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The UK Ag Department is providing an educational opportunity for some twenty urban county governments in the Bluegrass region.  Grace Coy with UK’s Urban Forest Initiative discusses some of the challenges that local government leaders face from storms, invasive species and disease that can threaten their efforts in developing and maintaining a health tree canopy in parks and community areas.     

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A feature report with Tammy Horn Potter, state apiarist in the Ky Ag Department, on the progress among corporate leaders in developing pollinator habitat with many of their facilities across the state.  Potter also discuss the “black jar” competition for beekeepers at the Ky State Fair.

Phase II of the greenhouse at Madisonville North Hopkins High School is now underway.  Local ag teacher, Alaina Lancaster, says the facility is not only a great resource for education of her students in lessons from horticulture to business, the project has significant positive impact for the entire community.

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 The Garrard County conservation district was approved for a recent Ag Development grant for a shared use equipment project.  Local conservation district leader Kathy Simpson says, while the grant was small compared to many, it provides some very helpful equipment rental opportunities that allow farmers to rent rather than buy some expensive equipment they’d use only once or twice a year.

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Making connections between ag interests and leaders in manufacturing is the goal of a meeting serried next week in Bath, Shelby, and Caldwell Counties.  The Ky Ag Department’s Tim Hughes says the department wants to make sure those two sectors are well aware of the potential for developing new business opportunities utilizing “local” resources. 

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Yesterday’s lower-than-expected condition ratings for the Spring Wheat crop led to sharply higher wheat prices, especially at the MGEX exchange.  Corn and soybean futures rebounded from Monday’s losses with support coming from the wheat markets and some deterioration in rain forecast for the western Corn Belt.  Cattle futures opened steady to higher but was headed lower by mid to late morning.

Both grains and livestock futures fell hard today.  CBOT was pressured by increased chances of rain in key growing areas.  Cattle dropped to/near the daily limit as steady markets turned lower and then broke below key chart support areas, accelerating the selling.