Except for wheat contracts, CBOT futures closed lower today with pressure stemming from a stronger US Dollar and a lack of bullish fundamentals. Soybean futures have closed lower 5 of the last 6 days, with March Soybeans 30 cents lower than the January 18^th HIGH.  Cattle futures closed sharply lower, especially in Feeder Cattle, as traders reduced positions ahead of Friday’s Cattle on Feed Report and next week’s Cattle report which reports the annual inventory.

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A series of master logger programs is set to begin next week, opening in Grayson County, and event planner, Jeff Stringer a UK forestry professor, explains why this certification is so important to the timber industry and for the general public.  A complete workshop schedule is available on line at: KFIA.org.

A feature report with UK forage specialist, Ray Smith, on the upcoming Feb 21^st Kentucky Alfalfa Conference, at the Cave City Convention Center, which has been expanded to include “stored forage” in its new name. Smith points out that the expansion should prove beneficial to the normal farmer crowd who attends and could expand total attendance to over 200.

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Almost a dozen classes and conferences are scheduled for veteran and beginner beekeepers across the state.  State Apiarist, Tammy Horn Potter, discusses the growth and popularity of beekeeping these days, and some of the developing new potential sidelines, like producing and selling queen bees.

The Kentucky Horticulture Council was approved for over $600,000 in state ag development funding for 2017.  Council CEO, Mac Stone, discusses educational and marketing efforts that will be made possible through that grant, and talks about some of the challenges ahead for farmers in their efforts toward expansion of sales in fruits and vegetables.

Feldhaus visits with Ky Ag Commissioner, Ryan Quarles, at the annual meetings of the state fruit and vegetable grower groups.  Quarles discusses: the 2016 farm year; success of KDA’s Kentucky Proud marketing program; the growth in direct sales of fruits and vegetables; and the department’s intention to do more consumer education through social media.

CBOT futures closed mixed with soybean futures again outperforming corn and wheat which both ended down 5-6 cents. March Corn traded overnight to new 6-month highs above the key chart resistance I listed yesterday; however, that upside breakout failed terribly and futures closed sharply lower with a bearish outside-down day on the chart. Cattle futures rallied at the opening bell in follow-through buying from Monday’s higher closes, but fell sharply in the 11:00 am CT hour.