Feb 12, 2019
On today’s episode: an in-depth look at the economic state of agriculture in Kansas, and what producers can do to strengthen their individual position; a look the role of the least shrew in the Kansas prairie ecosystem…
Agriculture Today is a daily program featuring Kansas State University agricultural specialists and other experts examining ag issues facing Kansas and the nation. It is hosted by Eric Atkinson and distributed to radio stations throughout Kansas and as a daily podcast.
00:01:30 – Economic State of Kansas Agriculture: The executive director of the Kansas Farm Management Association, K-State's Kevin Herbel, offers his assessment of the economic state of production agriculture in Kansas currently, and offers a checklist of what producers can do to improve their financial management in 2019: setting achievable goals; keeping an organized set of financial records; and managing debt structure.
00:13:00 – Economic State of Kansas Agriculture (Part 2): In the second part of the conversation with K-State's Kevin Herbel, he details the benefits of conducting an enterprise analysis and projecting the financial returns to each enterprise; using economic benchmarks for a comparative analysis of an operation; and preparing a cash flow for the farm or ranch.
00:24:29 – Economic State of Kansas Agriculture (Part 3): Concluding the look at the economic state of agriculture in Kansas, K-State's Kevin Herbel looks at the family expenses on a farm, including health care and insurance. Also, this week's edition of "Milk Lines."
00:32:59 – The Least Shrew: K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee talks about the nature of the least shrew and its underappreciated role in the prairie ecosystem.
Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.
K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.