Agriculture
Struggle over tax break for inherited farmland churns below surface in reconciliation bill
WASHINGTON — Agricultural groups and farm-state lawmakers notched a significant win when U.S. House Democrats chose not to touch a big tax break for inherited property, avoiding for now a confrontation. But opponents remain wary that the idea could come back at any time as Democrats shape their massive $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, and […]
Dairy farmer asks U.S. Senate to fix ‘broken’ milk pricing system
A Granville, Iowa, dairy farmer appealed to a U.S. Senate subcommittee Wednesday to help fix a “broken” milk-pricing system she said has worsened conditions in an era of financial uncertainty. Christina Zuiderveen, managing partner of Black Soil Dairy LLC and an industry leader, said the federal milk marketing orders system “promised dairy producers that if […]
Agriculture section of U.S. House spending bill centers on climate change, research
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Agriculture Committee on Monday finished marking up its section of the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package. The agriculture portion would provide funding for historically Black land grant colleges and investments in urban agriculture, along with boosting U.S. Department of Agriculture programs to address climate change threats in farming. The $66 billion […]
Will Joe Biden’s executive order spark real change in food production?
The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Darvin Bentlage is a fourth-generation cattle and grain farmer from Barton County and a member of Missouri Rural Crisis Center. President Joe Biden recently signed an executive […]
Kansas medical experts warn against rising self-use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19
TOPEKA — More people are calling a Kansas poison control hotline after self-medicating for COVID-19 with a drug intended to fight parasitic infections in animals. Ivermectin can cause severe health problems in humans, and medical experts warn against using the drug to treat or prevent COVID-19. Interest in the drug is being driven by disinformation […]
Federal court affirms unconstitutionality of Kansas ‘ag-gag’ law targeting whistleblowers
Federal court affirms unconstitutionality of Kansas law altered in 2012 to add criminal penalties for whistleblowers infiltrating livestock facilities.
What about our grasslands? Abandoning meat may spell disaster for vital ecosystems
The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. William (Brad) Bradley is a retired co-founder and senior executive of an IT company and manages 2,000 acres of pasture, cropland and timber using regenerative agriculture […]
U.S. Senate passes $1.2T bipartisan infrastructure bill
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed 69-30 a sweeping bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure package, a milestone for one of President Joe Biden’s priorities after months of negotiation. Biden proposed an infrastructure plan in March that would have topped $2 trillion. A bipartisan group of senators led by Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., worked […]
Phillips County jury sticks hog producer with $134,000 judgment in rare trespassing case
Prominent Phillips County hog producer hit with $134,000 jury judgment after trespassing on neighbors' land to install pipe to carry liquified hog waste to fields.
Trio of Kansas GOP lawmakers seek more time to critique prairie chicken listing
Kansas congressional members seek more time to rebut federal proposal to list lesser prairie-chicken under endangered species act.
Building wetlands along waterways best option to deter runoff from Midwest crop fields
New research suggests construction of large wetlands the most cost-effective way to limit chemical runoff and sediment loss in Midwest states.
USDA will offer $655M to smaller meatpackers in bid to add competition
The federal government will spend $655 million on loans and grants to help launch new meat-processing facilities to help compete with four major corporations that control the market, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Friday. Included is a $500 million program aimed at establishing new or expanded operations, said Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, during […]