Kansas agriculture chief presents state export, water and grassland concerns to committee

The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources heard an update from Mike Beam, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture, on the size and threats to the state’s agricultural economy, trade and conservation work.

Beam told the committee that “agriculture as a whole is the largest industry and economic driver in the state,” saying direct agricultural impacts total about $62,000,000,000 and rise to about $88,000,000,000 when indirect and induced effects are counted. He said roughly 260,000 jobs — about 13% of the state’s workforce — are tied to the 73 sectors the department counts as agriculture.

The secretary emphasized trade and exports in his remarks. He said Kansas ranks seventh among states in total agricultural value and seventh in agricultural export value, exporting about $4,600,000,000 in agricultural products and “about 99 products” to markets led by Mexico, Japan, Canada, China and South Korea. Beam listed trade-support organizations that the department partners with, including Food Export Midwest, the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the U.S. Grain Council.

Committee members pressed Beam on natural-resource and conservation issues the department is working on. Beam described a multiagency emphasis on water planning and local meetings that drew roughly 1,500 people; he said the department has supported projects ranging from irrigation-technology cost shares to a pilot stock-water initiative involving 15 livestock facilities. He also said the department is preparing to roll out a five-year, federally funded Regional Conservation Partnership Program with about $25,000,000 in funds to be deployed through groundwater management districts and existing irrigation-technology programs.

On rangeland health, Beam warned of persistent conversion of grassland to woody cover: he said Kansas lost “almost 1,000,000 acres” of grassland to tree cover from 1990 to 2022. He said eastern red cedar and other woody species reduce forage production, affect wildlife and increase water uptake from aquifers and streams. Representative Schlageepin asked whether cutting or mechanical removal is an effective response; Beam said USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has provided cost-share funding for removal and that eradication methods vary by species and ownership goals.

Committee members and the secretary also discussed prescribed burning and smoke management. Beam described a voluntary, public-facing smoke-management tool the department and partners maintain; it flags days as green, yellow or red for burning based on air-dispersion conditions. He said the department coordinates with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on smoke-management practices and compliance with air-quality guidelines. Representative Blacks and others noted liability and homeowner concerns that can deter controlled burns.

Food safety, workforce and labor issues were also raised. Beam said food safety and lodging are the department’s largest employee programs and inspectors attempt to see most establishments at least once a year; the program relies on license fees rather than state general funds and has faced staffing and training pressures. On labor, Beam said workforce is a major concern across production and processing, and he described problems with the federal H-2A visa program that have delayed returning seasonal workers — he said some constituents faced about an eight-week delay getting workers back into the country.

Beam began the meeting by announcing the introduction of a bill (RS 0657) titled the Attorney Training Program for Rural Kansas Act; the committee record shows the bill was introduced but no committee action or vote was recorded during the session.

No formal committee votes or decisions were recorded during the presentation. Beam answered questions from several representatives and said the department will continue to develop policy options and outreach materials on invasive species, water and smoke management. The secretary also noted growing local burn associations that hold training and share equipment.

The committee did not take formal action on the substantive programs discussed during the session; members were invited to return questions and materials at subsequent meetings.