Fred A. Cholick, Director
Forrest G. Chumley, Associate Director
Daryl D. Buchholz, Associate Director
113 Waters Hall
785-532-6147
K-State Research and Extension is dedicated to a safe, sustainable, and competitive food and fiber system and to strong, healthy communities, families, and youth through integrated research, analysis, and education.
K-State Research and Extension provides practical, research-based information and educational programs to address critical issues facing individuals, families, agricultural producers, business operators, and communities.
K-State Research and Extension is organized into the following core mission themes; agricultural industry competitiveness; food, nutrition, health, and safety; natural resources and environmental management; youth, family and community development.
One K-State Research and Extension partner, the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station (KAES), conducts original research both on and off campus. Twenty-four departments in five colleges are involved. K-State Research and Extension is also strongly allied with the Graduate School in training graduate students; interested graduate students are encouraged to seek research assistantships. Many undergraduate students work for K-State Research and Extension, which greatly adds to the classroom experience. Off-campus research is centered at two research-extension centers, two research centers, and 10 experiment fields in various parts of the state.
The other K-State Research and Extension partner, the Cooperative Extension Service, provides an important learning bridge between the university and the people of the state. It applies scientific knowledge, principles, and practices to the grassroots problems of Kansans. At the same time, this unique information delivery system brings back requests for new knowledge to the research staff at the university.
The Cooperative Extension Service staffs four area offices (two operate as part of a Research/Extension Center) and helps maintain local extension offices, staffed by off-campus K-State faculty members, in all 105 Kansas counties.
Extension agents are responsible for conducting educational programs in the core mission themes. The agents serve as a local source of information regarding programs of many states and federal agencies, and then help people apply this information to their specific situation.
Information is published in scientific journals; in station bulletins, extension bulletins, national and international conferences; and in popular journals and news releases to the press and radio and television stations. Requests for station publications should be sent to the Distribution Center, Umberger Hall.
Patrick I. Coyne, Head and Professor
Professors Martin, Seifers, and Stahlman; Associate Professors Harmoney and Kofoid; Assistant Professors Jaeger and Michaud.
Investigations are primarily related to plant and animal systems specific to western Kansas, where rainfall is limited. They include beef grazing, feeding, and breeding studies; crop improvement, with special emphasis on wheat and sorghum; soil management; weed control; plant disease; and insect management.
Professor Lamm; Associate Professor Aiken.
Major areas of research are crop improvement; soil management; irrigation; weed control; and horticulture.
Professors Klocke and Schlegel; Associate Professors Buschman and Currie.
Current investigations involve irrigation research; dryland soil and crop management; crop improvement; weed control; insect and other pest control in crops; soil management; and environmental management for livestock operations.
Lyle W. Lomas, Head and Professor
Professors Moyer and Sweeney; Associate Professor Kelley; Assistant Professor Long.
Research focuses on soil and water conservation; crop improvement; weed control; beef cattle grazing investigations; and forages.
The Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station includes 11 experiment fields: North Central Kansas (Belleville), Irrigation (Scandia), Sandyland (St. John), South Central Kansas (Hutchinson), Harvey County (Hesston), East Center (Ottawa), and Kansas River Valley Irrigation (Rossville and Silver Lake).
Experimental work is devoted to horticultural and forest crops at three fields: John Pair Horticultural Research Center (Wichita), Pecan Experiment Field (Chetopa), and East Central Horticulture Field (Olathe).
Cooperating with the Water Resources Institute, University of Kansas
William L. Hargrove, Director
The Kansas Water Resources Research Institute conducts basic and applied research on water use and to train scientists in water resources. Representatives of K-State and the University of Kansas participate in institute policy making and research. Research is focused on finding the most effective ways of conserving, using, and distributing available water.
Curtis Kastner, Director
The Food Science Institute facilitates training of undergraduate and graduate students; basic and applied research initiatives; and technical and scientific information transfer to academia consumers, food industry, and governmental agencies. More than 40 faculty are members of the food science graduate faculty. Faculty are located in the Departments of Agronomy; Animal Sciences and Industry; Biochemistry; Chemical Engineering; Communications; Diagnostic Medicine/ Pathobiology; Entomology; Grain Science and Industry; Hotel, Restaurant, Institution Management and Dietetics; Human Nutrition; and Journalism and Mass Communications.
George A. Milliken, Director
The Center for Applied Statistics provides consulting services for scientists associated with the Agricultural Experiment Station.
William L. Hargrove, Director
The Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment (KCARE) is an interdisciplinary research and education unit of K-State Research and Extension whose purpose is to provide focus on environmental issues related to agriculture. The center works with faculty from academic departments to provide coordination and support for research and educational activities in natural resources and environmental management. The center also works to garner financial support for programs and serves as a single point of contact for agencies and organizations outside K-State who have interest in natural resource and environmental issues.
William L. Hargrove, Director Jana Beckman, Coordinator
KCSAAC is an interdisciplinary center that supports family farms in Kansas through research, education, and outreach programs focusing on production, storage, processing, and marketing technologies that boost small farm profitability, protect natural resources, and enhance rural communities. Examples of activities include evaluating production and marketing of new crops for Kansas, providing educational programs on value-added processing and niche marketing, and providing educational programs on whole farm planning and environmental assessment. KCSAAC was created by the 2000 Kansas Legislature out of concern for the survival of family farms.
Forrest Chumley, Director
The Plant Biotechnology Center links scientists in several colleges and departments who use molecular biology and cell and tissue culture to modify the plant genome. The center's mission is to use biotechnology to add quality and value to Kansas products.
The major emphasis is to develop systems, approaches, linkages, and a knowledge base to apply biotechnology to plant improvement. The goals are to enhance yield and product quality for traditional uses and to explore value-added uses for novel markets.
Projects include activities that are immediately important to Kansas agriculture and that have a high probability of success in a relatively short period of time. They also include a component of basic research that will reach application at a later time. An important consideration is work on Kansas plants and plant products that could be designed to better meet the demands of national and international markets.
James P. Murphy, Interim Assistant Director, Professor
Faculty in the Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering conduct educational programs and provide technical assistance through the county extension network to citizens throughout the state.
Interdisciplinary educational programs are conducted in water quality; natural resource use and conservation; community and economic development; value-added processing and production; food, feed, forage; animal production and utilization; and farm business and financial management.
Sean Fox, Head Jim Mintert, State Leader
See faculty listing for the Department of Agricultural Economics.
The extension educational program in farm management is divided into two areas: Kansas Farm Management Association programs and area and state farm management programs.
In the Kansas Farm Management Association program, the 23 farm management agricultural economists conduct an intensive educational program with approximately 3,000 Kansas farm families in the six farm management associations.
The extension farm management program is conducted by state specialists and area economists. It is done with in-depth educational programs in cooperation with the county extension agents. The area specialists conduct in-depth workshops in farm business management with farm families, provide a nearby reference resource for agents, and develop educational materials for agent use.
The public affairs extension educational program provides educational information on policy issues of current interest. Problems are analyzed, alternatives and consequences examined, and the people are challenged to reach decisions.
The economic information program provides current data on factors affecting farming, business and industrial operations, labor supply and demand, and family living costs.
The main projects of marketing include marketing information, agribusiness, and commodity marketing activities. News releases, monthly teleconferences, publications directed to the general public, and special information directed toward specific agricultural audiences are used to disseminate information.
Extension economic development assists communities and businesses in development efforts. News releases, publications, and seminars are offered.
The extension local government programs provide direct educational assistance in the areas of structure, management, finance, and policy. The Office of Local Government serves as the primary unit providing outreach programming in this area.
Gary A. Clark, Head Joseph P. Harner, State Leader
See faculty listing for the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
Extension agricultural engineering conducts an educational program which relates to engineering principles to agricultural concerns including water management, water quality, waste management, crop and grain management systems, food processing, ag safety, pesticide application equipment, and livestock production facilities.
Gary Pierzynski, Interim Head Jim Shrojen, State Leader
See faculty listing for the Department of Agronomy.
Extension agronomy conducts a statewide educational program in agricultural crop production and natural resource conservation. The program is focused on conservation and protection of natural resources through education and technology transfer that results in improved, stable crop production efficiency. The breadth of the program is in understanding the dynamics of crops, weeds, soils, and water on crop and grazing lands, management, and production.
Janice Swanson, Interim Head Mike Tokach, State Leader
See faculty listing for the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry.
Extension specialists in animal sciences and industry provide leadership for state programs in beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, poultry, sheep, swine, meats, dairy products, value-added food products, food safety, and wildlife damage control.
James R. Nechols, Interim Head Phil Sloderbeck, State Leader
See faculty listing for the Department of Entomology.
Extension entomology is concerned with integrated insect and mite management or control for Kansas citizens. Pilot pest management projects are used to introduce and validate integrated approaches to managing pest populations.
Virgil W. Smail, Head Leland J. McKinney, State Leader
See faculty listing for the Department of Grain Science and Industry.
Educational efforts target all sectors of the grain industry and include people involved with wheat breeding, production, grain handling, merchandising, processing, baking, feed manufacturing, and regulatory compliance. Two thrusts of this program include grain utilization and processing quality; and flour mill, feed mill, and grain elevator management. Subjects include wheat quality as it relates to milling and baking properties, commercial and on-farm grain storage and quality maintenance techniques, on-farm feed manufacturing, commercial feed processing, grain industry safety and regulatory compliance, plant sanitation, food safety, and grain grading.
Thomas D. Warner, Head Charles W. Marr, State Leader
See faculty listing for the Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources.
Programs in extension horticulture and landscaping serve persons interested in fruits, nuts, vegetables, flowers, turf, shrubs, ornamental and shade trees, and forest and riparian management.
Scot Hulbert, Interim Head Douglas J. Jardine, State Leader
See faculty listing for the Department of Plant Pathology.
Plant pathology extension specialists provide information about the occurrence and nature of plant diseases and the economic means for their control.
Daniel W. Kahl, Extension PRIDE Program Coordinator
An educated and knowledgeable citizenry is the foundation of our state's economic productivity, democratic charter and social system. K-State programs inform and help people through research and extension build strong, healthy communities.
Associate Specialists Hoch and Kahl. Emeriti: Professor Frazier; Associate Professors Halazon and Sisk; Associate Specialist McAdoo.
Patricia A. McNally, Assistant Director
The 4-H youth development program is a community of young people across Kansas who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. Utilizing a variety of delivery methods and trained volunteers, young people ages 7-19 are involved in hands-on learning experiences. Program priorities include science and technology, healthy lifestyles, and youth citizenship.
Professor Gerhard and McNally; Associate Professor Adams; Associate Specialist Wiebers. Emeriti: Professors Apel, Bates, Busset, Eyestone, Fisher, and Redman; Associate Professors Borst and Salmon; Assistant Professor Weaver; Associate Specialist Lindquist.
Paula K. Peters, Assistant Director
Associate Professor Peters
William Meredith, Head
Charles A. Smith, Extension State Leader
Extension programs address a wide range of issues that help strength families and youth across Kansas. Programs teach families about financial planning, parenting, family communication, health, and aging issues.
Professors Maddux and Smith, Associate Professors Bradshaw and Olsen, Assistant Professor Johannes; Director Meredith
Denis Medeiros, Head
Mary Meck Higgins, Extension State Leader
Healthy eating and physical activity education across the lifespan is available through local extension offices in Kansas. Human nutrition faculty lead programming for nutrition for pregnancy, infants, children and youth, adults, and seniors. All of these include programming for limited resource families and individuals.
Professor Medeiros, Associate Professor Higgins, Assistant Professor Kidd.
K.M. Boone, Head
See faculty listing for the Department of Communications.
In addition to its teaching and research program, the Department of Communications provides comprehensive communications and computer-based technology support and consultation for all offices, departments, and centers in K-State Research and Extension and the College of Agriculture.
Our faculty have professional experience in editing and producing publications, creating graphic design, writing news releases, producing radio and television news and features, managing information systems, training to enhance communication and technology software skills, and duplicating and distributing educational materials.
James L. Lindquist, Assistant Director
Assistant Director Lindquist; Emeriti: Professors Cox and Van Meter; Associate Professors Albright and McReynolds.
The Extension Field Operations office provides leadership as a resource and support to the area director team. It provides leadership for organizational guidelines, policy and centralized functions in support of out-state local operations, and professional development of effective boards and councils.
Dale Fjell, Area Extension Director
Professor Fjell; Associate Professor Duncan; Instructors Andres, Boyer, Christian, Graber, and Mack.
Daniel O'Brien, Area Extension Director
Associate Professors Barker, Johnson and O'Brien; Assistant Professor Olson; Instructors Curry, Falk, and Watts. Emeriti: Assistant Professor Mikesell and Overley; Director White.
J. D. McNutt, Area Extension Director
Professors Kilgore and Price; Assistant Professor Fogleman; Instructors George, Hinshaw, and Stephens; Area Director McNutt; Emeriti: Professors Brazle, Lippert, Robbins, and Westmeyer; Associate Professor Appleby.
Paul Hartman, Area Extension Director
Professors Sloderbeck and Thompson; Associate Professors Alam; Assistant Professor Hale; Instructors Bolton, Buchele, Dumler, and Frisbie; Director Hartman. Emeriti: Professor Mann and Young; Instructor Addison.
There are extension offices in each of the 105 counties.