Because of drought, yield and quality might be below normal this year, but the stakes are as high as ever in the annual Kansas Soybean Yield and Quality Contests this fall. Thanks to the Kansas Soybean Commission, the highest dryland and irrigated yields in the state each will receive a $1,000 award. In each district, first place will win $300, second will earn $200, and third will receive $100. No-Till on the Plains will supply additional awards for the no-till districts.

Managed by the Kansas Soybean Association, the contests are open to anyone involved in farming, but there is a limit of only one entry per field. Farmers may enter multiple categories – conventional or no-till, dryland or irrigated. All entries must be entered in the same district, however.

Farmers may enter the quality contest without entering the yield contest.

A complete set of rules is available on the Kansas Soybean website (www.KansasSoybeans.org), from the Kansas Soybean office (877-KS-SOYBEAN) and in K-State Extension offices statewide.

K-State Research and Extension is a contests sponsor. Gary Kilgore, an emeritus professor of agronomy, coordinates the project. He encouraged everyone to consider competing.

“Maintaining yield and quality in a drought year will go a long way toward U.S. food security,” he said, “and Kansas soybean farmers are using the technologies that help accomplish that. They deserve recognition for their efforts, and the Kansas Soybean contests provide just that.”

The Kansas Soybean Commission, headquartered in Topeka, includes nine volunteer farmer-commissioners who oversee investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all Kansas soybean farmers. KSC invests checkoff funds in research, consumer information, market development, industry relations and farmer outreach to improve the profitability of all Kansas soybean farmers.

The Kansas Soybean Association, also headquartered in Topeka, is the voice and advocate for soybean farmers on local, state, national and international issues of importance. Founded in 1973, its advocacy efforts are made possible through the voluntary memberships of nearly 500 farmers. It also is the primary contractor to the Kansas Soybean Commission.

Field testing began Monday for Radio Coverage for Troop-A of the Highway Patrol.

Troop-A covers the Kansas City region, including Platte County.

The survey’s are typical to test the effectiveness of current or improved radio systems for the Highway Patrol.

The testing will be for the entire coverage area of Troop-A. The public is asked to watch-out for slow moving unmarked cars, particularly on rural routes. The vehicles will be occupied by a current or retired trooper and a Motorola employee.

The testing is expected to last until December of this year.

USDA has reached its goal of funding 250-million dollars in smart grid improvements. President Obama’s goal was met Friday as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that nine rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 10 states will receive loan guarantees to make improvements to generation and transmission facilities and implement smart grid technologies. Vilsack says grid modernization and deployment of smart grid technology will increase the reliability and efficiency of electric power generation. He says providing reliable, affordable electrical service contributes to stronger rural economies and is the backbone for a prosperous rural America.

According to Vilsack – the 250-million dollar investment in loan funds for smart grid technologies means infrastructure investment at virtually no cost to the taxpayer. These technologies will facilitate the integration of renewable sources of electricity into the grid, help avoid blackouts and restore power quicker when outages occur and reduce the need for new power plants. What’s more – the funds have further enabled rural utilities to make efficiency improvements to the electric grid that will help consumers lower their electric bills by reducing energy use in homes and businesses.

Several national agriculture organizations are urging Senate leaders to refrain from supporting any legislation that resembles the disaster bill approved by the House ahead of the August recess. They say support for such a measure would detract from the larger mission of passing a long-term farm bill. According to a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell – passing the House disaster bill as a quick fix would do more harm than good to farmers and ranchers. The group states that completing a five-year farm bill would deliver assistance to eligible livestock producers nearly as quickly as a disaster bill and would provide certainty for future years. Further – the groups note the farm bill is paid for in both the House and Senate versions. The House disaster bill carries a 600-million dollar price tag – which the groups say would clearly impact funding available for long-term agriculture needs.

The letter concludes that the Senate and the House Agriculture Committee produced reform-minded, bipartisan bills that address many of the core principles the ag organizations believe are important. They say they remain committed to attempting to pass a five-year farm bill as soon as possible – including the long-term provisions it includes that would help alleviate the emergency conditions currently seen across the country.

The American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Barley Growers Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, National Milk Producers Federation, National Sunflower Association, Northarvest Bean Growers Association, United Fresh Produce Association, U.S. Canola Association, USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council and Western Growers signed the letter.