Making a Difference
2014 – 2015
Crop Production Program Focus Team
Production, Protection, and Profit
Grand
Challenges
K-State Research and
Extension: providing
education you can
trust to help people,
businesses, and
communities solve
problems, develop
skills, and build a
better future.
Situation
Kansas grows nearly 4 million acres of corn each year — producing more bushels than any
other crop. The vast majority of corn enters the market as a feed resource for the livestock
industry or goes to ethanol production to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
What We Did
Two in-depth winter corn schools in Hesston and Atchison addressed production issues. The
program focused on the latest corn-production research and was supported by the Kansas
Corn Commission and several industry partners. Four distinct topics were presented, and two
tours highlighted key agriculture industries that are important to the Kansas economy and
support corn producers. The schools included an update of the extension publication Kansas
Corn Management 2015 (MF3208).
Outcomes
• Total attendance at the two meetings was 230.
• Producers and consultants heard the newest corn research applicable to Kansas farms.
• From the 60 survey responses, 95 percent indicated they found the presentation
information to be “Valuable” or “Very Valuable.”
Ignacio Ciampitti
Assistant Professor –
Agronomy
785-532-6940
ciampitti@k-state.edu
• Conservative estimates show program attendees represented nearly 64,000 acres.
• Eighty-two percent indicated that the information would influence their management.
• Producers said the average amount that the information would improve their net income
for corn production is $7.70 per acre.
• Areas likely to be influenced include new herbicide selection, planting management, plant
populations, soil fertility, and weed control.
Success Story
Kansas State University
Agricultural Experiment
Station and Cooperative
Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension
is an equal opportunity
provider and employer.
A member from the Kansas Corn Commission, who frequently attends K-State Research
and Extension events, said he was quite impressed with the quality of the program, the effort
invested in preparing the program, the presentation content, and quality of all speakers. He
mentioned that the school was “one the best K-State Research and Extension events that he
had attended in his entire farming career.”