CBOT futures closed lower with soybeans dropping sharply on continued improved weather forecasts.   Cattle futures closed higher, extending the gains posted on Wednesday. This week’s better-than-expected cash price of $116-117 has supported futures.    Lean Hog futures closed mixed with small price changes.

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Johnson County tourism is kicking off two new tour packages designed to boost economic impact in that community.  Local extension agent, Brenda Cockerham, serves as the facilitator among entities from hotels to farmers, artisans to the local tourism bureau, and says their new pilot project is now underway and worth a look, on line, at: visitpaintsvilleky.com.   

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The UK College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment held a first ever “Bio-Tech Open House,” for high school students and their parents.  Post doctoral scholar, Ellen Crocker, was involved as the kids visited seven UK research labs, spoke with researchers about their work, and mingled with college bio-tech majors about how their studies were going.

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A feature report with Tamara Sandberg, Executive Director of the Ky Association of Food Banks about a donation made to their group that will provide refrigeration units to food pantries across the state.  Sandberg says Farm Credit Mid-America and Co Banks joined forces for that donation which will allow for more protein (beef, pork, and chicken) to be donated for feeding to the hungry.

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The Beef Network has completed its “fence line feeding” research which is designed to make winter feeding of hay to cattle, less damaging to pastures and more convenient for farmers who have to do that winter feeding.  The network’s Dan Miller says they got technical help from UK researchers and the system really can benefit producers of any size.

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A report on Kentucky Farm Bureau’s investment of $1 million in the Grain and Forage Center of Excellence at Princeton’s Research and Education Center in Princeton. Comments from Farm Bureau President, Mark Haney, who describes the donations which will be two gifts over a five-year period, all aimed at enhancing the future of agriculture.  

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CBOT futures closed mixed with corn and soybeans up slightly on a recovery from Tuesday’s sharp losses. Market support came from a private crop estimate released yesterday that cut corn yield and production markedly from the USDA forecast.  Cattle futures closed strongly higher and near the day’s highs.  Lean Hog futures closed sharply higher, reversing the losses made Tuesday.