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CORE Farmer Program Visits Georgia for Learning Seminar
Class 4 of the CORE Farmer Program spent a week in rural portions of South Georgia to learn from other farmers and issues they face.
Kentucky agricultural economy improves; growth needed for grains
Even though the general agriculture economy may be improving, that’s not being felt by grain farmers as they face more projections of below the cost of production prices,” said Laura Knoth, KyCorn executive director. “There are few bright spots being predicted for grain prices, especially with a record crop behind us and a trade battle in front of us. KyCorn is continually working on policy issues to help turn it around.
Final 2018 Renewable Fuel Volume Obligations Represent ‘Marked Improvement’ Over Proposal
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018. The agency finalized a total renewable fuel volume of 19.29 billion gallons (BG)
The Economic Value of Applying Fall Poultry Litter
Spring application of poultry litter is ideal for maximizing the economic value of poultry litter but faces challenges that include wet soil conditions, lack of time to spread litter near planting, and availability of poultry litter in the spring. Therefore, it is a common practice in Kentucky to apply poultry litter in the fall.
Kentucky Corn Crop Report
Corn production in Kentucky is forecast at 219 million bushels, up two percent from the October forecast and down one percent from the previous crop.
2017 Census of Agriculture will Begin to Hit Mailboxes Next Week
Every five years, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts the Census of Agriculture, which is the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agricultural data for every county in the nation.
Farm Bill Listening Sessions Gather Corn Farmer Input
We would like to thank everyone who attended one of our Farm Bill Listening Sessions, November 20-21. We had a great turnout and wonderful conversation. Your input will help us craft language for our congressional delegation so they may work toward policy that will benefit our Kentucky corn farmers.
Ethanol Summit Focuses On Biofuels Collaborations in the Western Hemisphere
Policy makers, industry association leaders and ethanol producers from across the Western Hemisphere have gathered in Houston, Texas, last week for the first Ethanol Summit of the Americas focused on regional collaboration to capture the benefits of biofuels use.
Corn Growers Applaud Bill With Proposed Changes to ARC
The following is a statement from National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Skunes and Kentucky Corn Growers Association President Richard Strode regarding the introduction of a bill this week by Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D – N.D.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) directing the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to use crop yield data from the Risk Management Agency for yield calculations.
Kentucky Farmers and Staff Appointed to NCGA Action Teams and Committees
Kentucky grain farmers have additional seats at the table to discuss national programs and policy at the National Corn Growers Association
Dissolving the Soil Fragipan could Grow Kentucky Farmer Income by $0.5 Billion Annually
The fragipan is present in about 2.7 million acres of Kentucky soils and about 50 million acres in the U.S. Fragipan soils reduce yields of crops for 2 reasons: 1) limited water holding capacity due to limited soil depth 2) water saturated soil conditions during wet periods.
KyCorn Remembers Founding Member Jim Barton
James Barton, Jr. of Lexington, was recently laid to rest, leaving an incredible legacy to Kentucky agriculture.
Expansion Underway at Commowealth Agri-Energy
A major expansion is underway at Commonwealth Agri Energy in Hopkinsville. CEO Mick Henderson says the expansion will mean at least three million more bushels of corn from area farmers will be used at the facility.
Kentucky Farm Leaders Get Firsthand Look at U.S. Beef and Pork’s Largest Market
KyCorn farmer leader Ray Allan Mackey, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles and Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Dave Maples visited Japan earlier this month through the US Meat Export Federation’s annual Heartland Tour
Harvey Shows Vulnerability of Domestic Fuel Supply, Need for More Ethanol
The impact the storm has had on the oil industry puts a spotlight on the vulnerability of the nation’s transportation fuels, and the need to develop and expand policies and safeguards that can maintain an adequate supply in times of unprecedented catastrophe.
Connecting to Consumers at the Kentucky State Fair
The Kentucky State Fair is a great place to connect with the agriculture community and consumers while sharing how corn impacts our lives and Kentucky’s economy.
Growing Local Demand: KyCorn Assists OZ Tyler Expansion
O.Z. Tyler Distillery in Owensboro is planning to triple production this fall, which will require 600 thousand additional bushels of local corn. KyCorn is assisting the expansion by providing a low-interest loan for grain storage and additional distilling equipment
KyCorn Assists Local Ground Beef Program
To grow the local corn-fed beef market, KyCorn agreed in July to invest in a certificate of deposit that Beef Solutions, LLC will use as loan collateral for startup.
CORE Farmer Program Class Dives into Corn Physiology
KyCorn’s CORE Farmer Program hosted Class IV last month for their fourth of seven sessions. The 15 farmers met in the Pennyrile Region for agronomic discussions with farmers and UK extension specialists.
KyCorn Leaders Discuss Policy Priorities with Legislators during #CornCongress Week
The nation’s corn farmers were in Washington DC this week for Corn Congress to hear program updates and vote on policy priorities. Corn states also sent leaders to meet with their congressional delegations and staff.
Why Trade Matters to Kentucky’s Ag Economy
At the end of the day, a bushel of corn that leaves the U.S. for a foreign marketplace is a bushel of corn that adds value to the corn we grow and process right here in Kentucky,” said Philip McCoun, Shelbyville farmer and chairman of the Kentucky Corn Promotion Council.
UK Grain and Forage Center of Excellence Moving Forward
Plans to construct the Grain and Forage Center of Excellence are full steam ahead a year after the University of Kentucky received a $15 million grant from the Kentucky Agriculture Development Board and land purchase assistance from KyCorn.
Corn Growers Applaud Trump For Dedication To Infrastructure
Corn growers applauded President Trump’s recent pledge to make rebuilding America’s infrastructure a national priority and committed to work with his Administration on the issue.
RFS has been ‘Tremendous Success’ Since Adoption
More than a decade after the original renewable fuel standard (RFS) was signed into law, tremendous progress has been made toward its goals of energy security, clean air and boosting local economies, according to a new analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association, “RFS Impacts: By the Numbers.”
Wrapping Up World Trade Month: #AgExportsCount for Profitability
Leadership and staff of corn, trade, and commodity groups have focused a tremendous amount of energy this month–May is World Trade Month–telling the administration and public the impact agricultural trade has on the US economy. It could not have come at a better time.
Barrel House Distilling Company’s Rock Castle Straight Bourbon Wins Kentucky’s Top Craft Whiskey At 2017 Heartland Whiskey Competition
The competition, sponsored in part by KyCorn, drew more than 75 whiskey entries from ten states.
A Witness to Change
KyCorn past president and KyCorn Promotion Council member Russel Schwenke, a farmer in Union (Boone Co.), attended the announcement made May 11 by US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue that the USDA was reorganizing and naming an Undersecretary of Trade.
American Ethanol Crappie Masters Tournament a Win for E10 and Kentucky Fishermen
The Crappie Masters American Ethanol KY/TN State Championship was held last weekend on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes, which resulted in great promotion of E10.
Op-Ed: NAFTA Concerns Show Why Farmers Must Pay Attention To Trade
Mexico is our largest corn export market, taking 524.4 million bushels (13.3 million metric tons) of corn worth $2.5 billion last marketing year, in addition to 23.86 million bushels (606,127 metric tons) of sorghum.
American Ethanol Crappie Masters Tournament Heads to Kentucky Waters this Weekend
The Crappie Masters All American Tournament Trail sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association “Ethanol Fueled With Pride,” American Ethanol and Bass Pro Shops makes its way to our neck of the woods for the KY/TN State Championship.
Ethanol Breaks Through the 10% Blend Wall
Gasoline consumed in the United States in 2016 contained more than 10 percent ethanol on average for the first time ever, according to an analysis of U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data released last week by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).
KyCorn Congratulates New Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue
“It’s wonderful to see the President’s nominee for Agriculture Secretary achieve Senate confirmation. We believed Secretary Purdue was a great choice being from the southeastern part of the country.
Congratulations to our 2017 KyCorn Scholarship Recipients
The KyCorn Board of Directors are proud to announce their 2017-2018 scholarship recipients: Jonah Brannon, Tyler Kummer, and Alexander Mann.
KyCorn Prepares for American Ethanol Crappie Masters Kentucky/Tennessee State Championship
The American Ethanol Crappie Masters Kentucky/Tennessee State Championship will be held the end of this month, April 28-29, on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes.
New Resource Showcases Benefit of Trade to US Ag
A partnership of more than 75 organizations representing farmers and ranchers, fishermen and forest product producers, cooperatives, small businesses, regional trade organizations and the state Departments of Agriculture have released a new website at www.agexportscount.org to showcase the benefits of U.S. agriculture.
KyCorn Leaders Help Direct Policy at Semi-Annual Corn Congress
KyCorn Board officers and Promotion Council members Richard Strode, Mark Roberts, and Russel Schwenke attended Corn Congress in San Antonio last week to discuss and approve National Corn Grower Association policy on behalf of Kentucky’s corn growers.
Study: U.S. Ethanol Industry Makes “A Significant Contribution to the Economy”
The U.S. ethanol industry added $42.1 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product and supported nearly 340,000 jobs in 2016, according to a new study commissioned by ABF Economics. The study, released today by the Renewable Fuels Association at the 22nd annual National Ethanol Conference, looked at the contribution of the ethanol industry to the U.S. economy in 2016.
Trump Reiterates Support for Renewable Fuels
In a letter sent last week to National Ethanol Conference attendees, President Trump reiterated his unwavering support for ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard.
KyCorn’s Richard Preston Talks Farm Technology at STEM Event
yCorn Secretary Richard Preston was the featured speaker at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) learning series last night, where he spoke on technology and change in farming.
Following USGC Engagement, South Africa Buys U.S. Sorghum, Open To U.S. Corn
New engagement by U.S. Grains Council (USGC) staff and members in South Africa over the past year has helped achieve export victories there, with recent sales of U.S. sorghum and biotechnology trait approvals that will allow imports of U.S. corn.
Commentary: Tell Everyone Trade Is Vital To US Ag Economy
If anyone wants to see how trade affects economic growth, look at Panama City, Panama. I had the privilege of representing KyCorn at the US Grains Council International Marketing Conference in Panama earlier this month, and saw the tremendous growth that has occurred since canal expansion.
CORE Farmer Program Has Second Session
Class IV of the KyCorn CORE Farmer Program met for its second session recently in Lexington. This session focused on farm management where speakers provided information on goal setting, human resources management and development, succession planning, farm branding, legal liability and partnership issues.
KyCorn Participates in Floyds Fork Agriculture Stakeholders Meeting
KY Corn Executive Director Laura Knoth attended an agriculture stakeholders meeting yesterday for the Floyds Fork watershed and was pleased with what she had to hear.
2016 Kentucky Corn Yield Contest Results
Results of the 2016 Kentucky Corn Yield Contest.
2016 National Corn Yield Contest Results
The results of the National Corn Yield Contest have been posted. While Kentucky farmers were not among the national winners, they made a good showing among their regional peers. The following are the first through third place entries in Kentucky for each of the four categories.
CORE Farmer Program Class IV Opens with Farmer Advice
Class 4 of the CORE Farmer Program kicked off in December with Session 1 in Cadiz. Veteran farmers Tripp Furches, Phillip Bean and Joseph Sisk led off on the agenda by sharing their wisdom in a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Chad Lee entitled “My Biggest Mistake.”