Vol. 5 No. 2 • February 9,
2012
Commissioner Comer: 'Refocus our rural
economic development efforts on agriculture'
Agriculture Commissioner James R. Comer met with county officials from throughout Kentucky at the Kentucky County Judge-Executives Association's winter conference on Feb. 1 in Lexington. In his address to the association, Commissioner Comer shared his vision of revitalizing Kentucky's rural economies through agriculture. For a video clip of Commissioner Comer's address and more photos, go to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's page on Facebook. (Photos by Ted Sloan)
 
Agriculture Commissioner
James R. Comer
You have a right to know what your commissioner and your Department of
Agriculture are doing and how your tax dollars are being spent. My staff and I
have taken steps to operate the department in a completely open and transparent
manner, and we’ll be doing more in the weeks and months to come. ... more
Commissioner Comer aids farmer denied payment for his grain
Agriculture Commissioner James Comer today issued a relief payment to a Waynesburg grain farmer who failed to get paid when he sold his grain to a company that filed bankruptcy. ... more
Backgrounders, prepare for 'sticker shock' and find the break-even price for stocker cattle
Feeder cattle prices have surged upward over the last year and are showing little sign of coming back down. ... more
Kentucky cattle inventory declines
The Kentucky cattle and calf inventory for January 1, 2012 was estimated at 2.15 million head according to the Kentucky Field Office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Total inventory was down 40,000 head from last year. ... more
Three earn awards from Large/Food Animal Veterinary Incentive Program
As winners of the annual incentive, each will be awarded with up to $18,000 over three years for payment toward outstanding school loans. ... more
Glyphosate-resistant weeds spreading
A recent survey of agriculture and natural resource agents with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service indicates that weeds resistant to herbicides containing glyphosate are becoming more widespread. ... more
Ag Development Board offers incentives for farmers to go green in 2012
The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board announces the availability of $2 million in Kentucky Agricultural Development Funds for on-farm energy efficiency or production projects. ... more
Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative announces 2012 scholarship
"The Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative will award four $1,000 scholarships to students for the 2012-2013 school years," explained Roger Quarles, BTGCA President. ... more
'Bluegrass & Backroads' launches ninth season on Feb. 12
Kentucky Farm Bureau’s Emmy® Award-winning television program, Bluegrass & Backroads, will celebrate its ninth season on the air, and second year in the broadcast lineup of Kentucky Educational Television, beginning February 12. ... more
USDA announces CRP general signup
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will conduct a four-week Conservation Reserve Program general signup, beginning on March 12 and ending on April 6. ... more
Kentucky farmers adding value to their businesses
Nine Kentucky agribusiness will receive business development assistance in the most recent round of Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) awards. ... more
International Collegiate Agricultural Leadership Program going to southeast Asia this May
The National FFA Organization is now accepting applications for its 2012 International Collegiate Agricultural Leadership (I-CAL) program. ... more
Kentucky sheep inventory increases; goat inventory declines
The total number of sheep in Kentucky on January 1, 2012, was estimated at 40,000 head, an increase of 6,000 from the previous year’s estimate. ... more
USDA unveils new plant hardiness zone map
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM), updating a useful tool for gardeners and researchers for the first time since 1990 with greater accuracy and detail. ... more
Study: Sampling drives sales at markets
A very large study of more than 3,400 farm market patrons from eight states, including Kentucky, is being completed.
Preliminary findings are quite interesting and may be helpful for market vendors planning for this upcoming market season. ... more
Coming up
Southeast Kentucky Beekeeping
School
Mountain Monday Series - Corn Silage: Production & Economics for Beef Cattle
National
Farm Machinery Show
Kentucky Farmers Care Conference
Homebased Processing and Microprocessing Workshop
Mid-South Stocker Conference
Kentucky Alfalfa Conference
Northeast Kentucky Beekeeping School
2nd Annual Organic
Conference
Kentucky Farm
Bureau Beef Expo
Audubon Beekeeping School
2012 Cooperative Extension Service Agritourism Conference
UK Integrated Pest Management School
Managing Woodlands for Specialty Forest Products
Bluegrass Beekeeping School
Aquaculture Basics workshop
Kentucky National Dairy Show and Sale
Kentucky Farm
Fact
The Grain Regulation Branch in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture is responsible for assuring that Kentucky producers are paid for their grain and administering the Kentucky Grain Insurance Fund.
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