Agriculture

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.

The USDA-Farm Service Agency is accepting new offers and approving new contracts under CRP’s Continuous, CREP, FWP and SAFE signups.
The following practices are available under continuous signup:
CP-8A Grass Waterways Non-easement; CP-9 Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife; CP-21 Filter Strips, CP-22 Riparian Buffers, CP-29 Marginal Pastureland and Wildlife Habitat Buffer, CP-23 Wetland Restoration; CP-33 Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds; and CP-38 State Acres for Wildlife, and CP-42 Pollinator Habitat.

Did you ever wonder why we have more thunderstorms during the spring and summer? It’s because weather patterns are more active as they move through Kentucky during these seasons, especially in the afternoon and evening.  The weather conditions also increase the potential for lightning to strike people at work or play outdoors and possibly while they’re inside a building.  Although thunderstorms are more common during the spring and summer, they can take place all year long and at all hours.

The cool spring has finally ushered in May flowers. I love cut flowers from the garden. There is a simple, happy satisfaction that comes from picking a bundle of peonies for the kitchen worktable. Just be sure to shake the ants off first.
The other thing about a cool spring with adequate rain fall is that the weather is acting as a sort of preservative: all those beautiful blooms are lasting much longer than normal.