Tom’s KRC Update 2023

Spring is getting going across Kansas and for the Kansas Rural Center that means a transition in the work we do. Over the winter we try to focus onfarmer education as that is a down time for many farmers, but now things are things starting to get busier in the fields and pastures across the state. This winter we hosted online Farm to School trainings, as well as the first year of our Farm Beginnings program. We’ve continued to make connections in communities across the state, and worked on developing our Sunflower Stories work and released our first podcast on that work, an interview with Arkenberg Farms near Topeka.

As the weather warms, we look forward to getting out more and visiting with farmers across the state at farmers markets and on farms. As spring progresses our policy focus changes as well. The Kansas Legislative session approaches First Adjournment on April 6 working furiously to pass bills for this session. At this point the bright spot seems to be that tax bills that are currently in play will bring an earlier end to the state sales tax on groceries and food ingredients. One proposes ending the state sales tax on groceries and food ingredients as early as July 1, 2023. That would be a great relief to Kansas families. There is also promise that the legislature will take some long-needed action on the water problems facing Kansas. There are a couple of bills addressing these issues that look to become law in some form. Neither will solve the state’s water issues, but finally having some action is good news. While that looks promising, there are so many other pieces moving it is hard to know what things will look like when the dust finally settles later this spring. On the federal level this is appropriations season for next year’s spending and once that wraps up we will return our focus to the work continuing on the next Farm Bill. There are currently great opportunities for the next farm bill to strengthen local food systems, especially meat processing, and support increased farm conservation to make sure that all farmers can benefit from the Federal farm programs.

This year we are hoping to expand our outreach efforts across the state and we’re looking for interested folks to help with that process. If you are interested in learning more about thework KRC does and how you can share that with your community reach out
to our Communications Coordinator Charlotte French-Allen, (charlotte@ kansasruralcenter.org).