Agricultural Laboratory

The Agricultural Laboratory provides credible and defensible analytical results in support of the agency programs that carry out KDA's consumer and environmental protection missions.

Agricultural Marketing, Advocacy and Outreach Team

As one of the state's lead industries, agriculture keeps changing to suit customers' evolving needs. Because agriculture is at the heart of Kansas' economy, it is important to keep producers growing and prospering through entrepreneurial activity and innovation.

The Agriculture Marketing staff is committed to improving the economic condition of Kansas producers and boosting the prosperity of rural communities. Staff accomplishes this by providing programs and services in the following categories international marketing Programs, the Kansas Dairy Initiative, business development and the From the Land of Kansas Trademark Program.

Dairy and Feed Safety Program

The Dairy and Feed Safety program protects consumers in Kansas and other states. Inspectors regulate the dairy industry, starting at the farm and continuing as the milk and milk products are transported, processed, distributed and sold.

The core function of the Dairy Inspection program is to regulate the production, transportation, processing and distribution of milk and dairy products from cow to consumer. Dairy inspection staff enforces Kansas dairy laws as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, which is adopted by reference in Kansas.

The Feed Safety program is also a responsibility of the staff, ensuring the quality of all commercial feed products manufactured, sold or distributed in Kansas. The feed program's major objectives are to safeguard both human and animal health, promote safe and effective nutrition of livestock and pets, and to verify and ensure truth in labeling of commercial feed products.

Division of Animal Health

The Division of Animal Health was created in 1969 by consolidating all of the activities of: the Livestock Sanitary Commission and the State Brand Commission. It is divided into three programs, disease control, animal facilities inspection and brands.

One of the agency’s goals is to eradicate infectious and contagious livestock diseases throughout the state. Department veterinarians are responsible for testing programs, epidemiology of disease outbreaks and technical support for the administration.

The Animal Facilities Inspection Program regulates companion animal facilities required to be licensed under the provisions of the Kansas Pet Animal Act. The Act requires licensing and inspection of all dog and cat breeders who produce, offer or sell three or more litters during the state fiscal year, pounds and shelters, pet shops, research facilities, distributors, out-of-state distributors, boarding facilities, animal rescues and foster homes.

Division of Conservation

Conservation of natural resources is an important concern for all Kansans. The Division of Conservation, working with the 105 local conservation districts, 88 organized watershed districts, other special purpose districts, and state and federal entities administer programs to improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, conserve water, reduce flood potential and provide local water supply. The DOC has the responsibility to administer the Conservation Districts Law, the Watershed District Act and other statutes authorizing various programs. The agency budget is financed from the dedicated funding of the Kansas State Water Plan Special Revenue Fund, State General Fund, and fee funds.

Food Safety and Lodging Program

The Kansas Department of Agriculture promotes public safety by regulating the production and sale of food products in Kansas. KDA divides its food safety responsibilities among several programs.

The Food Safety and Lodging program is responsible for food safety involving eggs and for inspections at grocery stores, restaurants in grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants, schools, senior meal sites, mobile food units, lodging facilities, food wholesalers and warehouses, food processors and food manufacturers.

Grain Warehouse Inspection Program

The Grain Warehouse Inspection program administers and enforces the Kansas Public Warehouse Law relating to grain storage. It ensures that Kansas grain producers have safe, solvent warehouses where they may store their commodities. To achieve this, the program examines state-licensed facilities at least once each year.

A licensed elevator, with the approval of the Grain Warehouse Inspection program, may move open stored grain to another licensed, bonded terminal elevator. This allows smaller facilities to free up bin space for the next harvest. Also, with approval from the program, licensed facilities may use emergency or conditional storage space during harvest when storage space is in short supply. This allows the elevator to better serve Kansas crop producers.

Meat and Poultry Inspection Program

The Kansas Meat and Poultry Inspection Program is a cooperative state-federal program and is responsible for administering the Kansas Meat and Poultry Inspection Act that governs the wholesomeness, proper labeling and deceptive advertising of meat and poultry products.

The program inspects and registers commercial and custom slaughter facilities and meat and poultry processing facilities located in Kansas. Federal law requires state inspection standards be “equal to” those of federally inspected operations and state inspected products cannot be sold outside of Kansas. USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service annually verifies that our Program is at least "equal to" the Federal Meat and Poultry Inspection Program.

Pesticide and Fertilizer Program

The Pesticide and Fertilizer program works to ensure compliance with Kansas statutes and regulations governing products that are used to control pests or to enhance plant growth. The program strives to achieve its mission through compliance assistance and outreach education; complaint investigation; and monitoring inspections.

Plant Protection and Weed Control Program

Plant Protection and Weed Control staff work to ensure the health of the state’s native and cultivated plants by excluding or controlling destructive pests, diseases and weeds. Staff examine and analyze pest conditions in crop fields, rangelands, greenhouses and nurseries. Action taken to control potential infestations of new pests, whether they are insects, plants diseases or weeds, is beneficial to the economy and the environment.

Our mission is to:

• Exclude or control harmful insects, plant diseases and weeds;
• Ensure Kansas plants and plant products entering commerce are free from quarantine pests;
• Provide customers with inspection and certification services.

Division of Water Resources

The Division of Water Resources administers 30 laws and responsibilities including the Kansas Water Appropriation Act which governs how water is allocated and used; statutes regulating the construction of dams, levees and other changes to streams; the state's four interstate river compacts; as well as coordinating the national flood insurance program in Kansas.

Weights and Measures Program

The Kansas Department of Agriculture's Weights and Measures program serves a very important role in consumer protection and in facilitating trade.

Weights and measures inspectors test all kinds of commercial weighing and measuring devices. They test scales used in grocery stores, grain elevators, livestock sale barns, pawn shops and other locations. They test gas pumps and meters used to sell chemicals or to sell propane to home owners. They check packages containing edible and inedible products to ensure that the consumer receives the quantity stated on the label. They even verify that in-store scanners scan the correct price. Essentially, all consumer goods are subject, in one way or another, to the weights and measures law.