agriculture
How can Kentucky tackle veterinarian shortage? Working group presents its ideas.
Kentucky’s Veterinary Shortage Working Group met Tuesday to finalize a report 18 months in the making. The report includes ways Kentucky can bring more veterinarians, especially those who practice on large animals, into the profession and give them further support to practice in Kentucky. The group, which is under the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, has […]
Kentucky’s next agriculture commissioner names transition team
Kentucky’s next agriculture commissioner has appointed more than two dozen people including farmers and Republican elected officials to a transition team that plans to begin its work at the end of the week. Republican Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture-Elect Jonathan Shell named Steve Kelly of Anderson County and Jon Copley of Oldham County as co-chairs of […]
Farm bill timeline in flux as a messy September for Congress nears
WASHINGTON — The roundtables, listening sessions and appearances at farm shows have largely wrapped up and lawmakers tasked with reauthorizing the nation’s agriculture and nutrition programs are comparing notes and beginning to draft the massive, multi-year farm bill. The 2018 version expires Sept. 30, just as many urgent priorities compete for floor time in Congress […]
With Beshear absent, Cameron pitches himself as the rural candidate in farmer forum
Values was the word of the day as Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron addressed a crowd of Kentucky Farm Bureau board members and employees in its Measure-the-Candidate forum. He pitched himself as a politician who embodies rural ideas and criticized the absence of his opponent in the gubernatorial race, incumbent Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. “Of […]
U.S. Department of Agriculture to spend $300M to boost climate data in farming, forestry
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will spend $300 million to better measure the effectiveness of techniques to lower carbon emissions in farming and forestry, the department said Wednesday. The funding comes from a $20 billion allocation for climate-smart agriculture in the climate and social policy law Democrats in Congress passed along party lines and President […]
Kentucky farmers deal with uncontrollable stressors. This mental health coalition helps.
This story discusses suicide and mental health among farmers. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. You can also text “KY” to 741741. A thousand hungry mouths must be fed before farmer Sarah Jones can eat. Seven days a week — sometimes […]
Scenes from Kentucky’s primary election
Kentucky voters narrowed a crowded Republican primary on Tuesday, choosing Attorney General Daniel Cameron as the GOP nominee. Cameron, who would be the first Black governor of Kentucky if elected, will face off with Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat seeking his second term. Check out these photos of Kentucky Election Night parties and a rainy […]
State ag officials push for on-time farm bill to fund slew of programs
WASHINGTON – State agriculture officials from across the country sought this month to remind a new crop of lawmakers in Congress of their states’ needs for a robust farm bill to address a host of food issues. Members of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture gathered in Washington for their annual winter meeting […]
Kentucky small farm wineries seek to self-distribute more product
FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s small farm wineries are asking lawmakers to let them sell up to 30,000 gallons of wine annually to licensed retailers, but the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Kentucky says that’s too much. Charles George, executive director of the wholesalers group, told a legislative committee that the wholesalers would support direct sales to […]
USDA projects farm income will fall in 2023 after two robust years
WASHINGTON — After two strong years of growth, U.S. farm income is forecast to drop substantially in 2023 as commodity prices fall and expenses rise, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service reported Tuesday. And with food prices projected to rise into 2023, the nation’s producers will not be reaping the financial benefits. The […]
Kentucky agriculture group named to address large animal vet shortage
Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles has named a working group of agriculture industry stakeholders to search for “solutions to the state’s large animal vet shortage,” the Agriculture Department said Friday. A shortage of large animal veterinarians across the country has created “a negative impact as farmers search to find the veterinary care they need […]
Danville farm will expand beef marketing with USDA value-added grant
In an ongoing effort to diversify the country’s meat processing and create new markets for smaller livestock producers, the federal government is distributing about $3.9 million of grant money and guaranteeing loans that total $5.7 million for more than two dozen projects in 15 states, including Kentucky. Danville farmer Dennis Spencer Guinn was awarded a […]