GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 •
Special to the Great Bend Tribune Sunday, February 9, 2020
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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020
The future of agriculture Ag and government leaders streamlining biotech regulations
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while upholding our mission of protecting and promoting both human and animal health and animal well-being, for example by reducing their susceptibility to diseases like novel influenzas and resistance to zoonotic or foreign animal diseases. Our approach balances our internationally respected, science-based review standards with our ongoing risk-based regulatory approaches to ensure the safety of our food supply.”
BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com
n January, in recognition of 2020 National Biotechnology Month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency launched a Unified Website for Biotechnology Regulation. The Website streamlines information about the three regulatory agencies charged with overseeing agriculture biotechnology products and is part President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order on Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Agricultural Biotechnology Products. For Barton County, and the entire state of Kansas, this is huge, said Republican Big First Congressman Roger Marshall. “Our farmers are being asked to feed a growing and diverse population,” he said. “Breeding techniques, genetic engineering, and other tools afforded to farmers are important resources in allowing the agriculture industry to continue to adapt to these changes.” Biotechnology is an important piece of the larger technology toolbox our farmers need to meet the demands of the 21st century, he said. “President Trump and his administration have shown their commitment to streamlining the regulatory process to allow new technologies to enter the market in less time and with less unnecessary government red tape.” “Agricultural biotechnology is a fundamental tool that helps farmers to feed the world, and that technology must be preserved,” Kansas Republican Senior Senator Pat Roberts said. “When I became Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Vermont had passed a law to require labeling of food produced with agricultural biotechnology, and several other states had conflicting laws in the pipeline.” When legislation proposed by Roberts was signed into law in
COURTESY PHOTO
Pictured is the under-construction National Bio and Agro-defense Facility in Manhattan. It will be an important tool in assuring the safety of America’s food supply.
2016, it created a national solution to the wrecking ball of state-bystate patchwork of biotechnology labeling laws. “Many American consumers forget: our food is abundant, affordable, and safe. We must continue our reliance on sound science, research, and technology to ensure farmers’ continued prosperity.” But, Roberts said, it’s about more than food safety. “Agriculture security is national security. Our nation must be prepared to defend against bio- and agro-terrorism threats, and that’s why we are building NBAF,” he said. He was referring to the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility in Manhattan which will be America’s foremost animal disease research facility. It’s being constructed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, but will be owned and managed by the Department of Agriculture once completed. The $1.25 billion facility is a biosafety level-4 laboratory and will replace the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York. NBAF is expected to be operational by 2022-2023. “I have consistently beat the
drum on the importance of agriculture security for more than 20 years,” he said. Chairing the Emerging Threats Subcommittee on the Senate Armed Services Committee, as well as chairing the Senate Intelligence Committee gave him firsthand insight on biological diseases and threats to national security. “Throughout my career, I have held multiple congressional hearings and passed legislation to prioritize the defense of American food and agriculture,” he said. “I am thrilled that construction on the NBAF is progressing and especially pleased that the facility is right in the Heartland – where it belongs.” “Agricultural biotechnology has been and will continue to be an essential tool in helping America’s farmers and ranchers feed, fuel, and clothe the world,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “From producers to consumers, all Americans deserve a government that delivers sciencebased, common-sense regulations that foster innovation, conserve resources, and protect public health—especially when it comes
to the food supply. The launch of this unified Biotechnology Regulation website is proof of President Trump’s commitment to provide the American people with sensible regulations in a clear and transparent manner.” “EPA is pleased to be working with our partners at USDA, FDA, and across the federal government to implement President Trump’s Executive Order and launch this new, coordinated website,” said EPA Administrator Wheeler. “This new website will help provide regulatory certainty and clarity to our nation’s farmers and producers by bringing together information on the full suite of actions the Trump Administration is taking to safely reduce unnecessary regulations and breakdown barriers for these biotechnology products in the marketplace.” “This is a time of unprecedented scientific innovation. Agricultural biotechnology promises to bring dynamic new products to the marketplace,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, M.D. “At the FDA, we are committed to fostering flexible, risk-based approaches in this field
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Background The Unified Website for Biotechnology Regulation describes the federal review process for certain biotechnology products and allows users to submit questions to the three agencies. The goals of this website are to provide enhanced customer service to innovators and developers, while ensuring Americans continue to enjoy the safest and most affordable food supply in the world and can learn more about the safe use of biotechnology innovations. The Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Agricultural Biotechnology Products Executive Order calls for, among other things, regulatory streamlining in order to facilitate the innovation of agricultural biotechnology to the market efficiently, consistently, and safely under a predictable, consistent, transparent, and science-based regulatory framework. In addition, the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Trade Agreement sets unprecedented standards for agricultural biotechnology. For the first time, the agreement specifically addresses agricultural biotechnology to support 21st century innovations in agriculture. USDA is one of three federal agencies which regulate products of food and agricultural technology.
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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 •
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A big win for local ag USMCA fine-tunes NAFTA for 21st Century
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BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com
t’s been a long time coming and ended years of uncertainty for farmers and ag businesses in Barton County and beyond. President Donald Trump on Jan. 29 signed into law the long-anticipated United StatesMexico-Canada Agreement. The trade pact with U.S.’s two largest trading partners replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement that went into force January 1994. Mexican lawmakers ratified the deal in December. Canadian officials signed off on it shortly after the president’s action. “I’ve always said we want trade, not aid,” Kansas Farm Bureau President Rich Felts said following Trump’s signing of the USMCA. “We also want to be good neighbors, and this agreement solidifies our relationship with America’s top two trading partners. The USMCA is projected to increase U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico by $2 billion, and I know Kansas farmers and ranchers are eager to do their part to supply the increased demand.” About the deal In an era of partisan rancor, the USMCA garnered strong bipartisan support in Congress. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the deal in December followed by the Senate in early January, said Republican First District Congressman Roger Marshall. “It was a bipartisan victory for America,” he said. “This agreement will mean generations of certainty for
TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO
Wheat harvest gets underway in Barton County last summer. The long-anticipated United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement, is expected to help farmers here and around the country.
agriculture, thousands of new jobs, and hundreds of millions of dollars of increased eXports for Kansas. We will be bringing more manufacturing jobs back home to America because of this agreement. This wasn’t a matter of throwing out NAFTA, which continued to have support from Kansas ag producers, Marshall said. Instead, “the deal updates the NAFTA agreement so that it meets the demands of the 21st-century global economy.”
“Passing USMCA is a major step in implementing this 21st-century trade deal and providing needed certainty for Kansas farmers, ranchers and manufacturers,” echoed Republican Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran. “ Over one-third of Kansas exports go to Canada and Mexico making those countries Kansas’ two largest export markets.” Over the past two years, Moran has advocated for a deal like USMCA to be reached. “I have heard directly from
many Kansas producers on the vital importance of a modern trade deal that expands export opportunities, and I applaud President Trump’s work to get this trade deal accomplished.” Passage marks a crucial moment for our nation’s trading relationships with Mexico and Canada,” said fellow Republican Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts. “I am proud to have voted in favor of this critical trade agreement. I know firsthand what this passage means for the success of our farmers, ranchers, producers & manufacturers who fiercely rely on trade.”
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, USMCA will advance United States agricultural interests in two of the most important markets for American farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses. “This highstandard agreement builds upon our existing markets to expand United States food and agricultural exports and support food processing and rural jobs,” Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue said.
See USMCA, 4
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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020
USMCA, from page 3
Trade pact approval secures benefits for farmers, agribusiness He noted that Canada and Mexico are the nation’s first and second largest export markets for United States food and agricultural products, totaling more than $39.7 billion food and agricultural exports in 2018. These exports support more than 325,000 American jobs. Closer to home Canada and Mexico are Kansas’ first and third largest export markets for Kansas food and agricultural commodities, totaling nearly $1.58 billion in 2018 or 41.1% of our total trade, said Sunflower State Ag Secretary Mike Beam. “Mexico and Canada are consistently in the top three trade partners for Kansas so maintaining these strong relationships is critical for agricultural exports in the state.” USMCA is a significant development for Kansas farmers and ranchers, he said. “With a downturn in commodity prices, the agriculture sector is at a critical crossroads. The passage of USMCA provides Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses a degree of certainty during some uncertain times. It also instills confidence in the state’s top trade partners and neighbors that the U.S. can be counted on as reliable suppliers of food and agricultural commodities.” “This is an important and welcome development in Kansas, especially as our farmers and ranchers struggle to rebuild after an historic year of natural disasters,” Kelly said. “With more than 95% of the world’s consumers living outside the United States, world markets offer tremendous growth opportunities for Kansas agriculture. USMCA will create enhanced export opportunities and help Kansans capitalize on the increased global demand for food and agriculture products.” What does it do? In short, all food and
TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO
Milo is piled at a Barton County grain elevator last year. The recently-passed United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will increase foreign markets for U.S. ag products, experts say.
Key Provisions of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement: • Increasing Dairy Market Access America’s dairy farmers will have expanded market opportunities in Canada for a wide variety of dairy products. Canada agreed to eliminate the unfair Class 6 and 7 milk pricing programs that allowed their farmers to undersell U.S. producers. • Biotechnology For the first time, the agreement specifically addresses agricultural
agricultural products that have zero tariffs under NAFTA will remain at zero tariffs. Since the original NAFTA did not eliminate all tariffs on agricultural trade between the United States and Canada, the USMCA will
biotechnology – including new technologies such as gene editing – to support innovation and reduce trade-distorting policies. • Geographical Indications The agreement institutes a more rigorous process for establishing geographical indicators and lays out additional factors to be considered in determining whether a term is a common name. • Sanitary/Phytosanitary Measures The three countries agree to strengthen disciplines for sciencebased measures that protect human, animal, and plant health
create new market access opportunities for United States exports to Canada of dairy, poultry, and eggs, and in exchange the United States will provide new access to Canada for some dairy, peanut, and a limited amount of sugar
while improving the flow of trade. • Poultry and Eggs U.S. poultry producers will have expanded access to Canada for chicken, turkey, and eggs. • Wheat Canada agrees to terminate its discriminatory wheat grading system, enabling U.S. growers to be more competitive. • Wine and Spirits The three countries agree to avoid technical barriers to trade through non-discrimination and transparency regarding sale, distribution, labeling, and certification of wine and distilled spirits.
and sugar-containing products. “We’ve long waited for this day and now USMCA will finally head to the President’s desk,” Perdue said. “The passage of USMCA is great news for America’s
farmers and ranchers. With Congressional consideration now complete, our farmers and ranchers are eager to see the President sign this legislation and begin reaping the benefits of this critical agreement.”
History The North American Free Trade Agreement is an agreement signed by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on Jan. 1, 1994, and superseded the 1988 Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Canada. NAFTA was created to eliminate barriers to trade and investment between the US, Canada and Mexico. The implementation of NAFTA immediately eliminated tariffs on more than one-half of Mexico’s exports to the US and more than one-third of US. exports to Mexico. Since it was implemented, trade between the three countries has increased several times over. But, the net overall effect of NAFTA on the U.S. economy appears to have been relatively modest, primarily because trade with Canada and Mexico accounts for a small percentage of U.S. GDP. And Still, NAFTA boosted U.S. economic growth by as much as 0.5% a year. The sectors that benefited the most were agriculture, automobiles, and services. U.S. farm exports to Canada and Mexico quadrupled from $11 billion in 1993 to $43 billion in 2016. It made up 25% of total food exports and supported 20 million jobs. Both Canada and Mexico saw benefits as well. However, more than 950,000 specific U.S. jobs have been certified by the U.S. Labor Department as lost to NAFTA outsourcing and import floods under just one narrow program. Some say it also depressed wages in some industries and forced jobless Mexicans to cross the border illegally.
BIOTECH, from page 2 Together, USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have a Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology and regulates these products for human, animal, plant and environmental health. For products derived from plant biotechnology, USDA’s regulations focus on protecting plant health; FDA oversees food and feed safety; and EPA regulates the sale, distribution, and testing of pesticides in order
to protect human health and the environment. USDA continues to coordinate closely with the EPA and FDA to fulfill oversight responsibilities and provide the appropriate regulatory environment. This ensures the safety of products derived from new technologies, while fostering innovation at the same time. The USDA does not regulate or have any plans to regulate plants that could otherwise have been developed through traditional breeding techniques. This includes a set of new techniques that are
increasingly being used by plant breeders to produce new plant varieties that are indistinguishable from those developed through traditional breeding methods. In April 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order establishing the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity “to ensure the informed exercise of regulatory authority that impacts agriculture and rural communities.” As Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue was selected to serve as the chairman of the Task Force, which includes
22 federal agencies as well as local leaders. Specifically, the Executive Order was established to identify changes that, among other things, “advance the adoption of innovations and technology for agricultural production and long-term, sustainable rural development… improve food safety… [and] encourage the production, export, and use of domestically produced agricultural products.” The Task Force report to the President was released in January 2018, and it recognized that “on
the biotechnology front, better coordination of the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, and Food and Drug Administration regulations on genetic modification of crops and livestock is needed to reduce barriers to commercialization of safe, beneficial and improved genetically engineered entities. Our regulatory system must protect public health, welfare, safety, and our environment while promoting economic growth, innovation, competitiveness, and job creation.”
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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 •
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Barton County ag land market stable, improving
TRIBUNE FILE PHOTOS
The market for agriculture ground in Barton County is stable and has seen improvement in recent years.
Land values bucking otherwise soft ag sector BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com
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he land market in 2019 continued the plateau trend of the past several years in which the supply of agricultural land for sale on the market remained lower than average and prices for good quality cropland held mostly steady. Looking ahead to next year, will financial stress from lower commodity prices and poor harvests in some regions cause prices to decline? “I think things are stable to a little improved,� said Kevin Keller of Keller Real Estate in Great Bend. In the past couple years, ag
land values have increased 5-6%. On a national level, these questions were addressed in a report released recently by the Omaha, Neb.based Farmers National Company. It offered a national overview as well as breaking the country down by regions. Overall, farmland sale activity in the first part of 2019 was slower than it had been for some time with late spring and early summer especially void of farms for sale. Planting delays and prevented plantings contributed to the lackluster activity. “Despite the slower land market, Farmers National Company and its agents
saw a 25 percent increase in acres sold in 2019 from the prior year and the most since 2014. Sellers are seeking the best advice and marketing strategy to sell their land and that is why the amount of land listed for sale at Farmers National is very strong at over $300 million� said Randy Dickhut, senior vice president of real estate operations. Land values in 2019 once again bucked the prevailing depressed mood in agriculture to hold steady or even increase slightly in some instances except for the most stressed areas or segments such as dairy. See LAND, 6
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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020
LAND, from page 5
Irrigated fields, prime ground with good equipment and water selling at higher prices With generally more cautious buyers, some markets saw a move to private treaty listings or bid sales instead of the traditional public land auction. “The lower supply of land for sale had much to do with land prices being mostly steady as did having adequate demand for quality cropland. Lower quality farmland had less demand and in many cases was harder to sell. Investor interest in cropland increased somewhat in 2019 with several new entities entering the market and also from an increase in purchasing activity by existing institutional investors,” said Dickhut. This holds true in Barton County as well, Keller said. Turnover has been stable and inventories are holding constant, he said. And, quality ground is moving quicker and holding its price better. Digging deeper For the sake of the report, Farmers National groups Kansas with Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. “Land sale activity across the Southern Plains has been quite varied and dependent on location,
quality and use,” said Paul Schadegg, area sales manager for Farmers National Company. “In general, good quality continues to sell while lower quality land struggles.” During the fall, Farmers National auctioned a good quality crop farm in north-central Kansas for $8,800 per acre, which was near record for the area even though land prices are off the peaks by five years. “Our local agent did a great job talking with all the potential buyers and Farmers National did a full marketing campaign
for the sale. We definitely reached the buyers,” Schadegg said.
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But, “we’re not going to see that here,” Keller said. Quality dryland ground
here goes for about $1,200-2,200, depending on soil type and land use.
As for irrigated fields, prime ground with good equipment and water is selling for as high as $5,600. Poor to average irrigated land sells for $2,500-3,500. The difference in large part is due to the variations in precipitation, Keller said. Prices are higher where there is more rain which improves crop yields. Elsewhere in the region, Texas timberland and ranches are in demand from buyers and are holding or increasing in price. See LAND, 7
GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 •
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LAND, from page 6
Favorable low interst rates key factors for farmland values In Oklahoma, Schadegg said that Farmers National has held a number of “good auctions selling both cropland and grass.” “Nebraska land buyers are being more cautious, forcing sellers to be more realistic in a price that will consummate a sale,” said Schadegg. Looking ahead into the coming year, attention turns to what is going to impact the farm economy and the land market and whether or not the current lower commodity prices will be the new normal. Financial stress has increased for some individual farm operators, but overall financial conditions in agriculture are adequate. Influencing factors Several other factors had a favorable effect on farmland values in 2019. Interest rates remained historically low and moved even lower during the year when, at one time, most thought rates would work higher. The other significant factor
How are farmland values set in Kansas? Agricultural land is not based on market value, as the Kansas Constitution requires agricultural land to be valued based on its income or productivity, according to the Barton County Appraiser’s Office. This is commonly called “use value” appraisal. Kansas Statutes Annotated K.S.A. 79-1476 requires that an eightyear average of landlord’s net income be used for determining the agricultural use value. This use-value system is based on an eight-year average of yields, income, costs and soilproduction capabilities. In Barton County, separate use
supporting land values and buyer demand, especially by farmers, was the amount of government support for production agriculture, Keller said. One-third of agriculture’s 2019 net farm income came from government provided sources including crop
value estimates are calculated for different agricultural land types; dry land, irrigated and pasture or grass. Historical data is always used. Current bad years are not immediately reflected, just as any good years do not have an immediate impact. The sale price of agricultural land has no bearing upon the value for tax purposes as the value is based upon use value. The County Appraiser’s Office does not set these values; its function in agricultural land valuation is the determination of land use. By legislation the Division of Property Valuation is required to make a determination of value for each of the various soils found in each county and to
insurance, the Market Facilitation Program, and various other conservation and program funding. “The subsidy assistance is helping,” he said. In 2019, the ag industry endured floods, planting frustrations, trade uncertainty and
furnish those values to each county appraiser. Visit Property Valuation Division’s website link at https://www.ksrevenue.org/ pvdaguse.html to view the current year’s Ag use values and soil types, as well as other useful information pertaining to the valuation of agricultural use values. To assist the county in maintaining current inventories of use of agricultural land, inform the Appraiser’s Office of changes such as CRP enrollment, use changes and well information. For questions, more information or to check on the use of land, call 620-793-1821 or come into the Appraiser’s Office located on the second floor of the Barton County Courthouse.
struggling commodity prices. Financial conditions for some producers degenerated, but agriculture overall remains in better shape than expected due to support payments and the fact that land values remain historically
strong. The land market weathered many storms in 2019 just like U.S. agriculture as both balanced precipitously on the plateau of the past five years. So will 2020 be the year that the land market breaks out of its plateau?
“There are a number of factors that indicate that the land market will continue to be steady in 2020,” said Dickhut. “Interest rates are low and are poised to remain so during the foreseeable future and government support through MFP payments will likely continue if Chinese trade issues are not fully resolved. Overall, agriculture is in adequate financial shape, but there are individual and regional concerns.” There are also factors that could have a more depressing influence on farmland values in 2020, Farmers National reported. In addition to ongoing trade disruptions, there is the concern if there will be an increase in financially caused sales of land by producers. Buyer demand for good cropland has been adequate for the supply and this would have to remain so in order for land values to continue on their plateau. Again, Keller echoed these sentiments.
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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020
Gaunt Farms recognized for highest state yield of Sorghum in 2019 No till practice continues to pay off after 14 years purchase a no till drill. Their rotation doesn’t include corn because it requires different equipment, and hiring out the labor is less efficient. Now in their mid-60s, Steve and Terry will continue to farm for the time being, but they know the time is coming when they will want to retire. With no family members to step in and take over the operation, they will continue to wring efficiency out of their current operation. “We aren’t the first to use no till, but we’ve stuck with it probably the longest,� Terry said. “When we do rent out our ground, if that’s the way it ends up, that’s the way we’re going to want someone to continue because we feel it’s the best long term for the soil.� They share concerns over the future of no till, however, in light of proposed state specific bans on the use of glyphosate, a popular herbicide used to manage weeds, but also linked to certain cancers and other health issues. Other methods are being tested, but they will require specific equipment.
BY VERONICA COONS vcoons@gbtribune.com
S
teve and Terry Gaunt of Gaunt Farms, located south of Great Bend in Barton County, have something to celebrate. They had a feeling their sorghum yield last fall was pretty good. Enough so to enter the National Sorghum Producers Association annual yield contest. Recently, they were notified their entry came in first in the State of Kansas in their category, and second in the nation. The award underscores a commitment to efficiency and good land management that continues to pay off year after year for the brothers who have been farming in Barton County for 45 years. Every year, the National Sorghum Producers Association holds a yield contest. This year, winners will be recognized at an awards dinner at the Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, on Feb. 28. The National winner is Nathan Miller of Oklahoma with a yield of 160.2 bushels per acre. Gaunt Farms registered for the contest in the irrigated-no till farm category, one of nine ranging from irrigated to dryland and tillage to no till. There’s also a category for food grade sorghum. Their sorghum yield, planted into a newly acquired field that had previously been planted to corn, was 156.11 bushels per acre last fall, and that was fairly consistent throughout the entire field, Terry Gaunt said. Sometimes, a field will have pockets of higher and lower yields, and the contest allows contestants to enter their best 10 acres. The consistency was notable because early in 2019, many southern Barton County farms had pockets of standing water from spring rains that resulted in inconsistent
VERONICA COONS Great Bend Tribune
Brothers Steve and Terry Gaunt have been farming in Barton County for 45 years. They were recently recognized by the National Sorghum Producers Association as having the highest yield of sorghum in Kansas for irrigated-no till production in 2019. This is the second time in 20 years they have won top honors.
yields. By planting time, the field was ready, so there were no delays in timing either. The yield was just over 27 bushels per acre higher than the Kansas second-place winner, Darrin Saunders of Republic County, who yielded 129.32. No till continues to pay off This isn’t the first time Terry and Steve have received high honors in
the contest. In 2000, they had the highest yield in their category in the nation, with 173.6 bushels per acre on irrigated -reduced till land. However, they still came in second in the nation. The farm with the next highest yield was located in a county with a lower average yield than Barton County, so they received additional points, putting them in ahead of the Gaunts. That year, they also entered a
169.03 bpa yield from a conventional tilled field. It came in third in the nation. At that time, there wasn’t a no till category because there weren’t enough farmers who had switched practices to make it a competitive field. Since then, the brothers have embraced no till for the past 14 years almost exclusively. It was about 20 years ago they made some critical decisions, including trading in a planter to
Sorghum a good bet as water scarcity grows While there is some uncertainty as to the methods that will catch on in popularity in years to come, Steve and Terry agree the future looks favorable for sorghum in Kansas because it requires less water than corn. With that in mind, the Gaunts predict new and improved varieties of sorghum will be developed as farmers look to crops that will require less water in the decades to come. Their winning yield this year, interestingly, is from the same seed they used in 2000, Pioneer 84G62. The seed performed well for more than half of the national winners, according to results posted by the NSPA.
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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020 •
Hoping for a productive and exciting new year
DANIEL KIEWEL Great Bend Tribune
The outside, as well as renovated areas inside, of the Kansas Oil & Gas Hall of Fame and Museum are pictured. The museum is nearing the end of a year-long renovation effort which included new walls, flooring and signage. The goal is to have the remainder of the work completed in March.
Museum nears end of year-long renovation, prepares for HOF induction BY DANIEL KIEWEL dkiewel@gbtribune.com
A
lot has been happening behind the scenes over the last year or so at the Kansas Oil & Gas Museum, and directors at the Kansas Oil & Gas Hall of Fame and Museum are hoping the result is a productive and exciting new year. The most visible development to museum visitors this year will be a museum renovation a year-plus in the making, which Kansas Oil & Gas Museum Foundation Treasurer John Francis said he expects to be completed in March of this year. It is the first renovation the museum has undergone in its 30year history. The Kansas Oil & Gas Hall of Fame began in 1989 with the selection of six initial inductees were key in shaping the oil and gas industry in Kansas, according to the Museum Foundation’s historical
documents. Industry representatives decided then to purchase a property to house the Hall of Fame, later deciding to include a museum to educate visitors on the industry, as well. “Two goals were uppermost in everyone’s mind,� the Foundation’s history states. “The hall of fame and museum would provide an avenue for education about the oil
and gas industry... a major contributor to the growth and prosperity of Kansas. An equally important goal is the preservation of the industry’s rich and colorful history.� But since initial work began on the property at 5944 10th St. in 1991, the facility had never received any significant updates. See MUSEUM, 10
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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020
DANIEL KIEWEL Great Bend Tribune
The Hall of Fame room at the Kansas Oil & Gas Museum is pictured. The Hall of Fame will host its first induction ceremony since 2015 this year on April 18.
MUSEUM, from page 9
Next Hall of Fame inductions to take place this year Early last year, the museum’s board of directors decided to change that. “The Hall of Fame and Museum building needed a face lift after being in business for 30 years,� Francis said. The bulk of the work, according to Advisory Director Leslie Klug, has been to update the museum’s walls and lay new flooring in the museum. However, there were also a few updates to the museum’s content, Francis indicated. “We have a few new signs to explain things,� Klug said, indicating the new signs will be brighter and have more descriptive information for visitors. Most of the existing content, however, will remain the same, including the Hall of Fame room. “(We wanted to leave) the Hall of Fame room untouched to preserve the tribute to our inductees,� Francis said. Though the content will remain the same in the Hall of Fame room, one thing will change in 2020. For the first time in five years, more names will be added to the list of inductees. The Kansas Oil & Gas Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which usually occurs every four years, and was last held in 2015, was postponed last year due to the renovation. Now that renovation is nearly completed, an induction ceremony has been scheduled for Saturday, April 18. Klug said the hall of fame is still in the process of notifying the inductees, and the list of inductees will be released sometime in late February. According to the museum’s website, the Hall of Fame currently has 82 members inducted since 1989. She also said the aim is to have a “soft� grand re-opening the day of the
induction ceremony, when the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day. “You know, we did a renovation campaign that a lot of people help support and we wanted to have the renovation complete before the induction banquet, because that draws people from all over Kansas,� Klug said, “So we wanted the museum to be in good shape for visitors.� Before being able to re-open on a regular basis, the museum needs to hire a full-time curator to lead the museum’s day to day operations. Francis calls the hiring of a curator “the most pressing� goal of the museum for the new year. With a new curator, Francis said, the museum hopes to breathe new life into some of its educational programs. “We had an initiative with local schools to engage children and teach them about the oil and gas industry. We hope to revitalize that program along with summer children’s camp offerings,� he said. Once a new curator is in place, the museum hopes to re-open on a daily basis this summer. Another fundraiser the board hopes to be able to put on again this year is it’s Rig Brew craft beer-tasting event, which was last held in 2018. Klug said, though, that event will also be contingent on having a new curator in place to spearhead fundraising event efforts. In the meantime, Klug hopes people continue to be involved in advancing the museum’s mission, noting that the museum is completely volunteer-driven and donor-funded. “It’s a good way to pay tribute to the people in our industry as well as educate the general public about how we use oil and gas, and here you can see that firsthand,� she said.
DANIEL KIEWEL Great Bend Tribune
The year-long renovation at the Kansas Oil & Gas Museum included new flooring, new wall treatments and new explanatory signs. Directors hope to hire a curator in the near future.
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Hemp creates new options for local farms BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com
marijuana, but there is a significant difference. The concentration levels of THC, the component that gives marijuana its psychoactive properties, can be up to 30% in marijuana. Hemp, in contrast, contains 0.3% THC per dry weight; it can’t be used to get high. “For CBD, you want only female plants,” Melissa said. “You want to avoid any males and any pollinating that’s happening. And on the opposite side, when you’re growing for fiber and seed, to get that seed you need males and females. ... The varieties that we are growing have been bred to have low THC and high CBD.”
S
ince the laws surrounding hemp cultivation in Kansas have changed, local farmers have shown an interest in adding it to their crop rotation. Richard, Aaron and Melissa Baldwin of Great Bend, who own and operate Circle K Farms, have started a new venture, South Bend Industrial Hemp (SBHI). They completed their first successful growing season in 2019. “I truly believe in this crop and the potential that it has,” Melissa Baldwin said. “When we set out to start this business, we had three missions – to help Kansas farmers harvest another economically-viable crop, experience all the links in the hemp production chain and bring a safe and effective product to market from our family farm,” she said. The Baldwins are excited about the potential of industrial hemp as a Kansas cash crop as well as its potential for value-added products such as CBD oil and salves, which they now sell on their website, www. southbendindustrialhemp. com. Before planting their first crop, they applied to be a licensed grower with the State of Kansas. Each permit is for a maximum of 80 acres. During the application process, they had to explain “what you want to do, why
COURTESY PHOTOS
Third-generation farmers Richard and Aaron Baldwin, along with Aaron’s wife, crop scientist Melissa Nelson Baldwin, are setting their sights on a new crop, industrial hemp. This misunderstood crop has multiple uses and could be a great choice for more Kansas farmers in the future.
you want to grow hemp and how you’re going to do it,” Melissa said. “You had to have an idea of the varieties that you wanted, how you were going to plant them and how you were going to harvest them.” The regulations were restrictive but she believes this helped protect farmers from jumping into a new venture with no clear idea of what it entails. “It’s pretty high risk,” she said. “It’s not like you can just drop it off at the co-op.” For their first crop, they had to drive to Colorado with their harvest. “There are facilities in
Kansas now that are up and running, but at the time when we were building our permit, there were no Kansas facilities that were ready to go.” There also was no crop insurance for their first year. SBIH had two different growths. One was a dual crop for hemp fiber and seed, and they grew a
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greenhouse. The product for CBD must be tested in a lab for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content. Hemp may look and smell exactly like
A crop for central Kansas Hemp is well-suited to central Kansas’s climate and its sandy soil. The Baldwins say almost all varieties of hemp are naturally resistant to insects, meaning harmful pesticides that can leach into the soil and waterways aren’t necessary. Hemp is a relatively hardy plant and requires far less water than many other crops and can pull huge quantities of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Scientists estimate that for every ton of hemp grown, 1.63 tons of carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere, more than trees or other plants of a similar size. See HEMP, 12
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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2020
HEMP, from page 11
More Kansas farmers showing interest in hemp crops However, flooding rains, hail and disastrous winds ruined the 2019 fiber and seed crop. “It didn’t work for us. So we focused on the CBD grow,� Melissa said. The Baldwins say they spent a lot of their time last year reacting. After all, they are pioneers in growing hemp in Kansas in the 21st century. “If you ask 10 people what to do, you’re going to get 10 different answers. Nobody’s really got a sure-fire answer like, for example, the experienced corn growers. The last time Kansas State did hemp research was in the 1970s, (and then) last year, they had a variety trial,� Melissa said. “We were very, very careful to mitigate our risk this year,� she said. “This is very like Wild West; there are no regulations. There are no large companies that are standard for the industry yet. And so you kind of have to do your own vetting and find reputable people.� “One of our big reasons for doing this was to help develop the industry and go through some of those hoops to help other farmers not have to have that much risk,� Aaron Baldwin said. One of the first questions farmers ask is, “how much should I plant?� Melissa said. “I ask them, ‘How much can you lose?’ This industry is still so new and being developed so much; ‘how much, if your crop completely failed, could you afford to lose and still keep your doors open and continue operating?’ “We hope in the next few years it gets better,� Melissa continued. “We’ve found some connections that we really trust in the hemp industry. It’s really important to develop those relationships. If I can help another farmer succeed, it’s only going to help both of us – the farmer and ourselves – because it’s going to continue moving the industry forward.� The journey is documented on the SBIH Facebook page. “The good, the bad, the ugly. Some successes, we had failures, we have really tried to put it all out there for the people. You know, a lot of people are interested in what we’re doing,� Melissa said. They want their website to be a place people can go to for information, Aaron said. “Hopefully they can learn from our experiences.� “I love that hemp is giving farmers another opportunity for a cash crop,� Melissa said. “You know how the agricultural industry right now is; it’s a very tight margin on whether you’re going to have a profit or a loss per acre. So just giving another option may be all they need.�
COURTESY PHOTO
A 2,100-square-foot greenhouse holds some of the hemp plants grown for CBD in 2019.
Our Story - adapted from a South Bend Industrial Hemp blog by Melissa Nelson Baldwin The story about us begins and ends on our family farm. The reason why we started our hemp journey is that we love farming and working the Kansas land. We love being a part of a community bigger than us. At the end of the day, if we can positively impact our local economy and boost Kansas agriculture we’ve succeeded in this new voyage. We are a fourthgeneration farm located in Central Kansas, which has farmed corn, wheat, soybeans, and milo for nearly 50 years. In 2019, Kansas opened the opportunity for farmers to grow industrial hemp. Similar to our desire to be on the innovating edge of traditional farming technology, we also wanted to be on the pioneering front for this new crop opportunity. South Bend Industrial Hemp was established in 2019 by Aaron, Richard and Melissa. By combining our diverse backgrounds and strengths we completed our first growing together. It was truly a team effort. We pride ourselves in growing a healthy crop, providing a product from our plants to consumers, and educating communities on the many health benefits of by-products of hemp. Learning curves and growing pains were expected, but even on the hardest of days, our mission and our goals were the driving force to making this year successful. We wanted to introduce ourselves and let you get
The future of hemp Hemp is also being grown in neighboring Pawnee, Ness, Rice, Russell and Stafford counties, and the Baldwins expect the number of growers will increase in the coming years. “Last year we were one of only two permits in Barton County,� Aaron said. Theirs is in South Bend Township, and the other is out near the Rush County line. “We were the only ones that grew for CBD,� he added. There was 220 approved licenses last year and 320 this year, they said. That includes processors, distributors, and growers. Licenses for all three groups, as well as for state educational institutions, are listed online on the Kansas Department of Agriculture website.
extracted? Are you going to sell it as a biomass or are you going to take it to an isolate, which is what we did. There are a lot of farmers that are sitting on pounds and pounds of seed or biomass or whatever that they harvested, but they don’t have a place to go with it, because they did not start at the end. We started there and then just slowly worked our way backwards to, ‘Okay, now we can grow.’� “We had everything either contracted or agreed
to know the people who are bringing South Bend Industrial Hemp products from our land to your hand. Aaron and Richard Baldwin are brothers and co-owners of Circle K Farming Partnership. Their ability to build, fix, and modify any piece of equipment to make our ideas come to life was extremely valuable growing hemp this year. Richard and Aaron are native to Great Bend and are active in the farming community. Richard is married to Candie Baldwin and has two kids, Derion and Dakota. When he’s not in the tractor or checking irrigation he’s busy coaching Dakota in softball and spending time with his family. Our hemp business venture fuels our passion for continuing our family farm legacy to the next generation. Melissa married into the Baldwin family and is Aaron’s wife. She is an independent crop research scientist and operates her own company, Performance Crop Research. She has been working in the research industry for the past 7 years. Melissa has a background in cattle and was active in FFA and 4-H growing up. She currently serves on the county board for Barton County Farm Bureau. Together, Melissa and Aaron volunteer for the Great Bend Booster Club as committee leaders. Aaron and Melissa have two children, Brantley and Annah, and stay busy following their activities when we aren’t farming. We love educating people and helping reduce the negative stigma about industrial hemp. If you would like to come to tour our farm or have us come speak to a group, reach out and we’ll make it work!
upon on a sell before we planted anything,� Aaron said. “Another thing we’re trying to work towards is developing ways to mechanize the crop to where we can use our standard commercial farming machines we already have.� “Our goal is to use the equipment that we already have,� Melissa agreed. “Because if you really want this to be a farmer’s crop that you can implement into his cropping rotation, he’s going to have to already
have the equipment. The money isn’t there for you to go out and buy a half a million dollar special harvester just for this crop. That won’t happen. If you can utilize the equipment that you already have – your planters, your drills, your combines – and maybe just change the head a little bit, it becomes something much more affordable. This will succeed.� Looking ahead The Baldwins are ready
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to expand. “It was a lot of work, but it was worth every bit,� Aaron said of the 2019 season. “This year, we’re going to step that (success) up a little bit and do a larger-acres grow, to make sure we can do it on a larger scale.� “I think the biggest thing for us is, we wanted to experience every part of this growth,� Melissa said. So that is why we’re actually producing our own CBD products that we grew from our plants, everything Barton County grown.� SBIH offers CBD oil and salves formulated with eucalyptus oil, lavender and lemongrass on their website. The Baldwins note that lemongrass oil is a natural pain-reliever and anti-inflammatory, while lavender is known for its relaxing and calming abilities. Inhaling eucalyptus may help loosen mucus, making it a popular choice to reduce congestion associated with bronchitis and influenza. “CBD provides a lot of health benefits,� said Melissa, who formulated all of the SBIH products. “We give it to our dogs to help them with anxiety from Kansas storms, joint and pain relief, and more. “It’s really been a group effort, from filling bottles to labeling — we’ve done everything. The only part (that happened out of state) was the extraction that happened in Colorado. And our goal is to bring that to Kansas this next year, and so we will be 100% Kansas based products.� Fans on the SBIH Facebook page came up with the company slogan, “Hemp from the Heartland.� “A long-term goal would be to have a facility or manufacturing facility come to town or provide jobs,� Aaron said. He envisions a future hemp co-op. “At the end of the day, you don’t have to buy our products,� Melissa said. “I just want you to be educated so that when you do want to go buy a product you know what you’re buying. This industry is so Wild West right now; there are so many products out there that aren’t what they say they are.�
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