Agriculture FA M I L I E S
FOURTH QUARTER 2020
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FRANKFORT — Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles sent a joint letter this summer to U.S. Attorney General William Barr asking for the Department of Justice to investigate possible anticompetitive practices in the beef packing sector. The letter notes that, despite steady consumer demand for beef, the prices paid to Kentucky’s cattle producers have declined, suggesting the presence of possible market manipulation and other anticompetitive practices. As a result, Kentucky consumers are paying more for beef while hardworking Kentucky farmers are making less. “We’re urging DOJ to use the resources at its disposal to fully investigate allegations of anticompetitive practices in the beef processing sector, and we stand ready to assist with such an investigation in any way possible,” said Attorney General Cameron. “Kentucky’s cattle producers and consumers already face incredible economic challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we must ensure that they are treated fairly in the marketplace and do not face additional hardship because of price fixing or other anticompetitive actions. I appreciate Commissioner Quarles partnering with us in this endeavor.” “As Kentucky and the nation move towards reopening the economy in a quick and responsible manner, consumers and farmers deserve to know if there is a scheme to threaten market competition in the beef industry,” said Commissioner Quarles. “Our beef cattle producers have seen thir ty and for ty%
price drops since the start of the pandemic, even while the price of beef products at the grocery store has increased. I would like to thank Attorney General Cameron for joining me in this effort to make sure the beef industr y isn’t rigged against Kentucky’s 38,000 hardworking cattle producers.” The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptions at meat processing plants and created shortages nationwide. With only four beef processors controlling 80% of the American market, such disruptions further exacerbate pre-existing disparities between the price of live cattle and the wholesale price of beef. “On behalf of Kentucky’s beef cattle producers in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, let me be the first to express my gratitude for the leadership of Agriculture Commissioner Quarles and Attorney General Daniel Cameron,” said Dave Maples, executive director of the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association. “Kentucky is the largest beef cattle state east of the Mississippi River, and both of these men understand the negative effects of any possible anticompetitive business practices on both consumers and our producers.” In the letter, Cameron and Quarles ask DOJ to use the department’s investigatory resources to conduct an in-depth study of the current economic realities within the cattle industr y to determine if anticompetitive practices are being used. Both Cameron and Quarles offer DOJ the resources of their respective offices to assist with such an investigation on behalf of Kentucky consumers.
713 S. Main Street Hopkinsville, KY 42240 270-886-4444 webmaster@kentuckynewera.com
ABOUT US Agriculture Families is a quarterly magazine serving those whose livelihood grows from the ground up in the southern Pennyrile. Inside you’ll find new and useful agricultural information, ideas for cultivating great things on your farm and a host of other fun activities for everyone in your family. Agriculture Families also seeks to educate readers about the role agriculture plays in the local economy.
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GOV. WORKS TO MAKE KENTUCKY AGRITECH CAPITAL WRITER: OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR Gov. Andy Beshear took several actions this summer to build America’s AgriTech capital in Kentucky’s Appalachian region. “Our future is the reason that I ran for this office. I wanted to create a brighter, better future for all Kentuckians,” the governor said. “AgriTech: It is where our past meets our future, where a rich tradition of farming turns into one of innovation — of intellectual property, of scaling ideas to help a small family farm into the next multibillion-dollar industry.” The international agreement group was brought together by AppHarvest, an innovative, certified B corporation which is creating one of the largest controlled environment agriculture facilities in the world. The agreement is committed to the creation of America’s AgTech capital in Appalachia. “In Kentucky, we’re going to reopen and rebuild our economy even stronger than it was before COVID-19,” Beshear said. “Partnerships like this one highlight our state’s 21st century leadership and limitless potential. I can’t wait to see the AgriTech industry continue to grow in Eastern Kentucky, led by AppHarvest and other companies that are reimagining the future of farming.” “This long-term partnership will add jobs and create a new signature industry for our Appalachian region,” said AppHarvest founder and CEO Jonathan Webb. “It also demonstrates the kind of international cooperation that we need more of on the national level.”
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The guiding agreement calls for a series of research programs, construction of a center of excellence and the building of additional private infrastructure similar to AppHarvest’s 2.76 million-square-foot farm that opens this fall in Morehead. As part of the agreement, the partners also commit to opening a Dutch representative office in Kentucky to spur investment in the state by Dutch companies, which are recognized as the world’s AgriTech leaders. Kentucky’s central geographic location provides a huge advantage in AgriTech: AppHarvest’s tomatoes can reach 70% of Americans in a day’s drive. That means fresher food and far less food waste as grocers benefit from the extended shelf life. Growing fruits and vegetables closer to where people eat them also helps prevent the frustrating supply issues that COVID-19 continues to reveal, caused by America’s increasing reliance on agricultural imports. After World War II, food shortages crippled the Netherlands, inspiring the nation’s leaders to invest in agricultural innovation and design a more resilient food system. The country is now the world’s second-largest agricultural exporter, even with a land mass just one-third the size of Kentucky. Dutch technology sees farmers grow up to 30 times more fruits and vegetables on a single acre indoors compared with a single acre outdoors, all the while reducing water usage by 90%. In the Netherlands, more than 10,000 companies support every aspect of the agricultural economy, and the
GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON ENERGY & THE ENVIRONMENT October 13-14, 2020 Two virtual half-day sessions from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day. Space is limited, so register now at http://bit. ly/2020EandEConference. This year’s event focuses on the interplay of energy and environmental issues within economic development. Attendees will hear about a wide variety of topics, including economic development opportunities within sustainable agriculture, Kentucky’s business outlook, brownfield redevelopment potential, renewable energy procurement, energy affordability, environmental justice, and regulatory and policy updates from EEC leadership. Business leaders, interested citizens, nonprofits and academia are encouraged to attend.
board
members
Gov. Beshear will serve as chairman of the AgriTech Advisory Council. The initial members include: • DR. RYAN QUARLES, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture; • WARREN BEELER, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Agriculture Policy; • DR. AARON THOMPSON, President of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education; • LT. GOV. JACQUELINE COLEMAN, Secretary of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet;. • MIKE BERRY, Secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet; • LARRY HAYES, interim
Secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development; • REBECCA GOODMAN, Secretary of the Kentucky Energy and Environmental Cabinet; • DR. ELI CAPILOUTO, President of the University of Kentucky; • DR. ROBERT L. (BOB) JACKSON, President of Murray State University; • DR. M. CHRISTOPHER BROWN II, President of Kentucky State University; • LINDA GORTON, Mayor of the Lexington-Fayette County Urban Government; • LAURA WHITE-BROWN, Mayor of the City of Morehead; • MASON BARNES, Simpson County Judge Executive; • JAMES KAY, Woodford County Judge Executive; • ASHLI WATTS, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce;
• Bill Finn, State Director of the Kentucky State Building and Construction Trades Council, representing Kentucky labor and trade; • ERIC GREGORY, President of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, representing Kentucky labor and trade; • DR. MARK LYONS, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alltech, representing Kentucky businesses related to agriculture and agricultural technology; • JONATHAN WEBB, founder and Chief Executive Officer of AppHarvest, representing Kentucky businesses related to agriculture and agricultural technology; • DR. SHUBIN SAHA, Chief Operating Officer of Kentucky Fresh Harvest, representing Kentucky businesses related to agriculture and agricultural technology; and • TREVOR CLAIBORN, co-founder of Black Soil, representing Kentucky businesses related to agriculture and agricultural technology.
nation’s leaders have graciously shared their extensive expertise as Gov. Beshear and AppHarvest seek to build an equally robust ecosystem in Appalachia. Over the past two years, multiple delegations of Kentucky representatives have visited the Netherlands to meet with nearly 20 cutting-edge leaders in the agriculture industry. Top Dutch officials also travelled to Kentucky to meet with Beshear as well as higher education and economic development officials. “We didn’t reach this agreement overnight,” said Beshear. “It is the result of years of preparation and international cooperation, and I couldn’t be more grateful that each of these partners worked together to make it possible. The world is starting to recognize something Kentuckians have seen all along: our Appalachian region’s remarkable promise.” Additionally, Beshear signed an international agreement with 16 partner organizations, including the Dutch government, that are committed to the same goal. “Why has ever ybody gravitated to this ef for t? Because of our state. That willingness to work, from an area of the country that has been known for powering the United States: Eastern Kentucky,” Webb said. “We don’t believe that the future of farming in America is going to be in Boston, New York City or San Francisco. We believe the future of farming is going to be somewhere in the middle of the United States, and now it just takes leadership to determine who wants to grab it and go.” The governor also established an AgriTech Advisory Council, which he will chair, to guide the commonwealth’s increased focus on this industry that will expand the state’s economy and create jobs for Kentuckians. The advisory council includes Kentucky Ag Commissioner Ryan Quarles and other leaders in state government and local government, education and the business and labor sectors in Kentucky. Members will convene periodically to meet with the governor and advise him on matters relating to the AgriTech industry. He also announced the state has launched a new website highlighting AgriTech in Kentucky, agritech.ky.gov. “This is a great day for Kentucky, but this is an especially unbelievable day for Eastern Kentucky: to see the diversification, rebuilding of an economy and a new economy we have never seen before,” said Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to the governor. “This is especially rewarding for all of us who have worked so long and so hard to build up a region of Kentucky that needs to be competitive in every shape and form and fashion.”
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COMBINE CLINIC GOES
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VIRTUAL THIS YEAR WRITER: JON RUSSELBURG Each year, H&R Agri-power hosts a combine clinic. The hopkinsville-based farm equipment store helps farmers learn the ins and outs of their combines just before corn harvest. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic got in the way. As businesses were forced to close their doors or limit the amount of customers inside the building, H&R Agri-Power began to think outside of the box. The 2020 combine clinic went online. The company chose some of its top combine and header service technicians and put a camera in front of them. “We’re keeping your safety first during the current pandemic,” H&R Agri-Power President Wayne Hunt said in the virtual clinic. “While still trying to provide you with the valuable information you may need for the upcoming harvest season.” Technicians give detailed walkthroughs on the parts and accessories of the company’s most popular combines and headers. Farmers will learn how to make final adjustments and get their settings perfect for the harvest. H&R Agri-Power is a Case IH combine and accessory dealer, so the clinic focuses on that brand. Farmers can learn about feeding, threshing, cleaning, unloading and general maintenance on the Case IH 77/88 Series Legacy combine. Those same topics are also covered for the Case IH 30/40 Series Flagship combine. The Case IH 50 Series Flagship includes more fine-tuned classes. Farmers can learn about the combine’s automation features and how to clean and maintain the feederhouse. The clinic also covers multiple headers. Farmers can learn how to set up, calibrate and maintain the CASE IH 4000 Series Corn Hear as well as the Case IH Flex Auger Head. The clinic doesn’t just cover Case IH. Farmers with Macdon Draper and Geringhoff headers can learn how to dial in and maintain those brands as well. Over the years, the agriculture world has gotten more and more technologically advanced. H&R Agri-Power also helps teach farmers how to use that technology to their advantage. The clinic covers the Case IH Flagship series’ Advanced Farming Systems guidance and yield monitor. For instance, the navigation system in the newer model combines with AFS guidance is mounted on the outside of the combine. As the combine is used it gets covered in grass and dust. Farmers will sometimes pressure wash the combine after harvest. When the pressurized water hits the navigation system it can break the connection. The 2020 combine clinic shows farmers where to find the navigation system and avoid hitting it with the pressure washer. Although the virtual clinic is a helpful tool for agri-businesses, it can’t cover all of the problems agri-businesses may run into during har vest season. Modern farm equipment is complex and H&R Agri-Power urges its customers to schedule a ser vice inspection during the winter or prior to harvest.
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TCHS FRESHMAN OVERCOMES ILLNESS, WINS STATE SMOKED COUNTRY HAM COMPETITION WRITER: MICHELE VOWELL Trigg County 4-H’er Anna Sink reigns as this year’s Kentucky grand champion for her smoked country ham. Judges selected Sink’s entry from hundreds of hams entered by 4-H’ers from across the state. “It’s not just about me. I feel like I’ve done something for Trigg County because we’re a team,” said Sink, 14. “I worked hard on the ham so it definitely makes me feel proud to know that my hard work has gone into something good.” The Trigg County High School freshman and the daughter of Dr. Ian and Jennifer Sink of Cadiz has been in 4-H since she was a young Cloverbud. She has entered the state ham competition for the past four years and placed second and third in her age division. “There are hundreds of kids. This is a big deal,” her mother said about the grand champion honor. The victory is more meaningful to the teen because she was critically ill and hospitalized in January. Sink was diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenic purpura. ITP is a rare bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting. Sink spent a week undergoing tests and treatment at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Just one month later, Sink was weak physically but mentally determined to get back to her routine. She traveled with other Trigg 4-H’ers to Broadbent B&B Foods in Kuttawa to select her ham and to start prepping it for the state competition. “I had just got out of the hospital and I was still recovering from ITP. I lost a lot of platelets, so I was very weak. I could barely pick up the ham. One of the guys at Broadbent carried it for me,” she said. “February was very hard for me. I was so tired all of the time. I really had to push myself to pick the ham up, to salt it and to make sure it looked the best it could.” When selecting a ham to prepare for state, her mother said Sink usually digs through a stack of hams to find the perfect one, but ITP had taken its toll.
“She literally walked and picked up the first ham she saw,” Jennifer said. “It wasn’t about looking for the perfect ham this year, it was taking what you got and doing what you can do with it.” This year Sink said her countr y ham required some additional attention on her part. “The ham that I picked this time, it had some wrinkles, it had some fat that would stick out,” Sink said. “So, I definitely had to put a bit more work into it than I usually do. This ham wasn’t that teardrop shape. I had to make it into that teardrop shape.” While undergoing weekly blood tests and doctor’s visits, Sink monitored her ham’s progress throughout the spring and early summer. Her platelet count improved and she was feeling stronger, her mother said. In early August, Trigg County 4-H Extension Agent Shelley Crawford delivered all of the country hams from her nine 4-H’ers to Bowling Green. Because of the coronavirus outbreak and the closing of the Kentucky State Fair to the general public, the competition was judged
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at the Warren County Cooperative Extension Office. For the competition, 4-H’ers normally enter a country ham, as well as deliver a speech on a given topic. This year, because of the pandemic, contestants wrote essays. Sink’s 800-word essay was about the “History of Country Ham.” “With the essay I made people imagine they lived in the pioneer times -- that they didn’t have a refrigerator, that they didn’t have delicious Wonder Bread or delicious mayonnaise, ” Sink said. “They had to make their own (country ham). I also shared different ways people cured hams (through history).” “She is a storyteller,” her mother said. “She usually scores really well with her speeches. She enjoys talking, so doing the essay was a bit more, but I’m so proud of her.” Winners were announced virtually on the Kentucky 4-H Country Ham Facebook page. Grand champions are determined by the combination of the two highest scores from the 4-H’ers ham (60%) and essay (40%). In judging, country ham entries are critiqued on several criteria, including the appearance, shape and size. Essays are judged on knowledge of the subject, organization, expression and conventions, like grammar and spelling. In addition to winning grand champion, Sink placed first in her age division for her smoked country ham and first overall in her age group. For each win, Sink will receive plaques. “Whenever I found out that I placed first and won grand champion ham, it was a shock,” Sink said. “Me and my mom, we were just jumping up and down.” Like the Sink family, Crawford found out the results on Monday night. “I am just over-the-top thrilled for her,” she said. “She works really hard at everything she does. “It truly is a representation of who she is and the hard work she puts in.” While thrilled to be state grand champion, Sink said she’s celebrating even more because she’s feeling better than she did in January. “I’m healthy now,” she said. “The doctors have told me I’m good now.”
Trigg County 4-H’ers will be doing a ham show and exhibits Oct. 7-9 at the Lexie Bush Convention Center in Cadiz. Drop offs will be from 8 a.m. until noon Oct. 7. The exhibits will be open to the public with COVID-19 guidelines from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 7 and from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Oct. 8.
SAMANTHA HART FROM CHRISTIAN COUNTY PLACED THIRD IN THE SMOKED COUNTRY HAM CLASS THAT SHE IS A PART OF.
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PANDEMIC PRODUCES NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME AGRICULTURE PRODUCERS dricks said hemp processors like Halcyon Thruput in Christian County and Vertical Wellness in Trigg County remain very busy. He noted that on his last visit to both facilities in the past The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has shaken every sector month, combined they had about 35 million pounds of hemp to of business from the medical field to agriculture. However, South process. Western Kentucky Economic Development Council Executive “Both are picking up business and some of that was related Director Carter Hendricks says the pandemic has presented to the Gen Canna situation, but both have really positioned themnew opportunities for some agribusinesses to pivot into new selves well and have potential expansion opportunities down the markets. road if the market continues to do well for them,” he said. “There certainly have been some shining examples of how to Although the hemp market has experienced some hiccups, reposition properly and do well,” Hendricks said. Hendricks said the key to farmers doing well in Out the gate, he mentioned how Commonthe market is vetting out the stakeholders who wealth Agri-Energy was able to pivot from proare serious about growing the industry for the ducing ethanol for vehicles to alcohol for hand long haul. sanitizer. “As we can tell right now, we have two proces“That really helped them sustain the last sevsors that are delivering on their promise and the eral months during COVID-19,” Hendricks said. farmers are trusting that,” he said. “They now have a new product line that hopefully The latest infographic produced by the EDC will continue to do well and grow in the year’s encourages companies to #ComeGrowWithUs, ahead.” which Hendricks said is relevant to agriculture Additionally, Hendricks mentioned that both and more. Siemer Milling and Continental Mills have seen a “We’re constantly promoting the resources rise in demand for baked goods. we have available to us, from agriculture and the CARTER HENDRICKS “They have really ramped up in production workforce we have here,” he said. “We may focus during this time because as people were sheltered at home they the marketing on agriculture, but we want to bring it back to all were eating more baked goods,” he said. “You have a couple of of the opportunities that we have in western Kentucky.” those industries that have seen increased demand over the last Although many trade shows were canceled or held virtually few months.” this year, the South Western Kentucky Economic Development Hendricks said the EDC is continuing its efforts to recruit Council continued to advertise in trade magazines and social agribusinesses to the area and promoting the six-county region media. as the “manufacturing and agriculture heartland.” Specifically there are two Build Ready sites in the region that Hendricks said they are focused on promoting the growth of will make it easy for industries to set roots in western Kentucky. winter wheat, soy bean, corn and increasingly hemp. Hendricks mentioned the I-24 Business Park Pad Site in According to research by the EDC, South Western Kentucky Cadiz and the Pad Ready Site in Hopkinsville’s Commerce Park I is the No. 1 producer of corn and wheat, growing over 3.2 million where a spec building will be built soon. bushels and 13.9 million bushels respectively in 2019. “We try to make sure we have sites available that make it “We are seeing continued interest in agri-business and really easy for businesses to build here,” he said. “The public agri-manufacturing industries in our region, and we are also conmight not understand how important it is to have those shovel tinuing to update our strategies to make sure we are effective in ready, build ready sites.” recruiting those industries to our area,” he said. Overall, Hendricks noted that agriculture is a $1.8 billion Hendricks noted that tobacco is still a bellwether crop, but economic impact on the region and cannot be overlooked when interest continues to grow toward hemp. thinking about future development. “We have a lot of interest in hemp, especially as it diversifies “When it’s all said and done, agri-business is big business for beyond CBD oils into the other areas of our marketplace -- think the south western Kentucky region,” he said. “If we had to boil textiles and even food based products,” he said. “That shouldn’t down our pitch, we like to say ‘We are in the middle of America’s surprise us because those are the crops that grow so well in our agriculture heartland and we have great access to hardworking region, so people have an interest in being close to where those hands and workforce.’ ... When you plant crops in south western crops are grown.” Kentucky, they grow, and when you plant industry here, they Despite the pandemic, crop production continues and Hengrow as well.”
WRITER: ZIRCONIA ALLEYNE
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A DAY AT THE ANTIQUE TRACTOR SHOW WRITER: ZIRCONIA ALLEYNE The first few tractors trickled in Thursday afternoon with their owners excited to show off their original paint jobs and mechanisms and eager to tell the stories behind them at the weekend tractor show. By Saturday morning, Mohawk Trail was buzzing with both tractor aficionados and families looking for a cool day out of the house. The sixth annual Hopkinsville Antique Tractor Show had managed to draw a crowd, not as large as past years, according to organizer Howard Jones, but large enough to warrant still hosting the event amid the pandemic. Terry Minuth was by far the most popular collector at the event, known in the tractor-show circuit to have amassed over 90 antique tractors since 2006.
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“I brought 12 out here today,” Minuth said as he stood near a line of his fleet. “Usually a show will have a theme or a featured brand, but I’m mainly a Case and Colt (tractor) guy; I also have all the Oliver’s.” Minuth, an accountant from Elkton, said he got into antique tractors and the history behind them 14 years ago as a hobby. “I was born and lived on a farm out in Kelly, and we got a brand new 430 (John Deere), but then we moved to town,” Minuth said. “(In 2006) I was trying to find a 430 and I bought one of these little Case’s and it looked just like one. Then I found out they had different models and it just snowballed.” Minuth said he mainly keeps his tractors for show and tell, but they are operable if he needs to use one. He explained that garden tractors are made for exactly what their name says. They are about the size of a riding lawn mower and can be useful to home gardeners. Over the years, some tractor brands have merged while others like John Deere and Case IH have dominated the market. Minuth told one unique story of how Case acquired the Colt garden tractor brand in the 1960s. “There were two brothers who invented the hydrostatic drive — that was in 1962,” he said. “All the tractors up til then were gear driven; you had to push the clutch and shift
the gears. Well, Case was looking to get into the garden tractor line, so they bought that company and they bought the patent. So Colt made the first ones in 1963 and they stopped in 1966, and the first Case’s came out in 1966.” Minuth has the first model Colt made. “There’s only three of those tractors that are around today, and it took me seven years to restore it,” he said. The key to restoration, Minuth explained, is getting the original paint color and parts for the tractor. Getting them back into tip-top
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shape is a labor of love, as many of the old parts are hard to find like the antique tractors themselves. Minuth said there are Facebook groups for tractor lovers to peruse while some tractors are found just on the side of the road. Minuth recalls passing up a collectors’ dream tractor simply because he didn’t know how rare it was. “Case made a prototype in ‘64, and there was one 8 miles from me that I could have bought for $300, but I did not know what it
was,” Minuth said. “It was one of the first ones made. It was No. 3.” Ironically, that tractor was at this tractor show, now owned by 17-year-old Dalton Kranz. His late uncle bought it at an auction and sold it to him for $200. “I rode it, I took it muddin’ and played with it — nobody knew what it was at the time. Then we got a phone call that it was worth some-
thing, so we took it to a guy in Wisconsin and he gave us the paperwork on it,” Dalton said. “Coming to find out, it had been in my family ever since it was built.” A cousin of his mom had originally owned it, he said. Although he doesn’t farm, Dalton comes from a family of farmers in Clifty. Dalton said he has always liked working on cars, so he and his
dad worked together to restore the tractor and a family friend painted it the original color. “It took about seven or eight months,” he said of the restoration process, noting that Minuth was helpful to him and his dad. “He’s been a family friend ever since. He’s a big reason we’ve been a part of this show from the very beginning. I take off from school every year to come and support it.” That was a common theme throughout the event: friends of a friend coming together to show their wares. Across the field, Ronald Brown, his wife, their grandchildren and their great-grand dad had traveled from Greenbrier, Tennessee, to attend the show. Three-year-old Bryson Brown laughed and squealed as he turned the wheel of his “Pop” Ronald’s 1938 Farmall F-20N. It was one of five tractors Ronald owns, and his dad John Brown owns 16. “We used to farm, but this is something we do to keep the passion alive,” Ronald said, noting that he plans to pass them down to Bryson one day. “I want people to see where today’s modern-day farming came from. When they see one of the big new ones, I hope they learn how those came about — how they went from a horse and mule to this (tractor) to now air conditioned and GPS.”
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AGRICULTURE IS BIG BUSINESS IN TRIGG WRITER: TONYA GRACE
Corn, wheat, soybeans and tobacco dot the landscape and create a livelihood for the farmers of Trigg County. Beef cattle are on a par with tobacco when it comes to generating farm revenue in the community. Graham Cofield, Trigg’s extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, says the five products make up 98% to 99% of ag products sold in the county. There are also some sheep and goats and milk cows, but they don’t have as much financial impact as the county’s other five agriculture producers. Cofield spoke recently to the Trigg County Rotary Club and noted in his presentation
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that 128,000 of the county’s 165,615 available acres are in farmland. “That’s 78% of what’s left being used for some kind of ag production,” he said, explaining that Trigg has a total of 282,515 acres, although 116,900 acres are in the lakes and water and used by Fort Campbell and Land Between the Lakes. “I think it’s easy to forget how much we depend on agriculture,” he added, noting that those percentages are pretty significant for the community. Cofield also pointed to Census of Agriculture estimates, noting that Trigg County had production costs of $51.7 million for
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$58.8 million in total ag product that sold in more recent years in the county, leaving a dif ference of only $7.1 million. In theor y, the ag agent noted, that $7.1 million is the profit Trigg County is making in agriculture. But then again, that chunk of production costs, that $51.7 million, stayed within a hundred miles of the county. It was spent with local retailers, in paying for hired hands, or in buying someone else’s livestock. “How many times does that money turn over in the community?â€? the agent asked, pointing out that the money stays in the area and benefits the local community even for people who might not be directly involved in agriculture. Cofield said the county also enjoys an advantage with processors in the area who are interested in local farmers’ products. There are three ethanol plants that can make use of the grain and two soybean plants just 1 ½ hours away. Siemer Milling in Hopkinsville is a good option for the county’s wheat, and Trigg also has several choices of rail and barge terminals that are nearby and can be used to transfer farmers’ crops. All of western Kentucky is in a good position with its ag products, Cofield said. He noted that Trigg County is going to be busy in
the coming fall season. “From all indications I’ve seen, we’re going to have a big corn crop,� Cofield said, adding that the soybean crop should be a good one as well. He said farmers will be getting the corn crop out and the wheat crops in, during the next few months, and tobacco farmers in the county will be firing tobacco. In the past five years, the area has experienced record rainfalls leaving farmers with corn and soybean yields they can’t complain about, the agent noted. He obser ved that farmers need to be optimistic to put out their crops. Even in years with record rainfall, it’s when the rain comes that matters and not the total inches, and just a few weeks ago, before the hurricane weather, Cofield had worried that the pastures were dr y. The rain has been spotty, he said, but it has also rained enough that people are not complaining of drought. The agent noted that Trigg County’s farmers do a really good job of producing something economical that they can use and which others can buy. “It’s strange how it falls sometime,� Cofield said. “You’ve got to be pretty positive if you’re doing anything farming related.�
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LET’S COOK 18 Agriculture Families Fourth Quarter 2020
CHICKEN FRIED STEAK WITH COUNTRY GRAVY From recipegirl.com via Relish Steaks: 2 T Olive Oil 1 T Butter 1 cup All Purpose Flour 1 tsp Onion Powder ½ tsp Smoked Paprika ½ tsp Cayenne Pepper 1 tsp Kosher Salt 1 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper 1 Large Egg 2 lb Cube Steaks Country Gravy: 3 T Butter 4 T All Purpose Flour 1½ cup Low Sodium Chicken Broth or 1½ cup Low Sodium Beef Broth 1 cup Milk 1 tsp Salt 1 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
PREPARE THE STEAKS: 1) Heat olive oil and butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat until ripples begin to form. 2) While the oil heats, whisk 1 cup flour, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper together in a medium bowl. Set aside. 3) In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and water. 4) Season the steaks with salt and pepper. Dredge one steak in the flour mixture, then the egg and then back in the flour mixture to coat. 5) Add the steak to the skillet. Repeat with the remaining steaks adding more oil as needed. Work in batches if necessary as to not overcrowd the pan. (Overcrowding will cause the steaks to steam and the coating will not get crisp.) Cook the steaks for 3 to 4 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. Flip the steaks and continue cooking for an additional 4 minutes until golden. Transfer the steaks to a platter or baking sheet and cover with foil to keep warm.
PREPARE THE GRAVY: 1) Add butter to the skillet and sprinkle with flour. Whisk together in the pan and cook until golden. Slowly whisk in the chicken stock and continue cooking until thickened. Stir in the milk until smooth and beginning to thicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 2) Serve the steaks immediately with the gravy.
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SHEPHERD’S PIE From skinnytaste.com via Relish Potatoes: 1½ lb Yukon Gold Potatoes ¾ cup Fat Free, Low Sodium Chicken Broth 2 T Light Sour Cream 1 tsp Salt 1 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper 1 tsp Paprika Filling: 1 lb Ground Beef, 95% Lean 1 tsp Vegetable Oil 1 Onion 1 Celery Stalk 2 Garlic Cloves 8 oz Mushrooms 10 oz Frozen Mixed Vegetables 2 T Flour or 2 T Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Flour 1 cup Fat Free Beef Broth 2 tsp Tomato Paste 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce 1 tsp Chopped Rosemary 1 tsp Fresh Thyme Leaves 1 tsp Kosher Salt 1 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper 1) Boil potatoes in a medium pot of salted water until cooked and soft. 2) Drain and mash with chicken broth, sour cream, 1/2 tsp salt and pepper, set aside. 3) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 4) In a large saute pan brown meat over medium high heat, breaking the meat up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and pepper to taste. When cooked, set aside on a plate. 5) Add the oil, onion, garlic, mushrooms and celery and sauté on medium heat about 6 to 8 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. 6) Add the flour, frozen vegetables, beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme, cooked meat and mix well. Simmer on low about 8 to 10 minutes. 7) Spread the meat on the bottom of casserole dish. Top with mashed potatoes and sprinkle with paprika 8) Bake 20 to 25 mins, then place under the broiler 1 to 2 mins until the potatoes turn golden. Remove from oven and let it cool 5 mins before serving.
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QUICK EASY FISH STEW From simplyrecipes.com via Relish 6 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 Onion 3 Garlic Cloves 2/3 cup Chopped Parsley 1 Tomato or 14 oz Canned Whole Peeled Tomatoes or 14 oz Canned Crushed Tomatoes 2 teaspoon Tomato Paste (optional) 8 oz Clam Juice
SHELLFISH STOCK ½ cup Dry White Wine 1½ lb Halibut Fillets or 1½ lb Cod Fillet or 1½ lb Red Snapper Fillets or 1½ lb Sea Bass Fillets ¼ teaspoon Dried Oregano
¼ teaspoon Dried Thyme ¼ teaspoon Tabasco Sauce ¼ teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper 1 teaspoon Salt 1) Heat olive oil in a large thick-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté 4 minutes, add the garlic and cook a minute more. Add parsley and stir 2 minutes. Add tomato and tomato paste, and gently cook for 10 minutes or so. 2) Add clam juice, dry white wine, and fish. Bring to a simmer and simmer until the fish is cooked through and easily flakes apart, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add seasoning —salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, Tabasco. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve with crusty bread for dipping.
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Visit us online at gocadiz.com Fourth Quarter 2020 Agriculture Families 21
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