KPA Staff Meets with State Agencies
KANSAS - As part of a campaign to provide information to state leaders about the pork industry's financial issues, KPA staff recently met with a representative of the Governor's office.Following this meeting, Governor Sebelius requested an interagency task force be formed to provide attention to the livestock industry.
Last week, Tim Stroda, KPA staff, and John Bottenberg, KPA lobbyist, provided an overview of the pork industry's situation to several state agencies and faculty from Kansas State University. The KPA specifically asked for the agencies' assistance in providing timely services to producers who were facing emergency financial status.
Attendees to the meeting included Adrian Polansky, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture; Roderick Bremby, Secretary of Kansas Department of Health and Environment; and George Teagarden, Kansas Livestock Commissioner. Several top members of the agencys' staffs were also present. Representing Kansas State University were Pat Murphy, Interim Assistant Director, Extension Ag and Natural Resources; Mike Tokach, Professor and Extension State Leader, KSU Animal Sciences and Industry; and Jim Mintert, Professor and Extension State Leader, KSU Ag Economics.
The agencies promised to work with the KPA in providing priority service on permitting issues for operations that may be changing structure or ownership due to financial stress.