Agriculture

Coming out of the wettest combined April and May on record, Kentucky agriculture producers are dealing with a multitude of problems including flooding and increased disease.

University of Kentucky College of Agriculture meteorologist Tom Priddy said data from Jan. 1 to May 31 reveals Kentucky’s wettest year on record with an average 31.38 inches of rainfall statewide. That figure surpasses the previous record of 31.18 inches set in 1950.

Before you squish consider the next generation of beneficial insects that you may be eliminating from your garden.  We have come to look at all insects as bad, which is far from the truth.  We delight over butterflies but likely kill many while in the caterpillar stage; we love lady beetles but the nymph stage looks a little scary; and we swat and spray ever fly, wasp and bee in ear-shot.

Farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers have until Aug. 1 to nominate eligible candidates to serve on local Farm Service Agency county committees.
FSA county committees make decisions on commodity price support loans, conservation programs, disaster programs, employing county executive directors and other significant agricultural issues.

Powdery mildew is probably the most common garden fungus around. It is not too terribly picky about where it spreads. It likes humid weather, thrives in the heat of the summer and is hard to control once it has started. The trick here is to prevent it from happening by proper plant selection, spacing, pruning and treatment before it spreads.