Extension

Our area was hit by tornadoes and other severe weather last week. Many families and individuals had homes, farms and businesses damaged,  including weather damage, power outages and numerous other loses.

If you have had power outages and were without electricity or a cold source, foods stored in refrigerators and freezers can become unsafe. Bacteria in food grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees. If these foods are eaten, people can become very sick.

Many may consider Kentucky a “water-rich” state with over 90,000 miles of streams and rivers, thousands of ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands and approximately 50 inches of precipitation per year. So, it’s not surprising that water, one of our most valuable natural resources, is often taken for granted. For many Kentuckians, fresh water is no more than a turn of the faucet, the push of a button or the twist of a cap away. However, as consumers and users of water, it is our responsibility to manage our water resources efficiently.

After several years of pilot tests in states surrounding Kentucky, the seasonal high-tunnel program through the NRCS EQIP program is available in Kentuc-ky. 

High tunnels are of continuing interest to small vegetable producers because they facilitate direct marketing programs, extend the season, allow farmers to increase income, and allow for popular early-tomato production, which is very popular.

The deadline for horse owners to send in their contact information for the participation in the Kentuc-ky Equine Survey is Feb. 17.

The purpose of the survey is to estimate the number of horses in Kentucky by county, breed and use. This information can then be used to examine the impact of the state’s signature industry. The actual survey will take place this summer.