KFU Members Advance Policy at Annual Convention

KFU member Sheryl Giessel, Larned speaks during consideration and adoption of KFU's 2026 Policy & Action Statement during the organization's annual convention held November 19 in Wichita.

MCPHERSON – Kansas Farmers Union (KFU) has a rich history of working to protect and promote the interests of family farmers and ranchers by taking a leadership role in advocating for farming, ranching, and agricultural interests across the state.

Through grassroots policy and local involvement, KFU members and staff play a key role in bringing concerns, issues, and needs to the attention of local, state, and national decision makers. KFU’s 2026 policy document was proposed, discussed, and ratified at the recent state convention held in Wichita November 18-19.

“Policy drafting went very well, with all delegates having the opportunities to contribute to our truly grass-roots policy, which gives our staff and members direction,” KFU President Donn Teske said. 

KFU members renewed their support of Public Law 480 Food for Peace and added significant language under a new section titled International People-to-People Solidarity and Aid.

Language was also added supporting the reinstatement, expansion, full funding, and promotion of farm-to-school and farm-to-institution programs as well as proportionate and adequate funding of the Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture & Alternative Crops (KCSAAC).

Under State & Federal Commodity Checkoffs, Kansas Farmers Union feels that checkoffs can be a viable tool to build markets for their products but should be a voluntary contribution. KFU urges checkoffs to be more targeted when spending farmers' money and feels the checkoff’s biggest contribution to the industry should be building regional resilience including public domain genetic improvement, regional processing, and close coordination with the land grant universities on general crop improvement strategies.

KFU Policy now supports:

• The elimination of Daylight Savings Time;

• The establishment of a minimum 25% corporate income tax;

• Expediting specialty crop insurance development through the Risk Management Agency (RMA); and

• All cryptocurrency industries be regulated to the strictest federal banking standards

KFU Policy now opposes:

• Private equity firms investing in agricultural real estate;

• The use of state and federal taxes to fund the detention and deportation of individuals without due process;

• Ethanol pipelines;

• The transfer of surface or ground water and water rights from one watershed to another, including the transfer of water from the Missouri River;

• Data centers being built on Kansas farmland;

• The exorbitant filing fee on H-1B visa applications as it relates to specialty occupations including scientists and technology experts; and

• Fee-based subscription technology in farm equipment

KFU members voted to encourage state and federal governments, private and public companies, and others to promote and provide a living wage as an essential aspect of work to ensure all workers, families, and communities can live in dignity.

Policy now strongly urges that all water allocation practices, including irrigation, and future development, including Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), conform to strict conservation principles to assure the wisest use of water to minimize the possibilities for adverse environmental and economic impact on affected communities.

Under the Voting & Democracy section, KFU strongly opposes federal efforts to usurp the state’s authority to conduct elections as they see fit. The policy supports protecting and strengthening voting rights, expanding ways to make voting easier, including mail-in ballots. Members also renewed support for making elections democratically representative by ending partisan gerrymandering. 

KFU members also strongly support the rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and Amendments to equally protect all persons in the United States. This includes strong protections for the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments.

“The core of who we are comes from the hearts and minds of our members,” said KFU member Tom Giessel, Larned. “Providing a ‘sense of place’ for members to express their thoughts and beliefs is foundational to our purpose and success.”

KFU’s Special Orders of Business for 2026 include:

• Opposition to Medicare Advantage;

• Priorities for the Next Farm Bill;

• United States Postal Service; and

• Protecting Civilization in a Climate Crisis

New policy priorities added to the Next Farm Bill Special Order include re-establishing a strong nutrition title that supports the food and nutrition security of communities and that increases opportunities for local and regional procurement.

Additional farm bill policy calls for a policy of parity for farmers and ranchers and supports the re-establishment and full funding of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), and the critical services provided to our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and consumers.

KFU’s 2026 Policy & Action Statement and Special Orders of Business can be found at www.kansasfarmersunion.org/policy