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The Kentucky Ag Development Board recently approved a grant of just over a $1 million in state funds for the Ky Dairy Development Council. Feldhaus visits with KDDC Executive Director, Maury Cox, about some of the ongoing programs offering premiums to producers who can achieve program guidelines. He also discusses some upcoming, regional dairy meetings in Bowling Green and Cave City.

Feldhaus provides part two of a three-part series on the National Farm Machinery Show Feb 15-18 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.  Equipment dealers association leader, Kim Rominger, talks about some of the latest in technology that can be seen at the show and some of the behind the scenes industry activities that will be underway.

Sheep and goat numbers in Kentucky have settled out and are providing economic opportunity for a significant number of farmers here.  UK agronomy specialist Tom Keene discusses the production trends and the Small Ruminant Grazing Conference set for Feb 18 in Elizabethtown.

CEO of the United Equipment Dealers Association, Kim Rominger, offers his perspective on equipment sales trends for 2017 and discusses the factors of 2016 that will be impacting farmer buying patterns. Rominger says this may be the perfect time for farmers looking for some used equipment with very low hours and at good prices.

The Kentucky Ag Department’s Chief of Staff, Keith Rogers, lays out a few plans ahead for the department as it will be working toward direct export trade with international destinations.  The department will also be at the National Farm Machinery Show discussing details of the state program to protect farmers in the event of grain elevator bankruptcy.

After several days of weaker prices, CBOT futures rose strongly today, beginning after the 830 am CT open. Wheat and Corn futures outperformed soybeans. Overnight futures weakness with no follow-through selling combined with positive export news encouraged buying that was amplified by technical buying as prices rose.  Cattle futures traded both sides of unchanged with some trading ranges exceeding $2.00/cwt.  Lean Hog futures closed narrowly mixed. February LH were supported by higher cash hog prices, but the pork cutout was weaker.

CBOT futures closed mixed with corn and soybeans trading narrow ranges.  Today’s weaker US Dollar was the main supportive factor for commodities today. Cattle futures closed lower on follow-through selling from Monday’s gap-down price action and sharp losses. Selling was encouraged by weaker boxed beef values and concerns that cash cattle have peaked.  Lean Hog futures closed higher with the February LH contract up sharply on stronger cash hog prices and pork values.