Month: December 2017

Changes to NAFTA could have big effect on Kansas agriculture

by Stephen Koranda, Kansas News Service

After pushing for changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement, President Donald Trump earlier this year kicked off negotiations among the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Any major changes to the agreement could have a big impact on Kansas.

Kansas Republican Sens. Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran have said they’re open to updates but emphasize that the agreement needs to preserve or expand export opportunities.

“I support the administration’s effort to modernize and improve NAFTA,” Moran said in a newsletter this month. “I am concerned that withdrawing from the agreement … will harm our farmers and ranchers and cost us jobs.”

Food and ag products are the state’s top export, at more than $3.5 billion last year. Josh Roe, deputy secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, said the two NAFTA trading partners are critical destinations for those exports.

“There have certainly been years where Mexico and Canada are number one and number two,” Roe said.

Roe said NAFTA has led to development of infrastructure and processes that make it easier to export Kansas products to Canada and Mexico.

Last year, Mexico was the top destination for Kansas ag exports and Canada was the third.

Roe said commodity prices are low right now for some products. An upset of the trade agreement could reduce foreign demand and further hurt prices.

“We’re in very depressed agricultural prices now, even with very good export numbers. A further disruption could be absolutely devastating to agriculture and to the Kansas economy,” Roe said.

Certain Kansas products rely especially heavily on exports. Roe said nearly 60 percent of the wheat grown in Kansas last year was shipped to foreign markets.

Roberts disputed what he said was a “pervasive” view that the U.S. economy has not benefitted from NAFTA.

“U.S. agriculture has grown because of agreements like NAFTA,” he said. “And from the farmer in the field to the grocer in the store, American workers have benefited from that growth.”

Trump has been a persistent critic of the trade deal.

“NAFTA is the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere, but certainly ever signed in this country,” he said during a debate on the campaign trail.

Trump has said the U.S. may pull out of NAFTA, but as of now the three countries are in negotiations to instead modify the agreement.

Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio, a partner in the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda. Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished at no cost with proper attribution and a link back to kcur.org.

See more at http://kcur.org/post/changes-nafta-could-have-big-effect-kansas-agriculture

Bitter cold forecast for New Year’s Eve

National Weather Service graphic

Although there will be a bit of a warm-up through the end of the traditional work week, the bitterly cold temperatures already affecting the area today will return with a vengeance this upcoming holiday weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

In addition to the dangerous temperatures anticipated over the weekend, a series of disturbances traversing the region could bring minor accumulating snow, the weather service said.

With wind chills dipping below -15 degrees this morning across the region, a Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect through 10 a.m.

Today, it will be mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 15, the weather service said. Wind chill values will be between minus 6 and 4. A calm wind will become east 5 to 7 mph in the morning.

Tonight, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 12, according to the weather service. An east southeast wind will be around 7 mph.

Thursday, the high will be near 31 with partly sunny skies, the weather service said. A south southeast wind of 5 to 7 mph will become west northwest in the afternoon.

Thursday night, it will be mostly cloudy with a low of 16, according to the weather service. A north wind will be 3 to 5 mph.

Friday, expect mostly cloudy skies and a high near 27, with a north northeast wind of 5 to 6 mph, the weather service said.

Friday night, it will be mostly cloudy with a low of 9, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be partly sunny and cold, with a high near 12, the weather service said.

Saturday night, there will be a 30 percent chance of snow after midnight, according to the weather service. The low will be around 2.

Sunday, there is a 30 percent chance of snow before noon, the weather service said. It will be partly sunny and cold, with a high near 11.

Sunday night, New Year’s Eve, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 5, according to the weather service.

Monday, New Year’s Day, it will be most mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 11, the weather service said.

Monday night, expect partly cloudy skies with a low of 5, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high of 25, the weather service said.

Wind chill advisory (National Weather Service graphic)

Health class planned for older adults

The “Stay Strong, Stay Healthy” class will begin Jan. 9, meeting twice a week for an hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the K-State Research and Extension office, 1200 N. 79th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The class is for older adults and focuses on improving their health and well-being. The goal is to provide a safe, structured and effective strength training class for older adults.

The eight-week exercise program will include warm-up exercises, easy strengthening exercises, with or without weights and cool-down stretches.

Participants will learn exercises to improve strength, balance and flexibility. After the program ends, participants may continue in the comfort of their homes or with a group.

Memberships are not required, no special clothes or equipment is required, and weights are provided.

Level 1 of the class will be from 11 a.m. to noon, while Level 2 will be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Some paperwork and forms are required. There is a $20 fee per person. The registration deadline is Jan. 2.

For more information about the class and registration, call 913-299-9300 or email [email protected].