Ag Report: Sept. 16, 2011

Dairy farmer Rowlett

touts industry to Kiwanis

Terry Rowlett, a dairy farmer from Campbellsburg, told the Shelbyville Kiwanis Club last week that farmers love what they do: providing food supply for the community.

The Rowlett family owns Rowlett Farms near Campbellsburg, Kentucky. They milk 100 cows twice a day, every day. On the 600-acre farm, corn, hay, wheat and tobacco are also raised.

“We love what we do,” Rowlett said in a statement released by the Southeast Dairy Industry. “Dairy farmers across Kentucky differ in how many cows we milk and some of the ways we farm so that our methods work well for the environment, but we all share a passion for what we do. It is our responsibility to take care of the natural resources and animals on our farm and we take that responsibility with a great deal of pride and commitment.”

He said his family lives and works on the farm and that is a strong incentive for protecting the land, water and air. And they also invest in developing their animals and preserving their health.

“What we do on our farm is the starting point for safe and nutritious dairy foods in the supermarket,” he said. “Because of this commitment at the dairy farm, people can count on wholesome dairy foods.”

Farm safety week starts Monday

Kentucky farmers are busy harvesting crops across the state – and that means drivers are more likely to encounter slow-moving farm equipment on the roadways. National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sunday through Sept. 24, brings attention to that, with help from the Kentucky Farm Bureau.

During this time of year farmers often need to move equipment from one field to another, but sometimes those transitions require their machinery to travel down or across public roads. When slow-moving vehicles enter areas normally traversed by fast-moving cars and trucks, accidents can occur.

According to statistics from the Kentucky State Police, there were 172 collisions involving tractors and other farm equipment on Kentucky roadways in 2010. Of those collisions, 67 injuries and four fatalities resulted – further proof that increased caution during harvest season is needed to prevent tragedy.

State surveying ag community

The Governor's Office of Agriculture Policy is asking Kentucky's agricultural stakeholders to assist the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board in planning future investment strategies and policy development for the future of the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund by taking part in a new Stakeholder Survey.

One goal of the survey is to gather ideas and information that will help create and develop county, regional and statewide projects or initiatives. Another goal is to identify ideas that have both individual farmer impact and regional impact.

The results of the survey will be compiled and shared with the entire KADB to augment the information gathered from the 2011 KADF Forums. Responses will be evaluated for commonalities and opportunities for collaborative efforts, as well.

Surveys will be accepted through Dec. 16.  However, surveys received by Sept. 23 will be included in the initial compilation for the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board's October planning meeting.

To complete the survey on-line go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TS52QV3.

CAIP grant applications coming

Phase I of the Shelby County Community Agriculture Investment Program is under way.

Agricultural producers in the county may submit applications for grants between Sept. 26 and Oct. 7 through the Shelby County Extension Office.

Tammy Brookshier of the Shelby County Cattlemen and the extension office is coordinator for the program, and she will have those applications at the extension office, which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at 1117 Frankfort Road in Shelbyville.

CAIP is designed to provide farmers incentive to diversify and improve their production. It combines what were previously known as county model cost-share programs into one, where each model program becomes an investment area.

CAIP covers 11 such investment areas, including commercial production of aquaculture; bees and honey; equine; forage; fruit; livestock; mushrooms; ornamental horticulture; poultry; rabbits; timber; and vegetables, as well as agritourism business development; commercial kitchen construction or conversion; energy efficiency/production; and on-farm water enhancement.

For more information, contact Brookshier at 633-4593 or tammy.brookshier@uky.edu.

Agritourism month in Kentucky

September is Agritourism Month in Kentucky, one of the busiest times of the year for the more than 350 farm operators registered in the state's agritourism program. To learn more about Kentucky's Agritourism industry or to find great farm markets and events in your area visit www.kentuckyfarmsarefun.com or http://kyfb.com/roadside.

Finalists for state’s top farmer

Kentucky Farm Bureau has named its finalists for farmer of the year, which recognizes an individual whose efforts not only strengthen the state's agriculture industry but also demonstrate service and leadership on and off the farm. Those who have made the cut are Jere Cannon of Fleming County, Craig Roberts of Caldwell County and Jim Sidebottom of Green County. Doug Langley of Shelby County won in 2009.

FSA milk program changes

There are changes this month for producers who participate in the milk-income loss programmed administered by the Farm Service Agency. Participants must make changes to their production start month on or before the 14th of the month before the month originally selected by the dairy operation as their MILC production start month and newly-selected MILC production start month for the dairy operation.

Changes must be made in advance of payment rates being known by the public for both the

original production start month that the dairy operation is changing from and the production start

month to which the dairy operation is changing.

For more information, contact the FSA office on Howard Drive in Shelbyville.

Bulletin board

§       A horse show sponsored by Saddles N Spurs 4-H will be 6 p.m. Saturday at the Waddy Ruritan Grounds. All proceeds from the show will support the 4-H Club. All classes will pay dollars for three places. For more information call Joann at 502-320-6149 or Yvette at 502-376-4291.

§              The Shelby Equine Center schooling show, hosted by 4-H Hoof Beats Pony Club, is Saturday at Shelby Trails Park. The dressage “Ride-A-Test” starts at 9 a.m. (sign-up is at 8:45 a.m.). There will also be hunter/jumper classes and mounted games competition. Contact 502-232-2110 for more information.

§       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.