Iowa farmland.  Even more shocking was that it topped the previous high price of $15,368 an acre a whole week before in another part of the state.  Granted, this is some very high quality farmland with high Corn Suitability Ratings. But still, it’s shocking right?  Not even a year ago, I met with a group of farmers when Midwest corn ground was hitting $7,000 to $8,000 an acre on a regular basis and the consensus was “It can’t … (3 comments)

kansas: Anderson County Kansas info and links - 01/19/12 01:03 PM
Anderson County Kansas
Anderson County Kansas is approximately 584 square miles with an average county population of about 8,000.  Anderson County has a wonderful Development Agency and encourages small business and growth in its rural towns. The Chamber of Commerce in Garnett is great start to finding out information about the area and the Experience Garnett website provides information about local events. Also check out the Anderson County Historical Society in Garnett and the local newspaper, the Anderson County Review. Check out Cornstock an annual festival about all things related to corn that happens every year.
One of the highlights of the county is the Prairie Spirit Trail which is about a 50 mile trail that you can hike, walk … (1 comments)

kansas: Ellsworth County Kansas links and info - 01/19/12 01:01 PM
Ellsworth County Kansas
Ellsworth County Kansas is approximately 717 square miles with an average county population of about 6,000.  Ellsworth County has its county seat in the town of Ellsworth. It has a great little downtown area and is the center for the county. It is located in Central Kansas and is known for its post rock scenic byways and great fishing and hunting. It is full of rolling hills, high bluffs, treed areas and a beautiful countryside landscape view.  The Ellsworth-Kanopolis Chamber of Commerce in Ellsworth is a great start to finding out information about the area and for resources that encourage small business and growth in its … (0 comments)

kansas: Kansas Hay Report - state receiving rain and snow - 12/19/11 05:51 PM
The Kansas Hay Market Report was released today (early due to holidays) by the USDA and Kansas Department of Agriculture.  SUMMARY:
Hay trade moderate to active. Demand very strong for dairy, stock cow andgrinding alfalfa, moderate to strong for alfalfa pellets and grass hay. Most ofthe State is receiving rain at this writing. The far Western counties aregetting blowing snow, which is forecast to move across Kansas with blizzardconditions at times. Everyone is busy preparing for the storm and taking care oflivestock. Hay use and bedding will increase accordingly. 
For the full report broke down by agricultural districts throughout Kansas visit
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kansas: Kansas Land, Banking and Ag News - 12/18/11 02:58 PM
NOTE: This post was originally posted on our Farmland Review blog under farmland and cropland news and we are consolidating all blog posts on farmland investing and Kansas land for sale markets here now.     The week in news in Kansas
 
BANKING
Here in the Heart of America we tend to not feel many waves as we didn’t feel the extreme highs of the real estate market and also in turn didn’t feel the severe lows.  However, it was shocking to learn today that 3 banks are in serious trouble in Kansas.  As Kansans I think we feel like it … (0 comments)

kansas: It's official... farmland is a real estate category - 12/09/11 02:37 PM
NOTE: This post was originally posted on our Farmland Review blog under farmland and cropland news and we are consolidating all blog posts on farmland investing and Kansas land for sale markets here now. … (0 comments)