Fun Facts

Beef from cows and steers are used in two different ways. . Cow meat is used primarily as ground beef for hamburgers and the majority of steer meat is used as steaks.

Kansas grows winter wheat that is planted and sprouts in the fall, becomes dormant in the winter, grows again in the spring and is harvested in early summer.

The average Kansas dairy cow produces about 7 gallons of milk each day. That’s more than 2,544 gallons of milk over the course of a typical year.

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.

Grain sorghum is one of the oldest known grains. Its origins can be traced back to ancient Africa and India.

Energy experts estimate global ethanol production and use reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 110 million metric tons per year. That’s equivalent to taking more than 20 million vehicles off the road.

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.

Mexico and Japan are our top international corn buyers. They buy 50 percent of U.S. corn exports.

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

The cotton gin first came to Kansas in 1854 when a Polish immigrant wanted to gin local cotton near Valley Falls.

Output from Kansas agriculture has a direct economic impact of $22.5 billion per year.

The top five agiculture commodities in Kansas are cattle, corn, wheat, soybeans and sorghum.

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

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

A finished bale of cotton weighs about 480 pounds.

Did you know Kansas has more than 2 million pigs?

Did you know that in Kansas cows outnumber people 2-to1? There are almost 3 million people and more than 6 million cattle!

Enriched white bread and other enriched grain products are a good source of iron and B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and folic acid), as well as complex carbohydrates.

Did you know that one acre of soybeans can produce 82,368 crayons?

Pig farmers have reduced greenhouse gas emissions on pig farms by 35% per pound of pork by changing how crops are raised, how pigs are fed, and how nutrients are recycled.