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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer hailed a report that cash receipts to Kentucky farmers exceeded $4 billion in 2004 as evidence that investments made to strengthen and diversify Kentucky agriculture are paying off.
Farm marketings generated $4,126,185 in 2004, a 19 percent increase over the 2003 total of $3,462,891, the Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service said. Livestock and livestock products accounted for 66 percent of the total, while crops made up the remaining 34 percent.
“I want to commend our farmers on an outstanding year,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “It is remarkable that they exceeded the $4 billion milestone at a time when income from tobacco is declining. This suggests that Kentucky’s efforts at diversifying our agriculture industry are working.”
Horses and mules (including stud fees) were the leading Kentucky farm commodity at $950 million, $150 million above the 2003 total. Receipts from all poultry products were $816.6 million, a 32 percent increase; of that amount, broilers accounted for $691 million. Cattle and calves generated $620.6 million, a 14 percent increase over the $544 million total of 2003.
Tobacco was the leading crop at $421.7 million, down 2 percent from the previous year. Receipts from soybeans were up 36 percent to $372.2 million from $274.6 million. Corn receipts totaled $340.5 million, up 22 percent from $278.1 million in 2003. Income from dairy products jumped 23 percent to $236.6 million.
Vegetables, fruits, floriculture products, and greenhouse and nursery products all advanced in 2004 compared with 2003. Those categories combined accounted for more than $102.3 million in farm receipts last year.
Hogs had the largest percentage increase, a 57 percent jump to $104.5 million.
“The increase in farmgate receipts coincides with the growth of the Kentucky Proud program for marketing Kentucky-raised and Kentucky-produced farm products,” Commissioner Farmer said. “We expect this trend to continue as more Kentucky consumers look for the Kentucky Proud symbol to find fresh, delicious and nutritious food made right here at home.”
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