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Tag: Kansas Department of Agriculture

Gary Moss, water conservation

Gary Moss and his wife, Teri
Gary Moss and his wife, Teri

National Public Radio is broadcasting a news report about a new water conservation effort, but not from Washington DC or southern California. Part of it came from the cab of a combine in Kansas.

They were reporting on an innovative water conservation initiative being led by northwest Kansas farmers.

Gary Moss is a fourth-generation farmer near Hoxie in Sheridan County, and a member of the advisory board for this water conservation project. Moss produces irrigated corn, soybeans and wheat and has a cow-calf herd.

Through the years, Moss has seen the significance of the Ogallala Aquifer, the huge underground water reservoir that underlies the western High Plains. He’s also seen groundwater levels fall.

In 1972, the State of Kansas created a state-level position of Chief Engineer and provided for groundwater management districts across the state. Over the decades, groundwater districts in some regions were seeing depletion of underground water.

Moss and other producers saw a need to get together in their part of northwest Kansas. “In 2008, we started holding meetings because the groundwater table was dropping pretty significantly,” he said. The group worked on ways to use water more efficiently, such as re-nozzling sprinklers.

Continue reading “Gary Moss, water conservation”

Tonya Martisko, Gaeddert Farms Sweet Corn

By Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Sweet corn. It’s one of the joys of summer. Freshly picked sweet corn, cooked and served with some butter and salt, can be a summertime treat. When there happens to be extra sweet corn, it also can be a benefit when it is donated for families facing food insecurity.

Gaeddert Farms Sweet Corn stand
Gaeddert Farms Sweet Corn stand

Tonya Martisko and Julie Ball are sisters and owners and operators of Gaeddert Farms Sweet Corn, based on the third-generation family farm near Buhler.

Gaeddert Farms, one of the state’s leading vendors of sweet corn, has been generous to many families in need. This generosity caused the company to be recognized as an Ag Hero by the Kansas Department of Agriculture during the 2020 Ag Growth Summit. Continue reading “Tonya Martisko, Gaeddert Farms Sweet Corn”

Matt Case, Cherokee County Food Fight

By Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

“Food fight!” Don’t worry, I’m not referring to a riot in the school cafeteria. This food fight is a friendly challenge to generate more food for local families who need a hand. This worthwhile competition went so well that it won recognition as an Ag Hero.

Matt Case
Matt Case

Matt Case is the manager of the Farmers Co-op in Columbus, Kansas. He grew up working on farms around Columbus and married his high school sweetheart. After being trained in precision machining, he worked in industry and then had the opportunity to come back and work for the Farmers Co-op in his hometown. In 2016, he became general manager.

The Farmers Co-op generates around $80 million in annual sales with seven locations in Cherokee County. It is also community spirited, hosting an annual food drive, for example. Continue reading “Matt Case, Cherokee County Food Fight”