Feldhaus reports on a joint effort between Kentucky and Virginia extension services which will this Saturday in Whitesburg, host a workshop on exploring maple syrup production in that region. Letcher County extension agent Shad Baker says there is growing interest among land owners considering taking the next step in this specialty crop.

An update on the progress in the Kentucky Proud marketing effort which began almost 16 years ago.  The Ky Ag Department’s Roger Snell has been involved from the beginning and says from Paul’s Fruit Market to Walmart, and from Kroger’s to Houchens, the locally grown and processed brand has continued to expand, offering more income opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

A report on the preliminary estimates of timber damage resulting from this fall’s round of ground fires across much of eastern Kentucky.  Jeff Stringer with the UK Forestry Division is featured, indicating one acre of burned timber result in a direct loss to the land over of $24,000 with indirect losses amounting to more that $40,000 per acre. Initial estimates from late November put the timber loss already at over $1 million.

CBOT futures closed mixed with corn and wheat closing near the day’s lows. Corn traded higher Sunday evening in sympathy with a strong soybean complex rally. Cattle futures closed mostly lower, pressured by profit-taking following last Friday’s strong price action where futures “gapped higher”.   

In this season of plenty, take time to appreciate those who sacrifice for the needs of others. Thank you to all the farmers who provide for their community and the world!

Listen here

A 5-part webinar series dealing with woodland management issues continues across the state, aired live in many county extension offices on December 6.  UK forester, Billy Thomas, explains how to connect with the series and discusses how many of the issues covered are applicable to homeowners as well as owners of larger acreages. He says the sessions will also be archived so can be accessed for viewing over the coming year.

Three “Early Bird” farmer meetings are set next week in Graves, Henderson, and Christian Counties to give grain farmers in the region a jump start on crop year 2017. UK Agronomist, Carrie Knott, says there are plenty of challenges ahead from dealing with low prices to fighting off growing populations of invasive weed species.  The meetings run Dec 6, 7, and 8^th respectively.