DEALING WITH TICKS

Nearly anyone dealing with the outdoors runs across Ticks sooner or later, and many activities can get you up close and personal with several ticks. I’ve never heard words of praise for the tick, in fact, the questions and concerns I hear are from folks who are really repulsed by this insect. They don’t look good, they crawl around on us, they are always searching for a ‘blood meal’, and the bite causes itching and irritation, and to top it off, they may be carriers of some serious diseases. Before I go further today, let me mention that UK has a couple of excellent publications (ENT 35 and EntFact 648) available to you for more detail about ticks, potential problems, and control and prevention measures.

A client recently brought a very small tick in to the Extension Office for ID and information. While the majority of ticks around Henry County are likely the American Dog Tick, this one had the characteristic white spot on the back of the female Lone Star Tick. Because of it’s small size, it is likely this was the nymphal stage. Two other tick species known but rare in Kentucky are the Brown Dog Tick and the Black Legged Tick.

All ticks must have three (3) blood meals before they can lay eggs to start the next generation. When the thousands of eggs from one female hatch on the ground they become larvae or ‘seed ticks’. They are no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence. The first host is usually a small mammal such as a mouse, and when done, the larvae become nymphs. Second host to the American Dog Tick is usually a bit larger mammal such as a groundhog or fox, and once finished with the second meal, they become adults. This adult stage then climbs up on tall grass or weeds to wait for a brush with humans or dogs. While the adult American Dog Tick is the only stage we see on humans, all stages of the Lone Star Tick will feast on us. And, while the mouthparts of the American Dog Tick are relatively small, making this tick fairly easy to remove from the skin, the mouthparts of the Lone Star Tick are big and barbed, and definitely harder to pull out.

If you would like help in identifying ticks, and would like to know methods and techniques to prevent and control ticks, please contact us at the Henry County Extension Office (845-2811).

CLOVER BLOAT

Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler, UK Beef Specialist, indicates that several County Agents and producers around central Kentucky continue to report some loss of cattle to clover bloat. I just confirmed this fact with the Henry County Animal Clinic. It is important to realize that the feed additives used to aid in reducing the risk to bloat must be consumed at the targeted levels every day. Overcrowding around blocks and mineral feeders will prevent some cattle from obtaining their necessary amount. Also, this latest heat wave has pushed cattle to seek shade. This heat will also slightly alter grazing patterns resulting in larger meal bouts and increased risk to bloat. Moving the bloat blocks and mineral feeders near shade and water sources will encourage more consumption during this heat and may lower risk. Producers should use 1 block / 5 head or less to avoid overcrowding and increase opportunities for all cattle to consume the blocks or minerals. Placing some high quality grass hay near the shade areas will also stimulate greater consumption of hay to lower the risk of bloat.

Dr. Lehmkuhler encourages producers to have a bottle of Therabloat (liquid poloxalene) on hand to drench bloated animals. Though not ideal, if drenching proves to be a challenge and a tube is not available, a syringe and large gauge needle (14 ga x 2 inch) can be used to puncture the hide and rumen and deliver the poloxalene intraruminally while also serve as a mini-trocar and release some gas at a slow rate.

Because a severely bloated animal can be dead within minutes, a trocar may be a wise investment for the cattleman’s toolbox as we continue to have bloat issues. Dr. Lehmkuhler’s suggestion/recommendation is that unskilled individuals call their veterinarian for some training prior to using this instrument. This way the proper location is punctured to allow a speedy recovery on subsequent animals that may need this intervention.

5/9/12

DRIVERS BE AWARE OF FARM EQUIPMENT

With the coming of planting season, we see an increased amount of farm equipment sharing our roads and highways. The following was written by my counterpart in Gallatin County, David Hull, and appeared in their paper a couple of weeks back. The message is appropriate for us, too.

Farmers are special in many ways, but one way they’re just like everybody else is that they have a job to get to; and like you, their workplace isn’t always right next to where they live, so they have to use our public roads to move equipment from one field to the next. This movement of equipment can sometimes cause slight delays on the roadways.

Local drivers should remember that farmers have a right to be on the road too. And even though they often try to move equipment at a time that least affects commuters, they don’t always have that luxury. So please remember to be watchful, courteous, and patient when driving this time of year. Remember, if you complain about a slow-moving tractor on the roadways, don’t do it with your mouth full of food.

PLANTING PROGRESS

Good weather has permitted much progress this planting season. It would be a fair statement to say that more corn has been planted in Henry County before May 1 than ever before. Thousands of acres went into the ground during the past two weeks, with Soybean planting getting underway soon. We’ve also seen some tobacco set last week, so with good weather later this week, folks with plants ready will be heading for the fields.

Harvest of hay has been somewhat sporadic, with threats of rain keeping harvest decisions on a back burner. However, the early spring has pushed our forage plants to maturity quicker than normal so alfalfa and many grass hay fields should be cut and harvested soon for best quality. Remember that once a plant reaches the heading stage for grass, or the bud/bloom stage for legumes, nearly all growth and tonnage increase in the hay field is because of an increase in the fiber portion of the plant. The energy and protein components are already maxed out, so the addition of fiber and cellulose just lowers the percentages of beneficial nutrients and also lowers the total digestibility of the hay or pasture.

Emerald ash borers emerging

The first case of emerald ash borers emerging this spring was found the week of April 16 in Jefferson County. Since the borers do not emerge all at once, owners of ash trees need to watch for signs of the pest during the next three to four weeks, says Dr. Lee Townsend, UK Entomologist. The borer’s emergence is almost three weeks ahead of normal due to the mild winter and a very warm March.

A small, dark-green metallic beetle, the emerald ash borer attacks all species of ash trees. The larvae burrow into the tree to feed beneath the bark, destroying the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients to its canopy. This can cause die-back of the top of the canopy within a year or two and ultimately kill the tree.

Once adults emerge from the trees, they immediately fly up to the topmost leaves to get direct sunlight and feed on the foliage for about a week. Mating and egg-laying will begin about two weeks later. Adults will be active through June.

Owners of ash trees may find it difficult to spot the borers because of their size and preference for the topmost foliage, but they can find evidence of the insect by inspecting their ash trees for any D-shaped holes in the bark. The adult borers make these holes when exiting the tree in the spring. Owners of ash trees can also look for uneven notches on the edges of the tree’s leaves as a sign that the insect has been feeding on them.

Those who suspect they have an emerald ash borer infestation should contact the Henry County Extension Office at 845-2811 so we can make sure other proper offices are notified.

5/2/12

A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE

Long ago, in a land far away, a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the rural countryside with the purpose of motivating his son to work hard by showing him how poor people can be. They spent a couple of day and nights helping with the daily activities of a poor family. Sharing meals at night with the family, they learned a little about the rhythm of life on the farm.

On their return home from the trip, the father asked the son, “How was the trip?” “It was great, Dad.”

“Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked. “Oh, yeah.” said the son. “So what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father. The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, and they have many friends to protect them.”

With this, the boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.”

I don’t know the author of this little but powerful story. It was printed in an old copy of the COUNTY AGENT magazine. I saved it and refer to it now and then to keep my own perspectives grounded. I hope you enjoy it too.

4/25/12

CATTLE TIPS for the SPRING CALVER

• Continue to feed cows that have calved on an adequate nutritional plan to rebreed. Increase their feed after calving. Don’t let them lose body condition.
• Purchase replacement bulls at least 30 days prior to the start of the breeding season. Have herd bulls evaluated for breeding soundness (10-20% of bulls are questionable or unsatisfactory breeders).
• Start breeding heifers 1 heat cycle before cows so that they have extra time to recover from calving next year.
• Get everything ready to make high quality hay as soon as possible! Have equipment serviced and spare parts on hand. Be prepared to harvest an adequate supply of hay when you have the opportunity.
• Plan now for fly control ... decide what fly control program that you will use but don't put insecticide ear-tags on cattle until fly population appears.
• Make plans to improve hay feeding areas to avoid muddy conditions like we have faced this winter. Consider geotextile fabric with gravel.

TOBACCO GREENHOUSE NEWS

Statewide, over the past 2 weeks, Dr. Ken Seebold has seen a big spike in the number of calls regarding Rhizoctonia damping-off. The problem so far appears to be most significant where older Styrofoam trays are being used. Damping-off tends to appear suddenly, and then run its course; however, this disease is an indicator of target spot problems after clipping begins. Growers who find damping-off on younger plants should manage float beds carefully to avoid outbreaks of target spot in the coming weeks. Provide good ventilation, apply a mancozeb fungicide after plants have reached the size of a dime and continue on a 5-7 day schedule until the first or second clipping, and keep nitrogen levels at or around 100 ppm for as long as practical – target spot can be severe when levels drop too low.

TREE SEEDLING GIVEAWAY

The Henry County Soil Conservation Office announces there will be a limited number of tree seedlings available to the public on a first come-first served basis. Due to tornado damage at the Morgan County nursery, the trees will not be delivered until the third week in April. If you are interested in some seedlings, please call or visit the Soil Conservation office in the FSA Service Center Building at 1125 Campbellsburg Road, just north of New Castle, or call 845-2890, AFTER 4/17/12.

4/18/12

Forages nearing critical maturity stages

After an extremely warm winter, many forage grasses and small grains used for forages are quickly nearing the stages where they need to be cut to maintain optimum feed quality, according to Ray Smith, extension forage specialist in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. Depending on the area of the state, the forages are two to three weeks ahead of schedule.

For optimum quality and yield, alfalfa should be cut at bud stage, before the blooms are open. Orchardgrass needs to be cut at boot stage before the seed head emerges. Small grains such as wheat should be harvested at late boot stage to get the highest quality. Much of the wheat used for silage could reach this stage by mid-April.

Alfalfa producers should be scouting their fields for damage from the alfalfa weevil. If damage is significant on stands that are ready for harvesting, producers should cut the alfalfa to control the insect. Producers should check their fields about five days after cutting to see if normal regrowth is occurring. If present in high enough numbers, surviving weevil larvae and adults can damage regrowth. If the alfalfa isn’t ready for harvest and there is a significant amount of weevil damage, producers need to spray their fields with an insecticide. Be sure and match the insecticide with the harvest interval you prefer.

In addition, other cool-season forages like tall fescue will be ready for cutting earlier than normal this spring. In most years, producers make a first cutting by mid-May to get a good quality feed, but this year, harvesting in late April may be too late to get high quality grass hay. Because a first cutting is needed earlier than normal, there’s a very good chance for producers to get a high quality second cutting before the hot temperatures of summer set in.

Tobacco Pythium Already?

The unseasonably warm temperatures prevalent over the past weeks have pushed things in the plant world, including disease. Last week, Pythium root rot was confirmed on some fairly young tobacco seedlings. Pythium is common in tobacco float beds, but we usually don’t see much of this disease until mid-April; however, warm weather has created “April-like” conditions 3 weeks ahead of schedule. After trays have been seeded and floated, the best control option for Pythium root rot is Terramaster EC. The earliest that this fungicide should be applied to float beds is when plant roots begin to enter the water (normally 3 or so weeks after seeding). Terramaster will cause plant injury, and newly-emerged tobacco seedlings are particularly sensitive to the fungicide.

Dr. Kenny Seebold, UK Plant Pathologist, doesn’t recommend using the curative rate of 1.4 fl oz/100 gal of water at this early stage because of the injury risk. Use a low rate at first application and then use a follow-up treatment where Pythium has been found early – especially if the warm trend continues. Warm weather is going to really drive outbreaks of Pythium, and proactive management will give growers the best shot at avoiding losses.

Pythium can be hard to diagnose on young tobacco seedlings if you just go by symptoms, so please contact us at the Extension Office at 845-2811 to see about sending samples into the diagnostic lab if you suspect this disease.

4/4/12

March Weather is a Poor Indicator of Late Spring Freeze

With all of the warm weather there have been questions about whether there is any correlation between that warm weather and the last spring freeze event. The quick answer is No!

Tom Priddy, UK Meteorologist, ran some numbers from Paducah and Lexington on the warmest months of March over the last 100 years or so. He ranked the top 23 warmest and then identified when the final freeze event occurred. For Paducah, the average was April 12, which is four days after the median freeze date for Paducah. In Lexington, it was April 16 which is one day after the median freeze date. For those 23 warmest March months, the range on final freeze was March 22 to May 27 in Paducah and April 3 to May 4 in Lexington. For Lexington, the last spring freeze always occurred later than March.

That information may have big implications for planting crops and gardens, but what about the early growth we’ve seen with our existing plants and forage crops? UK Grain Crops and Horticulture Specialists are saying that fruit trees and wheat are about 3 weeks ahead of schedule. It appears that many of our forage crops are similar.

If the current weather continues, the wheat crop could reach boot stage and be ready for silage or baleage in a couple of weeks. Alfalfa and other forage legumes and grasses are certainly far ahead in growth than in a more normal year. While we cannot predict what the weather will be over the next few weeks, we should take heed of what the crop is telling us now and be prepared for an early harvest.

CLOVER AND LEGUME INDUCED BLOAT

This appears to be another great year for clover. Clover in excess of 50% of the pasture diet is a potential risk for bloat with our grazing cattle. There are a few strategies for managing bloat:

• Avoid grazing very immature clover or alfalfa. Alfalfa grazed less than 10 inches tall is twice as likely to induce bloat as when it is 19 inches tall.
• Put animals on lush legume pastures only when plants are free from surface moisture (dew or rain), and provide a full feeding of hay or grass pasture before introducing animals to the legumes. Continue offering free choice hay.\
• Don’t remove animals from pasture at the first signs of bloat. Continuous grazing results in less incidence of bloat than removal and return. Some animals are predisposed to bloating and may need to be culled in order to allow the rest of the herd to graze where you choose.
• Feed bloat reducing compounds such as poloxalene. If fed in blocks, regular mineral feeders may have to be removed in order to get the cattle to consume enough. The bloat preventer can also be added to a supplement.

3/28/12

USDA ANNOUNCES CRP GENERAL SIGNUP

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will conduct a four-week Conservation Reserve Program general signup. This CRP signup will begin on March 12, 2012 and end on April 6, 2012. CRP is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. In return, USDA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10-15 years. Producers with expiring contracts and producers with environmentally sensitive land are encouraged to evaluate their options under CRP. Producers are encouraged to look into CRP’s other enrollment opportunities offered on a continuous, non-competitive, signup basis. Please contact the Henry/Oldham FSA Office at 845-2820 for more information.

3/21/12

TOBACCO GREENHOUSES

Many Tobacco Greenhouses are coming to life in Henry County, as farmers are seeding and floating the trays which will hold the individual tobacco transplants until tobacco setting season. This type of transplant production has been around since the late 80’s and early 90’s, eventually completely replacing the traditional method of raising transplants in plant beds. Much of the early research and demonstration work on Float Production of tobacco transplants was done right here in Henry County, as local farmers were pioneers for the new technology. When the technology and management is correct, float plant production is highly successful, and creates a big labor and time saver when setting time arrives.

When the technology goes wrong for some reason, float production can have some problems. We may have a situation this year which may cause increased poor wicking/dry cells in the trays. Dr. Bob Pearce has been called to numerous operations last week, and has possibly tracked the dry cell problem back to a shortage of Canadian Peat Moss, causing soil manufacturers to find other sources of peat which may be wicking differently.

Once trays are floated and dry cells are apparent in large numbers, producers need to react quickly. The best remedy we know is watering over the top with a fine mist in an attempt to get the cells going. Dr. Pearce is currently working on possible solutions to this problem.

TIMELY TIPS FOR CATTLE

• Continue grass tetany prevention with a mineral mix containing magnesium and make sure that cows consume adequate amounts.
• The spring calving season should be in full swing now, top priority should be to get a live calf and keep cows in sufficient body condition to rebreed early.
• Check cows at least twice daily and first-calf heifers more frequently than that. Be ready to assist those not making progress after 1 to 2 hours of hard labor.
• See that each calf gets colostrum within an hour of birth.
• Identify calves with eartags and/or tattoos while calves are young and easy to handle and record birthdate and Dam ID. Commercial male calves should be castrated as soon as possible.
• Separate cows that have calved and increase their feed. Cows must be in good condition to conceive early in the upcoming breeding season.
• Watch for calf scours! If scours become a problem, move cows which have not calved to a clean pasture. Consult your veterinarian for advice.
• Renovation and fertilization of pastures should be completed.
• Start thistle control in problem fields . Chemical control must be done early to be effective.

3/14/12

Spring Nitrogen Fertilization of Hayfields in 2012: Will it Pay?

To boost spring and early summer production of grass hayfields, farmers can apply nitrogen in March. Nitrogen prices are high right now. Will hay prices be high enough this fall and winter to make this practice prove profitable this year?

To help answer this question, Dr. Greg Halich, UK Ag Economist, analyzed some of the major factors that impact spring-applied nitrogen profitability, including the price of nitrogen, price of hay, response rate of the nitrogen, nitrogen application rate, increased production costs from additional forage, improved quality of nitrogen fertilized hay, and additional P and K removal.

The price of nitrogen was evaluated between $0.55-0.65 per pound, with application rates of 40 pounds and 80 pounds. Two scenarios were evaluated for P and K removal: 1) 100% replacement and, 2) 50% replacement. Approximately 18 lbs of P2O5 and 50 lbs of K2O are removed for each ton of hay.

A range of hay prices was evaluated to determine which prices, if any, would result in profitable nitrogen applications this year. With small square bales, nitrogen applications were consistently profitable at the 40 lb application rate when hay prices reached $2.50-3.00 per bale. However, for large round bales, profitability of nitrogen applications occurred in fewer cases. In general, round bales needed to sell for at least $75-80/ton with 100% replacement of P and K, and $60-65/ton with 50% replacement of P and K. Moreover, 40 lb application rates were always more profitable than 80 lb application rates for round bale production.

THE EFFECT OF MOWING HEIGHT ON ORCHARDGRASS PERSISTENCE
ABSTRACT

During the last 15 years farmers across the eastern U.S. have reported reduced survival of orchardgrass hay stands. Recent surveys and discussions suggest that close mowing heights using disc mowers may be a major factor causing orchardgrass stand decline. A 2011experiment was designed to determine the effect of mowing height on orchardgrass persistence, using cutting heights of 1/2", 2", 4". Preliminary results showed a cutting height effect even after the first two harvests, with stand persistence declining to less than 25% ground cover in all ½” cutting height treatments. Both the 2” and the 4” cutting height provided stand persistence with an acceptable stand density. In summary, these results suggest that low cutting heights prevalent with disc mowers may be a primary reason for observed declines in orchardgrass stands. Bottom line, if you are managing Alfalfa and Orchard Grass mixtures for your hay, and you wish the orchard grass to last longer, raise the cutting height of your mowing operation. As an added benefit, you may find that air movement under the cut swath is increased, thereby making drying times faster.

3/7/12

GRASS FINISHED BEEF

Can this region successfully finish Beef with less dependence on grain? That will be a major topic of discussion at a Pasture Finished Beef seminar to be held in April. Time and place is to be determined, but we wanted to get you thinking about your possible future in the beef industry supplying meat for the local region. We’ll get more information to you as we get the details finalized.

2/29/12

HIGH MAG MINERAL

The relatively warm and wet winter has some of our cool season grass pastures beginning to green up and grow. Cattle grazing these grasses are more susceptible to a mineral imbalance commonly called ‘Grass Tetany’. Preventing grass tetany is usually accomplished by adding extra Magnesium to the diet, usually by feeding a High Magnesium Mineral to the herd. If you haven’t already begun the High Mag supplementation, and your cattle aren’t grazing much, consider it anyway. I just checked with our Veterinarians at the Henry County Animal Clinic and learned that they have seen and treated a fair amount of ‘Winter Tetany’ and would advise farmers use increased magnesium supplementation throughout the winter.

WAIT AND SEE OR SPRAY NOW

With the relatively mild winter, it’s not just the cool season grasses we see growing in our pastures and hay fields – our cool-season weeds are growing very nicely, too. Evaluation of our pastures now can give us help in planning our attack on any developing weed problems. Typically, plants such as musk thistle, Poison hemlock, buttercups, purple deadnettle, common chickweed, and various mustard species can be found.

Most cool-season weeds can be effectively controlled with herbicides containing 2,4-D. As long as daytime temperatures are near or above 60 F herbicide treatments can be applied during late February and March when these weeds resume their active growth. Remember, though, as cool-season weeds die back in the early spring they will often be replaced with warm-season annual weeds such as common ragweed or cocklebur during the summer months. Thus, another important decision is whether to use herbicides to kill existing weeds or put into action other management practices such as inter-seeding clovers or more grass in the spring to thicken the stand of desirable forage species. You may not be able to do both practices in the spring since most broadleaf herbicides have the potential to injure newly emerging forage grasses and legumes. As a rule of thumb, if you decide to spray this spring you will need to wait until late summer or fall before seeding additional forages.

Another course of action is a “wait and see” approach. But, keep in mind that smaller weeds are easier to control than older, mature plants. More details on weed management and herbicides labeled for use on grazed pastures and their effectiveness on target weed species can be obtained in the UK bulletin, Weed Management in Grass Pastures, Hayfields, and Fencerows (AGR-172) available at the Henry County Extension office.

2/22/12

RABBIT AND POULTRY PROCESSING

There will be a MOBILE PROCESSING UNIT training at 9:00 on April 11th, 2012 at the Ky State University Research Farm located at 1525 Mills Lane, Frankfort Ky. This is a day-long training, with the morning session in classroom and the afternoon a hands-on training of both rabbit and poultry. The cost of the training is $75.00 for certification for the first 2 years and $50.00 annually after that. Lunch will be included in the training.

There is a pre-registration process. Please contact Steve Skelton at KSU at 502-597-7501. He will take your information and mail the proper forms to you.

THIRD THURSDAY THING

Please remember these upcoming “Third Thursdays”:

April 19, 2012: Soils, Water and NRCS
May 17, 2012: Pastured Poultry
June 21, 2012: Fruit Crops
July 19, 2012: 15th Anniversary of “The Third Thursday Thing”

2/15/12

Private Pesticide Applicator Certification

If you need to purchase and use ‘Restricted Use Pesticides’ in the upcoming growing season, you may need to renew (or get for the first time) your Private Pesticide Applicator Certification. The ‘Pesticide Card’ is good for 3 years. The Henry County Extension Office is offering a certification class on Thursday, February 16, from 10 am to noon. There is no fee for the program. As always, it helps us in our meeting planning if you contact us at 845-2811 to let us know your intentions to attend.

FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION TO MEET

It will be time to start planting before long!! The 2012 organizational meeting of the Henry County Farmers Market will be held Tuesday, February 21, 7:00 pm, at the Henry County Extension Office. If for some reason you cannot attend that night but are still interested in receiving information from the Farmers Market please be sure to contact the Extension Office at 845-2811 so we can keep you in the loop.

Emerald Ash Borer Update

Most people are aware of the danger to ash trees from the emerald ash borer throughout North America. According to a sobering USDA Forest Service publication, “Emerald ash borer is the most destructive forest insect introduced into North America in recent history. Our present ability to detect, contain, eradicate, or manage EAB infestations is limited….The eventual loss of the vast majority of ash trees in North America should be anticipated.”

Since 2009, 19 Kentucky counties, including Henry County, have found the invasive pest, and more can expect it to penetrate their landscapes. As a result of this invasion, a quarantine area surrounding these counties was set up to limit the spread of ash logs, lumber and firewood that contributes to spreading the emerald ash borer to other counties. New occurrences are not extensive outside the current quarantine zone. However, the implications are costly, particularly for town and city governments because EAB causes street/shade trees to die.

Spread of EAB is also an issue for the wood industry. Currently, a permit is required to move wood outside the quarantine area, and since many transactions involve moving wood from one county to another, this is a burden on the industry.

There is no evidence from other states that spread of EAB has been slowed by any means. Nothing has been found effective. In short, EAB will continue to spread and it will be effective in causing mortality of ash trees.

2/8/12

RENOVATING PASTURES – EASY IN FEBRUARY

One of the cheapest ways to improve pastures and hay fields is also one of the easiest. The process we know as pasture renovation is simply adding legumes to existing cool season grass pastures and hay fields. It’s cheap because with the addition of nitrogen fixing legumes into the field, we can save on expensive nitrogen fertilizers, and at the same time, we get a boost in both yield and quality of the forage from the field.

It can be easy if we let mother nature do a bit of the work for us. Critical to any seeding is good seed-soil contact. By broadcasting legume seed onto a grazed down pasture or hay field in the month of February, the natural freeze thaw action of the soil will usually be enough to get the contact established. The normal warming and the normal rainfall during the next few weeks is generally just right to get red and white clovers established in the pastures.

If you haven’t already done so, now is also a good time to take soil samples to find exactly where you and your pasture/hay fields stand. Even the best seeds of the best varieties don’t do well if things like pH or Phosphorus are deficient. Have you seen any broomsedge in your fields? This particular plant gets competitive when other grasses and desirable species get weak. The reason for the weakness is usually tracked back to pH and Phosphorus deficiencies. With adequate fertility, the pasture can show improved yield, higher quality, and ironically, less weed pressure.

Contact the Henry County Extension Office at 845-2811 for further information on pasture renovation, soil sampling, and variety selection.

2/1/12

SAFETY ON THE FARM

Many of our Henry County farms have livestock as an enterprise. Farmers have long been drawn to animal husbandry. Growing up, our young people can learn many valuable life lessons while working with livestock, and everyone loves to see children and animals working together. At the same time, it’s important to remember livestock can be dangerous for young and old alike.

Statistics show that 17% of all farm injuries involve animals. It is important to think about how those injuries could be prevented and make changes on your farm to prevent additional accidents, particularly if there are children around.

Animals and humans sense their surroundings very differently. Animals do not see color the way humans do. They also do not have good depth perception and so they fear of stepping over grid patterns. Livestock have extremely sensitive hearing, which is why loud noises frighten animals and high frequency sounds hurt their ears. Finally, animals are very protective of their young and could become dangerous if they perceive harm to their young. These issues help explain why animals can balk or become skittish in unfamiliar surroundings.

Make an effort in 2012 to make your farm’s animal production systems as safe as possible.

High Tunnel program announced by NRCS

Folks interested in vegetable production are asked to take notice that a High Tunnel program through NRCS is being offered. There are 3 deadlines to apply to this program with the first being February 3rd, , followed by March 30th and June 1st. Applications are made through the New Castle office of NRCS.

This program cannot pay for materials costs, but it offers matching funds that pay for the cost of assembling a high tunnel on a square foot basis with a maximum of 2,178 square feet covered. This program also requires that producers grow the plants in the native soil. While raised beds are permitted, plants cannot be container grown or grown on benches in the tunnels.

How competitive the program will be will depend on how many growers have applied and how much money is available. Please contact the local NRCS office at 845-2890 for more information.

NRCS ANNOUNCES SIGNUP TO GRASSLAND RESERVE PROGRAM

The local NRCS Office is accepting applications for the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP). Applications are accepted year round, however, the application ranking cutoff dates for 2012 are February 15 and April 2, 2012. Applications received after these dates will be deferred until the next ranking cycle.

The Grassland Reserve Program is a voluntary program offering landowners and operators the opportunity to protect grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving and restoring grassland resources.

The compensation portion of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 for GRP authorizes easement compensation based on the fair market value of the land. GRP rental contracts provide selected landowners and operators to receive annual payments to maintain and restore grassland function and values for the length of the contract.

Interested landowners and operators should contact RANDAL ROCK, District Conservationist, Henry County at 502-845-2890.

1/25/12

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Only a few months ago, I had the chance to attend a day of the American Forage and Grassland Council meeting at French Lick, Indiana. In this column, I wrote about a young farmer from Hart County who participated in the Forage Spokesperson contest and won with his great story of grazing management and animal husbandry. I also wrote that Weldon Hawkins was not the first Kentucky forage producer to win the national contest. In fact, our own Larry Jeffries won the AFGC Forage Spokesperson honor over twenty years ago, became much involved in leadership of the organization, with many folks from all over the country still fondly remembering Larry and Carolyn as President and First Lady of AFGC.

Fast forward to this past week, when Kentucky was host to the 2012 AFGC conference at the Crowne Plaza in Louisville. I worked the registration booth during the conference, with chances to meet the top Forage Gurus in America and hear their latest research and recommendations. The national Forage Spokesperson contest was once again a highlight of the conference, with farmers from many states and Canada telling about their interesting farming operations. Amazingly, a farmer from Kentucky was once again selected as the National Forage Spokesman. Brent White, of Lyon County in Western Kentucky simply discussed his quest to build a profitable grazing oriented cow-calf and stocker operation with little dependence on stored feed. In the chapter called “It’s a small world”, I find I have some connections with Brent. As a teen, he worked summers at the Lake Barkely Camping Resort owned and operated by my sister and brother-in-law. He also went through Kentucky State Police Academy with two residents of Henry County who happen to be involved with beef cattle and the Henry County Cattleman’s Association.

Two National Forage Spokesmen in two years! There is no question that Kentucky farmers have some great stories to tell, and that goes for many Henry County farmers.

1/18/12

BEGINNING FARMER ACADEMY

The Beginning Farmer Class will get underway January 20th, with plans for weekly sessions each Friday through February and into March, with further sessions later in the year. Most sessions will be 9:00 am through lunch, rotating between Henry, Shelby, and Oldham County Extension Offices. The first two sessions will be held at the Shelby County Extension Office.

Our proposed listing of 10 courses is as follows: 1) Enterprise Evaluation, Farm Inventory, Business Plans, etc.; 2) Management & Record Keeping; 3) Governmental Resources – NRCS, FSA, GOAP, KDA, KSU, Extension, Forestry, etc.; 4)Marketing; 5) Farm Equipment/Farm Machinery Show Field Trip; 6) Legal Topics – Ag Issues & Policies, Nutrient Management, Water Quality, Lease Agreements, Liability; 7) Production Breakout Sessions – Livestock, Fruits/Veggies, Crops, Forages (maybe Agritourism, Bees, Wineries, Pasture Poultry); 8) Field Day (July); 9) Estate Planning (Oct/Nov); 10) Leadership, Share Session and Graduation (Oct/Nov).

The Henry County Extension Office still has some spots open for this class, and is currently registering members for the class. If you are interested, please contact us at 845-2811.

1/11/12

A WET YEAR, INDEED

During the 2011 growing season, several of my columns mentioned the fairly severe drought in Henry County which occurred in July and August. These months are prime growing season days, with several critical processes taking place in our crops and vegetables. We suffered diminished yields in virtually all crops, including corn, soybeans, tobacco, vegetables, fruits, hay, and pasture.

The irony to all this talk of drought is the fact that 2011 will be recorded as the wettest year ever in Louisville, and likely in Henry County also. While we don’t have historic data for rainfall, we now have the CoCoRaHS rainfall reporting system, with several very diligent recorders volunteering in Henry County. With their good work, we can now give actual numbers for 2011 and into the future. Just how wet was 2011? Three recording stations (Campbellsburg, New Castle, and Turners Station) went about 61 inches of rain! I’ve always read that the average rainfall in this region of Kentucky is approximately 45 inches per year. With this in mind, we had a whopping 16 plus inches above normal, but were abnormally dry when we needed the rain for crops. What a year! Here’s hoping 2012 is a bit more “normal”.

1/4/12

ONE ACRE AT A TIME

Nearly all Henry County landowners have some portion of their land in trees. This wooded portion can be just a fraction of an acre here or there, or it may be a sizeable area consisting of dozens or even hundreds of acres. In fact, Henry County is nearly 25% covered in woodlands, with uses covering the gamut from wasteland to recreation to well managed timber.

The UK department of forestry has been asking landowners across the state just what topics about woodlands interest them the most, and consistently get these four identified: Growing Timber; Selling Timber; Woodland Health; and Wildlife Management. In this particular area, we also found a lot of interest in Cedar Harvest.

To explore, explain, and discuss these topics, we are planning an evening meeting in March, likely March 15th or 22nd, 6:00 pm, at the Oldham County Community Center. This meeting will be open to all public and will include a light meal. While this is still some time away, we wanted to let everyone know about the opportunity and to say we will get further details out as we near the date. For now, you are welcome to contact us at the Henry County Extension Office at 845-2811.

THE AIR WE BREATHE

Trees plus sunlight, through the process of photosynthesis, return Oxygen plus water vapor to the air while removing carbon dioxide. It’s estimated that one acre of wooded land produces about 4 tons of oxygen a year, enough for 18 people. With over 40,000 acres of woodland in Henry County, that would be enough oxygen for 720,000 people!

THE SHADE OF TREES

A well positioned shade tree can keep a house 20% cooler in the summer. A difference of 20 degrees between sunlight and shade can have a net effect equivalent to 10 room size air conditioner operating 20 hours and day!

THE GAMES WE PLAY

The wood of the white ash is used to make baseball bats such as the famed “Louisville Slugger”.

HOW BIG IS THE TREE?

Kentucky’s tallest tree is a yellow poplar in McCreary County, at 178 feet tall! The tree boasting the largest circumference is a baldcypres in Fayette County at a whopping 328” around.

12/21/11

Next year’s home garden starts now

Late fall is a good time to manage and prevent disease in next year’s garden. At this time, you can take pre-emptive measures to help ensure a successful and bountiful garden next season.

Cleaning things up in the fall can help cut back on disease in the following harvest season. Many pathogens responsible for diseases commonly seen in home gardens can over-winter or survive between crops on equipment and plant residue. Here are tips to prevent the spread of disease and be ready for the next growing season:

Turn dead plant matter under as soon as you are finished with the garden. Remove old plant debris from the greenhouse. Several plant pathogens can survive in these residues during the winter, and they can threaten next year’s crops.

Thoroughly clean tools and equipment and sanitize with disinfectant. Rotation is another powerful tool that should be implemented to prevent disease. Make plans now for your new garden, insuring that the same or closely related crop species are not planted in the same place more than once every three years.

Even though spring is months away, start thinking about what you’ll grow. Resistant varieties can significantly reduce or eliminate damage from disease and can allow you to minimize use of fungicide for a particular crop. Consult your seed supplier or catalog for more information.

A garden does take planning and careful consideration, but successful disease management begins with the few simple steps outlined above. If you start now, you’ll have built a strong foundation for a successful disease management program in your home garden.

12/14/11

Kentucky farm cash receipts exceed $5 billion for first time

The Kentucky Press will likely be reporting on some of the information heard last week during the Kentucky Farm Bureau meeting in Louisville, particularly the report that Kentucky’s farm economy did extremely well in 2011. Farm cash receipts are likely to exceed $5 billion for the first time, up from $4.4 billion in 2010. With improvement in returns in corn, soybeans, wheat, cattle, horses, hogs and dairy, net farm income is expected to rebound back above $1 billion in 2011, compared to $780 million in 2010.

Agricultural economists agree that the force behind the improved financial returns in agriculture is the boom in exports over the past two years and the strong demand for grains for biofuel production.

Corn and poultry are likely to be the top two sources of cash receipts in Kentucky this year. Grain prices were high, and producers planted increased acreage in response. Poultry production increased slightly in 2011, though it is projected to decline in 2012.

Kentucky’s tobacco acreage was down in 2011, but a better quality crop will enable prices and receipts to improve. The equine industry showed moderate improvement over 2010 receipts.

Feeder cattle prices in Kentucky showed substantial improvement, driven primarily by tight supplies. This could continue into 2012, because the drought in Texas and Oklahoma has resulted in higher cow slaughter, leading to an even smaller calf crop in 2012.

On the whole, economists were optimistic about 2012. Given reasonable weather, continued economic recovery and strong export markets, next year’s farm cash receipts could set another record high, topping out between $5.3 and $5.7 billion.

On the local front, things may seem a bit different. Yes, milk prices are up, tobacco quality and price is good so far, and beef cattle prices are at record levels, as are corn and bean prices. Our bottom line, however, is diminished with higher input costs for all farm enterprises and a mid-summer drought which decreased tobacco, corn, and soybean yields. We join most other central Kentucky counties in actually showing less farm income than we had in recent years. Whatever your personal situation, we hope that you will sharpen the pencil and apply the management strategies to enhance your bottom line. There is a lot of good science available for making these decisions, including Soil Testing, Forage Analysis, and Variety Test information. Please contact the Henry County Extension Office at 845-2811 or more details about these tests.

BY THE WAY

In the midst of another couple of days of plentiful rain (as I write this on Monday afternoon) you may be wondering just how much is falling in Henry County. At the CoCoRaHS station at the Henry County Extension Office, we recorded 7.43 inches of rain in November, and we are almost at 2 inches in December with this new rainy spell (Sunday and Monday), with more to come. For the year, this station has recorded over 58 inches of rain (normal is more like 45 inches), so we obviously will look back at this year as one with unusually high amounts of rainfall at various times. Ironically, we had a fairly severe drought here in July and August which damaged yield in virtually all our agricultural crops, including tobacco, corn, soybeans, pasture, hay, and vegetables.

12/7/11

The Bryant Family of Eminence was named 2011 Henry County Cattleman of the Year during proceedings of the Henry County Cattleman's Association Annual Meeting Monday, November 28, at the Henry County Extension Office. President Justin Atchison awards the coveted farm gate sign to the Bryant family, from left to right:  Alan, Sarah, Emily, Terina, Alma, Mary, Ralph, Justin, and Megan.

The 2012 Henry County Cattleman Board of Directors and Officers were elected Monday, November 28, during the Annual meeting of the Association. Seated, from left to right, are: Mary Bryant, Treasurer, Barbara Gregory, Philip Douglas, Vice-President, and Chris McBurney, President. Back row, same order: Johnny Alison, Secretary, Ryan Roberts, Steve Davie, and Larry Bryant. They will be meeting soon to plan the educational meeting schedule for the new year, as well as implementing the Phase I CAIP Cost Share Program.

11/30/11

BEGINNING FARMER ACADEMY

The Henry County Extension Office is now taking signups for the Beginning Farmer Class which will get underway January 20th, with plans for weekly sessions each Friday through February and into March, with further sessions later in the year. Most sessions will be 9:00 am through lunch, rotating between Henry, Shelby, and Oldham County Extension Offices.

Our proposed listing of 10 courses is as follows:

1. Enterprise Evaluation, Farm Inventory, Business Plans, etc.;
2. Management & Record Keeping;
3. Governmental Resources – NRCS, FSA, GOAP, KDA, KSU, Extension, Forestry, etc.;
4. Marketing;
5. Farm Equipment/Farm Machinery Show Field Trip;
6. Legal Topics – Ag Issues & Policies, Nutrient Management, Water Quality, Lease Agreements, Liability;
7. Production Breakout Sessions – Livestock, Fruits/Veggies, Crops, Forages (maybe Agritourism, Bees, Wineries, Pasture Poultry);
8. Field Day (July);
9. Estate Planning (Oct/Nov);
10. Leadership, Share Session and Graduation (Oct/Nov).

The Henry County Extension Office is currently registering members for the class. If you are interested, please contact us at 845-2811.

Winter Cattle Feeding

Feeding cattle in the winter can be the single, largest expense for producers, and UK Beef specialists Roy Burris and Jeff Lehkuhler agree this year will not be an exception.

Due to high input costs, mainly grain and concentrates, this year will present a challenge to producers. However, there are several management practices that producers can use to lower feed costs and make their herds more profitable.

One big way producers can decrease the amount of hay and feed they use is by extending the grazing season as long as possible. While favorable moisture conditions will likely get most folks through to Thanksgiving this year, the grazing season can go even longer with Stockpiled pastures that have received nitrogen and been allowed to accumulate growth. It’s also a good idea to strip graze accumulated/stockpiled fescue pastures to avoid waste and increase grazing days on those pastures.

Producers should pregnancy check the spring-calving cow herd now and eliminate the wintering of open cows–or move them to the fall-calving group. Favorable prices make this a good time to cull unproductive cows.

Producers can calculate the amount of hay they need to feed cows through the winter with the following rough estimate. Cow should consume about 2 percent of their bodyweight for about 120 days. That would be approximately 25 pounds per day for 120 days or about 3,000 pounds of hay per cow. Multiply 3,000 pounds by the number of cows in the winter herd to estimate the amount of hay needed. You might be able to feed less than 120 days, but don’t count on it, and your round bales of hay probably weigh closer to 1,100 to 1,200 pounds rather than the expected 1,500 pounds. And remember that hay can be vastly different in terms of nutritional quality. Make sure and get forage analyses on your hay supply, so you can estimate your supplemental feed needs.

Using a feeding pad (geotextile fabric and gravel) with hay feeders will minimize mud and waste, and will also minimize damage to pastures during the wet winter months.

Plan now to give more feed and better feed to cows after calving to get calves off to a good start and to maintain cows’ body condition. “Don’t let cows lose much condition (flesh) this winter, or next year’s pregnancy rates will suffer, Dr. Burris warns.

Control Dandelions in Early Winter

Dandelions are cool-season weeds we consider real pests in our in lawns, pastures, and crop fields. So when should we try to control them?

Many Dandelions germinate from seed in late summer and early fall producing small rosettes and begin an active growth period in the early-to mid-fall when temperatures start to moderate. Therefore, initiating control with 2,4-D products during the late fall or early winter months will likely provide the most benefit. Generally, the best time period is through early- to mid-December, provided daytime temperatures reach 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit for a couple of days. You’ll control next years’ crop of dandelions without the risk of harming the new growth of trees, ornamental, and flowers next spring.

11/23/11

For the Beef Producer

During our recent Advanced Master Cattleman Nutrition session, we found that a lot of the hay we have available for winter feeding won’t meet our herds needs at some critical times. This is a good time to have your hay supply analyzed for nutritive quality and estimate the amount of supplementation needed. Consider purchasing feed now. Feed those large round bales in hay “rings” to avoid waste. Hay feeding areas can be constructed by putting rock on geotextile fabric to avoid the mud.

This is a good time to take soil tests and make fertility adjustments to your pastures. It appears that Alfalfa has had a “freeze-down” (24 degrees for a few hours), so it is ready to be grazed.

In the Spring Calving Herd, culling decisions should be made prior to winter feeding for best use of feed resources. Consider open, poor-producing and aged cows as candidates for culling. Dry cows in good condition can utilize lower quality hay now so you can save higher quality feed until calving time. Keep a good mineral supplement with vitamin A available.

In the fall calving herd, start the breeding season about November 25 for calving to begin in September of 2012. Don’t forget Breeding Soundness Evaluations (BSE) on your bulls.

11/16/11

RAINFALL REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

The weather for the past two months definitely changed in the amount of rainfall in Henry County. At least one or two reporting stations reported only an inch of rain in July, with a similar report in August. September and October, normally two of the drier months of the year, have yielded considerably more rainfall. With rainy spells throughout September, our Turners Station reporter had 7.03 inches (our highest) and our Pleasureville reporter has 5.33 inches (our lowest). In October, the range was not quite as great, nor the rainfall quite as abundant, with Eminence getting 2.50 inches and the Extension Office getting 3.02 inches.

The rains and cooler temperatures have really helped some of our agriculture enterprises. Our pastures and hay fields have responded with much needed forage (by the end of August, several farmers were feeding hay with not much promise of fall pasture). While the September rains made tobacco harvest more difficult, they promised much better curing conditions and should yield an attractive color to the market.

This past Saturday and Sunday mornings saw significant frost. My home and truck thermometers both agreed on 28-29 degrees Fahrenheit at home, with the truck telling me it was only 24 degrees near the creek on highway 146 between New Castle and Pendleton. If you have pasture or hay fields with Johnsongrass or Sorghum-sudan type grasses, wait at least a week or so for the plants to completely dry before grazing. Questions about your forages? Contact the Extension Office at 845-2811 to discuss.

11/2/11

AMPHIBIAN HABITAT - Ephemeral Pools

Ephemeral pools are small, shallow pools of water in wooded areas, and even though they may dry up during the summer months, they can provide a new dimension to your wildlife enjoyment. Amphibians and other creatures can flourish in and near the pools, and they may be a great place to set up to watch for deer and turkey. Many landowners are surprised at the diversity of wildlife an ephemeral pool will attract.

At a time when we are experiencing the decline of numerous amphibian species, the addition of ephemeral pools can provide habitat for little or no cost. Ephemeral pools placed in forests partner well with other more recognized forestry practices. If you are interested in helping amphibians through forestry practices such as constructing ephemeral pools, please call the Natural Resources Conservation Service at 502-695-5203 to contact Terri Estes, Wildlife Biologist.

10/26/11

NRCS ANNOUNCES 2012 FARM BILL PROGRAM

The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Kentucky is encouraging landowners, farmers and producers to visit their local NRCS office now to apply for conservation technical assistance and possible financial funding opportunities in the EQIP and WHIP Farm Bill Programs. The cutoff date for consideration of 2012 funds in this sign up period is November 15, 2011.

• The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a conservation program that provides financial and technical assistance to farmers who face threats to soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Through EQIP, NRCS develops contracts with farmers to voluntarily implement conservation practices. Persons engaged in livestock or crop production and owners of private forestland are eligible for this program. Eligible land includes cropland, pastureland, and private forestland.

• The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for developing or improving high quality habitat that supports fish and wildlife populations. Through WHIP, the NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to eligible landowners for the development of wildlife habitat.

All recipients of assistance are required to develop a Conservation Plan. The Conservation Plan will serve as a roadmap to a variety of technical assistance and financial assistance through EQIP and WHIP. If you are interested in participating in Farm Bill conservation programs, you should sign-up as soon as possible and request a conservation plan. For more information, contact Randy Van Matre, NRCS district conservationist at (502) 845-2890.

10/12/11

FROST and PRUSSIC ACID

Prussic Acid can build up to toxic levels in a number of plants including Johnsongrass, sorghum, sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids, and wild cherry immediately after a frost such as the one we had Sunday morning. It doesn’t matter whether or not the frost is killing, the plants are likely to be toxic to grazing animals. However, it does matter if the frost killed the plant for your future grazing plans. If the frost killed the plant, it is safe to graze again when it dries down. If the frost did not kill the plant, the plant can be grazed again after about a week (barring no more frosts).

Prussic acid causes death by interfering with the oxygen-transferring ability of the red blood cells, causing animals to suffocate. Symptoms include excessive salivation, rapid breathing, and muscle spasms, and may occur within 10 to 15 minutes after the animal consumes prussic acid-containing forage. Animals may stagger, collapse, and eventually die.

10/5/11

Conserve and Plan to meet winter hay needs

Hay availability in Henry County and Kentucky may be short this winter because of weather events—last year’s drought, this year’s early record rainfall, and this year’s summer drought—both hay quality and yield are down. Some effort at conservation and planning will help make hay last longer through the winter.

Store hay inside a barn or other structure where it will remain dry. Hay testing is the first step to knowing how much will be necessary to meet the nutritional needs of the animals to be fed, from horses to cattle to goats.

Hay is typically fed from mid-December until mid-March, approximately 110 days, though that will vary due to weather, pasture conditions, and the needs of different animals.

To determine hay needs:

• Calculate the number of days animals will need feed.
• Weigh a random sample of bales so you know the average weight of your bales, using scales at feed mills or truck stops.
• With the results of the hay test, calculate how many pounds each animal will need daily.
• Arrive at a grand total of how much hay the herd will require over the winter.

Forward planning and good management practices will help ensure an adequate hay supply during the winter. A tight supply, plus possible hay purchases from bordering states, may possibly elevate what are already high prices.

GRAZING MANAGEMENT FOR THE FALL

We always get a lot of questions about grazing fields with Johnsongrass or Sorghum-Sudan Hybrids during the fall, in particular about the possibility of Prussic Acid Poisoning to frosted forage plants. One good way to manage around the problem is to go ahead and graze any field with these grasses now, before frost occurs. You’ll not only get to utilize a good feed, but your regular pasture and hay fields will get a rest and be able to produce more feed to take you later into the winter feeding season.

After mid September, Alfalfa should be left alone until the first week or so of November. In terms of plant health and stand longevity, this six week period of rest and growth is extremely important. After the first week of November, the alfalfa can be grazed or put up as hay.

If you haven’t had cattle on a grass field for the past month or so, and can keep them off a bit longer, you are in the process of ‘stockpiling’ some of the best feed you’ll have for the winter, even if it is only fescue. Fescue growth at this time of year is highly nutritious, and since there is no seedhead, the amount and effect of endophyte is very low.

9/21/11

REMEMBER WHEN

Do you remember a few years ago when you could ask the question “What is Kentucky’s Biggest Agricultural Enterprise?”, and almost everyone would correctly answer ‘Tobacco’. Fast forward to today, and lo and behold, Tobacco is not even in the top five!

Poultry was Kentucky's top-grossing product for the second year in 2010, with cash receipts coming in at $953 million, according to USDA statistics. Poultry has outgrown Kentucky's now second-largest industry, horses. Cattle and calves came in third, at $616 million, while corn and soybeans took the fourth and fifth spots with $604 million and $583 million, respectively. They were the highest-grossing planted crops for 2010.

Overall, the state's 2010 cash receipts came in at $4.4 billion, topping 2009's $4.3 billion.

CATTLE MANAGEMENT

September is a good time to do a ‘preweaning’ working of cows and calves. Stresses associated with weaning can be minimized by spreading-out other activities commonly associated with weaning – like vaccinations and deworming. When planning the preweaning working, consult with your veterinarian for advice on animal health products and procedures. Some procedures which can be done now are pregnancy checking cows which will allow time to make culling decisions prior to weaning.

By the way, the rainy and misty weather last week gives us hope that fall pastures may be in our future. Consider nitrogen application to fescue pastures for stockpiling early this month and allow them to grow and accumulate until November, or when other sources of grazing have been used up - so that grazing may be extended and feeding can be delayed.

Plan the winter feeding program. Take forage samples of hay which you will feed this winter. Request protein and TDN analysis so that supplemental feed needs may be estimated.

If you have sorghum or sudan pastures (or even some with a good amount of johnsongrass) don’t graze between the first frost and a definite killing frost because of the danger of prussic acid poisoning.

And remember, the middle of September is a very important date for your alfalfa fields. Try to take a harvest of hay or grazing now, then allow the plants to grow until the first week of November for best winter hardiness.

9/14/11

YOUTH AG DAY

Certainly one of the biggest ‘events’ in Henry County over the past week was the Antique Farm Machinery Show at Robbie and Katie Sue Yount’s Farm near Bethlehem. The Friday and Saturday event had plenty of Steam Engines, Antique Tractors, Horses, and Farm Machinery involved in numerous demonstrations. A good crowd was on hand to enjoy the great hospitality and opportunity to step ‘back in time’ when farming had a different, maybe more important, connection to the community.

When I chatted with the Yount’s, it was evident that they enjoyed hosting the Antique Farm Show, but they indicated they were even more pleased when they hosted the Youth Ag Day, held on Thursday. Youth Ag Day allowed all 4th Grade Students from Campbellsburg, Eastern, Eminence, and New Castle to visit the farm and have a real ‘Farm to Table’ experience with Wheat and the antique equipment. From planting, to harvest with a horse drawn binder, to trashing, to stone milling or grinding, to screen cleaning, to tasting Whole Wheat Bread, the youth were able to touch and see the process and the fantastic array of antique machinery used near the turn of the century in farming communities.

The successful Youth Ag Day has a lot of folks to thank for their efforts. School Administration, Teachers, Aides, Parents, and Bus Drivers all conspired to get the youth to the field day. The FFA leadership team did a fabulous job teaching at the learning stations. They were: Andrew Sharp, Cody Raisor, Vincent Bates, Derrick Jeffries, Andrew Pollard, Sean Sykes, Ashley Craigmyle, Montayna Heightchew, and Shelby Rogers. Several folks helped with the Demonstrations through the day, including: Billy Reed Clements, Tommy Barber, Jon Meyer, Dick Williams, Betty Moody, and Marilyn Moore. Vocational Agriculture and Cooperative Extension personnel included Lindsey Davie, Cathy Toole, Maryellen Garrison, Kelly Docktor, and myself. Of course, none of it would have been possible without the generosity and commitment to youth education of Robbie and Katie Sue Yount. Thanks for something very special!

Sean Sykes and Ashley Craigmyle join Robbie Yount to show 4th grade students the process of milling Wheat seed with a stone grinder, then cleaning it with an antique sifter for readiness for making Wheat Bread during the Youth Ag Day at the Yount Farm near Bethlehem.

4th grade students from Campbellsburg, Eastern, Eminence, and New Castle had the rare opportunity to see a Wheat Thresher powered by a 1915 Steam Engine during the Youth AG Day at the Robbie and Katie Sue Yount Farm near Bethlehem. The Youth AG Day was a true 'farm to table' experience for nearly 350 youth and adults.

ANOTHER DRY MONTH

While this is written on Monday, August 29, there doesn’t appear to be much chance of rain in the immediate forecast, so I’ll take the liberty of reporting rainfall (or lack thereof) for the month of August. Our CoCoRaHS observer in Campbellsburg captured the least amount of rain in the county, at only 1.04 inches. My gauge at the Extension Office was a close second, at 1.14 inches. The most rain was our observer in the City of Eminence, who caught 3.27 inches. Another observer only a mile from Eminence caught 2.82 inches of rain, exactly the amount recorded near Turners Station. Just northeast of Pleasureville, the amount was 1.62 inches.

When combined with the July rainfall, Henry County continues to fall deeper into significant drought. The Extension Office station has captured only 2.08 inches of rain in the two months, followed closely by Campbellsburg and Pleasureville at 2.19 and 2.30 respectively.

The data I’ve discussed here is available to anyone on-line at www.cocorahs.org. This is a national network of volunteer observers, including a handful in Henry County. In the near future, we hope to have more active observers in the County, making it possible to quickly see exactly what weather our friends and neighbors have experienced just down the road.

8/31/11

8/24/11

DOES CPH PAY?

Most Cattle producers are aware of the program called CPH-45. Certified Preconditioned for Health, and weaned for 45 days, the beef calves sold in these sales for nearly 25 years in Kentucky have almost always returned more than their counterparts sold at the same time without the CPH -45 treatment. A new CPH Report by the UK College of Agriculture Department of Ag Economics calculates the net added returns for all sales on all classes of cattle across the state from April 2010 to March 2011.

In the state, 23 sales included over 18.000 head, with a CPH advantage of $6.07/cwt. The average cost of gain was 52 cents/pound, and the Estimated Net Added Returns were $91.98/head. Since nearly all of Henry County CPH -45 Sales went through the Lexington market, we’ll give the results from that location. Six sales included nearly 5,500 calves, selling for a CPH Advantage of $6.98/cwt. Estimated Net Added Returns were $100.06/head.

CPH-45 remains a important tool that producers can use to obtain additional returns on their cattle. For more information on how these figures were calculated or to look at all sales, visit the CPH-45 website at www.cph45.com. If you are interested in selling in a CPH-45 sale, contact the Henry County Extension Office at 845-2811.

BENEFICIAL SNAKES

Many people fear snakes, but despite the fright they can cause, the majority of snakes are beneficial. Of the 33 varieties of snakes in Kentucky, only four are venomous (Northern copperhead, Western cottonmouth [water moccasin], timber rattlesnake, and pygmy rattlesnake). Most snakes you encounter around your home are harmless. If you are scared of them, try to remember that they are useful—they keep the rodent population in check by eating mice, rats, chipmunks and even toads, insects and other pests.

Snakes like damp, dark, cool places where food (usually mice) is accessible. They also will be drawn to areas that provide shelter and shade from the summer sun. The best way to get rid of snakes is to modify the habitat that is attracting them. Some recommendations include:

• Stack firewood 12 inches above the ground on a pallet
• Trim bushes and shrubs that grow against a foundation
• Keep all lots, fields, and lawns mowed and well kept
• Remove debris and trash from pond and stream banks
• De-clutter basements and attics, especially where rodents can be found

8/10/11

Harvest Showcase and Capstone Grand Opening Make The News

Friday and Saturday of last week were definitely red letter days in terms of events which put a positive spin on Henry County. Friday’s event was the ‘Grand Opening’ of Capstone Produce Auction, and the message I received from leaders such as Louisville Metro Mayor Greg Fisher and Derrick Robinson of Value Market Foods was one of tremendous optimism and support of marketing local food products into the Louisville Urban population. The Produce Auction on Friday morning was awesome also, with several long rows of fresh produce sold at fair and reasonable prices for both the producer and the consumer.

During the Henry County Harvest Showcase Saturday, Reed Yadon, WHAS 11 Meterologist, interviews Henry County FFA President and Vice President Andrew Sharp and Shelby Rogers, standing alongside Kentucky Kate. The FFA Leadership Team helped with a Children's Farm Playground throughout the day.

Transportation around the Henry County Fairgrounds during Saturday's Harvest Showcase had a farm flair, with Mike and Jean Ray of Sunnymeadows Farm providing an old fashioned hay ride.

I was also impressed all day Saturday at the 12th Annual Henry County Harvest Showcase. As much as the Showcase features Henry County Agriculture products and services, it more importantly showcases our fine people. All the vendors are to be congratulated for putting forward a fantastic array of produce, products, and services. We should all be especially grateful to a fine cadre of folks known as the Henry County Harvest Showcase Committee for making every part of the showcase from parking to programming a seamless operation, enjoyed this year by an estimated attendance of 2,500. This was once again an important day.

One of the younger visitors at the fun filled Henry County Harvest Showcase tests out the wonderful produce from Zaring's Skeptical Acres, one of many vendors from the Henry County Farmers Market.	Melissa Blankenship, Drennon Hill Farm, President of the Henry County Farmers Market Association, greets one of an estimated 2,500 attendees at Saturday's Henry County Harvest Showcase.
Explaining where milk comes from is likely the topic of conversation for this Father/Son pair at the Henry County Harvest Showcase. Coomb's Jericho Acres Farm and Taylor's Taylormaid Farms had several live animal demonstrations for the crowds in the Agriculture Pavilion.	Reed Yadon, WHAS 11 Meterologist, and John Logan Brent, Henry County Judge Executive, set the stage for visitors to the Henry County Harvest Showcase last Saturday Morning, live from the Henry County Fairgrounds.

HOW DRY WAS JULY

I’m not sure exactly how much rain is ‘normal’ for July, but we sure didn’t get close to it. Of the 5 CoCoRaHS Rain Gauges reporting daily in Henry County, the most rain recorded was a paltry 1.15 inches near Campbellsburg. The lowest amount was less than seven tenths of an inch just north and east of Pleasureville. Needless to say, the many 90 plus degree days we’ve had and the lack of rain have painted a pretty parched look in much of the county. The farmers and gardeners at the Harvest Showcase were actually hoping for a much bigger rain than was experienced during the Showcase on Saturday afternoon.

8/3/11