The Kansas Department of Agriculture announced Thursday that it is moving to Manhattan in summer 2014.

The plan is to house the agency in a new 50,000-square-foot facility built by the Kansas State University Foundation in the group’s research park.

Agriculture Secretary Dale Rodman said the decision was made to move so the agency could work closer with other agricultural and bioscience entities, including the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. “Manhattan is the value-added center for agriculture,” Rodman said.

KDA will maintain its main administrative offices in Topeka, but will move the majority of its programs to Manhattan. In addition, the department will maintain current field offices in Stafford, Stockton, Parsons and Garden City.