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Post by Local News on Jun 9, 2006 7:28:30 GMT -5
Kentucky Department of Agriculture photoAgriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, top, and pitcher Roger Clemens meet during the June 6 game between the Lexington Legends and the Lake City Captains on Farmers/Dairy Night at Applebee's Park in Lexington.
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Post by Jim Wilson on Jun 9, 2006 7:46:23 GMT -5
Kentucky Department of Agriculture photoAgriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer throws out the first pitch prior to the June 6 game at Lexington's Applebee's Park that marked the return of pitcher Roger Clemens. It also was Farmers/Dairy Night at the home of the Lexington Legends.
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Post by Local News on Jun 10, 2006 6:50:23 GMT -5
COMMISSIONER FARMER PRESENTS $47,500 CHECK TO KENTUCKY FFA FOUNDATIONAgriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer presented a check for $47,500 from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to the Kentucky FFA Foundation during the Kentucky FFA Convention on Wednesday in Louisville. Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer presents a $47,500 check to state FFA officers at the annual Kentucky FFA Convention Wednesday in Louisville. Commissioner Farmer also addressed the crowd of students and faculty at the convention and received an honorary degree, the highest honor given by FFA. (Chris Aldridge photo) "Not too many years from now, every one of these young people will be citizens and taxpayers, farmers, employees and entrepreneurs. The work of FFA helps prepare them for each of these roles," Commissioner Farmer said. "By investing in these young folks today, we assure a brighter future for all of us tomorrow." Commissioner Farmer said he felt it was important to make this investment in Kentucky’s youth, even though the Department has suffered significant budget cuts in recent years. "Because I want our state to succeed, not just this year, but generations in the future, I’ve tried to do what I can to help the youth of the state," he said. "Like today’s farmers, the KDA has been asked to be more and more efficient and to do more with less. But even so, I’ve maintained, and even expanded, our commitment to FFA and 4-H, because to win championships, or build a better Kentucky 25 or 30 years from now, you have to think long-term." The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. FFA is open to any student in grades 7-12 who is enrolled in an agriculture course in a public school. The preceding press release was from Manchester resident and Commissioner Richie Farmer and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.Richie FarmerCommissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer Homepage
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Post by kda on Jul 19, 2006 16:32:00 GMT -5
FAMILY FUN IS AS CLOSE AS THE NEAREST PAY LAKELooking for some family fun close to home this weekend? Grab a line and a pole, and head for the nearest fishing hole! "Kentucky is blessed with plenty of pay lakes that raise fish in the highest standards of water quality, stock quality and food sources," Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. "Enjoy some family fun catching fish, eat some healthy food and help Kentucky’s fish farmers, all at the same time." "What many people don’t realize is pay lakes are aquaculture, which is agriculture," said Angela Caporelli, aquaculture coordinator and marketing specialist for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. "What better way to get the kids out of the house and away from computer games than taking them fishing?" There are 140 licensed pay lakes in Kentucky. To find one near you, go to www.kyagr.com and select "Aquaculture" on the pull-down menu, then click on "Links to Pay Lakes." Call each lake to inquire about events and tournaments occurring this summer. Pay Lakes in Clay County include:C & B PAY LAKE - 2608 HWY. 638
D & D PAYLAKE & GAME ROOM - 4616 N. HWY. 11
JIM PAY LAKE - 176 BRAY CREEK RD.If you decide to go fishing, don’t forget to buy a license. You can do that online at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ Web site. Go to www.kdfwr.state.ky.us and click on the yellow "Purchase Licenses Here" icon. The preceding press release was from Manchester resident and Commissioner Richie Farmer and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.Richie Farmer Homepage
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Post by kda on Jul 26, 2006 8:00:32 GMT -5
NEW MISS KENTUCKY ASSUMES SPOKESPERSON'S ROLE FOR KDA'S 'NO IFS, ANDS OR BUTTS' CAMPAIGNRachelle Phillips had to work extra-hard to become a college student, a published author and now Miss Kentucky. In her new role, she’s looking forward to encouraging schoolchildren to strive to be the best they can be. Rachelle Phillips, Miss Kentucky “You can do anything if you put your mind to it,” Phillips, 24, of Princeton, said in a visit to Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer’s office on Tuesday. She will share that message in Kentucky schools as she promotes her literacy platform and as she serves as official spokesperson for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Teens and Tobacco Program. The Teens and Tobacco program, “No Ifs, Ands or Butts – It’s the Law,” was established in 1996 to prevent the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 18. Miss Kentucky travels all over the Commonwealth to speak to students about the laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors and the penalties for breaking the law. “To be able to show kids that this is the law and show them what they can do with their money besides smoking cigarettes is a step in the right direction,” Phillips said. “This program is vital to Kentucky’s youth. I’m very fortunate to be a spokesperson for ‘No Ifs, Ands or Butts.’” Phillips’ path to the Miss Kentucky crown had a few bumps along the way. She was held back a year in second grade because of a reading problem, but she worked with a literacy tutor for a year to get back on track. Now she is a senior at Middle Tennessee State University with a major in English and a minor in speech and theater. She plans to attend graduate school at the University of Kentucky following graduation from MTSU. Her goal is to become a college professor. Phillips published a children’s book, “Dinkey the Donkey,” in 2004 based on a literacy theme. She said the book is used in learning centers in Kentucky and Tennessee. Phillips is the daughter of Randall and Debra Phillips of Princeton. Rev. Phillips is minister of Princeton Church of Christ. Debra Phillips is a part-time interior designer at Feagen’s Furniture Store in Fredonia. Rachelle has a sister, Sonyia Rimmer, of Covington, Tenn., and two nephews. The preceding press release was from Manchester resident and Commissioner Richie Farmer and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.Richie Farmer Homepage
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Post by kda on Aug 21, 2006 20:10:17 GMT -5
Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer talks to WAVE-TV host Cindi Sullivan about the success of the Kentucky Proud movement at the Kentucky State Fair.
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Post by kda on Aug 22, 2006 15:23:10 GMT -5
Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer presents Ronny Drennan, owner of Broadbent B&B Foods of Cadiz, with a plaque for winning Grand Champion Country Ham at the Kentucky State Fair. Broadbent won for the third year in a row.
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Post by kda on Aug 23, 2006 21:39:07 GMT -5
Commissioner Farmer with the Tabors, winners of the two-mule hitch competition during the State Fair Tuesday. (Jim Trammel photo)
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Post by kda on Aug 25, 2006 5:34:19 GMT -5
Kentucky Department of Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer visits with farmers in the sheep barn during the Kentucky State Fair. The preceding press release was from Manchester resident and Commissioner Richie Farmer and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.[navy]Kentucky Department of Agriculture Homepage[/navy]
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Post by kda on Aug 25, 2006 15:40:19 GMT -5
Kentucky Department of Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer listens to a very young constituent during the Kentucky State Fair. The preceding press release was from Manchester resident and Commissioner Richie Farmer and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.[navy]Kentucky Department of Agriculture Homepage[/navy]
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Post by kda on Aug 28, 2006 20:41:00 GMT -5
During the Kentucky State Fair Department of Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer visits with State Fair Board member Lanny Greer (Jim Trammel photo) The preceding press release was from Manchester resident and Commissioner Richie Farmer and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.[navy]Kentucky Department of Agriculture Homepage[/navy]
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Post by kda on Sept 19, 2006 15:52:33 GMT -5
FALL FARM FUN CONTINUES IN KENTUCKY"Kentucky is the best place to be in the fall." Commissioner Richie FarmerThe crisp, clean, cool country air of a Kentucky fall will be filled with the sounds of laughter and music, the blazing colors of fall leaves and the smells of delicious Kentucky Proud foods on farms and in communities throughout the Commonwealth in the weeks to come. “Kentucky is the best place to be in the fall,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “We are blessed with some of the best scenery in the world the year round, but the sights, sounds and smells of fall are special. You can experience the wonder of fall in Kentucky at a family fun farm near you.” The hosts of Marion County Country Ham Days will serve more than 6,000 pounds of country ham to some 50,000 visitors during the 37th annual festival Sept. 23-24 in Lebanon. Other events include the PIGasus Parade; the 5K Pokey Pig Run; a car, truck and motorcycle show; arts and crafts, and more. To find out more, go to www.hamdays.com. Double Stink Hog Farm in Georgetown boasts the Bluegrass region’s first Pumpkinfest. This year’s celebration will be every weekend from Sept. 23-Oct. 31. It features exotic animals, pony rides, horse-drawn wagon rides, a children’s playland, crafts and more. More information is available at www.doublestink.com. The Carroll County Tobacco Festival Sept. 28-30 will add an agritourism showcase this year. The Carroll County Farmers’ Market, the local tourism and extension offices, a beekeeper and a woodworker will exhibit at the showcase, and more exhibitors will be added. Festival activities include a parade, music, rides, food and more. For more information, call Hazel Willhoite at (502) 732-6268. The annual Pumpkinfest at “R” Farms near Maysville will be Sept. 30-Oct. 1 and Oct. 7-8. The Mason County destination will offer a corn maze, a cruise-in, contests, animals, live entertainment and other attractions for the whole family. The “R” Farms Web site is www.r-farm.com. The Central Kentucky Agritourism Association will host the Harvest Festival Tour of Farms Oct. 7-14 at 22 participating farms in the association’s 12-county region. Attractions will include demonstrations of alpaca and llama fiber products, farm tours, farm animals, crafts and Kentucky Proud foods. More information and a tour guide are available by calling (859) 336-3075 or going to www.centralkyfarmsarefun.com. Harvest Praise at Christian Way Farm near Hopkinsville Oct. 21 is a day of praise music. Other features include drama, a salute to the military, fall decorations, corn mazes, hayrides, animals and fall decorations. For more information, call or go to www.christianwayfarm.com. To find out more about fun fall events in Kentucky, go to www.kentuckytourism.com, click on Interest Finder, and choose Agritourism in the Select Interest drop-down box. The preceding press release was from Manchester resident and Commissioner Richie Farmer and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.[navy]Kentucky Department of Agriculture Homepage[/navy]
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Post by kda on Sept 20, 2006 19:51:00 GMT -5
KENTUCKY'S GROWING GOAT INDUSTRY HONORED IN OCTOBER"Kentucky has become a national leader in goat production." Commissioner Richie FarmerOctober has been proclaimed Goat Production Month in Kentucky in recognition of the Commonwealth’s fastest-growing agricultural industry. “Kentucky has become a national leader in goat production,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “Kentucky already is well-known for the quality of our goats. Congratulations to our goat producers for this well-deserved honor.” “We are excited and honored that Kentucky’s goat producers are being recognized for the tremendous growth of our industry,” said Shawn Harper, president of the Kentucky Goat Producers Association. “This honor recognizes that goats are a viable industry in the state.” Governor Ernie Fletcher issued the proclamation earlier this month. The proclamation continued a streak of good news for Kentucky’s goat industry. The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board on Friday awarded a $184,000 grant to establish the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office to promote the sheep and goat industries, coordinate producer education and monitor state and national issues affecting the industries. In August, goats were included for the first time in the 4-H/FFA Sale of Champions at the Kentucky State Fair. An estimated 5,000 Kentucky farms raise goats. The industry has skyrocketed in Kentucky as a result of growing demand from the United States’ ethnic population. Some Kentucky farmers have turned to goats as an alternative to tobacco production. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture led the way in establishing regional goat markets and Tel-O-Auctions to spur goat sales. The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board has awarded $318,918 to the Goat and Sheep Diversification Program this year, and the Goat Diversification Program received $3,219,784 from 2001-2005. The Kentucky office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated Kentucky’s goat population as of Jan. 1 at 74,000, 6 percent higher than the 2005 estimate of 70,000 and fifth in the nation. The Kentucky Goat Producers Association will hold its annual meeting Oct. 21 at the Franklin County Extension Office in Frankfort. Featured speakers include Tess Caudill, the KDA’s goat marketing specialist; Dr. Frank Pinkerton, a columnist and retired Texas Extension goat specialist; Dr. Richard Browning of Tennessee State University and the American Meat Goat Association; and Terry Hutchins, University of Kentucky Extension goat specialist. A pre-registration form is available at the Kentucky Goat Producers Association’s Web site, www.kentuckygpa.com. The preceding press release was from Manchester resident and Commissioner Richie Farmer and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.[navy]Kentucky Department of Agriculture Homepage[/navy]
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Post by kda on Sept 22, 2006 15:51:39 GMT -5
COMMISSIONER FARMER JOINS NATIONAL GROUP'S CALL FOR CONGRESS TO DO MORE FOR BIOFUEL INDUSTRY"It's in our national interest to support these renewable sources of energy."Commissioner Richie Farmer Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer joined other farm leaders in the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture to call on Congress to do more to promote America’s renewable fuels industry during NASDA’s annual conference in Norfolk, Va. “The growth of products like ethanol and biodiesel presents a golden opportunity for farmers in Kentucky and throughout the United States,” Commissioner Farmer said. “Biofuels bring more money into rural communities and create jobs. They reduce our country’s dependence on oil from some of the most unstable areas of the world. And they help the environment by cutting tailpipe emissions. It’s in our national interest to support these renewable sources of energy.” During the NASDA 2006 conference Sept. 15-20, the association called on Congress to: Increase the renewable fuels standard to 30 billion gallons a year by 2025; Implement the “25 X ‘25” initiative, which seeks to have 25 percent of the United States’ energy come from renewable resources such as biofuels, wind and solar by 2025; Make permanent the federal tax credit for production of ethanol and biodiesel; and Grant funding for carbon sequestration research. NASDA also called for: Full funding of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s fresh fruit and vegetable pilot program to promote fruit and vegetable consumption by schoolchildren; Full funding of the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and expanding the CSFP to all states; Continuing the current market loan and counter-cyclical program in federal farm policy until the World Trade Organization clarifies its position on farm subsidies; Continuing the dairy self-help program and multi-state milk marketing agreements, and ending a system that has Kentucky dairies subsidizing competing dairies in other states; Permanent funding for federal disaster assistance; Utilizing export subsidies at the fullest amount authorized by law until the United States’ trading partners end their subsidies; Full congressional support of land-grant universities to recruit and teach students in agriculture-related fields; Consistent enforcement by USDA of National Organic Program rules;A block grant of $2 million for each state for the specialty crop program; and Implementation of the country-of-origin food labeling law. NASDA consists of the state commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture from all 50 states and four U.S. territories. Commissioner Farmer is vice president of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture, an affiliate organization of NASDA. The preceding press release was from Manchester resident and Commissioner Richie Farmer and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.[navy]Kentucky Department of Agriculture Homepage[/navy]
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Post by kda on Oct 4, 2006 12:02:20 GMT -5
KENTUCKY PROUD TEAMS UP WITH GROCERS AT CONVENTION"We will show the KGA and KACS members how buying Kentucky Proud products from local producers can help them improve their bottom lines."Commissioner Richie Farmer Kentucky Proud will take center stage in the 65th annual Kentucky Grocers Association/Kentucky Association of Convenience Stores Convention and Retail Excellence Conference Oct. 17-19 in Lexington. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s farm marketing program will join forces with the KGA and KACS to sponsor the conference as part of a three-year partnership. In future years a Kentucky Proud Expo will be held in conjunction with the convention. “We appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the KGA/KACS Convention,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “We will show the KGA and KACS members how buying Kentucky Proud products from local producers can help them improve their bottom lines.” “We are proud to unveil the partnership with Kentucky Proud and Allied Food Marketers,” KGA/KACS Chairman Jim Buchanan and Convention Committee Chairman James Neumann wrote in their invitation to the convention. “The Kentucky Proud movement is already affecting select retailers in our state with new customers, new sales and new profits while supporting our local farmers.” The 10 educational sessions will include a panel presentation, “Making Money With Kentucky Proud Products,” Oct. 18 at 11:15 a.m. EDT. A Kentucky Proud “Toast to Kentucky Retailers” welcome reception and awards presentation for the 20th annual Fall Golf Scholarship Classic is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 17. Michael Sansolo, senior vice president of the Food Marketing Institute and president of the FMI Independent Operators division, and Gray Taylor, vice president of research, National Association of Convenience Stores, will present the state of their industries in a joint keynote session on Oct. 18. Kentucky Proud helps producers sell their farm products in stores, farmers’ markets and state resorts throughout the Commonwealth. It helps consumers find fresh, high-quality products produced in Kentucky. Allied Food Marketers of Louisville works with the KDA to help farmers get their products to consumers. For more information, contact the KGA by phone at (502) 459-7111 or by e-mail at info@kgaonline.org. The preceding press release was from Manchester resident and Commissioner Richie Farmer and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.[navy]Kentucky Department of Agriculture Homepage[/navy]
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Post by ClayLive on Dec 3, 2010 16:54:39 GMT -5
Commissioner Richie Farmer hails producers for another $4 billion year in 2010
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer commended Kentucky farmers for posting another strong showing in farmgate cash receipts in 2010 despite a slow economic recovery and a late-summer drought. “Kentucky farmers now have exceeded $4 billion in cash receipts five years in a row and six of the past seven years,” Commissioner Farmer said. “They have accomplished this feat amid an economic disaster and all kinds of weather events. I admire and respect Kentucky’s producers for their skill, their toughness and their resilience.” University of Kentucky economists on Thursday said Kentucky farm cash receipts in 2010 will range between $4.4 and $4.7 billion, compared with $4.26 billion in 2009 and near the record of $4.71 billion in 2008. Net farm income this year (excluding government payments) will be $1.3 billion, they said. Speaking at the 91st annual meeting of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation in Louisville, the UK economists said 2011 cash receipts and net farm income should be even higher, and cash receipts could exceed $5 billion for the first time. www.kyagr.com/pr/newscenter/2011ageconoutlook.htm
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Post by ClayLive on Mar 8, 2011 18:09:53 GMT -5
Commissioner Richie Farmer urges Kentuckians to commemorate National Ag Day March 15 FRANKFORT, Ky. — Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer invites all Kentuckians to join him in celebrating National Ag Day on March 15. “America’s agriculture industry provides us with the safest, most abundant and most affordable food supply in the world,” Commissioner Farmer said. “Agriculture also provides many other products that we use in our everyday lives. It’s easy to take agriculture for granted, but on March 15 we should take a moment to thank our farmers and everyone involved in agriculture for all they do.” The National Ag Day program is intended to educate Americans about how food, fiber and renewable resource products are produced, raise awareness of agriculture’s importance to the U.S. economy, highlight employment opportunities in agriculture, promote agricultural education, and provide resources for celebrating American agriculture. The average American farmer feeds 155 people – a six-fold increase since 1960. On average, Americans spent 9.5 percent of their income on food in 2009, less than any other nation in the world, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. But ERS (using new methodology that was adopted this year) calculated that the average American farmer received only 15.8 cents of every food dollar in 2008. This year, Ag Day and the Teach Ag Campaign are teaming up to bring attention to the shortage of agricultural educators in the United States. National Teach Ag Day, which celebrates the career of agricultural education, is scheduled for March 24. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture offers numerous agricultural education resources. For more information, go to: www.kyagr.com/marketing/ageducation. The Agriculture Council of America hosts Ag Day on a national level. Partner sponsors are John Deere, DTN/The Progressive Farmer, and Successful Farming. For more information on National Ag Day, go to: www.agday.org.
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Post by Press Release on Mar 31, 2011 18:05:49 GMT -5
Community Supported Agriculture offers farm-fresh food for Kentucky consumers
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Even as spring is struggling to take hold in Kentucky, time is running out for Kentuckians to sign up for a steady supply of local food in the 2011 growing season through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). “A CSA gives consumers a chance to participate directly in the food production process,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “Consumers get fresh fruits, vegetables and other products right off the farm. They also get to get to know the people who produce the food they serve to their families.” In a typical CSA, members pay the farmer in advance for a weekly share of the farm’s harvest. Members get farm-fresh foods directly from the producer but also share the risk that the crop could suffer because of weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Along with spreading some of the risk of farming, the producer is relieved of much of the burden of marketing and gets a better price for his or her products. Most CSAs offer a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs in season. Some provide shares in eggs, meat, milk, baked goods, and even firewood. CSAs vary according to the level of financial commitment, active participation by the shareholders, and details of payment plans and distribution systems. The number of CSAs in Kentucky and in the United States has grown dramatically in recent years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture found in 2007 that 12,549 farms throughout the country reported marketing products through a CSA arrangement. Fifty-two Kentucky CSAs are registered with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, up from 10 in 2009. A list of CSAs in Kentucky with available foods and contact information can be found on the Department website at: www.kyagr.com/marketing/plantmktg/csa.htm
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Post by Press Release on May 28, 2011 9:47:15 GMT -5
Bowling Green, Lexington baseball teams salute Kentucky's dairy industry in June
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Two Kentucky minor league baseball teams will host Dairy Nights, highlighting the celebration of June Dairy Month in the Commonwealth. Bowling Green Hot RodsThe Bowling Green Hot Rods will honor Kentucky dairy producers on Tuesday, June 14, while the Lexington Legends will host Dairy Night on Thursday, June 23. Both events will be sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the Kentucky Dairy Development Council, and the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association. South Central Bank is a sponsor of Dairy Night with the Hot Rods, and Southern Belle Dairy will co-sponsor Dairy Night with the Legends. “I invite Kentuckians to come out to the baseball park and enjoy some family fun while saluting our state’s dairy industry,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “Our dairy farmers work hard every day to produce fresh, nutritious, high-quality dairy products for consumers to serve to their families.” Lexington LegendsBoth Dairy Nights will feature free giveaways, a spin wheel for prizes, a kids’ kab play tractor, face painting and milk mustaches. Tickets may be ordered by contacting Eunice Schlappi, the Department’s dairy marketing specialist, at (502) 564-4983 or eunice.schlappi@ky.gov. Deadlines to order tickets are June 3 for the Hot Rods ($8.50 each) and June 13 for the Legends ($6 apiece). Only credit card orders will be accepted. Four June Dairy Days will be held around the state. Mercer County will host the first one on May 28 in Harrodsburg, followed by events in Hart County on June 10; Barren County on June 18; and Marion County on June 30. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture will conduct youth district dairy shows June 4 in Harrodsburg, June 16 in Shelbyville, June 18 in Edmonton, June 21 in Liberty, July 9 in Tollesboro, and July 12 in Bowling Green. Kentucky’s dairy industry generated nearly $166 million in farm cash receipts in 2009, according to the Kentucky office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Kentucky had an inventory of approximately 80,000 dairy cows as Jan. 1, 2010, NASS reported.
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Post by Press Release on May 28, 2011 10:07:19 GMT -5
'Buy Local, Burn Local' firewood to help stop spread of emerald ash borer
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer reminds all Kentuckians that they can do their part to control the emerald ash borer by always buying local firewood. The emerald ash borer (EAB) was first discovered in Kentucky two years ago on May 22. The week of May 22-28 is recognized as Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week nationwide. “A good rule of thumb for firewood is ‘buy local, burn local,’” Commissioner Farmer said. “That’s an easy thing Kentuckians can remember to help stop the spread of the emerald ash borer while helping our state’s hardwood producers.” The movement of infested firewood contributes to the borer’s spread. Quarantines have been established in Kentucky and other states with confirmed infestations because EAB larvae can survive hidden in the bark of firewood. Commissioner Farmer and other officials urge Kentuckians to take the following steps: * Don't move firewood, even within Kentucky. Don't bring firewood with you from home to campgrounds or parks. Buy all your wood there, and don't take extra wood back home.
* Don't buy firewood from outside Kentucky. If someone comes to your door selling firewood, ask them where the wood came from. If it came from outside Kentucky, don't buy it.
The EAB (Agrilus planipennis) likely arrived in the U.S. in 2002 in southwest Michigan hidden in wood packing materials commonly used to ship goods. On May 22, 2009, officials with the Office of the State Entomologist announced the first confirmed findings of the EAB in Kentucky. State officials since have quarantined 22 Kentucky counties, prohibiting the movement of firewood, ash nursery stock, green ash lumber, and other ash materials. The quarantined counties are: Boone, Bourbon, Boyd, Campbell, Carroll, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Grant, Greenup, Harrison, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Oldham, Owen, Pendleton, Scott, Shelby, Trimble and Woodford. The EAB has been found in Boone, Boyd, Campbell, Fayette, Franklin, Greenup, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Oldham, Owen and Shelby counties. For more information about the EAB, visit: pest.ca.uky.edu/EXT/EAB/welcome.html
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Post by Press Release on Jun 2, 2011 15:26:15 GMT -5
Commissioner Farmer calls on Kentuckians to refrain from stripping slippery elm bark
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentuckians are urged to refrain from illegally stripping the bark from slippery elm trees. Several slippery elm trees in southeastern Kentucky have been stripped this spring, the Kentucky Division of Forestry has reported. “The bark of a slippery elm tree can be harvested in a sustainable way that will allow the bark to grow back,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “When the bark is harvested correctly, that tree will live and will continue producing bark for many years to come. But fully stripping a slippery elm tree will kill the tree.” Slippery elm trees have been stripped in the Kentucky Ridge State Forest in Bell County, which constitutes criminal trespass, as well as on private lands, the Division of Forestry has reported. Slippery elm bark is used to treat cough, sore throat, gastrointestinal disorders, and skin ulcers, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. A Natural Resources Conservation Service fact sheet says the wood of the slippery elm tree is used to make furniture, paneling, and containers. “I encourage everyone who is interested in harvesting slippery elm bark to consult with the Kentucky Division of Forestry or the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service to learn how to harvest the bark correctly,” Commissioner Farmer said.
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Post by Press Release on Jun 6, 2011 15:52:27 GMT -5
Kentucky Department of Agriculture will launch 2011 junior livestock expos June 13 in Morehead Kentucky Department of Agriculture Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The 2011 Kentucky Junior Livestock Expos will draw hundreds of young livestock exhibitors to three locations across the Commonwealth to sharpen their skills and test their mettle against their peers. “Showing livestock is a positive, constructive activity for our youth,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “It teaches valuable life lessons about responsibility, discipline and hard work. I’m pleased that the Kentucky Department of Agriculture is able to continue offering the junior livestock expos.” The series opens with the Kentucky Junior Livestock Expo – East June 13-14 in Morehead. The Kentucky Junior Livestock Expo – Western Rivers will be June 30-July 1 in Murray. The oldest and largest of the expos, the Kentucky Junior Livestock Expo – West, is scheduled for July 21-23 in Bowling Green. The shows are open to regularly enrolled Kentucky 4-H and FFA members engaged in an approved livestock project. Exhibitors will compete in beef, dairy, swine, sheep, and goats. The two overall champion showmen of each species will compete in the Round Robin, in which they will be required to show all species, for the honor of supreme overall showman. Premiums will be awarded for the top entries in each species, and additional premiums will be awarded for Kentucky animals enrolled in the Kentucky Proud Livestock Tag Program, which is in its second year. “The livestock tag program has been tremendously popular,” Commissioner Farmer said. “It provides incentives for exhibitors to show Kentucky-bred animals while enabling producers to sell livestock for show at above-market prices. I encourage every Kentucky exhibitor to join the Kentucky Proud Livestock Tag Program.” Along with livestock shows, the expos will offer livestock and dairy judging contests, clinics, oral reasons, and skill-a-thons. For more information, including show rules and schedules for each expo, go to the Division of Show and Fair Promotion page on the Department's website: www.kyagr.com
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Post by Press Release on Jun 14, 2011 5:46:34 GMT -5
FSA county committee nominations open June 13 Kentucky Department of Agriculture Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Nominations for Farm Service Agency county committees will open on Wednesday, June 15, Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer has announced. “The county committees provide a vital link between the local farm community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” Commissioner Farmer said. “They help deliver FSA programs at the local level. I encourage all Kentucky producers to take part in this election.” Nominations must be postmarked or received in a local U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center by Aug. 1. FSA will mail ballots to eligible voters on Nov. 4. Ballots will be due back to the county office by Dec. 5. Newly elected committee members and alternates will take office Jan. 2, 2012. To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election, and reside in the local administrative area in which he or she is a candidate. Eligible persons may nominate themselves or others, and organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. FSA county committee members make decisions on conservation programs; incentive, indemnity, and disaster payments; commodity price support loans and payments; emergency programs; payment eligibility; and other agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms. For more information about county committee elections, go to: www.fsa.usda.gov/elections
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Post by Press Release on Jul 5, 2011 16:22:23 GMT -5
Kentucky Proud fruits and vegetables are at their peak of freshness and availability Kentucky Department of Agriculture Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky’s growing season is at its peak, which means a wide variety of Kentucky Proud produce will be available for the next several weeks at farmers’ markets, restaurants, retail outlets, and Kentucky Farm Bureau roadside markets throughout the Commonwealth. “There’s nothing like fresh sweet corn, a juicy tomato right off the vine, or delicious local watermelon,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “They taste good, and they’re good for you. Plus, buying local helps Kentucky farm families make a living.” A return to average temperatures and regular rainfall in mid-June set the stage for a great selection of popular summer produce. “Most farmers were able to get their vegetables planted on time,” said Adam Watson, produce marketing specialist for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. “Yields should be about average, and there shouldn’t be any significant delay on harvest.” Early spring rains in Kentucky delayed planting of greens, lettuce, green onions, peas, radishes, and turnips. That was particularly true this spring with the always-popular strawberry crop. Normal weather patterns in June helped the crops currently being sold at the markets. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Kentucky Department for Public Health and the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, provides producers with marketing, educational, cost-sharing, and technical assistance. The Department and its partners operate the Good Agricultural Practices program, which educates producers on production and handling practices to reduce the risk of contamination of fresh fruits and vegetables. To find a farmers’ market near you, visit the KDA website at www.kyagr.com. Under “Programs,” select “Farmers’ Markets,” then click on “2011 Farmers’ Market Directory.” To find retailers and restaurants that sell Kentucky Proud foods, go to: www.kyproud.com. For a directory of Kentucky Farm Bureau roadside markets, go to: www.kyfb.com/federation/markets.
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Post by Press Release on Jul 12, 2011 23:44:06 GMT -5
Courtney Farms to sell Kentucky Proud products directly to consumers Kentucky Department of Agriculture Press Release
BAGDAD, Ky. — Courtney Farms is in the second year of diversifying away from a dependence on tobacco income and into vegetable production through a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The Courtney family“We started out tobacco farmers and have quite a bit of tobacco still,” said Mary Courtney, who owns the 94-acre Kentucky Proud farm near Bagdad in Shelby County with her husband, Shane. “I don’t know how long we’ll stay tobacco farmers because we don’t want to be at the mercy of other people with the uncertainty of the industry right now. “We wanted to diversify,” she added. “That’s the reason we went into vegetable production.” Courtney Farm’ CSA has doubled in size over the past year, from 48 members last summer to 96 now. Although the farm is located in northeast Shelby County, most of its membership is in neighboring Jefferson County to the west. With the CSA booming, the Courtneys thought selling their excess vegetables at a farmers’ market would be a perfect fit. But last summer, with Shane busy tending to the family’s 65-acre tobacco patch, Mary discovered that being a farmers’ market vendor isn’t for her. Mary started last summer selling at some farmers’ markets in Louisville, but it proved very labor intensive with lots of packing and unpacking. She had to load and unload vegetables, cash registers, table cloths, and signage, as well as tending to her two young kids, one of whom wasn’t even crawling. “It was really challenging for me with two children,” said Mary, who also didn’t like having to compost some of the vegetables that didn’t sell. There had to be another way, Mary thought, to sell small amounts of vegetables to individuals. “So over the course of the winter, I kept thinking about this,” she said. The A La Carte program The solution she came up with was Courtney Farms’ A La Carte program. Mary calls it “sort of a virtual farmers’ market” that allows people to go to the farm’s website, place a small order ($12 minimum for non-CSA members), and choose between six locations in Shelbyville and Louisville to pick it up. Mary discussed her idea with one of her business confidants, Louisville Farm-to-Table Program coordinator Sarah Fritschner, an author and former food editor for The (Louisville) Courier-Journal. “Sarah thought it could work really well, too, and gave me the confidence to go for it,” Mary said. “I don’t know anybody else that really does what we do. “For some people, the regular CSA is not a good fit,” Mary said. “Maybe they don’t eat a lot at home, their schedule is helter-skelter, or they’re not crazy about cold-season crops but love warm crops like sweet corn and melons. It’s a little different twist to a CSA.” A La Carte offers vegetables grown at Courtney Farms. They include: three varieties of beets (candy-striped, golden and red), rainbow Swiss chard, cucumbers, freshly-dug garlic, green onions, two varieties of squash (yellow and Zephyr, which is part yellow and green), and zucchini. For additional A La Carte offerings, Courtney Farms collaborates with a number of local farmers, most of whom reside in Shelby and surrounding counties: • Swallow Rail Farm in Simpsonville provides asparagus, blueberries, herbs, eggs, lamb, and specialty vegetables.
• Mulberry Orchard in Shelbyville supplies apples and peaches.
• Stone Cross Farms and Cloverdale Creamery in Taylorsville provide beef, pork, and English-style farmstead cheeses made from local milk in four flavors (plain, smoked, chive onion, and Cowbells in Clover, which is similar to Double Gloucester).
• Highland Livestock in Waddy supplies frozen hamburger patties and ground beef, and beef jerky in hickory-smoked original and black pepper varieties.
• Debbie Young in Finchville provides Hampshire-Suffolk cross lamb.
• Cedar Haven Farm in Waddy and Shelby Countian Suzi Rice both supply blackberries.
• David Davidson in Henry County and the Hogg family in Shelbyville both provide eggs.
• Franklin County producer Mike Salyers supplies mild and hot sausage, and asparagus.
• Franklin County beekeeper Joel Shrader provides raw honey.
• Fayette County producer Todd Clark supplies whole chickens and turkeys.
• Smiley's Strawberries in Washington County provides their namesake fruit.
• Gilkison Farms in Winchester supplies black raspberries.
• Steve Isaacs in Nonesuch provides table grapes.
There have been some growing pains with A La Carte, as with any new venture, but Mary is happy with the results. “Once we get the kinks out, get the logistics worked out, I think it’ll be really good for us,” she said. Courtney Farms also sells to grocery stores and distributors such as Grasshoppers, a Louisville-based CSA that gets its meats, dairy products, and produce from more than 60 family farms in Kentucky and southern Indiana. “They complement each other,” Mary said of sales to both grocery and distributors. “Whereas a CSA member will appreciate the beauty in a two-legged carrot, a grocery store wouldn’t allow it.” Mary said the recognition of the Kentucky Proud logo and the association with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s marketing program has made a big impact on her CSA business. “To me, it’s real simple,” Mary said. “The Kentucky Proud logo is a brand for all of us Kentucky farmers. It’s an easily recognizable brand for the consumer. They know if they choose that brand, they’re supporting a local farmer.” Courtney Farms proudly displays the logo on its CSA boxes. “When the boxes leave, we have our [Courtney Farms] sticker and the Kentucky Proud sticker on all of them,” Mary said. Children of Kentucky farm families Mary and Shane both grew up on tobacco and beef cattle farms in Kentucky, Mary in Springfield and Shane in Dry Ridge. Mary’s father is still a full-time farmer in Washington County. Mary Courtney bagging vegetablesDuring the summer of 2001, while attending college at the University of Kentucky, Mary was an intern at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. She worked with dairy, goats, and beef, and was also involved in preliminary meetings for the marketing program that later became Kentucky Proud. Those meetings taught Mary something “that never left my mind,” she said – that local food was the wave of the future. After Shane and Mary graduated from UK and got married, they settled in Shelby County in 2003. Shane taught agriculture at Shelby County High School, and Mary worked as a lender for Farm Credit Services. “Both of our childhoods were rich in farming,” Mary wrote on the farm’s website, “yet as adults we found ourselves working very long hours indoors and not getting to enjoy a passion we shared.” The Courtneys took the first step in that direction by starting a lawn care business called Lawns of Perfection, which they still operate today. That got them back outdoors and gave them the confidence to return to their roots in 2006, when they purchased their farm. “Following in the footsteps of our parents, we are traditional tobacco farmers,” Mary wrote. “Needing to diversify, and the strong desire to raise our two children on the farm, we have turned to answer a community need: nutritious, local food – delivered.” When Mary tends to the farm’s 20 acres of vegetables, she takes her children, 3-year-old Lucas and 1-year-old Elly, with her. “I’ll never forget, one day last year, I needed 60 more Brussels sprouts,” Mary said. “All our [farm] workers were gone, it was just me and the kids, so all three of us went out to the field together. I had her [Elly] in a car seat, and I tucked her in under the Brussels sprouts as I went down the row [picking], with okra on the other side helping shade her.” Mary is proud that her kids aren’t like many of their young peers, some of whom are separated two and three generations from farming. “They do everything along with us,” Mary said. “They’ll grow up appreciating everything they eat.” Kentucky Proud receives funding from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund (KADF), which provides grants to diversify and modernize Kentucky's farm economy. Kentucky Proud is administered by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
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Post by Press Release on Jul 15, 2011 7:49:52 GMT -5
Thoroughbred Daylilies introduces 'Kentucky Proud' hybrid Kentucky Department of Agriculture Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Visitors to Thoroughbred Daylilies near Paris will see many varieties of the popular perennial at their peak in the next few weeks, including one they will find nowhere else: a hybrid called "Kentucky Proud." Annette and John RiceCo-owner and horticulturist John Rice produced the "Kentucky Proud" daylily, which features various shades of brilliant yellow. John Rice is a retired estate head gardener who worked for clients such as the late thoroughbred breeder W.T. Young and former Kentucky first lady Libby Jones, said Rice’s wife and Thoroughbred Daylilies co-owner Annette Rice. Annette’s background is in the arts and teaching preschool. Thoroughbred Daylilies specializes in hybridizing for mid-late to late blooming daylilies to extend the season of bloom in the garden, Annette Rice said. All of the nursery’s plants are field-grown, Kentucky-bred plants suited to perform well in Kentucky’s climate. The Rices select for strong scapes (leafless stalks), dormancy, flower substance, color saturation, clarity of color, and “good plant habits” such as branching, bud count, and foliage color, Annette Rice said. Thoroughbred Daylilies is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EDT Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 14. Visits at other times may be made by appointment. Thoroughbred Daylilies is located at 6615 Briar Hill Road (Ky. 57) outside of Paris, between Avon and Clintonville in Bourbon County. For more information, call (859) 435-0000.
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Post by Press Release on Jul 18, 2011 11:47:53 GMT -5
Join the Farmers' Market Week celebration by shopping for local Kentucky Proud foods Kentucky Department of Agriculture Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky farmers’ market vendors will take a well-deserved bow when Kentucky celebrates Farmers’ Market Week July 24-30. “Kentucky’s more than 150 farmers’ markets offer a wonderful bounty of delicious, nutritious Kentucky Proud foods,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “They also offer something you can’t get anywhere else – the chance to meet the people who produced the food you’re buying. You can serve food from the farmers’ market to your family with the confidence that you’re giving them the freshest food possible from your friends and neighbors from just down the road.” Kentucky farmers’ markets sell fruits and vegetables that are harvested at their peak of freshness and nutritional value. Many markets also offer meats, breads, cheeses, baked goods, jams, jellies, sauces, pickles, and many other products. Some markets accept EBT and debit cards. Farmers’ market sales total about $8 million a year – money that producers use to pay the bills, put their children through school, and apply toward other household and business expenses. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the Kentucky Department for Public Health, and the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service work together to provide Kentucky producers with educational and training opportunities, technical support, cost-share funding options, effective merchandising, and up-to-date guidelines and regulations for marketing their products. A directory of registered Kentucky farmers’ markets is available on the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website, www.kyagr.com. “Check for customer appreciation days, cooking demonstrations, and other special events at your local farmers’ market during Farmers’ Market Week,” Commissioner Farmer said. “Join the celebration!”
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Post by Press Release on Jul 21, 2011 23:44:50 GMT -5
USDA report credits Kentucky Ag Department with helping school cafeterias get local food Kentucky Department of Agriculture Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. — A new federal report praises the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s efforts to get local foods onto the plates of school children throughout the Commonwealth. The report, submitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm to School Team, cited examples of successful farm to school efforts in the Jefferson and Montgomery County school systems. The Kentucky Proud farm marketing program includes 78 school districts among its more than 2,500 members. “I’m pleased that our Farm to School program and the schools that participate in it received the recognition they deserve,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “Farm to School helps Kentucky children get the fresh, nutritious foods they need to grow up healthy and strong. And it provides producers another market for their products.” The report said Kentucky Proud promotes the use of local foods in schools. It noted that the Jefferson and Montgomery County school systems use the Kentucky Proud logo to identify local food products served in their cafeterias. The report pointed out that Montgomery County schools posted large images in the school cafeterias of school nutrition director Julie Tuttle and the local growers who supply the schools with produce in order to “personalize” school food service staff and local farmers with the students. “Personalizing school food service and farmers excites students, teachers, and parents about local agriculture,” the report stated. The report mentioned that the Kentucky Department of Agriculture offers Kentucky farmers free Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training. GAP educates producers on produce production and handling techniques to minimize the risk of microbial contamination. “One of my major goals for my second term was to help our schools serve local Kentucky Proud foods to their students, and we have been very successful,” Commissioner Farmer said. “I’m grateful to all the producers and school food service directors who have embraced this program.” Tina Garland, the Department’s Farm to School Program coordinator, works with school food service coordinators to link with local producers and authorities. Garland will talk about the Farm to School Program at the Growing a Healthy Community Conference July 30 in Ashland. For more information on the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Farm to School Program, contact Garland at (502) 573-0282 or tina.garland@ky.gov.
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Post by Press Release on Aug 1, 2011 20:30:34 GMT -5
Kentucky Proud business with rich tradition is poised for a bright future Kentucky Department of Agriculture Press Release
BLOOMFIELD, Ky. — Bloomfield Farms’ Kentucky roots can be traced back six generations to the 18th century. In 1797, just five years after Kentucky became the 15th state admitted to the fledgling United States of America, William Sutherland was born in largely frontier Adair County. He was the great-great-great-grandfather of current Bloomfield Farms chief executive officer Dan Sutherland. Dan SutherlandWilliam Sutherland opened water-driven flour and corn mills on the Chaplin River in Washington and Marion counties in the 1800s. More mills followed in nearby Boyle, LaRue, and Nelson counties as the company continued to grow well into the 20th century. Dan Sutherland sold the family business in 1976 but continued to serve as president until it was sold again in 1990. That’s when Sutherland decided to transition into the value-added side of the milling business by founding Blend Pak. Bloomfield Farms was incorporated in 2010. Both Blend Pak and Bloomfield Farms have just three stockholders. Sutherland is president of Blend Pak while also serving as CEO of Bloomfield Farms. Sutherland’s wife, Sue, is president of Bloomfield Farms and executive vice president of Blend Pak. Matt Elder is vice president of both companies. A recent visit to Blend Pak’s headquarters in Bloomfield found Sutherland in its test kitchen attempting to recreate a recipe. Often restaurants will give Sutherland a dish and ask him to determine what ingredients are in it. “This [kitchen] is the mainstay of the business,” Sutherland said. “What we really like to do is create our own thing. That’s more fun.” Blend Pak custom blends mixes for use in the dishes of many well-known national restaurant chains, mostly as coatings for meats. One of Blend Pak’s customers is a major sausage producer, which blends its sausage with Blend Pak’s flour mix to produce the sausage gravy served by a popular national restaurant chain. If you attend a county fair or the Kentucky State Fair this summer, you may bite into some of Blend Pak’s tastier mixes. “We’ve done mixes for corn dogs and funnel cakes,” Sutherland said. “We’re doing a gluten-free corn dog mix right now.” Seeing the need to create baking products for people with gluten and nut allergies, Blend Pak opened a new gluten- and peanut-free kosher facility last October in Bardstown named Bloomfield Farms. Bloomfield Farms is the brand name of all the companies’ Kentucky Proud products, including its best seller, an all-natural seasoned flour. In 10 months, it has introduced nine gluten-free mixes for all-purpose baking, cornbread, loaf bread, muffins, pancakes and waffles, pizza dough, brownies, cookies, and cakes. “A lot of people are discovering they are gluten intolerant, have a gluten sensitivity, or have celiac disease,” said Bloomfield Farms sales manager John Morris. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestines for which the only treatment is a diet free of gluten, a natural protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and some oats. Bloomfield Farms’ gluten-free products use flour made from rice and other ingredients that are certified gluten free. Whole Foods and Remke markets sell the gluten-free mixes. Bloomfield Farms’ products also can be found at ValuMarket in Louisville. Morris said Whole Foods, Remke, and ValuMarket “all ... are very Kentucky Proud driven.” If you can’t find Bloomfield Farms products at a retail store, you can order them online at www.thebloomfieldfarms.com. Kentucky Proud increases exposure
Bloomfield Farms’ Kentucky Proud products are distributed all over the U.S. and Canada. But Morris said being a member of Kentucky Proud has given the company more exposure in the state with the recent trend toward locally-produced foods. “It helps us get exposure in venues where it matters,” Morris said. “Some companies are really interested in where a product comes from. One of our [state’s] big retailers seems to be listening about how it affects farmers and producers.” The flour that Bloomfield Farms and Blend Pak use in their mixes comes from Siemer Milling Co. in Hopkinsville, which buys wheat and corn from Kentucky producers. Blend Pak’s Bloomfield plant has earned a superior rating in food safety for 10 years in a row from the American Institute of Baking. Bloomfield Farms also received a Superior rating during its first year of operation. When operating at full capacity, Blend Pak’s six product lines can produce a total of 250,000 pounds of baking products during one 8- to 10-hour shift. Its Bloomfield plant can churn out 200,000 pounds of flour and other products, while the Bardstown facility can make 50,000 gluten-free products per shift. After working as the Kentucky Proud liaison for the Kentucky Grocers Association the previous four years, Morris joined Bloomfield Farms in January. “Now I take all the information I learned in the past [with Kentucky Proud] and apply it to dealing with more retailers nationwide,” Morris said. “It’s fun to be back on this side [sales] of the equation again.” Kentucky Proud receives funding from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund (KADF), which provides grants to diversify and modernize Kentucky's farm economy. Kentucky Proud is administered by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
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Post by Press Release on Aug 2, 2011 18:52:27 GMT -5
Commissioner Farmer enacts rules to protect ginseng in Kentucky Kentucky Department of Agriculture Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer has implemented new regulations aimed at protecting American ginseng in the state. "Ginseng is an important part of Kentucky's natural environment and is also an important source of income for up to 10,000 Kentuckians," Commissioner Farmer said. "These new regulations will help ensure that ginseng can be harvested in a sustainable way for generations." State law requires the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to oversee the harvesting and sale of ginseng. The new regulations set the dates when ginseng may be harvested and sold, regulates how sales are documented, and sets penalties for violation. They also set out documentation requirements for artificially propagated ginseng. American ginseng is an herb native to the forests of the eastern United States and Canada. Varieties of ginseng have been used for traditional medicinal purposes for centuries. Eighty-five percent of the ginseng harvested in the United States is exported to Hong Kong, and most of it is consumed in China. Growing demand for ginseng in recent years has begun to threaten the sustainability of the plant, which grows slowly and is considered an at-risk species under federal law. Prices for wild Kentucky ginseng at times have risen above $500 per pound. The new regulations, a list of licensed ginseng dealers, and an overview of the Department’s ginseng program are available at: www.kyagr.com/marketing/plantmktg/Ginseng.htm
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