Kansas Wheat played a major role in the celebration of Kansas Ag Week, March 12-19 throughout the state, as the agriculture industry received its due from

consumers and industry.

On Agriculture Day, March 19, KAWG joined the Kansas Sorghum Association, Kansas Soybean Association and Kansas Corn Growers Association for the annual

“Wake Up to Kansas Agriculture” pancake breakfast for the state legislature. The breakfast enabled grower-leaders to show appreciation to lawmakers for their service to the state. Radio interviews with members from each association were aired live on 580 WIBW’s Ag Issues program.

Also on Kansas Agriculture Day, Kansas Wheat Commissioner Jay Armstrong, Muscotah, joined other thought-leaders in agriculture to participate in a “Dialogue on Kansas Agriculture” at the Kansas State Capitol. Topics brought up during the session included nutrition, animal care, food safety, environmental stewardship, serving the world, the economy and education and technology. The panel was asked several topical questions, including challenges facing agriculture and what could be done about them. Armstrong mentioned the importance of research in overcoming environmental challenges.

“It means research and it means the right kind of research. Research dollars are a very limited resource. We need to decide what it is we want to invest in and put the limited amount of money towards that.”
Armstrong added that research can help overcome a myriad of challenges facing the wheat industry, including the current drought, gluten sensitivity, yield increases and disease stress.

“We’ve got to add value to whatever we are producing and the thing that adds value is technology…..That’s the future and the future is bright,” he said.