Fun Facts

Gluten is what helps bread expand while the dough rises, and hold its shape while baking and after it cools. It’s also what makes bread chewy.

About two-thirds of the Kansas corn crop is used in-state as livestock feed or in food production. 

A common ingredient in fertilizer is phosphate, which comes from ancient sea life. Phosphate is one of many natural ingredients used to keep soil — and plants! — healthy.

The United States grows more soybeans than any other country and six out of every ten rows of soybeans are exported to other countries.

One bushel of corn fed to livestock produces 5.6 pounds of retail beef, 13 pounds of retail pork, 19.6 pounds of chicken or 28 pounds of catfish.

One bale of cotton can make 4,312 mid-calf socks.

Drink local with milk! It takes about 48 hours for milk to travel from dairy farms to the grocery store.

There are 7 different breeds of dairy cattle. Farmers choose their breeds based on milk production, size and even personality.

Sows give birth (called farrowing) to an average of eight to twelve piglets at a time and will raise six to eight litters of piglets in their lifetime.

Compared with 50 years ago, pig farmers are using 41% less water to produce a pound of pork, with a 35% smaller carbon footprint.

There are about 60-80 pods on a mature soybean plant. Each pod contains three small soybeans.

About four percent of the land in Kansas is part of conservation or wetland reserve programs.

One cowhide can produce enough leather to make 20 footballs, 18 soccer balls, 18 volleyballs or 12 basketballs.

Cattle are great recyclers. They convert natural resources that would otherwise be wasted into beef, an edible protein containing 10 essential nutrients such as zinc, iron and B vitamins.  

The majority of oil used for cooking in our country is U.S.-grown 100% soybean oil!

Kansas is the top state for growing and storing wheat.

In 2018, farmers in Kansas planted 165,000 acres of cotton, which produced about 335,000 bales!

The largest market for field corn is to provide feed for animals like cattle, pigs, chicken, and even catfish. 

Soybean oil is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E.

In addition to meat, pigs provide us with lots of other products, including valves for human heart surgery, suede for shoes and clothing, and gelatin for many food and non-food uses.

One acre of soybeans can make 82,368 crayons!