Class I Pricing Continues to be a Major Challenge for Kentucky Dairy Producers

By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Oct. 29, 2020

When it comes to dairy policy, the headliner from the 2018 farm bill was the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, which replaced the Margin Protection Program (MPP) from the 2014 farm bill. Another change got much less attention, but has turned out to be extremely impactful over the last several months.

Understanding Commodity Wages

By Kayla Brashears | KFBM Area Extension Specialist
Published on Oct. 29, 2020

When it comes to paying employees, agriculture producers have a unique flexibility in compensation options that is not available to all employers. Commodity wages are a way to compensate employees without the obligation of many payroll taxes.

Hired Farm Labor and the Role of Hispanic Workers

By Steve Isaacs | Extension Professor
Published on Oct. 29, 2020

Family members provide about two-thirds of the workers on U.S. farms, but the remaining one-third consists of 1.18 million hired workers. While not an insignificant number, the 1.18 million farmworkers represent less than one percent of the total U.S. wage and salary workers.

U.S. Agriculture Flirting with an Annual Trade Deficit – First Time in 60 years?

By Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Oct. 29, 2020

Trade continues to be a hot discussion item, impacting ag markets and certainly being a part of the political debate heading into the November elections. We constantly hear about the relatively large trade deficit that the U.S.

Economics of Various Winter Wheat Management Strategies

By Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Sep. 28, 2020

Planting season is right around the corner for those in Kentucky growing winter wheat this year.  Are you thinking about adjusting management practices by increasing seeding rates or adding phosphorus in anticipation of increased yields?

Specialty Crop COVID-19 Response Project

By Emily Spencer | Extension Associate
Published on Sep. 28, 2020

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), along with the cooperating research team led by the University of Kentucky’s Dr. Tim Woods, Dr. Lilian Brislen, and Dr. Jairus Rossi, seeks to enrich existing efforts within local and regional food systems (LRFS) communities of practice who provide essential support to our nation’s producers.

Fall 2020 Wheat Planting Decision

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Sep. 28, 2020

Beautiful early-fall conditions are resulting in another early corn harvest this year, and Kentucky grain farmers will soon decide if and how much wheat they will plant this fall.  Compared to last year, there is a significant increase in wheat prices and a slight increase in soybean prices.  These changes will make planting wheat more

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (2.0)

By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor and Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Sep. 23, 2020

USDA has announced a second round of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments for farmers impacted by COVID-19.

Payroll Requirements for Farm Employers

By Michael Forsythe | KFBM Area Extension Specialist
Published on Sep. 22, 2020

Farming operations come in all different shapes and sizes.  This means their need for employees is also different.  A small farm may not need to hire any employees, but a bigger farm may need to hire full-time and/or part-time employees.  When a farmer decides to hire an employee, there are several steps they need to take to make

Considerations for Future Utility Scale Solar Farm Developments

By Alison Davis | Extension Professor
Published on Sep. 1, 2020

An effort to rely on renewable resources instead of nonrenewable has the potential to meet the increased global demand for electricity. Both solar and wind energy have the potential to offset a significant fraction of non-renewable electricity demands, yet it occupies extensive land when deployed at levels large enough to meet global demand.