The Kentucky Beef Book

Published on Feb. 1, 2021

Cattlemen in Kentucky have an opportunity to participate in the most rigorous educational programming in the United States.

Continued Declines in Hemp Profitability Mixed with Marginal Profit Potential for 2021

By Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist and Tyler Mark | Professor
Published on Jan. 28, 2021

According to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky started 2020 with 32,000 approved acres of hemp.

ARC vs PLC – The Basics

By Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Jan. 28, 2021

The 2014 Farm Bill developed two programs to provide income support for specified row crops.  -- the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs.  These risk management programs were reauthorized in the 2018 Farm Bill with slight modifications and remain in effect for the 2019-2023 crop years.

More Government Money on the Way for Kentucky Farmers

By Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Jan. 28, 2021

The latest COVID-19 stimulus package (Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021) contains more funding for U.S. agriculture. Last year, U.S. farmers received an estimated $46 billion of direct federal funding, accounting for nearly 40% of projected U.S.

Paycheck Protection Program Update

By Jerry Pierce | KFBM Program Coordinator
Published on Jan. 20, 2021

The Economic Aid Act reauthorized the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through March 31 and made several modifications beneficial to farmers. It also authorizes second draw PPP loans. The application deadline has been extended to May 31.

Additional CFAP Funding Announced

By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor and Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Jan. 19, 2021

USDA announced on this past Friday that additional Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments (labeled CFAP 2.1) will be made for certain producers using leftover funds from the first two rounds of CFAP.

Estimating the Economic Depreciation of Farm Assets

By Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist, Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor, and Robert Ellis | Graduate Student
Published on Jan. 7, 2021

Depreciation can often become an overlooked area for a farming operation. Yet, it plays a major role in both taxes and profitability.  A possible reason could be that when most people hear depreciation, they jump directly to tax depreciation.

Cantaloupe, Watermelon, and Pumpkin Market Trends for Kentucky

By Savannah Columbia | Extension Associate and Tim Woods | Extension Professor
Published on Jan. 6, 2021

Cantaloupe, watermelons and pumpkins have been important crops for Kentucky, especially moving through the auctions.  These commodities clicked on all cylinders during 2020 in the context of the pandemic.  Some of the opportunities related to strong short-term prices associated with the strong demand for local products.  Good growing conditions

Communication in Stressful Times

By Steve Isaacs | Extension Professor
Published on Nov. 25, 2020

2020 has been a stressful year. That sentence is a serious contender for Understatement of the Year. Pandemics, politics, and paradigm shifts have provided no shortage of stressful situations. Lives, families, jobs, schools, commerce, and social lives have all been disrupted.

Estimates of What it is Going to Cost Me to Destroy my "HOT" Hemp Crop

By Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist and Tyler Mark | Professor
Published on Nov. 25, 2020

We recognize that no one plants a crop with expectations of having to destroy the crop. However, the risk of producing a hemp crop that is non-compliant is a real risk and has a genuine cost associated. As hemp genetics evolve, the risk of destruction will dissipate.