Ag Report: Aug. 12, 2011

4-H displays at state fair

Chris Aldridge/Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Courtney Farms of Bagdad is in its second year of diversifying away from a dependence on tobacco income and into vegetable production through a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. “We started out tobacco farmers and have quite a bit of tobacco still,” said Mary Courtney, who owns the 94-acre farm with her husband, Shane. “I don’t know how long we’ll stay tobacco farmers because we don’t want to be at the mercy of other people with the uncertainty of the industry right now. The Courtneys – (from left) Lucas, Shane, Mary, and Elly – pose in front of some of their 65 acres of tobacco. Their strong CSA business has moved them to sell at markets in Louisville, too. They were profiled recently by the state.

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will have lots of competition

At the Kentucky State Fair 4-H members from across the state showcase their talents in speeches, demonstrations and judging competitions in the West Hall of the Kentucky Exposition Center. Visitors can view more than 5,000 projects on display that encompass a variety of skills and hobbies including textiles, horticulture and arts and crafts.

The fair opens Thursday in Louisville and runs through Aug. 27.
New to Cloverville this year is a collection of contests intended to be fun for 4-H members and allow their creativity and skills to be admired by fairgoers. Cupcake Wars pit teams of two future culinary connoisseurs from each district against each other in a race to create the best cupcake. 4-H members will also compete in Flower Wars to create the best silk arrangement and Project Runway to fashion and model runway looks. See Blue Go Green in the 4-H Recycling Contest that challenges teams of 4-H members to create something from recycled materials.
Members of 4-H Means Business will also have the opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurship and craftsmanship in a commercial exhibit featured in West Hall’s Cloverville this year at the Fair. 4-H Means Business is a club that seeks to educate members on the basic concepts of business, marketing, finance, record keeping, communications and public relations by providing them with hands-on opportunities in real world settings.
For more information on Cloverville and all other aspects of the fair, visit www.kystatefair.org.

Saddlebred owners can earn prize money

The American Saddlebred Registry Sport Horse Incentive Program is offering owners of registered American Saddlebred or Half-Saddlebred whose horses compete in dressage, hunter/jumper, combined driving, pleasure driving, endurance, reining, eventing, endurance, limited distance, and/or trail a chance to win some of $15,000 in prizes.

To be eligible, horses must be registered American Saddlebreds or Half-Saddlebreds, nominated for a fee of $150, and the owner of the horse must be a member of the American Saddlebred Horse Association.  The deadline for enrollment has been extended to Sept. 30. Enrollment forms for the program are available through www.ASHA.org.

2011 Agribusiness of the Year Award

The Agribusiness Industry Network is accepting nominations for the 2011 Agribusiness of the Year Award, which will be presented on Nov. 11 at the 27th annual Farm City Luncheon. This award, now in its 19th year, recognizes an agribusiness that has excelled in terms of financial growth, overall economic contribution and employee relations.

Business leaders are invited to nominate deserving agribusinesses by Sept. 30. Once a company has been nominated, the Agribusiness Industry Network will send a letter informing to inform it that it has been recognized and asking it to complete the AYA application form.

 To nominate a business just send the company name, owner/CEO name, address, phone and email information to Laura Schroerlucke at lschroerlucke@ksfb.ky.gov.

Noninsured crop coverage

Producers who want to purchase coverage through the Noninsured Crop

Disaster Assistance Program must to do so before the September sales closing dates. NAP provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to normal disasters.

The final dates to apply for coverage under NAP for 2012 for the following crops are: Sept. 1, Christmas trees, crustaceans, finfish, flowers, ginseng and Grass intended for sod; and Sept. 30, barley, canola (fall and spring), and spring and winter oats and winter, rye and wheat.

Crops must be noninsurable, commercially-produced agricultural commodity crops for which the catastrophic risk protection level of crop insurance is not available. If the Risk Management Agency offers coverage for a crop in the county, then NAP

coverage is not available for that crop. Eligible producers can apply for coverage using form CCC-471, Application for Coverage.

Bulletin board

§       The Indiana Cutting Horse Association will have a show Saturday and Sunday at the Rocky Fork Feeders Arena on Dover Road.

§       The Kentucky State Fair is at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center in Louisville, Aug. 18-27. See kystatefair.org for schedules and details.

§       The Shelby County Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday, rain or shine, through Oct. 29. The market is located in the Coots Barn at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. Locally produced seasonable vegetables, fruits, herbs, plants, flowers, free range eggs, honey, salsa, baked goods, homemade jams and pickles are available. Also featured are handcrafted wood items, soaps and jewelry. For more information, call Doug at 633-7484.

§       Taylorsville Farmers’ Market meets 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays until the end of October at the Sanctuary Art Center on Main Street in Taylorsville. Produce, beef, chicken, seedlings, baked and canned goods will be available. Call 502-477-2217 for details.

 The Kentucky Ag Report is compiled weekly from news releases distributed by Keeton Communications and other sources.