Kentucky soybean acreage up while corn and burley acreage down

Farmers in Kentucky increased their acreage planted to soybeans while decreasing their corn planted and burley set acreage according to the Kentucky Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Soybeans planted in Kentucky were estimated at 1.33 million acres, an increase of 230,000 acres from the 2007 crop. Acreage planted to corn in Kentucky was estimated at 1.23 million acres, a decrease of 220,000 acres from the 2007 crop.
Farmers in Kentucky set an estimated 69,000 acres of burley tobacco for harvest. This is down 8,000 acres from the 2007 crop.
Meanwhile, winter wheat seeded acreage was estimated at 560,000 acres. Alfalfa hay acreage was estimated at 240,000 acres. All other hay was estimated at 2.3 million acre. Kentucky barley seed acreage is estimated at 8,000 acres with 7,000 acres for harvest.
Sorghum for grain acreage is estimated at 12,000 acres planted with 10,000 acres harvested for grain.

photo by Todd Hansen

Kentucky Agricultural Development Board presents $412,500 ceremonial check to Broadbent B & B Foods

On Tuesday July 1st, the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, Chaired by Governor Steve Beshear, presented a ceremonial check to Broadbent B & B Foods in the amount of $412,500 during their grand opening celebration in Kuttawa, Ky. (more)

UK Cooperative Extension in Livingston County offers food preservation class

Home canning has changed greatly in the 170 years since it was first introduced as a way to preserve food. Scientists have found ways to produce safer, higher quality products.
Canning and freezing can be safe and economical way to preserve quality food at home. Disregarding the value of your labor, canning homegrown food may save you half the cost of buying commercially canned and/or frozen food. Preserving favorite and special products to be enjoyed by family and friend is a fulfilling experience and a source of pride for many people.
Livingston County Cooperative Extension Service is offering a full day of hands-on food preservation education for anyone wanting to learn about how to can and freeze vegetables. Participants will use a gauge style pressure canner for green beans, a weighted pressure canner for tomatoes, and also will freeze corn on the cob. Everyone who is in the class will be able to take home a jar of tomatoes, a jar of green beans and six frozen cobs of corn.
If you have never used a pressure canner, but want to see one in action – this is the class for you!
If you want to have “blanching” demystified – this is the class for you!
If you want to brush up on the latest food preservation information and techniques- this is the class for you!
If you do not have a garden this year, but are planning one for next summer- this is the class for you!
Food Preservation Demystified will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 starting at 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Smithland First Baptist Activity Center. Lunch will provided. Class fee is $5.00 per person. Deadline to register is July 14, 2008. Call 928-2168 to reserve your spot. Grand Rivers and Ledbetter residents may call 1-800-928-2168. Participants are asked to bring an apron, paring knife and cutting board.
Disabilities accommodated with prior notification.

Bourbon producers see amber-colored future

By BRUCE SCHREINER
Associated Press Writer

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. (AP) _ To Wild Turkey master distiller Jimmy Russell, the piercing sounds of a warehouse rising in the Kentucky countryside are the sounds of prosperity.
``As long as you see work going on _ and the construction, and increasing your size _ you know your business is doing well,'' said Russell, who started working for the bourbon maker in 1954.
Distillers are expanding their bourbon production and storage and dispatching sales teams around the world, bullish for a traditionally Southern beverage gaining popularity worldwide. Surging exports, the weak U.S. dollar and rising popularity among younger Americans are driving the boom.
``It's an exciting time to be in the bourbon business,'' said Max L. Shapira, president of Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc., a family-owned liquor company based in Bardstown. ``Most of the time that I've been in the business _ up until about the last 10 years _ everybody was trying to consign the bourbon category to that great liquor store in the sky.'' (more)