Ag report: Dec. 23, 2011

Producers have deadline

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for conservation service

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced that the ranking period cut-off date for the Conservation Stewardship Program is Jan. 13.

Producers interested in CSP should submit applications at the USDA Service Center on Howard Drive in Shelbyville by the deadline so that their applications can be considered during the first ranking period of 2012.

The Conservation Stewardship Program is a voluntary program that encourages agricultural and forestry producers to address resource concerns by (1) undertaking additional conservation activities and (2) improving and maintaining existing conservation systems.

CSP is offered in all 50 states and the Pacific and Caribbean areas through continuous sign-ups.

The program provides many conservation benefits, including improvement of water and soil quality, wildlife habit enhancements and adoption of conservation activities that address the effects of climate change.  Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe.

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help potential applicants determine if CSP is suitable for their operation.  The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, contract obligations and potential payments.  It is available from local NRCS offices and on the CSP Web page.

Nationwide, in 2010 alone, nearly 21,000 applicants enrolled in CSP, putting additional conservation on 25.2 million acres, about the size of the state of Kentucky, to improve water and soil quality, enhance wildlife habitat and address the effects of climate change.

For more information, call the FSA office at 633-3640 ext. 3.

USEF honors top events

The United States Equestrian Federation announced winners of its third annual "Favorite USEF Breed Competition." This program was designed to function as a "competitor's choice" award and is decided by the officials, trainers, riders, drivers, handlers or owners who participate.

It identifies the top event where each breed is shown. Nominations were taken from membership.

From all nominated events, the Region 4 All Arabian championship won the grand prize, and West Coast Connemara won the reserve.

Among Saddlebreds, the Blue Ridge Classic was honored. This event was cited for having the best management, greatest show secretaries, wonderful hospitality, great competition and fabulous location.

Winning events for other breeds were:

§       Andalusian/Lusitano: Pin Oak Horse Show

§       Arabian: Region 4 All Arabian Championship

§       Connemara: West Coast Connemara Show

§       Friesian: IFSHA Friesian World & Grand National

§       Hackney: Bonnie Blue National

§       Morgan: Western New York Morgan

§       National Show Horse: OH Buckeye Sweepstakes/District One Championship

§       Paso Fino: Piedmont Classic

§       Shetland: UPHA Chapter V

§       Welsh: Northeastern Welsh Pony Association

National Horse Show dates set

The second edition of the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington is set for Oct. 31 through Nov. 4. The show will once again be held at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The show in 2011 was attended by thousands and drew nearly half a million viewers online through the Alltech Ag Network.

More than 560 horses and 350 riders from nine countries, including nine Olympic veterans, competed.

Group to promote soy feed for fish

The Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board announced the newly formed Soy Aquaculture Alliance, a new national aquaculture organization focused on expanding the U.S. aquaculture industry through increased use of soybeans in fish diets.

At the first board meeting held this winter, Kentucky representative George Martin of Nebo was elected vice chairman of the organization.

 "With production of seafood expected to double, if not triple, in the next decade, soy-based feeds are an alternative to the diminishing supply of fish meal currently being used as a protein source in fish diets," Martin said. 

Bulletin board

§       The San-N-Tone horse show series for 2011-12 will continue with a show at 9 a.m. Jan. 8. There also will be shows on Feb. 5 and March 4. All are at the Shelby County Fairgrounds (indoor arena). Classes entered by Thursday before the show (no phone entries please) will be $10 per class. It’s $12 the day of the show; stalls are $20; and grounds fee $5. For more information, contact Sandy Stewart 502-241-1262 (voicemail) or 502-722-9330, E-mail SANNTONESHOW@yahoo.com or visit www.san-n-tone.com.

§       An introduction to beekeeping program will be at 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Shelby County Library. The class will be presented by Becky Collier, a blue-ribbon winner at the 2011 state fair. Registration is required for seating purposes.

§       Professional Bull Riders will bring their Louisville Invitational to the Kentucky Exposition Center at 8 p.m. Feb. 24-25. Tickets are available for $42, $32, $22 and $16 for adults/reserved and $11 for youth (12 and under) reserved. Prices include facility fees. All ticket prices increase by $2 on the day of show. Tickets may be purchased at the KFC Yum Center, the Kentucky Exposition Center, the Kentucky International Convention Center ticket offices and Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com. Group discounts are available by calling 502-595-3555 or 877-306-1919.

The Kentucky Ag Report is compiled weekly from news releases distributed by Keeton Communications, the Kentucky Press Association News Content Service.