Kentucky Farm Bureau

Jan 19: Feldhaus introduces Mac Stone who is now serving as the new Executive Director of the Ky Horticulture Council. Stone says that group will continue to work with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Kentucky Center for Ag and Rural Development to develop more opportunities for fruit and vegetable growers. He also says they’re forming a new relationship with a group in eastern Kentucky, Grow Appalachia, which may first focus on the Knox, Laurel, Whitley County area.

Jan 18: As tax time rolls around the Kentucky Association of Food Banks reminds citizens to use the box on line 37 to donate part of their state refund to help feed the hungry. Association executive director, Tamara Sandberg, says last year citizens donated some $30,000 to the Farm to Food Banks Trust Fund which added fresh fruits and vegetables to some 200,000 meals for those in need.

Jan 15: Feldhaus wraps up the third of a three-part series on the successful development of maple syrup production right here in Kentucky. Lawrence County farmer, Keith Moore, has been developing the process for about three years now. It’s gone so well, he’s expanding production for 2016.

A forum to gather public input on Kentucky’s pollinator protection plan will take place next Wednesday, Jan 20 in Frankfort. State Apiarist, Tammy Horn, with the Ky Dept of Agriculture explains the four basic goals of the plan thus far. She also discusses the cooperative spirit among ag groups which are also involved in plan formulation.

Kentucky cattle producers will get an update this Friday and Saturday at the Ky Cattlemen’s Association annual meeting in Owensboro, as their new state check-off continues to come on line. Ky Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President, Dave Maples, says efforts to reach consumers with the beef message are employing a new set of cyber tools which state leaders are confident will pay off.

Dr. Tony Brannon discusses Murray State University’s hosting of the 12th annual Soybean Promotion Day, Jan 19, at the university’s CFSP Center. One feature of the program will be a Georgia farmer who’s broken national yield records in both corn and soybeans.

A feature report with Russel Schwenke, President of the Ky Corn Growers Association, who talks about low prices, high yields, and progress in boosting efficiencies with the use or precision agriculture and GPS. Schwenke discusses this Friday’s Ky Commodity Conference in Bowling Green.

The Kentucky Forage and Grasslands Council with plenty of help from the UK extension forage staff, will be hosting the 5-state, Heart of America Grazing Conference Jan 25/26 in Lexington. UK forage specialist Ray Smith discusses details of the event and takes time to explain to non-farmers why a healthy forage base is so important to them.

An update on grain farmer support for the proposed Grain Center for Excellence. Larue County’s Ryan Bivens, on the Ky Soybean Promotion Board, feels the $24 million project envisioned for the Princeton area, will be a wise investment. He says the project should get lots of discussion at the Jan 15, Ky Commodity Conference in Bowling Green.

Kentucky Farm Bureau is hosting a Campaign Management Seminar, Feb 2-3, to assist would-be candidates in truly assessing the ups and downs of running for public office. The group’s Local Affairs Director, Brian Alvey, says over the years, candidates attending the school and who decided to run, have had a near 80% success rate.

The Summit Meat Processing Facility will likely be on line in Pulaski County by the end of February. Company president, Kyle Turpen, says they plan to not only process livestock but to assist local farmers in marketing it, to some degree. Turpen says county ag development funds from Pulaski, Lincoln, and Hart counties were combined to match a state commitment to fund a $165,000 loan.

A report on what farmers have on their priority list for the 2016 session of the General Assembly. Following the Farm Bureau’s annual meeting in December that group’s president, Mark Haney, says farmers have at the top of their list maintaining 50% of Master Settlement Agreement funds for rebuilding ag infrastructure and they want adequate funding for the work of the state agriculture department.

Jan 1: Feldhaus files the second report in a series on Kentucky maple syrup production. Lawrence County farmer, Keith Moore, says high quality maple syrup can be made right here in the bluegrass. He says we have the trees here, the technology is not that difficult, and after selling every drop he could produce last year, he will be at least doubling his production for 2016.

Phenomenal show

Another great show.

Great show.

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The City of Pikeville has just been approved for $150,000 in ag development funds to be used for a re-location and major facility upgrade for the local farmers’ market. City Administrator, Donovan Blackburn, is featured discussing the plans and potential for this major improvement, hopefully to be up and running by mid summer.

Promo for week of Feb 15, Across Kentucky shows – 30 sec.