A seasonal report with a roadside market operator who’s featured tomatoes at Christmas time and who now has a booming crop of mums in full bloom.  Owen County farmer David Chappell is what you’d call a “typical” Ky farmers with beef, tobacco, and row crops, but he’s added horticultural crops to his mix; and it’s working well.

An update on the latest round of Ky Ag Finance Corporation loans for ag infrastructure projects and for beginning farmers.  KAFC coordinator Bill McCloskey says some $1.6 million was made available through tobacco settlement funds to assist the ag sector with below-market loans for approved projects to boost ag development.

The first of a two-part report with Dr. Nancy Cox, Dean of the UK College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, as the school celebrates Ag Alumni Roundup week on the Lexington campus.  Cox says undergrad and graduate student numbers are strong and growing and she discusses a few of the more popular options for ag majors.

CBOT futures traded narrow ranges today with mostly lower closing prices near the day’s lows. Futures traded higher early morning but selling resumed as the huge harvest rolls on.  Following Tuesday’s limit-down move in some LC and FC contracts, cattle futures started lower this morning but bargain hunters took the market to higher closes.

CBOT futures closed higher and near the day’s highs as prices rallied steadily after posting lows early morning. November Soybeans and soybean meal futures traded to new lows not seen since last April.   Cattle futures closed sharply lower with a few contracts down the daily trading limit of $3.00 in LC and $4.50 in FC.

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Feldhaus visits with Billy Joe Fudge, the Executive Director of the Homeplace on Green River, which is serving as an outdoor classroom to preserve farm and rural heritage.  Fudge describes the attractions available and discusses program efforts with school systems to make sure third graders have an experience on the farm and out of doors. He says individuals are also welcome anytime, with more information available on line at: homeplacefarmky.org.

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From corn mazes to haunted houses, agri-tourism activities are kicking into high gear on farms across the state.  Feldhaus visits with Amelia Wilson, KDA’s Director of Agri-tourism in the Office of Marketing and Product Promotion.  She says there are now over 500 venues across the state, that feature some form of agri-tourism. Learn more at: kyfarmsarefun.com.

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