Ag report: Jan. 4, 2013

USDA seeks applications

for wildlife initiative

Natural Resources Conservation Service in Kentucky is currently accepting applications for Environmental Quality Incentive Program Wildlife Initiative, a voluntary program available to landowners to improve wildlife habitat on private property.

Do you own a farm or tract of land with open fields? Are you sick of spending money on gas to bush hog or mow? Would you like to see your wildlife numbers increase? If so, have you considered letting a biologist help you improve wildlife habitat?

Landowners accepted into EQIP Wildlife can apply for assistance in enhancing wildlife habitat. Practices such as native grasses, tree/shrub planting, edge feathering and forestry patch clear cuts are just a few of the available options.

Interested landowners may apply for programs at their local USDA NRCS offices or call Terri Estes, wildlife biologist at 502-545-2354. Signup period ends Jan. 18. Participants must meet certain USDA NRCS eligibility requirements. 

Ag poster/essay contest

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer invites Kentucky students to show in words and pictures how “Agriculture Grows My Community” in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s annual poster and essay contest.
The contest is open to all Kentucky students in kindergarten through grade 12. Students may submit either a poster or an essay based on the contest theme. All artwork and writing must be exclusively student created. Essays and posters will be featured in department publications and special events.
Deadline for submitting entries to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture is Feb. 15. Statewide winners in each grade will be announced Feb. 28. Each statewide winner will receive $100 and will be recognized at the Kentucky Agriculture Day Celebration in March.

For more information, including contest rules and entry forms, go to www.kyagr.com/marketing/poster-essay-contest.html or contact Elizabeth McNulty at (502) 564-4983 or elizabeth.mcnulty@ky.gov.
 

Ag census forms soon to arrive

Farmers soon will receive an ag census form in the mail. The data collected from the census helps to shape the programs and resources available to farmers. The form also can be filled out online.

For more information and to fill out a form, visit http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/index.php

Round-Up is Feb. 2

The Kentucky Round-Up, hosted by the Kentucky Horse Council, is Feb. 2 at the Kentucky Horse Park and features presentations by Linda Starnes, Avo Kiviranna and Robin Gollehon on understanding the horse as an individual and working within his/her strengths as the key to maximizing performance.    

Admission is free for children 12 and younger and $10 in advance for adults ($15 at the door); youth groups receive free admission with half-price tickets available for youth leaders.

An evening concert featuring well-known Kentucky country music artist, John Michael Montgomery, closes the event, with tickets available through Ticket Master.  For more information, visit www.kentuckyroundup.com. 

Bulletin board

• The National Farm Machinery Show Championship Tractor Pull will be Feb. 13‐16 in Freedom Hall with five pulls at 7:30 p.m. each evening and at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Reserved tickets are $40 and $45, depending upon the day. Ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. Monday.

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