Agriculture is an important sector of the Kansas economy.
Nearly one-fifth of all the wheat grown in the United States is grown in Kansas, and Kansas ranked second in export sales of live animals and meats in fiscal year 1998. But the face of agriculture has changed dramatically since wheat production began in 1839. Technology has had a role in changing everything from the types of wheat grown, to the way it is harvested and preserved. Technology also has improved the quality and safety of meat production. Research is continually improving the agriculture market by finding new, alternative uses for agriculture products.