Items by Grant Gardner | Assistant Extension Professor
More Base Acres, More Protection
By Grant Gardner | Assistant Extension Professor
Published on Oct. 31, 2025
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, makes a landmark change to federal farm programs.
Could Bourbon Help Kentucky Producers Survive Another Tradewar?
By Grant Gardner | Assistant Extension Professor and Tyler Mark | Professor
Published on May. 30, 2025
International markets support U.S. agriculture, particularly in Kentucky, which benefits from its proximity to the Mississippi River, enabling quick and low-cost transportation to Louisiana ports.
ARC vs PLC Decision for 2025
By Grant Gardner | Assistant Extension Professor and Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Feb. 27, 2025
Slumping row crop prices have induced greater attention among grain farmers regarding farm bill safety net programs.
Where Is the Base? Farm Bill Enhancements Could Be Negligible Without a Base Acre Update
By Grant Gardner | Assistant Extension Professor
Published on Oct. 31, 2024
The current farm safety net can be found in Title 1 of the farm bill, a piece of omnibus legislation
To Store or Not to Store? Old Crop Exit Strategies
By Grant Gardner | Assistant Extension Professor
Published on Aug. 29, 2024
The June Grain Stocks report indicated 37% more corn and 44% more soybeans stored on-farm than last year, indicating that many producers still have grain in storage (Maples, 2024). Some of this stock has likely been sold, but many producers are still sitting on old crops, trying to determine whether to hold through harvest or sell.
Drivers of Commodity Prices: Seasonality
By Grant Gardner | Assistant Extension Professor
Published on Jun. 27, 2024
Since the onset of COVID, agricultural commodity charts have resembled the track of a roller coaster, with huge peaks and valleys. During the 2023/24 marketing year, commodity prices have transitioned downward. We can likely expect less volatile commodity prices as prices level out.
ADM Requirements to Comply with New EU Regulation Impacting Kentucky Soybean Producers
By Grant Gardner | Assistant Extension Professor and Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor
Published on May. 24, 2024
Starting December 24, 2024, the European Union (EU) will require all imported soybeans to be deforestation-free. The policy aims to prevent deforestation and promote sustainable agriculture practices. Consequently, soybeans destined for the EU market must be traceable back to specific fields where they are grown.
Drivers of Commodity Prices: Exports
By Grant Gardner | Assistant Extension Professor
Published on Apr. 29, 2024
Since the onset of COVID, agricultural commodity charts have resembled the track of a roller coaster, with huge peaks and valleys. Global geopolitical events and conflict intensify these peaks and valleys. During the 2023/24 marketing year, commodity prices have transitioned downward.
Old Crop Balance Sheets and New Crop Projections: What would it take to get $6.00 Corn and $14.00 Soybeans?
By Grant Gardner | Assistant Extension Professor
Published on Feb. 28, 2024
The first projections for the 2024/25 crop year were released on February 15th at the Ag Outlook Forum (AOF). These estimates indicate a more bearish situation in the 2024/25 marketing year than we are currently experiencing in 2023/24. As we came out of COVID/Russia-Ukraine-induced highs, prices have fallen rapidly.
Mississippi River Level Impacts on Basis: 2022 Vs. 2023
By Grant Gardner | Assistant Extension Professor
Published on Oct. 30, 2023
In 2022 and 2023, the river levels on the Mississippi slowed barge freight and, thus, crop exports out of Kentucky. When river levels decline, barge transportation slows, which causes barge freight rates to increase.