WOYM - Water, Wheat & What’s Next for Kansas

Wheat's On Your Mind

Senior Director of Advocacy at Kansas Farm Bureau—and sixth-generation producer—Ryan Flickner sits down with Aaron Harries to talk policy that actually touches the farm gate. From the Farm Bill stalemate and year-round E15 to trade philosophy and the real cost of inputs, Ryan shares how Kansas “punches above its weight” and why coalitions beat hot takes every time. He also lays out why protein’s a bright spot while row crops are tight, and how policy predictability drives long-term investment on the farm. Then we get practical: rural apprenticeships that retain good hands, domestic well realities and water rights, and field-level innovation at Flickner Farms—from subsurface drip to 360 Rain and NASA’s FIAT project for identifying high-protein wheat zones. It’s a candid, Kansas-first look at risk, resilience, and the tools that help rural families keep farming. Top 10 takeaways Kansas still gets heard in DC by bringing facts from real producers—and by building coalitions over perfection. Omnibus culture stalls ag wins like year-round E15; regular order would move practical items faster. 2018 Farm Bill was historic for votes, but extensions since then show how gridlock risks “dairy cliff” moments. Farm policy may need to be “revolutionary,” not just evolutionary—re-examining ARC/PLC, savings accounts, and tax policy’s role. Trade reality: focus on America’s comparative advantage and diversified buyers; consumers drive outcomes. Economy right now: row crops tight on inputs; protein sector healthier thanks to low herd and steady demand. High Plains risk is different—frequent, shallower losses vs. rare, massive hits in other regions—so safety nets must reflect that. Workforce wins: Rural Kansas Apprenticeship Program helps train/retain talent and grow services (e.g., moving to commercial applicator). Water is the community linchpin: domestic well quality/rights matter as much as irrigation; awareness and testing are key. On-farm innovation pays: subsurface drip, 360 Rain, and NASA FIAT can target high-protein wheat and conserve water. Timestamps 00:01–00:38 | Intro & guest bio — Host intro, Kansas Wheat sponsors; guest: Ryan Flickner, KFB Senior Director of Advocacy and sixth-generation farmer. 01:04–03:18 | From DC staffer to advocate — What changes when you move from being asked to making the ask: relationships, directness, coalition-building. 03:19–06:16 | Kansas delegation & media era — Why Kansas still “punches above our weight,” and how social media/AI changed the information game 06:17–09:28 | Grassroots then vs. now — Standing on “shoulders of giants,” omnibus bills, and the example of year-round E15 getting stuck. 08:10–09:38 | 2018 Farm Bill context — 86–87 Senate votes; why regular order matters; extensions and “dairy cliff.” 09:38–12:15 | Future of farm policy — Evolutionary vs. revolutionary; ARC/PLC limits; farm savings accounts; role of tax policy. 12:16–16:18 | Trade philosophy & “land the plane” — Free/fair trade, America’s comparative advantage, consumer market power, demographics. 21:24–23:49 | Farm economy snapshot — Row crops tight on inputs; cattle strong on low herd + steady demand; optimism on sowing wheat. 25:40–27:49 | High Plains risk explained — Loss patterns vs. Corn Belt; why Kansas producers plan for shallow, frequent hits. 28:05–31:06 | Labor & apprenticeships — Rural Kansas Apprenticeship Program, moving trainees to certified applicators, building retention. 31:19–33:27 | Statehouse outlook — Compressed session; budgets; water will remain central. 32:43–35:40 | Water literacy & quality — Tuttle dredging; household wells; nitrate/TDS surprises; senior rights for domestic wells. 35:40–36:47 | Rural viability warning — Domestic well losses add up; implications for keeping people on the land. 37:07–39:24 | Flickner Innovation Farm — 151 years, subsurface drip since 2001, 360 Rain units, irrigation at ~60% of county average. 39:24–41:47 | NASA FIAT & high-pro wheat mapping; wrap — Using satellite imagery to segregate premium protein; closing thanks. Kansas Wheat WheatsOnYorMind.com