2025 Kentucky Legislative Session Update for Kentucky Farmers

By Emily Spencer | Extension Associate
Published on May. 30, 2025

The 2025 session of the Kentucky General Assembly concluded on Friday, March 28th.  There were 533 Senate, and 907 House bills and resolutions introduced of which 50 Senate and 96 House bills became law. 

Crop Budgeting is Vital in our Current Farm Environment

By Jennifer Rogers | KFBM Area Extension Specialist
Published on May. 30, 2025

There have been many conversations this spring surrounding crop projections and budgets.  With the fear of instability in the crop markets due to foreign trade policy and the continued high costs of inputs, the profit margin for most row crop enterprises seem tight.  These tight margins have emphasized the importance of projecting revenues and e

Could Bourbon Help Kentucky Producers Survive Another Tradewar?

By Grant Gardner | Assistant Extension Professor and Tyler Mark | Professor
Published on May. 30, 2025

International markets support U.S. agriculture, particularly in Kentucky, which benefits from its proximity to the Mississippi River, enabling quick and low-cost transportation to Louisiana ports.

Historical Review of “Government” Payments to Kentucky Farmers

By Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on May. 30, 2025

Currently, there are a plethora of policy actions being discussed in our nation’s capital affecting agriculture, ranging from the farm bill debate to tax policy modifications, and of course, the on-going trade policy developments.

Into the Woods: The Tax Uncertainty of Carbon Contracts

By Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist and Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Apr. 30, 2025

As woodland landowners look for income diversification opportunities, they may explore the potential of carbon sequestration as a revenue stream, particularly the potential income from woodland carbon programs. The federal income tax implications of this type of income are still not fully addressed in current tax law.

KFBM Spring 2025 Observations

Published on Apr. 30, 2025

The Kentucky Farm Business Management Program is a program of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Kentucky.

Andrea Cooksey: Student Spotlight

Published on Apr. 28, 2025

Andrea has recently completed her freshman year at the University of Kentucky in the Agricultural Economics department, where she has already begun to make her mark. She has shared valuable insights, experiences, and advice for future students, reflecting both her passion and perspective.

What is ESG and Why do Companies Care

By Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Mar. 31, 2025

As businesses strive to meet sustainability goals and reduce their carbon footprint, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors have become key drivers of corporate strategy. While ESG reporting may seem like a concern primarily for large corporations and investors, it has growing implications for the agricultural sector as well.

Oh BOI! Big Changes to Reporting Requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act

By Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist
Published on Mar. 31, 2025

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was passed into law in January 2021 but didn't take effect until January 2024.

U.S. Ag Trade Deficit Continues to Widen

By Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Mar. 31, 2025

The balance of trade, measured by the difference in a country’s value of exports versus the value of its imports, has received a lot of attention in recent months. While the overall U.S. economy has experienced negative annual trade balances for decades, U.S agriculture has historically recorded annual trade surpluses.