Agriculture

The recent opening of a new greenhouse/headhouse facility at the Western Kentucky University farm is expected to strengthen the research partnership between the University and the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. ARS  Mid-South Director, Dr. Ed King, says much of the work at the new facility will focus on ways to improve the management of livestock waste. 

An audit of former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer's administration has revealed multiple abuses of state resources. The report says the former University of Kentucky basketball star illegally hired friends and family, used department resources for Christmas gifts and made state employees mow his yard and build a basketball court at his home on state time.

An audit of Richie Farmer's two terms as Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner has revealed a toxic culture of entitlement and an extravagant misuse of taxpayers dollars, state employees and time.Current Agriculture Commissioner James Comer requested the audit earlier this year. State Auditor Adam Edelen released his final report today, showing more than a dozen infractions by Farmer and a consistent abuse of state law.

Officials at Western Kentucky University say the opening of a new greenhouse/headhouse facility on the WKU farm will add to a strong partnership between the University and the Agricultural Research Service. The new facility will conduct research on several topics, including ways to reduce odors from livestock production.

Some farmers and political leaders in our region are speaking out against new US Labor Department rules regarding child workers on farms. Many in the agriculture industry say the proposed changes would change longstanding traditions, but the government says the rules don’t apply to children working on farms owned by their parents.

Tobacco companies will be required to report the levels of dangerous chemicals found in chew, cigarettes, and other products under the latest rules designed to tighten regulation of the tobacco industry.  The Associated Press reports that preliminary guidance issued by the Food and Drug Administration marks the first time tobacco firms will be required to report quantities of 20 chemicals associated with lung disease, cancer, and other health problems. 

Four executives of Eastern Livestock have entered guilty pleas in court and will be ordered to pay restitution to 170 beef producers they de-frauded. Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway says the pleas were entered in Barren-Metcalfe Circuit Court Tuesday morning.

Many farmers in our region are seeing unusually large numbers of crops springing up earlier than usual. Edmonson County farmer Paul Wiediger told WKU Public Radio things are running about three to four weeks ahead of schedule at his farm.

Senate Minority Leader  Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has joined with several of his colleagues to introduce legislation to block the Department of Labor from enacting proposed regulations regarding youngsters working on farms. The  issue has drawn widespread concern among farm families and farm organizations across the country.

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer will visit Warren, Butler, and Daviess Counties today, promoting a ten dollar voluntary donation for farm license plate renewals. Commissioner Comer says the ten dollars will be split evenly between the 4-H, The Future Farmers of America, and the Kentucky Proud Program. Comer believes the funds can help to encourage some young people to attend college and then return to the farm. He says more young people are needed in production agriculture in Kentucky and across the nation. Dan Modlin talks with him.

A group of about two hundred Kentucky Farm Bureau volunteers are in Washington D.C. to talk with lawmakers about key issues that relate to agriculture. Jeff Harper, the Director of Public Affairs for Kentucky Farm Bureau, says the group is talking with Congressional leaders about several areas of concern, including recent EPA  proposals to regulate dust on the farm and a Department of Labor proposal regarding children working around the farm. Dan Modlin has this report.

A Warren County farmer has discovered a way to farm, and make profits, year round.

Kentucky lawmakers are protesting a current trade agreement that they say would hurt tobacco.

The U.S. is currently negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, which includes countries like New Zealand, Peru and Vietnam. But the lawmakers say the proposal excludes tobacco protections.

At a news conference in Frankfort today, Democratic and Republican lawmakers urged President Barack Obama to add provisions for tobacco to the agreement.

Republican Agriculture Commissioner James Comer says including the crop will help Kentucky farmers.

The US Meat Export Federation says US pork exports to Japan could top the two billion dollar mark for 2011. The Executive Director of the Kentucky Pork Producers Association says that's good news for some farmers in the Bluegrass State. Bonnie Jolly of Elizabethtown says the export market is boosting the prices farmers receive for their hogs. 

Bowling Green, Ky – Later this summer, the National Mall in Washington begins a multi-year renovation. A big part of the changes will be new grass along the mall to replace the turf that has been worn down by years of heavy foot traffic. Experts have chosen the Kentucky bluegrass seed for the effort. Kevin Willis has our report.