Agriculture

Swallow Rail was the name my dad gave the farm more than 30 years ago. He wanted it to be relevant, reflecting the spatial and natural qualities of his 18 acres in Western Shelby County. His inspiration came from the swallows that swoop and swerve so adeptly in open fields, catching insects on the fly. The rail of Swallow Rail comes from the two railroad tracks that flank either end of the road.

Shelbyville Farm Service Agency reminds farmers that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is conducting a four-week Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up beginning May 20 and ending on June 14. FSA also recently announced the restart of sign-up for continuous CRP. Sign-up for continuous CRP began on May 13 and will continue through Sept. 30, 2013.

Just as the summer grilling season is heating up, beef supplies across the country are down, meaning it might cost a little more to host that backyard party. In fact, the number of beef cattle in the United States is reportedly less than 30 million — the lowest number since the early 1960s. And when numbers go down and feed prices go up, consumers end up paying more at the grocery store.

Gardening season is in full force here in Spencer County with the threat of frost now behind us. It’s a good time to think about your soil. Soil compaction creates an unfriendly growing environment for plants and is a serious problem for many home gardeners. However, it is relatively easy to prevent.
Compaction transforms soil into a difficult environment for plant growth by making it harder for roots, water and soil to penetrate the ground. Major causes are working the soil when it is too wet, foot traffic and excessive rototiller use.