agriculture

Bill Would Give Kentucky Farmers Tax Credit for Food Bank Donations

Kentucky Public Radio's Dan Conti — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:40:47 +0000

Kentucky farmers who donate produce to food banks would get a tax credit under a bill being considered in Frankfort.

The measure is sponsored by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom McKee. He says the ten percent credit could help get more fruits and vegetables to a growing number of families in need.

Agriculture Education, New Markets Focused in New 5-Year Strategic Plan

Kenny Colston — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:02:03 +0000

Kentucky's agriculture leaders are supporting a new five year strategic plan to help the industry in the state.

The plan, put together by the Kentucky Agriculture Council, puts emphasis on agriculture education, creating new markets and recruiting new people to farming.

The plan runs through 2018 and has the support of Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer.

Gov. Steve Beshear also supports the plan, which he says is a extension of the first agriculture strategic plan presented to him five years ago.

Comer Says Corn, Soybean Yields Better Than Expected

Dan Conti, Kentucky Public Radio — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 19:54:36 +0000

The drought last summer will reduce corn and soybean harvests in Kentucky, but not to the degree once feared. That’s the assessment of state Agriculture Commissioner James Comer.

"Yields are a little better than what we thought they were going to be, which says a lot about technology about the corn seed, because there are a lot of those counties, in Fulton County and Calloway County, that didn’t’ get any rain in May, June or July but they still yieled something.

More Indiana Counties Under Drought Disaster

Rick Howlett and Associated Press — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 19:50:28 +0000

The lingering drought has led the U.S. Department of Agriculture to declare a natural disaster in 14 more of Indiana's 92 counties.

The USDA added the north-central Indiana counties today. Along with adjacent counties, they qualify for low-interest relief loans from the federal government.

Fifty counties earlier had been declared natural disaster areas.

Farmers Welcome Federal Drought Aid

Gabe Bullard — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 22:31:52 +0000

Federal aid is available for farmers in 1,016 drought-stricken counties across 26 states.

A federal disaster declaration will allow the farmers to apply for low-interest loans and it will reduce the penalties for grazing livestock on land set aside for conservation.

Farmers across the country have been hard-hit by the hot and dry weather that has persisted in many parts of the country since the growing season began.

As WFPL reported on Monday:

Drought Endangers Corn Crops, Could Raise Food Prices

Erica Peterson — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Despite scattered thunderstorms during the past week, parts of Indiana and Kentucky remain in a drought. That condition is hitting corn and soybean farmers particularly hard.

Half of Indiana’s and nearly half of Kentucky’s corn crop are in jeopardy, rated as “poor” or “very poor” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Purdue University agricultural economist Chris Hurt says once a crop is rated “very poor,” there’s not much that can be salvaged.