A report with John Edwards, co-owner of The Trackside Butcher Shoppe in Henry County. With support from several county ag development councils, Edwards and Chris Wright opened a livestock processing plant last fall to process animals for farmers’ for personal use.  Now after achieving USDA inspection the plant can also process for farmers doing direct sales to the public.

Listen here

From its Mountain Monday monthly educational series to its wood utilization center’s feasibility assessments for the products of budding entrepreneurs, RCARS, UK’s Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability in Breathitt County is reaching out to the region. Feldhaus visits with the center’s new director Dr. David Williams.

Listen here

As produce farmers begin harvesting their crops this summer Kentucky’s Farms to Food Banks program is also rolling into high gear, to use “unmarketable” but perfectly nutritious “seconds” to help feed hungry people across the state.  Featured is Tamara Sandberg, Executive Director of the Ky Association of Food Banks, who helps coordinate this joint effort funded by state appropriations and private giving.  

Listen here

A preview report on the Ky FFA convention this Thursday through Saturday in Lexington. Association executive secretary Matt Chaliff discusses overall growth numbers for the group and then gets into the practical impact that this youth organization can have at the local level speaking in particular about the resurgence of the Harlan County FFA.

Listen here

Feldhaus provides a brief “day in the life” report of Kentucky dairyman, Terry Rowlett of Henry County who begins his typical day at 4:30 a.m., finishing up his second milking at about 7:30 p.m. He talks about the care of his cows, his attention to the environment and, during “June Dairy Month,” he offers his appreciation to all of the consumers who enjoy dairy products.

Listen here

CBOT futures traded lower overnight, but when trading reopened at 830 am CT, prices soared and kept going right into the closing bell.  Cattle futures closed mixed but much closer to the highs than the lows which occurred early in the day.

Most CBOT futures were down sharply, led lower by the Chicago Wheat market. Improving (drier) weather forecasts pressured the markets in addition to the stronger US Dollar and end-of-month profit-taking.

Trading at the CBOT was interesting today with wide trading ranges and a change in market leadership.  Futures were led higher overnight by the soy market, but when trading reopened at 830 am, futures fell abruptly.  Cattle futures closed strongly higher after trading lower during the first 1.5 hours.  Lean Hog futures also closed higher with June LH up for the third straight day.