Farm

Ag enthusiasts tour Clark County's best Thursday afternoon.

JUNCTION CITY - Two Boyle County men and a juvenile were arrested Friday after allegedly attempting to steal irrigation piping from a Lincoln County farm. Nicholas Goode, 31, of Junction City, and Nathan Griffin, 19, of Danville, have both been charged with theft by unlawful taking. Griffin was being held in the Lincoln County Regional Jail without bond Tuesday night. The juvenile was charged with theft by unlawful taking and then released to his parents, Lincoln County Sheriff Curt Folger said.

PLEASANT HILL — Under protection of a court order and with law enforcement present, several horses were removed Friday from a Mercer County farm where the animals had allegedly been abused. Among those hauling off the horses was Travis Banks, son of Richard M. Banks, who was charged with 30 counts of animal cruelty on March 3.  Richard Banks, who also raises horses on a farm in Lincoln County, has pleaded not guilty. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing April 11 in Mercer District Court.

COLUMBUS - One in 10 farms in Kentucky are operated by women; some have long been active managers and others suddenly find themselves responsible for the farm when their spouses die or are disabled. Recognizing the difficult position in which some women may suddenly find themselves, organizers of a recent Women in Agriculture meeting at Columbus-Belmont State Park made it one of the main topics on the agenda. "Men die younger than women so typically what happens is the wife is left to manage the farm," said Suzanne Badenhop, family resource management specialist with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

The body of a 52-year-old man was found on the backside of a northern Jessamine County farm early last Friday morning. According to Jessamine Fire District Chief Mike Rupard, Thomas F. Baker III was found by a family member around 8:45 a.m. on the farm located at 2016 Brannon Road, near the Fayette County line. Rupard said Baker was inside a large grain truck which was parked near a gate leading to another field. Jessamine County Deputy Coroner, Michele Teater ruled the death to be by natural causes.

Administrative area boundaries reviewed The Boyle/Mercer FSA County Committee has reviewed the local administrative area boundaries for both counties. As a result of the Boyle/Mercer county combination, the current six LAAs will be changed to five. Boyle County will become two LAAs using U.S. 68 and U.S. 34 as the dividing line west to east. Farms north of the line would be LAA 4 and farms south would become LAA 5. Deadline is April 1 to provide comments before the proposed LAA boundaries are submitted to the state FSA committee for approval.

Extension office to offer disaster preparedness planning From tornadoes and floods to fires and acts of terrorism, planning ahead can help all of us get through any emergency situation. Join the Jessamine County Extension Office for "Disasters: Plan, Prepare, Prevail" at the Agriculture Learning Center in Jessamine County on Sept. 8. This program will feature exhibitors from local and state organizations, businesses, and the University of Kentucky. Guest speakers include Kim Henken, extension associate for Environmental Issues, Tracy Bertram, with the Kentucky Office of Insurance, Tom Priddy, University of Kentucky Agriculture Weather, and a representative from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security.

Coy Davis slips on his boots, puts an extra-heavy brown work coat over a faded blue sweater and steps from his warm home into weather conditions unfit for man or beast. But this man has beasts needing attention. Like all good farmers, he isn't about to neglect his daily chores despite facing sub-zero temperatures and a thick layer of ice coating his 73 acres. Winter's wrath this year has been harsh enough to make anyone have second thoughts about living the life of a farmer.

Some local agricultural organizations are promoting a state Department of Agriculture initiative that will allow people to make donations when renewing vehicle registration. March is the month when farm license plates are renewed and people have the option to give $10 to Kentucky FFA, 4-H and the Kentucky Proud program that promotes products grown in the state. The plates have included the seals of FFA and 4-H in the past, but for the last several years, the voluntary donations have all gone to the Kentucky Proud Program.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for Berry Blast Saturday on May 25. Complimentary strawberry shortcake samples, made with local homegrown strawberries, will be offered to our patrons. Our local schools will be competing in a farmers market poster contest. Winners will be announced on that day as well. The Farmers Market now is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Stop in soon to see what's available. Note: Some vendors will be present only on Saturdays until their crops begin to come in. Here are some of the offerings you can find this week: Big Holler Farm, Kathy and Randy Williams: homegrown - green onions, radishes, lettuce; pork products - sausage, roasts, ribs and burgers; eggs Briar Knob, John and Monareia Wyatt: homemade sourdough breads - white, 100 percent whole wheat, wheatberry, cinnamon raisin, cranberry, French boulet rolls, butter biscuits (Saturdays only)

Local homegrown strawberries will be arriving at the market soon. To celebrate, we will mark May 25 as Berry Blast Saturday. Complimentary strawberry shortcake samples will be offered to our patrons. Our local schools will be competing in a Farmers' Market poster contest. Winners will be announced on that day, as well. After May 4, the market will begin its regular schedule of Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday market days. Stop in soon to see what's available. Here are some of the offerings you can find this week: Big Holler Farm, Kathy & Randy Williams: homegrown - green onions, radishes, lettuce; pork products - sausage , roasts, ribs and burgers; and eggs Briar Knob, John and Monareia Wyatt: homemade sourdough breads - white, 100 percent whole wheat, wheatberry, cinnamon raisin, cranberry, French boulet rolls; butter biscuits (Saturdays only)

Market Day last Saturday was a repeat of the previous one. There were breezy and chilly temperatures but, thankfully, no rain. In addition to all the wonderful fresh goodies to be found at the 2013 outdoor farmers' market, this year looks to be an exciting one. The Boyle County Farmers Market board members met last week to discuss our upcoming calender of events. We plan to have some exciting, new and interesting things for everyone this year. Next month, local homegrown strawberries will arrive at the market.

Tractors and tractor overturns continue to be a major source of farm deaths in Kentucky. What can we do to improve tractor safety and reduce the risk of tractor-related deaths on Kentucky farms and public roads? Equip older tractors with roll-over protective structures (ROPS), commonly called roll bars. ROPS prices have declined in recent years and can be installed on many older tractors for $600 to $1,200. It will be more expensive to put ROPS, if you can find them, on tractors manufactured before the late 1960s.

Last Saturday was a little chilly and breezy up on the hill at the fairgrounds. However, we were ever so thankful that it didn't rain. We are looking forward to a great season. As fruits and vegetables make their way from our farms and gardens, we will have the market tables filled to overflowing. Check this column every Wednesday for list of available items. Plans are in the works for several special events at the market this year. Announcements will be made for our Customer Appreciation Day and other fun events soon.

As a teenager, I spent many days behind a plow in the fields on a farm on Hegira Ridge in the southeastern section of Cumberland County, not far from the Tennessee state line. That old farm was little more than a bunch of  rocky hills. I remember a friend describing such a farm on which he was raised as “two rocks to one dirt.”  A number of interesting rocks could be found on those hills, and one of them is a geode.  Geodes are commonly found in Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Kentucky.

The Boyle County outdoor Farmers Market opened last Saturday for the 2013 season. We couldn't have asked for better weather! It was so good to see the sunshine and smiling faces again. We are looking forward to a great season. As fruits and vegetables make their way from our farms and gardens, we will have the market tables filled to overflowing. Check this column every Wednesday for list of available items. Plans are in the works for several special events at the market this year.

The Boyle County outdoor Farmers Market opened Saturday for the 2013 season. We are open on Saturdays at the Boyle County Fairgrounds, only for the month of April. Beginning in May, our regular Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday hours will be in effect. Now the outdoor market is open, the indoor Boyle County Farmers' Market on Main Street is closed. Thanks to everyone who supported us throughout the winter months. We will have some new faces and new products at the market this year.

LOUISVILLE - Chateau de Vieux Corbeau of Boyle County is one of the 103 markets across the commonwealth recently accepted into the 2013 Kentucky Farm Bureau Certified Roadside Farm Market Program.  In joining the Kentucky Farm Bureau Certified Roadside Farm Market Program, Chateau de Vieux Corbeau has committed to offering quality products and service to its customers. Its acceptance by Farm Bureau tells customers Chateau de Vieux Corbeau meets the highest standards of quality, freshness and marketing appeal.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -   For the second straight season, University of Kentucky women's basketball standout A'dia Mathies has been named one of 12 finalists for The State Farm Wade Trophy, as announced by The State Farm Wade Trophy Committee, along with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport. The award is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding NCAA Division I women's basketball player.   Mathies, the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, is leading UK to one of its most successful seasons in school history.