MANHATTAN — Four Kansas Farm Credit Associations and CoBank recently combined to give $1 million to support the Kansas State University College of Agriculture’s innovation centers for grain, food, animal and agronomy research.This investment will fund new facilities, renovations of current buildings and improvements in the technology and equipment necessary for interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research, all of which will continue to enhance the college’s exceptional student experience.“An investment in Kansas State University’s innovation centers is an investment in the future of U.S. agriculture,” said Bob Campbell, senior vice president of Frontier Farm Credit, speaking on behalf of Farm Credit Associations of Kansas and CoBank. “The university is focused on solving some of today’s biggest challenges in agriculture. The projects funded through our donation will enhance the university’s leadership in global food systems and bio-security innovations and directly benefit producers and agri-businesses. We are proud to partner with Kansas State University in a shared mission of supporting agriculture and rural communities for today and tomorrow.”Contributors to this investment are Farm Credit of Western Kansas, Colby; High Plains Farm Credit, Larned; Frontier Farm Credit, Manhattan; and CoBank and American AgCredit, both in Wichita.This investment supports the university’s interdisciplinary research initiative, which brings together the brightest minds from across the K-State campus to collaborate and work with agricultural leaders from the state and region.“Our vision for our new infrastructure project is to create state-of-the-art space to bring many of our departments together for interdisciplinary research,” said Ernie Minton, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension. “The opportunities and challenges we face in agriculture are complex in nature and increasing in number globally. We need to bring the best minds to the table with different skills and knowledge to collaborate, integrate and develop innovative solutions that prepare the next-generation workforce to keep agriculture moving forward.”
