Final in a series of five farmer feature profiles distributed by the Kansas Rural Center. By Jennifer Kongs Nina and Jeter Isely manage 1,100 acres in the Northwest corner of Kansas, where they run a diversified operation that comprises heritage-breed…
Fourth in a series of five farmer feature profiles distributed by the Kansas Rural Center By Jennifer Kongs Most specialty crop operations in Kansas rely heavily on direct-to-consumer sales. While several farmers are specializing and scaling to provide to institutional…
By Charity Horinek We often hear how Kansas farmers feed the world, but for Ellen Mohler, that cliché wasn’t enough. “They always say, ‘We feed the world, we feed 155 people,’ but we aren’t even feeding our neighbors. We don’t…
By Charity Horinek Visit a Mexican restaurant in Southwest Kansas, and you will most likely eat tortilla chips that were grown and produced nearby, thanks to the Winfrey family of Plains. Since 2001, Leon and Nancy Winfrey and son Dustin…
Photo above: The Janssens rely on right-sized equipment for their smaller, urban vegetable plots, including a sprayer wagon for pesticide applications and a trailer for harvesting and hauling pumpkins and melons. Third in a series of five farmer feature profiles…
Second in a series of five farmer feature profiles distributed by the Kansas Rural Center By Jennifer Kongs Frank Gieringer was raised in Edgerton, Kansas, and started farming outside of town when he graduated from high school. “I started with…
First in a series of five farmer feature profiles distributed by the Kansas Rural Center By Jennifer Kongs Dave Svaty has farming in his family’s roots. He grew up on a farm down the road from where he and his…
Brooks – “Finding What Works” Buller – “Efficient Vegetable Production Systems to Help Your Farm Grow” Coltrain – “What’s Special About Specialty Crops” Corn – “Dream Small” Ebert – “Sustainable Agriculture Research Education” Hambright – “Introduction to Vineyard Establishment” Hirst…
by Jennifer Kongs “Sustainable economics for rural communities includes sustainable growing and a system that is financially sustainable for farmers,” said Claire Zimmerman, operator of Groundspeak Farm in Edgerton, Kansas. Zimmerman was one of 11 specialty crop farmers who gathered…
By Tom Parker Wood mulch works great for growing garlic, not so great for potatoes. Good seed is best. Bad soil just needs improvement. A rototiller is your best tool. Expertise is learned through trial and error. Mike Schoenecker doesn’t…
