Harrison County FFA’s Gracie Furnish was elected National Eastern Region Vice President at the recent national convention of FFA.  Kentucky FFA’s Executive Director, Matt Chaliff, runs down some of the state group’s significant honors and achievements including Spencer County’s Dairy Cattle Evaluation Team winning its sixth national championship in the last eight years.

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A report on UK extension’s family and consumer science agents who nearly swept the professional awards presented during the annual meeting of that national group.  UK’s interim director of family and consumer science extension, Jennifer Hunter, talks about the significant achievements.

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CBOT futures closed little changed except for MGEX spring wheat futures which rose 8-9 cents. The market has little to trade on before tomorrow’s USDA reports.   Cattle futures closed sharply lower after opening little changed.  Futures were pressured by slight weakness in mid-week cash trading.  Lean Hogs were pressured by weaker pork values and the sharp losses in cattle futures and by rising average hog weights that implies a backup in inventories.

The three finalists that will vie for Kentucky Farm Bureau's "Farmer of the Year" honors have been chosen as preliminary judging for the 2017 award has come to a close. Darren Luttrell of Ohio County, Richard Preston of Hardin County, and Lisa Robards of Bullitt County are the three finalists.

Researchers at the University of Kentucky College of Argriculture, Food and Environment are beginning on-farm studies to look at which best management practices work best for Kentucky grain farms, and they need producers’ help.

CBOT futures closed narrowly mixed in quiet trade ahead of Thursday’s USDA reports. There was very little news in the market.  Cattle futures closed lower but well off the day’s lows.  Futures were pressured by Monday’s failure to move higher and the resulting sharp losses.  Lean Hog futures closed moderately lower on continued weakness in cash hog prices.

CBOT futures closed mostly higher except for corn ending steady.  Speculative funds hold large short positions, so Thursday’s USDA reports will be closely watched.  Cattle futures closed lower with the nearby Live Cattle contracts dropping the most on profit-taking after the market rose sharply last week on cash market strength.