Wichita ? The fall harvest of crops in Kansas is mostly in the bin now. Winter wheat planting is done. And calving is still months away.

Kansas farmers and ranchers are taking advantage of the seasonal lull this week to gather together to socialize, hash out farm policy aims and gather information at three major agricultural conventions.

On Monday, more 1,000 farmers head to Manhattan to layout the roadmap for public policy issues the Kansas Farm Bureau members consider of importance to agriculture.

Kansas Livestock Association kicks off its three-day convention beginning Wednesday in Wichita amid all-time high cattle prices.

Beginning on Thursday, the Kansas Farmers Union is meeting in Manhattan for three days. The director of the U.S. Agriculture Department agency that oversees fair and competitive trading is headlining their event.