For farm families across the country, the issue of adequate labor is an ever-increasing problem. Finding domestic help seems to be a thing of the past in many areas, and navigating a complex and expensive federal system to bring workers in from other countries is, well, complex and expensive.
Read MoreProducts made from soybeans touch everyday life in countless ways, though often behind the scenes.
Read MoreThe story of Woodstock Lavender Farm & Co. starts with $600. L.G. Colyer — the father and grandfather of owners Mary May and Allison Horseman — borrowed that sum to buy a farm in northeastern Pulaski County.
Read MoreGrowers in the region surrounding Pulaski County will have an outlet much closer to home thanks to Continental Refining Company (CRC). The company is in the process of bringing a soybean crushing operation into its refining facility in Somerset providing a valuable outlet for the region's soybean crops and much-needed relief for producers who have been absorbing those increased fuel costs.
Read MoreWhile the DeWeeses also have hill ground and various other soil types to work with, the river bottoms are tricky. Like many other row crop farmers in the far western portion of the state, the DeWeese brothers have turned to contract growing of hogs in order to diversify their operation and maximize their profit margin.
Read MoreFamilies can expect to pay record high prices at the grocery store for turkey this upcoming holiday season thanks to the impacts of the bird flu and inflation. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed turkey and egg costs in their latest Market Intel.
Read MoreU.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell paid a visit to Graves County recently to discuss the distribution of $20 million of USDA funding to build temporary grain storage facilities in areas affected by last year’s tornadoes. West Kentucky grain producers were especially affected facing uncertainty about storage for their 2022 crops.
Read MoreAlong the rivers that snake across the Commonwealth, you’ll find a University of Kentucky researcher taking samples to study the health of the water flowing through the state.
Read MoreFor 60 years, Cecilia resident Kenneth Hayden has farmed 850 acres of land, and the 91-year-old is still at it.
Read MoreSarah and her husband Bart own Red Hill Farms, an esteemed livestock and crop farming operation spanning south central Kentucky and northern middle Tennessee. Not only does Jones oversee the sale and care of Red Hill’s many cattle, but she also manages its finances, records, marketing and promotions.
Read MoreThe Thomas family has a deep family history in agriculture, and both Mark and Wesley were raised on farms. While Wesley is now also a Nurse Practitioner, Mark is fulfilling his lifelong dream. “From an early age, I have always been dedicated to agriculture and the farm. I have never wanted to do anything but farm full-time,” noted Mark.
Read MoreAs the social media and graphic coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA), Alexis Smith has the pleasure of creating content daily to elevate the importance of Kentucky’s farm families and their impact on our everyday lives. She also helps coordinate KDA’s print and digital graphic design content.
Read MoreWhile most view agriculture as a specialized, technical field or a get-your-hands-dirty type of work, this community needs people of all backgrounds, talents, and skills. If you want to be outside in nature, there is a job for you. If you like the comfort of an office, there is a job for you.
Read MoreWhat do watermelon, canola, soybeans, and pumpkins have in common? They’re all Kentucky-grown crops that would not exist without bees.
Read MoreSteve Koch, a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, was recently hired to a substantial leadership position in Florida’s Thoroughbred racing industry.
Read MoreKentucky cattle producers joined Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Ryan Quarles Tuesday as he signed a proclamation commemorating the month of May as Kentucky Beef Month.
Read MoreWhile the thoroughbreds take center stage this time of year, the state’s horse industry is as diverse as all of the Commonwealth’s agriculture sector.
Read MoreThe days of tobacco being the king crop in Kentucky are in the rear-view mirror, but the once top crop still holds a place in Kentucky's diverse agricultural environment.
Read MoreThe most recent USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) information is predicting a possible record for soybean planting throughout the soybean-producing states. Kentucky producers are expected to plant a total of two million soybean acres, up 150,000 acres from 2021.
Read MoreThe lush, quiet countryside of Green County is about to get a little busier as planting season gets underway. The sound of tractors and planters gives way only to the many voices on the farm, several of which belong to the guest workers who have become a familiar part of the farming landscape there, and on most farms across the state.
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