K-State Research and Extension

Local Foods Systems Coordinator Position 

The Local Food Systems Program Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of a new local food systems workforce development program in the State of Kansas.

Full job description and application

K-State receives $750,000 grant to spur local food systems in Kansas

Local Foods Town Hall 

Below is the recording and Slides (PDF) for these events. Thank you for your support of local foods in Kansas!

April 26, 2023 - Slides

Local Foods Resources for Kansans 

• Starting a Value Added Food Business
• Shopping Direct from Farmers
• Gardening
• Meat and Poultry
• Food Preservation
• Entomology
• Agrability

Local Foods in Your Community!

Eating Locally: Supporting Health & Properity for Kansans - Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Barber County Residents Rally to Help Feed Students, Others

• News release

Rise Cowley!

• Food Pantry project

Northwest Kansas

• Simply Produce

Homesteading 9-1-1

View our videos on a variety of homesteading topics on our KSRE YouTube Channel

• Homesteading 9-1-1

Starting a Value Added Business

• Kansas Value Added Foods Lab - K-State Research and Extension
• Value Added Business Development Program - K-State AgManager
• Value-Added Reference Guide - K-State AgManager
• How From the Land of Kansas can Help Your Small Business - webinar from November 6, 2020

Your Kansas Farm, Open for Business!
Webinar recordings from June 2, 2020

• Opening and closing sessions
• Meat breakout
• Dairy breakout
• Value Added breakout

Shopping Direct from Farmers

• Buying Animals for Meat Processing - University of Minnesota
• CDC publishes 3 new considerations documents: farmers markets, learning gardens, and food pantries - United States Department of Agriculture
• Food Safety Tips for Consumers Buying Direct from Farmers - K-State Research and Extension and University of Missouri
• What to Expect When Buying a Freezer Beef - University of Maine
• Buying Beef for Home Freezers - Oklahoma State University
• Buying Beef in Large Quantities - Oklahoma State University 4-H Youth Development
• Beef and Pork Whole Animal Buying Guide - Iowa State University

Gardening and Farmers Markets

• Horticulture Information Center - K-State Research and Extension
• How-to videos - K-State Research and Extension
• On-Farm Produce Safety - K-State Research and Extension
• Gardening 911: Costs and Benefits of Home Gardening - K-State Research and Extension

Getting a Garden Started

• Kansas Garden Guide - K-State Research and Extension
• Growing Herbs for Home Use - K-State Research and Extension
• Growing Vegetables in Pots - K-State Research and Extension
• Fertilizing Gardens in Kansas - K-State Research and Extension
• Watch Your Garden Grow - University of Illinois Extension, English and Spanish

All Things Herbs

• Growing Herbs - K-State Research and Extension

Harvesting and Storing Fresh Produce

• Harvest and Storage of Fruits and Vegetables - K-State Research and Extension
• Tips for Storing Fresh Produce - K-State Research and Extension

Wholesale Markets

• Demystifying the Wholesale Market - K-State Research and Extension

Farmers Markets

• CDC publishes 3 new considerations documents: farmers markets, learning gardens, and food pantries - United States Department of Agriculture
• Food Safety for Kansas Farmers Market Vendors: Regulations and Best Practices - K-State Research and Extension
• Double Up Food Buck Programs for Kansas Farmers Markets - SNAP and EBT
• Marketlink - SNAP and EBT
• Participating Double Up Food Bucks locations in Kansas
• Garden to Plate: Food Safety for School and Community Gardens - K-State Research and Extension
• Shopping Safely at Farmers Markets - K-State Research and Extension
• Buying Guide for Kansas-Grown Fresh Fruit and Vegetables - K-State Research and Extension
• Starting a Seasonal Open-Air Market in Kansas - K-State Research and Extension
• Kansas Farmers Markets - map of locations via Travel Kansas
• Kansas U-Pick Farms - map of U-pick locations

Farmament post-harvest losses and traceability app

Farmament is a web-based app for recording food losses and for traceability for small-scale produce growers. Growers can also record plantings, crop surveys, harvests, processing, shipping, sales and more.

• Farmament Tutorial PDF
• Farmament Tutorial video
• Farmament App

Meat and Poultry

General

• Extension publications - K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry
• Kansas Meat and Poultry Inspection - Kansas Department of Agriculture

Direct Marketing

• Resource Guide to Direct Marketing Livestock and Poultry - Cornell University
• Product Costing for Meat Processors and Marketers - Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network
• Direct Marketing Meat and Animal Products - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
• Direct Marketing of Meat Products - Pork Information Gateway
• How to Direct Market Your Beef - Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education
• Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network - Oregon State University

Processing Meat at Home

• Processing Meat Animals at Home - Oregon State University

Meat

• How Much Meat to Expect from Your Animal— K-State Research and Extension
• Pork Processing Options for Consumers— K-State Research and Extension
• Beef Processing Options for Consumers— K-State Research and Extension
• Lamb Processing Options for Consumers— K-State Research and Extension
• The Butcher Kept Your Meat? - Penn State University
• Meat Product Labeling and Marketing: What Do All Those Words Really Mean? - K-State Research and Extension
• What to Expect When Buying a Freezer Beef - University of Maine
• Buying Beef for Home Freezers - Oklahoma State University
• Buying Beef in Large Quantities - Oklahoma State University 4-H Youth Development
• Beef and Pork Whole Animal Buying Guide - Iowa State University
• Where to Buy Beef in Kansas - Kansas Beef Council

Poultry

• Housing Tips for Small Poultry Flocks - K-State Research and Extension
• Management of the Small Flock of Chickens - K-State Research and Extension
• Safe Transport of Poultry and Gamebirds in Kansas - K-State Research and Extension
• Processing Farm-Raised Poultry - K-State Research and Extension

Eggs

• Factors Affecting Egg Quality - K-State Research and Extension
• Preventing Hens from Eating Eggs - K-State Research and Extension

Food Preservation

For selling preserved foods, please contact the Kansas Value Added Foods Lab.

• All home food preservation resources
• General information
• Canning
• Freezing
• Dehydrating
• Pickling
• Jam/Jelly
• How-to videos

Entomology

• Pesticides and Bees - K-State Research and Extension
• Pesticide Application Manual - K-State Research and Extension
• Beekeeping Tips for Beginners - University of Missouri
• Controlling Stored-Food Insects: Home and Horticultural Pests - K-State Research and Extension
• Cockroaches: Household Pests - K-State Research and Extension
• Pocket Guide to Common Pest Problems and Beneficials - K-State Research and Extension
• Ants: Structural Pests - K-State Research and Extension
• Stored Products Pest Control - K-State Research and Extension 
• Household Pests of Kansas - K-State Research and Extension

Agrability

• What is Kansas Agrability - K-State Research and Extension
• Cultivating Accessible Agriculture - K-State Research and Extension
• Staying Healthy in the Elements - K-State Research and Extension
• Safety Tips for Farming with Arthritis - K-State Research and Extension
• Farming with a Back Injury - K-State Research and Extension
• Tips for Safe Tractor Operation - K-State Research and Extension
• Machinery Safety on the Farm - K-State Research and Extension
• Hearing Conversation for the Agricultural Community - K-State Research and Extension
• Tractor Safety: For the Landscaping and Horticultural Services Industry (Spanish) - K-State Research and Extension