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The Kansas Department of Agriculture has been awarded a $6.46 million cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program. The purpose of the RFSI program is to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems by creating new revenue streams for Kansas producers. Funds will support expanded capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products, including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products excluding meat and poultry. This program...

The final day of the 2023 Kansas legislative session occurred on April 28, when the legislature passed, and sent to Governor Laura Kelly, various bills including a large, multi-provision tax bill, and the constitutionally required K-12 education budget bill. The final sine die adjournment left no remaining opportunity for the legislature to override any veto of these bills. Upon receiving the bills, Governor Kelly had 10 days to either sign, veto, or allow them to become law without her signature. On the final day to consider the large tax bill, the governor vetoed it, citing a controversial provision that...

The 2023 Kansas legislature’s veto session began on Wednesday, April 26. Over proceeding three days, lawmakers took up a few bills for final action, passed an omnibus budget bill for the remainder of fiscal year ’23 and fiscal year ’24, and attempted to override about nineteen bills previously vetoed by Governor Laura Kelly. Around 10:30 p.m., on Friday, April 28 the 2023 edition of the Kansas Legislature formally adjourned sine die (final day). Barring any veto by the Governor Kelly of either the omnibus budget bill or the K-12 education budget bill - which would require the...

To assist in combatting the rising cost of higher education, Kansas Grain and Feed Association’s (KGFA) scholarship program awarded nearly $30,000 in total to 19 of the state’s graduating high school seniors for the 2023-24 academic year.  The scholarship committee, comprised of KGFA’s membership, received more than 300 applications and granted the 19 awards based on merit and equitable geographic locations throughout the state. “Our board of directors and scholarship committee understand the importance of introducing the next generation to our industry and association as early as possible,” KGFA’s president and CEO Ron Seeber said. “We are proud...

This week marked the second of two interim weeks the Kansas Legislature took off between the end of the 2023 regular session and what is likely to be a short veto session beginning Wednesday, April 26. During the veto session, the legislature will take final action on a few remaining bills, pass an omnibus budget bill for the remainder of fiscal year ’23 and fiscal year ’24, and possibly attempt to override a few bills vetoed by Governor Laura Kelly. Please find below, action on some bills over the last two weeks. Governor Signs State Budget Bill On Friday, Governor...

Kansas Grain and Feed Association’s (KGFA) legislative efforts in 2023 have resulted in Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signing House Bill 2335, a bipartisan bill resulting in an annually dedicated $10 million from the state highway fund for maintenance and improvement of short line rail infrastructure. “We are incredibly pleased Governor Kelly and the overwhelming majority of our state legislature supports our members and their need for reliable, safe and enhanced rail transportation,” KGFA President and CEO Ron Seeber said. “As it already has in its previous iterations, this critical legislation will bring improved rail service throughout the state for commodities...

The Kansas Grain and Feed Association board of directors approved the association's 2023-24 legislative and regulatory policy guide on April 10. The KGFA Policy Guide contains the policy and position statements of the Kansas Grain and Feed Association relating to state and federal legislative and regulatory issues. It is intended to serve as a general reference for Association members, legislators, and other state officials. The policy guide is reviewed and updated annually by the KGFA Legislative Committee and approved by the KGFA Board of Directors. SEE THE GUIDE ...

Kansas Grain and Feed Association’s (KGFA) board of directors, and membership at-large, selected Mark Paul of Cloud County Cooperative Elevator Association Inc., to serve as the historic trade association’s 89th chairman during its 127th annual meeting held April 10 – 11, 2023 in Wichita. “It’s truly an honor and privilege to be selected by the Kansas Grain and Feed Association board of directors and membership to be the next chairman of this great association,” Paul said.  “Kansas Grain and Feed Association is one of the most successful grain and feed associations across this country and I’m honored to continue to lead it...

April 3 – 6 was the final week of the regular portion of the 2023 Kansas legislative session. It was a busy four days of winding down legislative business with dozens of bills to monitor, punctuated by a marathon session of House and Senate floor debate on bills beginning in the morning on Thursday, April 6 and running overnight before adjourning around 4:45 a.m., on Friday, April 7. The legislature passed an adjournment resolution calling them back to Topeka on April 26 to begin a short Veto Session, where it is anticipated that final action will be...

The House and Senate debated dozens of bills over three days this week at the Kansas statehouse. A few bills received final approval from both chambers and are on their way to the Governor, but most of the bills still being debated will be referred to conference committees next week to discuss their potential content and passage. The legislature will continue its work through Thursday, April 6, before taking its first adjournment. Also, this week, the Governor signed four mostly non-controversial bills. There is much work left to be done for lawmakers as they deliberate on bills concerning...

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