Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Launches Center for Agriculture and the Economy

Posted October 16, 2025

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City announced the launch of the Center for Agriculture and the Economy.

The new center will serve as a resource within the Federal Reserve System by providing timely analysis of industry developments and conducting ongoing research on the agricultural economy and the rural regions where production predominates, according to a Wednesday release.

“For many years, the Kansas City Fed has provided critical insights into one of the nation’s most vital industries—agriculture,” president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Jeff Schmid, said in the release. “The establishment of this center formally recognizes our District’s investment in this area and highlights the vital importance that we place on gathering insights from all of those who have a role in the ag economy.”

Farm income on average represents more than 10 percent of total income across the counties in the Tenth District, and nearly 1,000 commercial agricultural banks are headquartered in our region, according to the Center for Agriculture and the Economy’s website. The Tenth District region includes Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, northern New Mexico and western Missouri.

The center will also continue the Fed’s efforts to engage directly with agriculture producers and industry leaders, gathering firsthand insights that uncover developments and trends in the sector. The Fed hopes to use the insights gathered to better evaluate economic conditions and determine monetary policy.

“Our goal is that the Center for Agriculture and the Economy will reflect this two-way exchange where, in addition to us taking in information, we also produce research and resources that provide value to those connected to agriculture,” senior vice president with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and executive director of the Center, Nate Kauffman, said in the release.