It’s an epic journey by a creature so fragile that it is almost beyond the imagination. Thousands of times a monarch butterfly’s wings stroke the air, buffeted by winds and soaked by rains on its 3,000-mile autumn trip from southern Canada to central Mexico. Faced by numerous threats, their populations are in decline. University of Kentucky graduate student Jerrod Penn spearheaded a project to collect data and also help the butterfly.
Read MoreWhether it’s nuisance weeds like thistle and teasel, or insects like mosquitoes and black flies, these “pests” can cause as much stress as they can damage. While Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices are a key component to the solution, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) recognizes that pesticides also hold risks and must be regulated to protect human health and the environment.
Read MoreAs the average age of farmers in Kentucky continues to rise and longtime producers near retirement, the industry depends on new farmers like Ryan and Misty Bivens, owners and operators of Fresh Start Farms, to carry on Kentucky’s rich agricultural tradition.
Read MoreDid you know one in six Kentuckians, including one in five children, is food insecure? That means they lack reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. And for too many Kentucky residents, hunger is a harsh reality.
Read MoreIn the Monroe County community of Vernon, sweet sorghum production is the economic driver for the area’s Amish population. When a new pest threatened to destroy the 2016 crop, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service stepped in to help the farmers save the crop and their livelihood.
Read MoreAgriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles joined other state officials and science experts on Monday to announce a partnership of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky Department for Public Health to prevent the spread of Zika virus in Kentucky.
Read MoreMaking sure animals are healthy and cared for is a primary concern of our Kentucky farmers. While most of the animals raised in agriculture will be used for food, farmers realize that unhealthy animals do not provide quality meats, eggs, milk, and co-products.
Read More
