A feature story on the Taylor County youth heifer chain, a cooperative effort between the local cattlemen’s association and 4-H.  Amanda Sublett, 4-H agent, coordinates the program which provides a heifer for qualifying youngsters. They are required to care for the animal, learn how to handle it, and to show it at the local county fair. She says it’s been a great way to build confidence in youngsters, and for a few, to build a livestock career for the future.

Feldhaus visits with UK forage specialist, Ray Smith, who is helping coordinate the Aug 13 Kentucky Forage and Grasslands Council Field Day at Edenshale Research and Demonstration Farm in Owen County. From maximizing beef gain to rainfall collection watering systems, he says this is a chance for producers to pick up some very practical production improvement tips.

Feldhaus visits with Ronny Drennan, owner operator of Broadbent’s B & B Foods, which produced the 2016 state fair grand champion country ham auctioned for charity, fetching $600,000 from Central Bank, with 100% going to regional recipients. Drennan talks about their shop’s style of production and about industry trends in marketing country ham.   

Except for KC Wheat, CBOT futures closed lower today with corn and Chicago Wheat trading to new contract lows. Soybeans and meal traded to new lows for this move.  Cattle futures opened higher today on follow-through buying after Tuesday’s huge rally at day’s end. But prices trended down throughout the day.

The Water Management Working Group has initiated many forward steps in opening up critical conversations about water issues. 

Passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership before the Presidential election may be difficult but worthwhile for agriculture.

KFB Candid Conversations presents a discussion about issues facing the dairy industry. 

CBOT futures closed sharply lower at or near the day’s lows. Prices were pressured by bearish technical signals, a stronger US Dollar, weaker energy futures and an approaching harvest of huge crops.  Cattle futures soared higher today, but it didn’t happen until the last hour of trading.