Agriculture

I was in Shepherdsville at Country Corner Greenhouse earlier in the week and picked up some good-looking sweet potato slips that are finally ready for the garden. Up until last week it has been too cold for this southern crop.

The cool spring has finally ushered in May flowers! I love cut flowers from the garden. There is a simple, happy satisfaction that comes from picking a bundle of peonies for the kitchen work table. Just be sure to shake the ants off first. The other thing about a cool spring with adequate rain fall is that the weather is acting as a sort of preservative: all those beautiful blooms are lasting much longer than normal.

Ag census deadline is at end of May

With the window to respond to the 2012 Census of Agriculture officially closing on May 31, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is urging farmers and ranchers not to miss this opportunity to be counted and help determine the future of farming in America.

USDA has already received more than 2 million completed agriculture census forms, the agency said in release.

Farmers get incentive to donate to food banks

Gov. Steve Beshear hosted a ceremonial signing of a bill this week that will provide an incentive for farmers to donate to food banks. Beginning in 2014, Kentucky farmers who donate fruits, vegetables, beef, poultry, pork, fish or other edible agricultural products to a food bank will be eligible to receive a credit against their state tax liability equal to 10 percent of the value of the donated product.