A Message From Tom, Summer 2026
When I visited the farmers market this weekend, the changing season was evident in the changing selection of produce available. As summer is coming upon us, the leafy greens and radishes are giving way to potatoes, green beans and a few hothouse tomatoes and cucumbers. The strawberries have passed. Beyond thinking about what is for dinner, I’m reflecting on the first part of the year in the realm of Kansas food and farming systems. A lot has happened.
At the Kansas Legislature, we were able to work with Kansans for Conservation to get a conservation bill, HB 2063, to advance past the House Agriculture Committee, but it was never taken up by the full House. We will continue to push for improved conservation support from the Kansas legislature. Since all of the House seats are up for election this year, this issue might be a good one to check in on with candidates in your area.
At the Federal level, the US House of Representatives passed their version of the Farm Bill. While Congress is supposed to pass a farm bill every five or six years, the most recent full version was passed in 2018. It has been extended several times over the past few years. We hoped that passing a new Farm Bill would set us on the path for a more sustainable food and farming system. With a few bright spots, the bill that passed the House is frankly more of the same broken system. The opportunity to re-think our Federal farm policy structure to genuine support thriving rural communities and sustainable farming systems was passed over in favor of a bill that strengthens the farm safety net for the few who already benefit, but leaves most farms out in the cold. The Senate must now take up their work to consider a Farm Bill. We hope that they do better than the House.
Beyond the policy front, KRC is working hard to provide opportunities for Kansas farmers and communities. We are working to showcase on-farm conservation practices, as we did on June 8, when Jackie Keller organized a farm tour at Teck Farms in Hutchinson. This tour helped to educate farmers on how they can use cost-share programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to support conservation practices on their farm.
Other staff are working to provide business resource support to farmers, and I’ve been working to bring together efforts around the state to establish food hubs to facilitate the marketing of local products. That work is timely, as Kansas is getting ready to expand food is medicine programs such as the Food is Medicine and Community Health Worker program that is part of the Rural Health Transformation grant in Kansas, which is looking for clinical partners to provide food is medicine opportunities for Kansans. Through that program and others new markets for local food are opening up, and we need to help facilitate the ability of such programs to access local foods. KRC is coordinating a Kansas Food Hub Working group along with the KC Food Hub to help expand food hub infrastructure and cooperation across the state.
Finally, this spring we got back to work on a topic that has long been a concern for KRC, helping transition sustainable farm operations to the next generation. We’re pleased to work with Claire Wineman to host a Farm Transition Learning Circle. This group will help farmers learn about a variety of non-traditional farm transition options to help support farm sustainability into the future.
It has been a busy year, but we aim to do our best to respond to the changing landscape of food and farming systems in Kansas. If you see new or emergent issues, please reach out and let us know.
Thanks,
Tom