Water and Soil
Growers use a variety of procedures and practices to protect our water and soil.

Improving Irrigation Efficiency
Growers, through their checkoff dollars administered by the Kansas Corn Commission, have helped to fund Kansas State University research to help irrigators reach peak efficiency. View KSU’s “What is ET? An Evapotranspiration Primer” 

Kansas’ Best Management Practices for Atrazine
Kansas farmers are more productive than ever, and much of the increased productivity is due to effective and efficient use of crop protection tools like the herbicide atrazine for weed control. When Kansas growers were faced with the possible loss of atrazine due to water quality concerns, they used their checkoff dollars to fund research to develop state-specific Best Management Practices. Growers and the environment have benefited from Beset Management Practices developed through research conducted by Kansas State University and funded by the Kansas Corn Commission and Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission with grower checkoff funds. These Best Management Practices are proven to effectively reduce farm chemical runoff into waterways.

Kansas Atrazine BMPs

• Incorporate atrazine into the top 2 inches of soil. (Can reduce atrazine runoff by 60-75%.)
• Use early pre-plant applications-fall or early spring application. (Can reduce atrazine runoff by 50%.) 
• Use split applications of atrazine. (Can reduce atrazine runoff by 25%.) 
• Reduce soil-applied atrazine application rates. (Can reduce atrazine runoff by 33%.)  
• Use postemergence atrazine applications. (Can reduce atrazine runoff by 50-67%.)  
• Use reduced soil-applied application rates followed by a postemergence atrazine application. (Can reduce atrazine runoff by 25%.)  
• Use alternative non-atrazine herbicides. (Can reduce atrazine runoff by 100%.) Alternative herbicides may also be lost in runoff if BMPs are not used.  
• Use integrated pest management strategies. (Can reduce atrazine runoff by 0 to 100%.)  
• Establish vegetative and riparian buffer strips. (Can reduce atrazine runoff by 25-35%.)  
• Band herbicides at planting or cultivating. (Can reduce atrazine runoff by 50-67%.)  
• Use proper atrazine rates, mixing, loading and disposal practices.  
• Use conservation practices and structures. 

Biotechnology
Corn producers are working to protect their markets and their access to biotech corn through responsible management. Go to the National Corn Growers Association site to learn more about biotechnology, Insect and Weed Resistance Management programs and the Know Before You Grow program.

Air
Ethanol is a clean burning, renewable fuel made from grains from Kansas farms. 

New Uses
Corn is used as a renewable resource to make a variety of biodegradable products from packing peanuts to new biodegradable plastics. These products lessen our dependence on fossil fuels and reduce our volume of trash.

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