Kansas Corn

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KCGA President Matt Splitter joined a roundtable with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture @SecRollins and Senator @RogerMarshallMD alongside fellow row crop associations, cattle groups and conservation districts. Matt highlighted the importance of E15 to all farmers in Kansas, and thanked Secretary Rollins for her visit to a dairy farm in Southwest Kansas on her first official trip in office. Kansas Corn continues to push for higher blends of ethanol both domestically and for export.

KCGA member, Vance Fisher, of St. John and Kansas Corn Vice President of Market Development and Grower Services, Connie Fischer, were able to see firsthand John Deere's ethanol E98 prototype tractor this week at the T&O Farm and Ranch near Garden City. John Deere displayed the tractor for a group of farmers and the USGBC EU trade team interested in expanding ethanol blends in Italy and Portugal.   John Deere currently has four prototype tractors making the rounds to farmers across the U.S. The engine runs on 98% ethanol, which provides a significant fuel cost savings.  "In comparing the fuel consumption of ethanol to diesel, the E98 tractor uses approximately 1.72 gallons of ethanol vs. a gallon of diesel in a traditional tractor,” Fischer said. “However, the cost of ethanol at $1.08/gallon versus $5.50 for diesel provides a substantial savings.”

The Kansas Corn Collegiate Academy is professional development program for college students interested in the opportunities and challenges facing the agriculture and corn industries. Applications for class 10 are due by November 15! Apply and learn more at kscorn.com/collegiate-academ….

Building Markets: Kansas Corn and the US Grains & BioProducts Council hosted a trade team from Portugal, Spain and Italy this week. Portugal and Italy represent markets with the potential to increase their current ethanol blending levels and increase imports of US ethanol. “This visit was the result of an initial visit I had with these officials in April of this year," said Kansas Corn CEO, Josh Roe. “Our initial meeting highlighted the sustainability practices and circular economy of the farmer, ethanol plant and feed uses of ethanol co-products and I was thrilled to get to show them this relationship firsthand this week in Kansas.”

The general election is less than a week away. Learn more about where the candidates for the U.S. Senate stand on corn issues 👇 Roger's answers: kscorn.com/candidate-spotlig… Adam's answers: kscorn.com/candidate-spotlig… David's answers: kscorn.com/candidate-spotlig…

Helping expand global demand for U.S. red meat 🌽🥩🐖

This evening’s #Harvest26 update comes from Healy farmer, Camron Shay!

This week's Market Commentary is live! Read it here: kscorn.com/october-26-market….

Kansas agriculture depends on strong trade relationships with Mexico and Canada. Through a series of USMCA roundtables hosted by Farmers for Free Trade, policymakers are engaged in discussions on the importance of these markets for Kansas farms. Kansas Corn CEO Josh Roe joined fellow Kansas agriculture leaders and Rep. Sharice David to discuss the importance of these markets for Kansas farms and the uncertainties faced by tariffs and trade. This discussion's timing comes as the U.S. and partners work through the USMCA Joint Review. With Mexico and Canada as the top markets for US corn and ethanol, maintaining access to these important markets is key for continually growing markets for Kansas corn.

The demand for Kansas corn has the potential to open beyond the barriers of land 🚢🌽 A new report highlights ethanol as a prospective direction to power ocean-going vessels. National Lab of the Rockies reports the expansive advantages ethanol offers, including lower carbon emissions, energy density, and its abundant supply. The methanol dual-fuel ships in operation today could possibly consume 2 billion gallons annually if fully operating on ethanol. Read the full U.S. Grains and BioProducts Co. article: grains.org/icymi-new-report-…

Real world opportunities, connections and experiences 🌽 Apply for the Class 10 of the Kansas Corn Collegiate Academy: kscorn.com/collegiate-academ….

The USDA’s October WASDE report surprised corn markets when it increased the projected national corn yield by 2.7 bushels per acre, just one month after lowering the estimate by 2.2 bushels. But how unusual is it for the USDA to reverse course so quickly? Learn more in this report from Taylor Williamson, Kansas Corn Director of Policy and Economics: kscorn.com/down-then-up-exam….

Today’s #Harvest26 update comes from Paige Clawson, Southwest Kansas Corn Commissioner, who harvested their fungicide efficacy and timing plot last week. The Kansas Corn Commission collaborated with Dr. Rodrigo Onofre, KSU Plant Pathologist, on five large scale, 40-60 acre plots replicated throughout the state. This applied research investigates the impact of different fungicide applications on yield. Results of the trials will be made public soon and can be found at kscorn.com/onfarmresearch.

Find out where gubernatorial candidates, Cindy Holscher and Ty Masterson, stand on issues important to Kansas corn growers and agriculture 👇 Read more about Cindy's answers: kscorn.com/candidate-spotlig…. Read more about Ty's answers: kscorn.com/candidate-spotlig….

Kansas Corn is appreciative of the Trump Administration's efforts to address the challenges facing our farmers. High input prices, low commodity prices and access to markets remain amongst farmers' top concerns. The Harvest Fuel Relief Program will help ease the burden as we work to accomplish some of our long-term priorities to make the agricultural economy healthier, like signing year-round E15 into law, overhauling the USDA's reporting data and strengthening relationships with trading partners. Read the full announcement from the USDA: usda.gov/about-usda/news/pre….

Today’s #Harvest26 update comes from Morgan Marshall and Andy Foster, near Rossville in Shawnee County. “It’s been a rough corn season, we had 5 1/2” of rain right at planting and very little until we had 5 1/2” at the start of harvest,” Foster said. “Short corn stalks with ears close to the ground has made for a tough harvest.”

The week in three numbers 👇 • 86,482: The number of contracts managed money removed from their net long position in corn futures and options as of Oct. 13. • 10.46%: The amount of corn exports as a percentage of the USDA’s 2026/27 forecast as of Oct. 8. The pace needed to hit USDA’s forecast is 11.54%, leaving us 1.08% shy of the pace needed. • 70%: Percentage of the Kansas corn crop that has been harvested, down from the five-year average of 73%. Read more in this week's Market Commentary: kscorn.com/october-19-market….

A look at exporting Kansas corn through U.S. beef and pork in 2025 🔎

This week, Kansas Corn hosted a Mexican corn and DDGS buying team in eastern Kansas, sponsored by U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council. The 13-person group represented corn importers from across Mexico. The first part of the trip highlighted the efficiency of moving Kansas corn products to destinations in Mexico, with stops at CPKC and BNSF railroads. Understanding what corn products Kansas and the U.S. have to offer was the focus of stops at East Kansas Agri Energy in Garnett and the shuttle train facility at Farmers COOP in Frankfort. Jeff and Sara Albers hosted the final day of the trip at their grain and livestock operation in Denton. The group experienced firsthand how corn is used in livestock feed and discussed the 2026 corn crop quality.