Author: Emilee McGruire

We are continuing our 40-year tradition of connecting buyers and sellers of equipment and sporting goods at our location in Wichita, Kansas.

   Mark your calendars for the following 2025 consignment events:

• March 1 – Sporting Goods & Ammo
• April 26 – Farm & Construction Equipment
• September 27 – Farm & Construction Equipment
• October 18 – Sporting Goods & Ammo

   If you have items to consign, call or stop by our office in the month leading up to the auction. If you’re not already on our mail and email list, it’s a good idea to sign up to stay up-to-date on opportunities. 

   There are no Buyer’s Premium charges at our in-person auctions, making consigning with us a profitable choice. Additionally, the professionalism of our auctioneers and staff ensures a fantastic experience for everyone involved. 

   In addition to our auctions, we are also real estate brokers and auctioneers: We sell the earth and everything on it! Call us today: 316-524-8345.

The U.S. agricultural export market continues to be a crucial player in global trade, with significant activity in key commodities such as wheat, corn, grain sorghum, cotton, and the soybean complex. However, the ongoing conflicts in Russia/Ukraine and Israel/Gaza are having profound impacts on these markets, influencing trade dynamics, pricing, and transportation logistics. Here’s an overview of the current status, along with the effects of these geopolitical developments.

U.S. wheat exports have experienced increased demand, particularly from Asia and North Africa. The disruption in wheat supplies from Russia and Ukraine, both major global producers, has created supply gaps that U.S. wheat is now helping to fill. However, logistical challenges, including rail transportation delays and port congestion, have slightly impacted shipment schedules.

Corn exports remain strong, with heightened demand from countries like Mexico, Japan, and South Korea. The conflict in Ukraine, a significant corn exporter, has led to shifts in global trade patterns, with buyers turning to the U.S. as an alternative source. Recent improvements in river transportation infrastructure have helped mitigate some of the logistical issues, ensuring timely deliveries despite the increased pressure on supply chains.

Grain sorghum, primarily exported to China, continues to perform well. The ongoing Russia/Ukraine conflict has further solidified China’s reliance on U.S. grain sorghum as alternative sources become less reliable. U.S. exports have benefited from relatively smooth operations, although trade tensions and tariff uncertainties remain potential risks.

U.S. cotton exports have remained robust, particularly to Southeast Asia. However, global market fluctuations and competition from Brazil and India have pressured U.S. cotton prices. The Israel/Gaza conflict has added to regional instability, which could affect trade routes and increase costs. Efficient transportation logistics, particularly via southern ports, have been crucial in maintaining competitiveness despite these challenges.

The soybean complex, including soybeans, soybean oil, and soybean meal, continues to be a cornerstone of U.S. agricultural exports. China remains the largest importer of U.S. soybeans, despite ongoing trade negotiations and tariffs. The disruption of Black Sea trade routes due to the Russia/Ukraine war has led to increased global demand for U.S. soybeans. Meanwhile, infrastructure improvements in the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Northwest have enhanced the ability to meet this growing demand, ensuring U.S. soybeans remain a staple in international markets.

Impact of Geopolitical Conflicts

1. Supply Chain Disruptions: The Russia/Ukraine conflict has significantly disrupted global grain markets, leading to higher prices and increased demand for U.S. exports. The Israel/Gaza conflict has created regional instability, particularly affecting energy prices, which in turn impacts transportation and production costs for U.S. agricultural exports.
2. Market Shifts: As buyers seek alternatives to disrupted supplies from conflict zones, the U.S. has seen a boost in export demand, particularly for wheat, corn, and soybeans. However, these conflicts also contribute to broader market volatility, making it essential for U.S. exporters to stay agile and informed.
3. Logistical Challenges: Both conflicts have exacerbated existing logistical issues, including port congestion and transportation delays, but ongoing investments in infrastructure are helping to alleviate some of these pressures.

As real estate professionals specializing in land transactions in Kansas, we understand how these global events can influence the local market. Whether you’re buying or selling agricultural land, navigating these complexities requires in-depth knowledge and strategic guidance. We can assist you in evaluating how current market trends and global disruptions may affect land values and potential investments. Our expertise in Kansas agricultural land ensures that you make informed decisions that align with both your immediate needs and long-term goals.

Gene Francis & Associates is celebrating 40 years of experience assisting all real estate needs. Contact us to assist today in this dynamic market!

Starting August 17, 2024, if you are a buyer working with an MLS Participant, you will need to sign a written agreement with your agent before you can tour a home, whether in person or through a live virtual tour.

As a buyer using an MLS, ensure you have this written agreement in place with your agent before visiting any properties. This agreement will clarify the services provided and any associated costs.

If you are only speaking with an agent at an open house or inquiring about their services, a written agreement is not required.

Agent compensation remains negotiable for both buyers and sellers. 

When selecting an agent, be sure to ask about their services, compensation, and the details of any required written agreements.

Give us a call! We are here to answer your questions and guide you through every step of buying or selling your home. Celebrating 40 years of experience to assist all your real estate needs. Contact us to assist today!

With the passage of Kansas state statute 19-1434, it’s now more important than ever for both buyers and sellers to consider getting a boundary line survey. This statute mandates the recording of survey plats and introduces specific requirements for land surveyors and county officials.

Key Points of the Statute:

1. Survey Plat Recording:
   • Whenever a land surveyor performs a survey resulting in a new legal description or the creation of a new tract of land, a survey plat must be recorded.
   • This recording must occur within 90 days after the survey’s completion and be filed with the register of deeds in the county where the survey was conducted.
   • The survey plat must be certified with the seal and signature of the land surveyor who conducted the survey, and this surveyor is responsible for ensuring the recording of the survey.
2. Alternative Filing Office:
   • The board of county commissioners has the authority to designate an alternative county office for the filing of survey plats, excluding subdivision plats, through a resolution.
   • This designated office must maintain an index of all surveys by section, township, and range, with surveys of platted lots indexed by subdivision.
   • The cost for filing the survey plat at this alternative office cannot exceed the cost of recording similar documents at the register of deeds.

Importance for Buyers and Sellers:

• Accuracy in Property Boundaries:
  • For buyers, a boundary line survey ensures that the property’s boundaries are clearly defined, preventing future disputes with neighbors.
  • For sellers, providing an accurate boundary line survey can facilitate a smoother transaction and instill confidence in potential buyers.
• Legal Compliance:
  • Both parties must ensure that any new legal descriptions or tract creations comply with Kansas state law, thereby avoiding legal complications.
• Clarity in Transactions:
  • Having a recorded survey plat provides a clear and official record of the property’s boundaries, which is beneficial for both the current transaction and any future dealings with the property.

In summary, obtaining a boundary line survey is a prudent step for both buyers and sellers in Kansas. It ensures clarity, legal compliance, and helps in the smooth processing of property transactions under the new state statute 19-1434.

Celebrating 40 years of experience to assist all your real estate needs. Contact us to assist today!

Did you know that Kansas has only one native evergreen tree? 

That tree is the Eastern Red Cedar. 

Long before European settlement, the Eastern Red Cedar is believed to only be found in areas where fire couldn’t reach such as bluffs or steep slopes. Due to their ability to grow near each other and their hardiness to extreme weather, they became the ideal candidate for windbreaks and shelterbelts since the 1930s. 

So, what’s the big deal? 

Since 1965 Eastern Red Cedar populations in Kansas have increased by over 23,000% and exponentially rising. These trees bring their lowest branches close to the ground, which in turn makes it easy for fire to carry from dry grasses onto the lowest limbs. This foliage contains oils the ignite and burn easy, causing these trees to burn extremely hot. One mature cedar tree can have flames of over 50 feet! 

Cedar infested areas are known to displace quail, turkeys, and other grassland birds as well. Due to their ability to dominate and outcompete local plant life, a densely wooded cedar patch will starve grasses and other plants of water, nutrients, and sunlight.

So, how do I manage cedar trees in my pasture or around my house? 

The good news is that it isn’t hard to eliminate small cedar trees growing in a pasture. A prescribed burn is extremely effective on trees six feet tall or smaller (if it is conducted safely). If a prescribed pasture burn isn’t feasible, then cutting Cedars off below the lowest branches with garden cutters is enough to kill these trees. 

Bigger trees may require mechanical removal. An inexpensive way to reduce the risk of fire on bigger trees is by trimming branches that hang low to the ground to mitigate the chance of fire carrying from grasses onto the tree. 

It’s best to take care of them early. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment. 

Today, while still being useful as windbreaks and shelterbelts, we are seeing an exponential rise in cedar tree populations. Where Tallgrass Prairie once covered over 170 million acres of North America, providing a vast prairie ecosystem, less than 4% remains intact; and most of this is in the Flint Hills. Thankfully, using management practices, we can mitigate the growth of the Eastern Red Cedar trees.

Gene Francis & Associates knows land and this year we are celebrating 40 years. Call us today to discuss all your real estate needs.