Kansas Corn

The final 2026 Summer Listening Tours in Scott City and Sublette are almost here! Take this opportunity to hear updates on what is actually happening in your community, from policy to research. Both of these stops will feature Allie Devine of Devine, Donley & Murray, LLC., who'll be speaking about what you need to know about wind, solar, and data centers.

We look forward to seeing you there! Register today for one or both stops at kscorn.com/tour/ 🌽🤝

Our very own Josh Roe, CEO, and Brett Grauerholz, KCGA vice president, talked corn in Kansas City yesterday afternoon alongside Nebraska Corn Board's Payton Schaneman and National Corn Growers Association's Lane Howard.

Thanks, High Plains Journal for featuring corn at the Crops and Cattle Conference! 🌽

Today's update comes from Lowell with Bismarck Farms in Douglas County!

"We've been growing waxy corn for approximately 20 years. The company we deliver to started out as National Starch Company in Kansas City, Missouri, and now it's Ingredion. It's another diversification on the farm with our products. This is a specialty food-grade product with a higher starch content. We're able to contract it throughout the growing season and deliver it when they call for it from November to February. In order to grow for Ingredion, you have to have a contract with them because they only accept so many bushels a year from this region. At one time there was a wait list to grow corn for them.

"One drawback is it's a non-GMO corn, so we're fighting a few weeds we wouldn't usually fight in a GM corn crop like Johnson grass and shatter cane. We also have to have on-farm storage, which isn't an issue for us, but we do have to drop everything when they call for it. They'll want eight loads one week and six loads another week, so we have to be flexible. It's about a 40-mile trip for us to the plant, so we'll start hauling early in the morning so we can get that done and get back to the field.

"Overall, it's usually 85 cents to a dollar over basis. There's really no yield drag from standard-traited corn vs. the non-GMO. Test weight is usually really good — around 58-62 is what we see with yields being similar to our GM corn, if not slightly above it."

Head to the polls — don't forget to vote in today's primary election 🗳️

Corn leafhoppers have been confirmed in Pratt and Labette counties, and additional corn leafhoppers have been found in Barber county.

KSU plant pathologist Dr. Rodrigo Onofre recommends increasing your scouting efforts, especially in corn that hasn't reached the VT/R1 stage.

Visit kscorn.com/corn-disease for live updates to the corn leafhopper map and updates from Onofre.

Sublette is the fifth stop on the 2026 Summer Listening Tour!

Join us for discussions on wind, solar, and data centers, to hear from Allie Devine of Devine, Donley & Murray, LLC, a research update for the area, and federal and policy updates!

The evening starts with registration and beverages at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and discussion at 6 p.m.

Save your seat at this tour stop by registering at kscorn.com/tour/ today!

This morning's update comes from Benjamin and Delaney Hoops, of Hoops Family Farms Inc. in Republic County.

“This year, spring planting conditions were favorable, and we received timely rains to really help with emergence and herbicide incorporation. We had a small hailstorm toward the end of May that lightly stripped the corn leaves, but the corn grew out of it very quickly," they said. "Throughout June, we received good rains. July turned hotter and dryer, the dryland corn looks decent overall, but the tougher soils are showing plant stress. During pollination, fungicide was applied to help manage fungal diseases and insect pressure. The Lord blessed us with 1.50"-2.90" of gentle rains last week. We are currently in the R3 milk stage. Overall, plant health looks great with good pollination counts so we are looking forward to harvest!” 🌽

Trace levels of southern rust have now been confirmed in 12 Kansas counties. View the map and learn more information about fungicide usage and treatment at kscorn.com/corn-disease