agriculture

Sorghum Making Comeback to Rivers Region

John Walker — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 22:00:19 +0000

When most people think of sorghum they think of sorghum molasses, a contemporary of modern day maple syrup. But recent breakthroughs are changing sorghum’s role as a pancake sweetener.

Calloway County Farmer Trip Furches leans forward in his office chair as he explains why last year was the first time he planted energy sorghum and sweet sorghum.

Farmers Use Radishes to Enrich Soil

Whitney Jones — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 17:30:00 +0000

Many of farmer Jim Kelly’s fields in Murray are bright green with winter wheat even after several frosts. But tromp around some of his other crop fields and you’ll find the withering leaves of radishes. And he’s just going to keep letting them rot.

"These things are in the process of dying. See, some of them already have," he said.

Kelly’s crop usually consists of tobacco, wheat, soybeans, corn and hay. But this year he’s adding radishes to his rotation in his soybean fields as a cover crop. The pale yellow vegetable looks a lot like a carrot and digs down breaking up the soil. Kelly won’t harvest the radishes. They grow until the first hard freeze then begin to die.

Despite Drought, Ky. Agriculture Revenues Could Set Records

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:44:22 +0000

Despite experiencing one of the worse droughts in U.S. history, agriculture economists in Kentucky are projecting record cash receipts for the state’s farmers.

During their annual outlook during the Kentucky Farm Bureau conference, economists from the University of Kentucky say they think Kentucky will break the $5-billion barrier in revenues this year.

Kentucky Agriculture Fares Better Than Predictions

Stu Johnson (KPR) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:17:31 +0000

Kentucky’s agriculture industry is faring better than early predictions. The agriculture industry, which includes crops, cattle and horses, earned more than $5 billion. That figure is beyond Kentucky’s reach this year, but University of Kentucky Agriculture Economist Will Snell says many farmers should still do okay.

US Ag Secretary Visits Tennessee

Whitney Jones and The Associated Press — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 12:04:28 +0000

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack makes a Tennessee visit today to discuss the importance of passing comprehensive food, farm and jobs legislation. He will also talk about revitalizing small rural businesses and communities. Vilsack's stops include Cedar Hill and Clarksville. Officials say Tennessee farm income rose from $447 million in 2010 to almost $800 dollars in 2011.

Fall Armyworms Invade Yards, Pastures

Whitney Jones — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:50:02 +0000

Thanks to this summer's historic drought fall armyworms have invaded and are destroying yards and pastures in McCracken County.

Midwest Grape Crop Looks Good Amid Drought

The Associated Press — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:47:03 +0000

While the US drought has been rough on our region’s corn and soybean crops, grape growers in the Four Rivers say their harvest will make up in quality what it lacks in quantity. Winemakers throughout the area report their vineyards have proven resilient to the recent heat and dryness.

Burley Crop Not Lost Due to Weather

Chad Lampe — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 14:20:44 +0000

Kentucky’s Hay Hotline Re-activated

Todd Hatton — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:35:20 +0000

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture has reactivated its hay hotline to help farmers find forage for their livestock. Agriculture Commissioner James Comer says he restarted the hotline to connect farmers in need of forage to others willing to sell it. The Department’s website also has online directories where producers can list hay for sale, and where farmers can search for available hay by county.

Ky. State Fair Entries Expected to Show Signs of Drought

Angela Hatton — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 19:47:47 +0000

The summer drought is expected to have an impact on many of the Kentucky State Fair’s agricultural entries. Kentucky’s suffered a hot, dry summer, and farmers in the western half of the state are bearing the brunt of the disaster. The stress has already shown up on fair entries in other drought-stricken areas of the country, with smaller ears of corn and other vegetables and fewer head of livestock on display.