Rural Economic Development: Kansas is opening a new round of SEED grants, with $250,000 available for small communities (populations of 5,000 or fewer) across 78 eligible counties, offering up to $25,000 each for projects like childcare/senior programming, community beautification, food retail access, and library upgrades. Community Banking: Great American Bank and Cottonwood Valley Bank announced a strategic merger that would create a community-focused franchise with about $569 million in assets and eight branches across central and northeast Kansas and the Kansas City area. Beef Industry Pressure: Tyson Foods says it’s shutting down or selling three beef facilities as a domestic cattle shortage squeezes supply and margins, including ending operations at plants in Illinois and Utah and seeking a buyer for a Washington facility. Agriculture Policy Watch: Kansas Farmers Union leader Nick Levendofsky says the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee’s failure to move the farm bill forward raises doubts it will pass this year, pointing to SNAP-related divisions and tight voting margins. Kansas Business & Safety: Kansas AG Kris Kobach is warning residents about storm-chasing roofers using illegal Assignment of Benefits deals after July 1, urging consumers to verify contractor registration and “in good standing” status. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy reports Kansas regular gas averaging $3.70 statewide for the week ending Aug. 8, with McPherson County’s lowest regular price at $3.36. Workforce & Skills: K-State Research and Extension will host a two-day Cow Camp Sept. 9-10 in Hays, covering beef nutrition, vaccine handling, neonatal calf care, reproduction, agricultural finance, and pest control.