Manhattan ? Founded during the uncluttered era of pioneering radio that allowed its programming to be heard coast to coast, KKSU grew into a five-hour-a-day institution for farmers in Kansas that relayed via the airwaves the latest news in agriculture.

“Radio is real quick and we have a good listenership,” said Marc Johnson, dean of Kansas State University’s College of Agriculture. “They have had this signal, this place, to serve the public for a long time.”

So there was little doubt the staff of KKSU, founded in 1924, reacted sadly Thursday to news the station will go off the air in about three months as part of a deal between the university and the parent of Topeka station WIBW, which shares its signal with KKSU.

The agreement ends a dispute between the school and Georgia-based Morris Communications Inc. over rights to broadcast the school’s athletic events, most notably Wildcats football. For $1.5 million, Morris is buying from the school the five hours a day KKSU broadcasts on 580 AM.

In exchange, Morris will drop its claim to all broadcasting rights of Kansas State football and WIBW will cease broadcasting games immediately.

“We’re excited,” said Craig Colboch, general manager of Morris Radio Properties. “I’ve been around for 20 years and we’ve long wanted to be a 24-hour radio station and in control of the asset we know best.”

Kansas State athletic and administration officials were equally ecstatic about the pact. It allows a previously negotiated $6 million, five-year contract granting exclusive sports broadcast rights to the Mid-America Ag Network to take effect, starting with the Wildcats’ Saturday game at home against Western Kentucky.

“The fact we can resolve this issue before football season, it allows us to rebuild our K-State family and go about the business of winning football games,” said Tim Weiser, the university’s athletic director.

Mid-America’s exclusive rights contract, signed in December, sparked the dispute. WIBW had held the exclusive rights, and offered about $600,000 a year to retain them.

WIBW planned to continue broadcasting games, citing a 1969 agreement that gave KKSU an extra 15 minutes of time per day on the shared frequency, in exchange for air time on game days and a promise to broadcast Kansas State football games.

The settlement still must be approved by the Federal Communications Commission.